Invisible Zipper Pillow for the kids

Kirstin was looking at pictures last night and told me that I had posted the picture of the poof I had them for their apartment, exactly one year ago today. How funny I made the kid a matching floor pillow today, of all days. I think I did a pretty good job with the invisible zipper, once I figured it out. I will definately thake more pillows with them.

5 years to the day, re-creation photo

My Great Grampa Ross early years in Seattle

My Great Grandfather Dave Ross at age 35, his first job in Seattle, Assistant Manager of the Best West Restaurant located at the top of the Smith Tower 1923

The Smith Tower was completed in 1914.  It seems older than 100 years, I guess in comparison to the buildings that surround it now. The legend of the tallest building west of the Mississippi, has long since passed, but it is still an amazing building to me.  When my daughters were much younger, along with my mother and grandmother, we took a ride up the manned old fashioned elevator for a look around. I wish they still made buildings with  so much character and so such attention to details!

Whale of a Totebag

When I make a bag, I like to use something old, something new and here I even used something new, you could almost say something borrowed, but really the whale material was something gifted to me.

Whale tote, summer 2015

Red fabric, leftover from one of Kirstin's halloween costumes.

Blue mesh net was new waiting to be used, bought at Pacific Fabrics.

Red strapping, bought at Pacific Fabrics yesterday.

Blue material, I believe given to me from my friend Sheryl.

Whale material, a gift from my friend Cathie.

Small whale and fish fabric, bought at Keepsake Cottage Quilt and Fabric Shop this summer.

Red and Blue bias tape, well I am buying that stuff all the time!

Gifted to a friend who is on to a new employment journey

This bag actually has 10 pockets. Since I was using scraps of material, that is what decided the size of this tote bag. I tried something new with the binding tape, I would like to find a way to make that work a little better, but not complaining. I can't wait to hear how it works out for Trihn and her 4 year old son Calvin.  I hope they have lots of fun this summer and I wish her well wherever her career takes her to.

Well I had another birthday - Hooray!  So many birthday wishes, lunch with my 3 other generations, my kids baked this awesome ombre cake and Andy cooked our steaks to perfection!  Enjoyed a visit to Swanson's nursery, such loveliness there.  I am just sitting here packed to the gills. I was surprised with a flower delivery from my brother and his wife! I got a new floaty toy for our swimming pool. All these little things add up feeling loved! I had a good hair day too, hahahaha.

What a fun bouquet!

 I spent today's birthday with my mom and gramma just like my first birthday.

My daughters made me this amazing strawberry ombre' cake

Bicycling and me

I rode my bicycle on the Sammamish River Trail today.  Yes, you can get right back on and ride like you never forgot how, but I must say, I don't go quite as fast as I used to, nor can I keep up with my husband and daughters, ugh.

Craftiness

Summer allows for a little craftiness.  Finishing a project is even better, not only for me, but the recipient too, Kirstin looks great wrapped up in her quilt.

Alaina took photos of the new little boat sails I made up last week, reversible even. I have to say I really love how they turned out, and I go back and forth between which side I like best.

Kirstin and I picked out all these patterns for a colorful design over a year ago.  I think the black accents make it fun.

This is the largest quilt I have made and it wraps my kiddo up just perfect.

Kirstin holding up her finished quilt!

The backing looks great too.

This is the first time I have allowed myself to machine stitch the binding on

Cruisin from Ballard to the Lake and back

Do our smiles not say it all?

Created a Doll Apron Pattern

My first go at designing a doll apron pattern.

Once I get this pattern fine tuned, I am afraid I might just make up a dozen more aprons. All the different fabric in my stash is shouting from their boxes, Pick Me! Pick Me Next! 

My second go is reversible, the other side is below

I used double fold bias binding tape, so easy. The ric-rac was a nice touch. Next one will get a pocket.

I wonder how easy a matching oven mitt might be?

I am thinking this apron might be just the right surprise for the student at school whose older sister is battling cancer. Her sister loves to make cupcakes just like her mom.

Update: Ahmie left us on Sunday morning, age 14. My heart hurts.

Fruit Punch Playdough for the School Kiddos

Well I wish I had known about this great recipe for homemade playdough when my kiddos were little. And how easy it cooks up too! The students at school have been enjoying it at least, better late than never? Last winter I even made some that were gingerbread smelling and colored, so we could make our own to go along with the book, they just loved that. 

Fruit Punch Kool-Aid Playdough

Of course I found the recipe on Pinterest, duh.

We made our names too.

Sewing doll clothes - again.

Yes! Sewing doll clothes - again!

I just love how these swimsuits turn out!  Not the easiest material to sew on, but I just keep at it.

Last of the swimsuit fabric I got from my mothernlaw

A couple of students at school will benefit.  Next is a pink dress for a student who could use a surprise! I might just make a pair of scrubs for her doll too?

Kingfisher Natural Area

Thornton Creek

Kingfisher Natural Area

Allowed by the city to return to nature, in the middle of North Seattle is a trail system full of little gems
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Mushrooms and Fungi
A Robin's egg and birds
Salmon Berries
Buttercups and Forget Me Nots
and mud complete with racoon and duck prints.

A wonderful peaceful little adventure today!

My adventure shoes had another pair of shoes along besides Andy's!

Spring beach visit

Some of my SeaStars visiting Discovery Park

West Point Lighthouse

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For the last day in February, this spring weather was perfect for a beach visit, oh wait it is still winter.

Where land and sea meet.

A little bit of Pompeii far from Italy

Family outing. (Shout out to Stuart) Got to see amazing artifacts at the Pompeii exhibit currently visiting the Pacific Science Center. What a tragedy almost 2000 years ago, and yet, it could easily happen here on any given day. I guess you could say it has, say 1980 - Mt St Helens!  As you are leaving the exhibit, after seeing the replicas of the body casts of those whose lives were snuffed out by a volcanic tantrum, you get to walk thru information about all the volcano's that surround where we live.  Science. No filters.

Beautiful glassware

Pondering

How old were their antiques before they became antiqued artifacts?

It was nice to visit on a weekday afternoon, no crowds, therefore we could go at our own pace, which then allowed us to talk to each other about what we were seeing. I think there were more security personnel than visitors.  Grama Carole shared differences between what was on display here and her tour of the actual sight a few years ago, such as the jewelry collection.  Yes, I was tempted to pick up a necklace in the gift shop on the way out, what can I say, some things just don't go out of style, or if you wait 2000 years, they come back around?

Garden Show Happiness

Ah, fun at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show with my sisternlaw Kristi! I am soooo glad she invited me to go again, cool stuff and lots of laughs.

I just love the fragrances from all the blooming going on!

 

Just a random sampling of goodies here.

I finished a project, okay, with some help

The first 2 weeks of 2015 were crazy.  The 3rd week felt much better.  I finished a project even. One of those things called a ufo, as in unfinished object.  I will miss it, but I can always visit the chair at it's new home. Not sure how many homes this chair had been in before I found it on a street corner in Ballard with a sad little Free sign on it a couple years ago. It is actually quite comfortable now with it's new cushion. My first box pillow, I am quite proud of it I must add. It sewed up quite easily, and the foam that I had cut for it by Pacific Fabrics fits perfectly.  I am still not sure how I pulled it off!

With the reversible cushion

My husband helped me recover it again.

The box cushion has 2 different patterns

Next, I am taking my Gramma to Blaine tomorrow. We are going to celebrate a wonderful woman, Norma, who lived so gracefully to be one month shy of 108, no, that is not a typo. Kind, caring, smart, inspiring, is an incomplete list.  Norma even drove her car at age 95 to renew her drivers license in a town about 20 minutes south, even on the freeway too, got home and said, 5 more years! Going to miss that woman! She inspired our strawberry freezer jam our family all enjoys so much! Mmmmmm