Cowboy pants

I am blissfully aware of what a carefree season of life we are in with preschoolers and babies. No school= no hard and fast schedule or any "must do" lists for our days. Play, memory work, chores, more play, naps, and meals consume our time. It's a sweet life. Coop is asking for more "school" so I have been working towards more consistency with Five In a Row. This week's book is Miss Rumphius, a sweet tale of a woman who sets out to do three things in her life: 1) see the world 2) have a house by the sea, and 3) make the world a more beautiful place. We will add "glorify God and enjoy Him forever" while doing all those things, but the book has prompted some good conversations about our calling in life...Coop is fairly certain God told him to be a fireman. One with a yellow hat, because they get to drive the firetrucks. (?)

Other activities filling our days...

• Coop sporting his new cowboy pajama pants. The rest of this adorable fabric is in the shop.

• Speaking of fabric- I'm carrying clearance fabric in my shop...hoping to pass on some good deals to those who enjoy sewing. Check it out.

• Heard the boys laughing hysterically one morning before I went in to wake them up. This is what I found:

They've discovered they can play with each other and pass things from bed to bed. The game is more fun now that Baby T is standing.

• I started staying on a consistent haircut schedule by naming the Monday after our monthly church supper Haircut Day. This week, even Baby T got in on the action. He had his first haircut with the clippers (albeit his 5th! haircut). Do you know how hard it is to get a 9-month old to be still for the clippers?

• Lastly, I'm teaching my first card-making class since the move. Here's a sample of what we'll be making...

All Things Brite- an Etsy shop unveiled

Yes, Virginia. There is an Etsy shop.

Months of thought and a near-compulsive desire to design new pillows has finally led to the grand opening of my Etsy shop. I thought the day would never come! :) It's like I have pillow-vision: everything is a potential home furnishing. My ideas far outweigh my free time so it's really a tiny shop, but stop on by and check it out.


My vision for this business is to provide a creative outlet for me and a way to make old things new again. This includes giving new life to fabric and clothing found at thrift shops, shower curtains and sheets people have given to me, or any item made from fabric I feel is worth conserving. Everything I make is machine washable because I know that if it can't be washed it's not very useful, at least not in my house.

Do you have a bridesmaid's dress or other significant piece of clothing you've been saving for sentimental reasons, but know you'll never wear again? I'll help you preserve it by making a pillow out of the fabric. Then you can feel good finally getting rid of it AND you will have the joy of seeing the remnants in a beautiful pillow. You'll have all the memories plus some extra closet or drawer space. I can make a memorable keepsake out of baby items, children's clothing, or just about any fabric you'd like to see in a pillow.

The term for giving new life to something that would have normally been trashed is called "Upcycling." I'd much rather buy something that has been repurposed or recycled or upcycled than something new (in most cases- I'm sure there are some glaring exceptions). I am excited about being able to carry this concept into the world of home decor and the sky is the limit as to what can be created!

Remember this pillow I made for my brother...the one made from a placemat and two shirts? Keep this in mind if you have a placemat you just can't part with.


But seriously... here's a picture of my sister's flower girl dress (not the best picture from my wedding)- five years later she still won't get rid of it. Now she has a dupioni silk pillow that looks great on her bed, and my Mom doesn't have to store a dress no one will ever wear.



Maybe one day I'll have a full shop but for now it's sparse. I see it as just the beginning.

My new favorite thing

I think I'm going to have to change my sidebar. Have you ever discovered something you didn't even know you were missing? I have the world's best mattress and my husband serves me great coffee every morning, what else is left? Let me give you a hint: It's a four-letter word.

Soap. I have just discovered the world of natural, hand-made soap, and I'm never going back to the bleach-white detergent stuff I used to use. I would have been in the dark much longer if my sister-in-law hadn't ventured out and starting making this delightful product. I've tried three or four different kinds she makes and I love them all. My favorite is the Chamomile Bergamot soap; I use it in the shower every day and it makes me want to brew a cup of tea and grab my favorite book. Very relaxing.

If you're not familiar with the difference between natural soaps and detergent soaps, here's a quick explanation from her Etsy shop:

When was the last time you read the ingredients contained in your over-the-counter soap? Many people do not realize that what they are using to clean themselves with is really not soap at all, but detergent (a petroleum-based product). Because of this even the soap that strives to be conditioning leaves your skin feeling dry and itchy. We then accept the line that we have "dry skin" and continue in this cycle. Thankfully you do have an alternative. My all-natural handmade soap has no chemical additives or detergents. It is made purely with oils such as Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter and many more. These oils give back to your skin what your detergent based soap has stripped away. They can remedy such conditions as dry skin, eczema, acne and more. I also only use 100% pure essential oils to scent my soap, along with flower petals and other all natural ingredients to add character and quality to the soap. If you still aren't convinced I challenge you to try just one bar and see how much better your skin feels and looks. Your skin will thank you.

So check out OIL AND SPICE on Etsy, and you might just have to change your sidebar, too.
Edited to add: Check out the price- it's a steal!