Inspiration - Grandma Reese

I love this photo that Michael took in 2005. We were visiting my Grandmother Reese in Seattle, the winter before Sam was born.

She was and is an inspiration to me - an incredibly creative person, in everything that she did. She raised five children, managed a busy household, and still found time to create gorgeous clothing, quilts, needlework, and stained glass. Not to mention the gardening, the canning, the cooking, the baking... I'm probably missing something else creative that she did, that I didn't even know about! She taught sewing classes for years at their church parochial school, and when I was old enough she taught me some sewing basics.

To top it all off, she spent many years volunteering her time translating children's textbooks into braille versions. This made a huge difference in the lives of many students, in the Seattle area and beyond. I remember her carefully thought out braille projects sitting on the side counter of her dining room. She specialized in translating social studies and science textbooks, because she would use her creative skills and knowledge of textural materials to create perfect diagrams, maps, and illustrations - all to make the information accessible to students.

Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by the layers of life that I've taken on, I'm reminded of her, and what she was able to do with her life, despite many challenges.

It's time to choose some of her Christmas cookie recipes to try this year, so she's on my mind this week...

Sewing - I'm a little biased..

about some of my finished projects! Pardon the pun, but I finally got it together and made my own 'French' bias tape, for the little kimono project I was working on. It's not perfect, but I got past my mental block about it, and just did it. I know you can buy a little gadget to make tape, but I was glad to learn how to do it from scratch too. The pattern for the kimono is from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones.

I used a thrifted table cloth for the main fabric, and some of the vintage Indonesian fabric from my Aunt Dorothy for the bias tape and borders.

I used that same Indonesian fabric for a special project for Sam - his own apron - for art projects and cooking projects. There's no bias tape on the apron, but it is reversible! The other side is made from one of Michael's old dress shirts - I used the collar to create the neck strap on the apron, and I used both sides of the button placket to create the tie around his waist.

Blocks - Synchronicity, painting, drawing, stamping, and... Italy?

Hmmm. Interesting 'things' are in the works. I haven't been much for photography lately, so this is an old shot of the name blocks project that has been percolating.

In addition to the name blocks, I've been sketching in my little leather sketchbook. And then, out of the blue, I get a package in the mail from one of my dearest aunts - she sent fabric, and the Vogue pattern that she used to make my wedding dress, AND a bag full of stamps! Like for print-making, not for sending letters! Sam and I were both beyond excited.

That was one example of synchronicity... It's everywhere, I tell ya! Not just coincidences, but something that seems much deeper. Something that says, it seems as though God and the Universe are conspiring on a plan that's infinitely more complex than I ever could have imagined. I really can't put into words, what that plan might be, but I just have a feeling that it includes a trip or two to Italy...

Toys - The Marble Chute

This is the marble chute, which lives at Grandpa's farm. An older version existed, that we played with when we were kids, but it has disappeared. Thankfully, my older brother constructed a new marble chute a few years ago, so that generations of Roth kids could continue to roll marbles for hours at a time.

I know there are probably snazzy plastic chutes that are similar on the market, but I've got it in my mind to make my own wooden one, down the line.

Photography - Photos of the Day

My mini-assignment for today was to try to capture mood and action, without showing faces. Sam and Ella were working on building an amazing fort on the lanai - I wasn't allowed to help, so taking photos was a good second option! Painting was also a big hit today, which led to talking about abstract art, and viewing a you-tube clip of Jackson Pollock painting. We love having Ella over to visit!