Marsbarn Designs...

Collecting

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There was a mythical time.. long ago.. I've spoken of it before.. It was called "The Time When I Used to Garden", or alternately "The Time Before Children". This time of year reminds me of my previous life as a gardener. I once collected plants. Let me introduce you to my former obsession called 'The Butterfly Bush'. And this isn't all of them. Remember the little orange ball Butterfly bush that blooms in the spring? Ya, well I also have another yellow one with a rounded form that hasn't bloomed yet. (Yes that is in addition to the one pictured here. Last year I never got around to pruning my butterfly collection. This year they are all huge! HUGE I Tell you! Okay, so maybe it is not a bad thing that my gardening energy has waned. How many more plants could I have fit into my yard? Fabric is much easier to store than a bush that wants to take over the world. (Yes, I know butterfly bushes are classified as Invasive in some areas, but they are just so fun!)

I'll be scarce the next couple of weeks. It is family time! And we are going to be out adventurin'. I'll show you the treasure when I've reclaimed my computer.

A bit of Asian Infulence

I had a bit of fun last night (and stayed up way too late). I'll start with the simplest one. Sweetheart G and I had some Mommy-daughter-downtown-shopping-bonding time this week, and we ate a sushi lunch. I saved my chop stick wrapper in a fit of scary collecting fever. (Yes, this collage business could turn me into the scary woman who saves everything!) (NO! I am not that person already!)

In this one I used a "printable transparency" (like an overhead projector film that you can run through your inkjet printer). This a technique that was mentioned in the May/June issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, and I had to try it. The white origami paper in the background has an embossed crane motif, so when the postcard is tilted the cranes under the transparent leaves catch the light. I hope the close-up helps to demonstrate this.

This was the first card I made last night. I was trying to get a bento box motif. I think its my favorite of this set. Again I played with using a semi transparent layer (this time a piece of rice paper) to try and add more depth. The geisha fabric is one I've used to line tote bags. It has some wonderful details- it was so much fun to pull them forward.

The hat, the hat!

Ah, the satisfaction of working a project from start to completion in one day. (Sigh) How luxurious! And now sweet G will have a sun hat she can get wet!

This hat is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing. I followed the long line of inspiring crafters who have been making things from this lovely book, and jumped on the sewing bandwagon. I have turned up the brim on the hat, because I think this is how Sweetheart G will wear it, but I have not made any other alterations. (G isn't home tonight, so I have to wait until tomorrow for the final fitting.)

Chinese Dogwood- Season Finale

She's the tree that keeps on giving. My Chinese Dogwood may only do her floor show every other year, but here is the finale. All the petals are gone, and these really cool seed pods/fruits (?) are left. They have little pink stamen-like bits that stick out all over the green sphere (I don't know how well they show in the photo). I have to love a tree that gives three different performances!

a study in brown

I wanted to play with something more subtle than bright orange (shocking I know). So I pulled out a collection of brown fabrics and gold papers. The quote is from the autograph book and reads "Dear Pearly Worly, When you are at home washing dishes remember me and my good wishes" and is dated June 4th, 1897. The dishes are from my collection of brown transferware and are old enough to have been washed by "Pearly Worly".
I love reading silly, playful things written by people long ago. It is so easy to imagine the people living 110 years ago as being always stiff and formal, like the old photographs and tin types.

more collages

Big E took me to the fabric store (on his birthday, the big sweetie!) so I could buy binding for my collages.
I've never done projects before that I had to buy binding or bias tape for, so these little packages have always been something of a mystery to me. But now! HA! I was able to run wild in the notions area... Oh the glee! (Big E had to leave the store.)

And here is what I made with them. I am still working on making a smooth edge, but I feel like I am making forward progress. The top one is 4 x 6" and the bottom one is about 5 1/2" square. Next I think I will cut some 5 X 7" rectangles to play with. I was going to cut out some bags today, but my head cold is making me fuzzy enough that this was a bad idea. Maybe tomorrow will be better. The sale in August is going to sneak up on me, and I want to make some mini-totes to sell.

Big E's B-Day

This is the wonder known as the Swedish Mama:

Grandma R (Big E's Mom) makes this baked, puffed pancake for special occasions, and it is Big E's favorite morning treat. Lately I've seen several variations on the dish in cooking magazines under various different names, but this is Grandma R's version.

presents

Today is Big E's birthday. This means bacon, french silk chocolate pie, and presents!

little e woke up with this conversation today.

little e: Sometimes I dream I am a present.
me: Oh?
little e: Yes. I am inside a present waiting to come out, like this. (She crouches down)
me: Who are you for?
little e: You. (with a slight "how come you're so dense?" look)
me: Oh.
little e: Like when I was in your belly!

I do feel a little guilty now. I got the "Oh! I'm loved" moment on Big E's Day. Oh well,
I'm also the one Sweet G threw up on last week, so I guess it all evens out.

baby mats

I finished three more baby mats tonight. So that gives me two 20" x 20" and two 17 1/2" x 13". They are just double sided cloths that could be used as burb cloths, changing mats, or what ever you would use those white cotton diapers for. Now I just have to make a bag! I think I'll gear the bag toward mom, not babe.

Got the blues

"Blueberry pie, I don't know why, but you're oh so very blue.."
The blueberries are upon us.