Marsbarn Designs...

kitchen catch up

I had to make scones. Had to.
My cream was going to spoil. (Well, at some point it would have, right?!)
Yep, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

I also made a batch of strawberry jam (hear the pinging of sealing lids? It is a good sound!)
Alas, I had extra berry mash... Ice cream to the rescue. Yum!

Yep, there was a whole lotta suffering here. Suffer, suffer, suffer... Ain't it awful!

This is how the trouble starts...

Step 1: Show Mom very cool site. (While She Naps.. go look, very fabulous!)
Step 2: Mom points out neat tool mentioned in blog
Step 3: Mom points out tool is terrifically on sale at Sizzix website.
Step 4: Box with 5 punches arrives, with hammer, and pad.
Step 5: Total distraction.

My mother is a trouble maker!
How am I supposed to get the washing done when I have new toys to play with?!

stay on target

At our house, in an ode to our geekiness, when someone is loosing focus we say, "Stay on Target..". Yes, like Luke Skywalker, we use the force to "Stay on Target". The forces of the Dark Side are constantly warring against us. Case in point: mixed media post cards. They are evil... they are luring me away from the righteous with a promise of instant gratification. Argh! Never was Vader so clever!

Still, I managed to tear myself from this newest distraction to work on some Father's Day gifts.

I made this yardage from the Pendleton Outlet store into a throw last night. And I finished an organizer I should have done months ago. Today, I will start the weekly struggle of the laundry. (Really I will!)

But look at what the dark side made me do:

This is another 4 x 6" card. It is not bound yet. I am going to put clear vinyl on it, but wanted to photograph it before I did. My friend K graciously let me use her image of the Galleria Umberto Ceiling, in Italy. Thank you!

The things dreams are made of

Both my mother and I are known for the... economy with which we heat our houses in the winter. (Translation: Bring a sweater.) So last night it made me chuckle when Sweetheart G began to call out in her sleep;
"Grandma, the heat is on. The heat IS on! Grandma. Grandma! The HEAT IS ON!!" with increasing urgency.

Ah yes, the panic that the furnace is running.

dragons, boogers, and BM's.. must be dinnertime

I have spent the weekend living with a dragon named Fireball. Little e has been experimenting with alternate identities recently. She has been a duckling, a chick, Roo, a woman with a B-52 beehive hairdo, and most recently a dragon. I have been the corresponding Mama Duck, Mama hen, Kanga, a cheerleader (its a computer game thing), and a boy named Edward. Big E has gotten off light. He has been a heroic alien robot and a magician named Moongobble who turns things into cheese. Sweetheart G abstains. She still loves to roleplay, but she wants to do it on her own terms (not little e's). (Little e does leave G with choice characters like the Talking Toad or the Slime Monster.)

This is what lead to the dinner conversation featuring Nosepicker the Goblin. He lurks beneath children's beds, so he can pick their noses while they sleep. This is his version of a hunting/gathering lifestyle. (You get the idea, right?) Big E was very helpful in relaying the finer details of this story. Apparently, Fireball and Moongobble know Nosepicker. (I can only hope they don't "do lunch" together.)

Our dinner was concluded with a recital of little e's bowel movements of the day. (She was insisting she didn't need to visit the loo, because she had already gone.. once.. )

Sweet G stayed out of most of this conversation. She was very tired. Friday was her 1st grade play (she was chicky wicky), a class publishing party, Field Day, an afterschool playdate, and the night spent at Grandma M's. Saturday she went to the Farmer's Market and the Rose Parade with Grandma M. Sunday will be a day of rest before her last week of school. I can understand why she wouldn't want to be Urk the Talking Toad.

Too much fun

I am having so much fun.

This one has paper, photos, and ribbon in it. I used paper as edging, but I am thinking about trying some narrow seam binding in the future.

I am really happy with this one. This one is fabric (cotton and brocade) with a real Japanese stamp, covered with clear vinyl, so (ta da) it can go through the mail! It even has a paper postcard backing! Of course, between the vinyl and the brocade it is a bear to photograph, so you'll have to ignore the glare. I am very, very pleased with the sewn binding.

And in case anyone is concerned, I am still working (faithfully) on the pieced border for little e's 'phant quilt. I sew a set of strips, iron them, pin the next set, and then make a collage.

distraction

Okay, I've resisted for a week, but now I have falled prey to distraction. (I am very proud to have lasted this long.)
At the quilt show last week, I met a woman named Bonnie Sabel who was demonstrating her book "Positively Postcards". I really like the mixed media approach, and the ability to use up those left over bits I can't throw out. So, here are my first two attempts.


I used some lightweight cardstock for a backing, and just sewed on fabric scraps and paper bits. I have to work some more on my binding technique. It is really hard to find a clean way to finish something I can't turn inside out. In the book, Bonnie made her postcards using a heavy duty stabilizer and fabric base, which would make finishing the edge easier, but I like the stiffness of the cardstock. (Plus, I have lots of cardstock!) My second attempt has paper, photos, and fabric incorporated into the card. Nothing like instant gratification!

carnation

This carnation is my favorite blossom in my yard. I wish I could take photo that would capture it properly! The lavender color on the blossom is iridescent! It looks like shimmery satin. There is so much movement to the color. And the hot pink stripe is a flat tone without any shimmer. I love the contrast. I think the way the colors clash in both tone and texture is fabulous. And its an heirloom flower, not a new creation. I wish I had the chutzpah to combine fabrics like this, and have it work.

Kermit Lives!

Blue weirdos are heading my way. Yep, and blonde pigs. Singing frogs and dogs, and Fozzie Bear. Yep.
Season Two of the the Muppet Show is FINALLY out. (Well almost. It comes out this summer.)
I love the muppets.
They make me happy.
The bad jokes, the songs, the dance numbers, the lack of plot.. All make my days a little brighter.
I have preordered my copy, and now I can start counting down the days.
(Lets see August 7th is how many days away? (Oh, and I didn't pay for shipping, so add a few extra... ))

Anticipation...

Sweetheart G is watching these blueberries like a hawk. She can't wait for the picking to begin!
There is a lot of anticipation in our garden at this time of year.

This is my favorite blossom in the yard. Wait until you see it in full bloom! (I just hope I can get a good photo of it!) Really this photo is just a tease