Short Tour

We're enjoying gorgeous weather today, having just emerged from some serious tornadoes and staring down the barrel of more severe thunderstorms. We've been charging the flashlights, stocking the pantry, and sending good thoughts out to those who have already experienced damage and losses from this weekend's storm.

To use an unavoidable pun, however, I'm feeling a bit under the weather myself, and so I think today's blog entry will be a short pictorial tour of the goings-on in the studio.

It seems appropriate to kick it off with a bit o' green on St. Patty's Day



A custom apron in progress



New arrivals (oldies but goodies)



A bib from start to finish, which is on its way to a baby shower as we speak







A gratuitous colander shot



And now I'm off to the kitchen for a little snack (homemade banana bread, Mmmm...)

Later!
Kim

Someplace fun

6:30 am - quietly pack snacks and supplies for trip into the van.

7:30 am - put clothes on unconscious children; buckle them into their carseats.

7:31 am - try to explain to whining children that we're going someplace FUN.

7:45 am - re-explain to children that really we're going somewhere S-U-P-E-R fun, now eat something and enjoy the car ride.

8:17 am - break down and tell the boys that we're going to the Zoo, their favorite place ever, and if you don't eat something you're going to be cranky when we get there.

9:00 am - bundle everyone in coats and load up the stroller.

9:03 am - bliss.

It was a cold and blustery day at the park, but we didn't mind, because we spent most of our visit inside the aquarium complex. My kids are infatuated with the aquarium; they find the bubbles enthralling, the motion of the water soothing, and the flitting, darting fish mesmerizing.







Our favorite exhibit of the day was probably the jellyfish. They have always fascinated and terrified me. As a child, I would run up and down the docks, climbing all over my grandpa's and uncles' fishing boats, and occasionally pausing to look straight down into the water, where I would see clouds of jellyfish floating and bobbing in the waves. My mom and cousins didn't mind sharing stories about themselves or someone they knew who got tangled up with a jellyfish, and the extreme measures they sometimes took to counteract the pain.

They may be a little scary, but they sure are beautiful.



And now for a quiet day at home. A little crafting, some coffee-drinking, and a large dose of quality time with the kiddos.

Kim

Bitty Baby Bib

I have a new little niece, which makes me so excited, not just because I'm happy for the beaming new parents, but also because I have an opportunity to make cute and girly baby stuff! I made this bib for practice:





This one isn't quite their colors (I think New Mama prefers pinks and purples) so it'll probably make it into one of my shops at some point. I've been dying to add items to the "tots" category of my store for some time, and seeing how addictive it was making this bib, I expect it will be a lonely category no more! I'll be sure to post pictures of the pink gift bib, too, when I've finished it.

Have a great Tuesday!
Kim

Photo Op

Needed a little break from being hunched over the cutting table/ironing board/sewing machine, so out came the camera--click, click, click. The juicy orange colander begged to be included, and I think she was right; she's rather photogenic. She's part of my collection of enamel colanders, all of various bright and cheery colors. I don't normally collect things (well, aside from fabric), but they strike me as so fun and retro that I just can't resist buying more and more of them. I had originally planned to hang the colanders in my kitchen, perhaps on a big pot rack, but somehow they've found a home in my studio, helpfully storing supplies and making me smile. And by the by, those are nearly finished headbands, who plan to be added to my HC shop early next week.

Speaking of which...I'd best get back to work!

Kim

Just had to share

My first etsy treasury appearance, all Hyena items!



Do you see me there? That's me, second row, in the middle. (I feel as though I'm pointing out my yearbook photo or something, which, by the way, you will probably never see posted in this blog, unless I'm feeling the need to spice things up with a bit of humor)

And a cute little custom order:





Have been tidying up the studio this afternoon; it's amazing what a mess the creative process can make. Of course, one may question whether it's absolutely necessary that 53 yards of various fabrics be strewn, piled, flung, and draped around the room all at once. But hey, it's my process, and I can fling if I want to. Perhaps I'll share pictures one day, but only when my studio resembles this one moreso than this one.

Been Busy

Not busy sewing so much as keeping two little ones entertained during "winter break" from school. We went for some long drives (my kiddos get a kick out of car trips, so much that they usually end up dozing off, which I consider a nice benefit, although I do enjoy their company), played in the yard, visited the playground, etc., etc., etc.

I did find a little time to work on some new items for my guest artisan spot at Lily Pad Landing, a congo full of some wonderfully talented (and awfully sweet) crafters. Here's a sneak peak of my items that will be available this coming Thursday (Feb. 28) at 9pm EST:









Sense a theme?

I also added a new tote to the etsy shop:





I have a few custom orders to dive into now, and hope to have some pictures of them to share soon! Hope you're enjoying some of the sunshiney weather we've had down here lately.

Kim

Road Trip

I guess this month's theme is "do things for myself," because this past weekend I went on a little road trip. It was just me, a map, and my new bag, of course. In the four years since my oldest son was born, I have never been away from my kids overnight (well, I was away from Joey when I was in the hospital in labor with Jack, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as a vacation). With some encouragement from my husband ("Honey, why don't you think about visiting your---" "OKAY! I'll go pack!!!"), I loaded the car and hit the road.



I headed to Destin, Florida, to visit my mom. We did lots of shopping, eating, and walking the beach. Warning: gratuitous shots of fantastic seaside restaurants and gorgeous beaches lie ahead.















We also did a short history tour. My mom showed me the boat my great grandfather built, called the Primrose. It's located across the street from the Destin History and Fishing Museum.





We also stopped by the dock where my uncle's charter fishing boat resides.





It was lovely to have a few days to myself, but of course I'm happy to be home with my family.

Thanks for humoring me by looking at my vacation photos. It's because of these beaches I visited in my youth that I remain a beach snob today. The Gulf water is warm, the beaches are sugar-white, and the powdery sand squeaks beneath your feet when you walk on it. Oh, and let's not forget the "old" beer.



The "C" was hiding behind a light post. I think the sign is looks rather appropriate this way, though.

Bye for now...I think I need to sleep off my seafood buzz!
Kim