Friday Favorites

Little V is still sick. It is cold and windy.  It is snowing (again) this morning and there is more snow in the forecast.  There is a general funk hanging over the L house.

Time for music, music that moves your soul, music that makes you want to dance, music that creates its own sunshine.  On repeat in this house on this snowy day is Michael Franti's "Sound of Sunshine."  All of Michael Franti's music makes you feel good, makes you remember how great life is, but this song is just what we need today.  "I wanna go where the summer never ends, with my guitar on the beach there with all my friends, the suns so hot, the waves in motion, and everything smells like suntan lotion."  How can you argue with lyrics like that?  Today, we are making our own sunshine.  Listen to the song, close your eyes, and I swear, it's almost like you can feel the sun on your face.

I have talked about Michael Franti before, I really love his music, and what he's about.  Even got to meet him! (Sorry, about the picture quality, but you know, concert night & camera phones!)

It has struck and we are stuck...

The coffee table is strewn with tissues, the favorite coloring books are filling up quickly, princess DVDs are on repeat, the timer is going off every 4 hours as a reminder, the tea kettle is working over time, my knitting needles are warm from over use, and the juice is almost gone.  Yep, you guessed it, there is a sick kid in this house.  Poor little V, pneumonia has struck.  We are on our 4th day of 'do not leave the house except for doctor visits' sickness.  Little V is doing great, she never complains,  when you ask her what she wants to do she replies, "the doctor says I need to chill," and she thinks that it is amazing she can watch this much TV.  I, on the other hand, am going insane... I am always up for an extra day off work, but I have just reached my limit,  please get me out of this house!!!!! 

Worlds Colliding...

What a weekend!  I have made an attempt to keep my blogging seperate from my 'real' life and the business that I own, but since the origins of this blog lie in thankfulness, I find my two worlds colliding...

I own a dance studio and have the wonderful opportunity to be involved with amazing kids.  Dance is my passion, and my business is a life long dream come true.  This past weekend my wonderful competition dancers set out for their first competition of the season.  They are an incredible group of young ladies who work very hard at something they all truly love, dance.  This weekend they danced amazingly well and were rewarded for their efforts.  But what I am most proud of, the moments that I find myself thinking about the most, are the moments when I witnessed these girls demonstrate their own compassion and gratitude.  Compassion for one another, the needs of their team and friends.  They all truly look out for one another, help one another, and lean on one another.  Gratitude for the time and investment that not only they, but their families, and teachers have spent, not just in their dances but in themselves.  These are the moments I find myself moved by.  The embrace of friends in moments of exhilaration and defeat.  The joy in a mothers eyes as she watches her daughter move across the stage. 

I am so thankful for these moments, so thankful I get to be a part of these lives.  So thankful, that such a wonderful family has been created around this thing we love, dance. 

Friday Favorites

This past October, Big V and I spent a wonderful weekend in Northern Michigan on a wine tour weekend.  We had a great time, and found what is now one of our most favorite places and wines.  After a very unpleasant bus tour (which firmly sealed the fact that we will NEVER participate in another bus tour!) we went exploring on our own and happened upon an incredible winery. 

Circa Estate Winery, oh how I love thee!  Set atop a hill surrounded by vineyards, sits a beautiful stone house.  When you enter this seemingly simple house you are transported to an exquisite wine experience.  Soft music, warm fires, beautiful art and dark wood provide an unspoken invitation to sit down, get comfortable, and have a taste.  We spent a lovely evening with David and Margaret Bell, learning about their vineyard and experiencing their passion.  We are hooked, I found my red wine soul mate, Requisite. 

Please, take a moment to check out their website, then pick up a bottle.  It is such a wonderful thing to see and experience people living their passion.  I would love to invite you all over for a glass, but that would require me to share my stash!  For my local friends, you can find Circa Requisite, as well as their other wonderful wines, at Sylvan Lake Wines, Meadows Fine Wine & Liquor in Farmington Hills, Cloverleaf Wines in Roayl Oak, Simple Wine in Northville, Merchant's Fine Wine in Dearborn, Champagnes Wine Cellar in Warren, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe in Troy, and Colasanti's in Highland.  All of their wines are really wonderful, but you see there is a love story here...
 

Me & Requisite...true love forever.

That's not always a bad thing, right?!?

Free spirited, independent, strong willed, stubborn.  All of these are words that I have used to describe Little V.  Yes, she is only 4 (well, almost 5) but they all suit her so well.  There are those wonderful days when I look at her with a big grin on my face and say, "she is such a free spirit, so independent!"  Then there are the days when she just knows what she wants and I think, "she sure is strong willed."  Then there are the days, like today, with my teeth gritted and silently counting to ten I say, "gosh, she is just so STUBBORN!" 

I love that she knows what she wants, the problem is that she is, just like me, stubborn to a fault.  That's not always a bad thing, right?!?

I guess the one I should really feel bad for is Big V...




And, because I love to share my creations, here are the gifts my little, stubborn Valentine recieved...

A twirly skirt,

(Thank goodness her shirt covers the waistband, I am still getting the hang of this sewing thing!)

a matching hair do-da,

and a little mermaid.  Little V gave her a face!

(this is from a great book, Wee Wonderfuls)

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope your day is filled with love...

Friday Favorites

I have been contemplating doing a weekly post that highlights whatever I am especially excited about each week.  (Yes, I do seem to have a weekly obsession, maybe it's my ADD, OCD??)  I have been going around and around... What do I include as favorites? How do I best highlight the things I love ?  How do I pick each week?  But then it just fell into my lap...

I got home late from work the other night and Big V was all jazzed up, "I bought you presents," he says.  Well, that has got to be my favorite phrase of all time! (No... that's not the Friday Favorite.)  Then he decided to give me my Valentine's gift early,YAY!  (I need to mention, Big V's inability to wait for anything makes any gift giving holiday extra exciting!)  It was a beautiful pair of earrings, love, love, love.  Then he goes on to tell me about the great store he purchased them at.  And when I say goes on, he went on for about 30 minutes.  The next morning, the gift extravaganza continued with Little V getting gifts, and then a matching gift for both of us.  (Have I mentioned how much I love presents?!?  More love...)  After all of this madness, I just had to see this new store for myself...

Little V and I ventured out, off ot Berkley we went...  (Yes, it was a venture, when it is this cold out, any time you get up the courage to leave the house, it should be considered an "venture!")  So now, drumroll please, I introduce the first official "Friday Favorite," an amazing store called the Yellow Door Art Market.  WOW!!!!!  It is a fantastic place that features local artists and their wares.  Let me just say, any gift that isn't homemade will from this point forward be purchased at the Yellow Door Art Market.  Please, oh please, check them out.  They truly have something for everyone! 

I am inspired, I am excited, I am in love with way too may things at this fantastic place, and my debit card is tired...

Off to school

No matter how prepared we are it always seems that the rush to get out the door in the morning gets a little chaotic.  (Is it that way in your house too?)  This morning I get the treat of a little extra time, Big V took Little V to school today.  As Little V was heading downstairs to get bundled up and head off to school, she gave me a big, huge hug, and looked at me with that wonderful 'I love school' smile, and said, "I'm gonna have a GREAT day!"

I hope you have a GREAT day too.

knit knit knit

This weekend was wonderfully relaxing and provided some time for me to finish a few knitting projects...

The first hat is the Autumn hat, pattern by Jane Richmond.  This knit together so quick and easy during our Saturday family movie night.  (We watched Narnia, again, and Red after little V went to bed!)  I am really loving this hat, I will definitely be wearing it ALOT!  The Neckwarmer Hat, pattern by Elissa Sugishita, was a good lesson in the necessity of doing a gauge swatch!  You should be able to wear it both as a hat/headband and neckwarmer.  Sadly, mine will just be a neckwarmer.  I am going to give this pattern another shot, but sized down.  Little V really wants a matching one!  The little baby hat I whipped up for a good friend who is about to become a Grandma, so exciting!  They do not know if the baby is a boy or girl, so I attached the flower to a clip that can be removed.  Don't want to waste all that knitting if the little bundle of joy turns out to be a boy! 



Even though my hands are tired from all that knitting, I can't be without something on the needles!  We'll see what this turns out to be, I haven't really decided yet...

All of that knitting really does provide time for reflection.  So here is my Monday morning thankfulness,  I am so thankful for the quiet times.  The times when we are home and free to do whatever we feel, be it knitting, creating valentines, cooking, vacuuming (thanks, Big V!), or just being together.  We really had a nice, relaxing Sunday.  And Violet provided some great half-time entertainment!

The gift

After the ill-fated lunchbag project, I decided to make a decorative pillow for my Step-Mom's birthday gift.  She has recieved it (and loved it!), so now I can share the details...

I just love it! Don't you?!?

Using a 12 x 16 pillow form, I created the pillow cover out of off-white fleece.  Each of the flowers and leaves were cut from fabrics that I knew would match Big C's living room (which made it even harder to part with - our living rooms are the same colors!), and then machine sewn on with differing stitches.  Then the stem was hand embroidered.  (This was my first attempt at embroidery, and I think I may have to try some more projects!  Uh-oh, another obsession may be forming...)  I also added bead detailing to each of the flowers.

I will definitely be making more of these! 

The inspiration came from this great book Homemade Home by Sania Pell.

There has also been ALOT of knitting going on around this house, I will be posting some details soon.

Now I am off to play dollhouse with Little V, gotta love Sundays!

Snow Day

Snow Day... That has got to be one of the best phrases of the english language, at least to any Michigander.  I am very fortunate that when the schools close, my business is also closed.  I have often dreamt about having a "snow day funhouse," a place where all of my friends who don't get the day off can bring their kids to spend a super fun snow day.  I think Snow Days really are magical.

Today at the funhouse, this is what we did...

Little V made a to-do list...

...we whipped up some puppets (these are the puppets in progress)...

...did a little painting...

...made some cookies...

...finished the puppets...

...and ended the night with a puppet show.

Of course, we also ate lunch, took a nap, I did a little work, and we even managed to make a complete dinner (including a protein, starch, and vegtable) of roasted chicken.  WHEW!! I am exhausted! 

It was an awesome Snow Day, who is coming over tomorrow if we are lucky enough to have a second Snow Day???

By the way, don't you think we are in need of a real puppet stage?  The dog kennel doesn't really work too well, I think Big V should get to work!

Frustration...

I started this great project for a quilted lunchbag from One Yard Wonders for my awesome Step-Mom's birthday.  (Yep, no wicked step-mothers in this family!)  It is a very cute project, that I was very excited to begin.  And great for Big C because I know she takes her lunch to work everyday, who doesn't need a great lunchbag?  I was totally ready to give Vera Bradley a run for her money - HA!

Looks great, right?!?

It was the first time I ever quilted anything and I was very excited by the process.  The quilting went great.  I put the bag together, great.  Started the process of adding the bias tape around the edges, and things got a little hairy, the frustration began.  I just couldn't figure out the corners on the bottom of the bag.  I reviewed the pattern again, after a few fun curse words, and discovered I had the wrong size bias tape.  (I had 1/2 inch, but needed 3/4 inch.  A quarter of an inch makes a big difference, right?!?)

So, off to Joann's.  No 3/4 tape to be found.  I can make it work with 7/8, it can't be that far off!

Back to work...

I had a few hours to myself Sunday, figured it was a great time to finish the project.  (At this point her birthday gift was only 10 days late!  No worries, I haven't given her a birthday gift on time in the last 26 years, forget the fact that I have known her for 26 years!)  I pinned the bias tape to the bag and began sewing.  Things were going great until I reached that wretched corner...

The cursing begins (thank goodness I was home alone!)  Time to stop, regroup, re-strategize...

Again, can't figure out the f****n' corner!  The bag goes flying across the room, the sewing machine gets shut off, and off to Joann's I go.  I am starting a new project....   Ugh!!!!!

Looks good from far but...

...far from good!

Look at that corner!  There's no way I could give it to my Step-Mom like that!

Any advice for bias tape?  Help!  I want to finish it someday...

I did start and complete a fantastic new project on Sunday.  I will share pics once I know she has recieved it.  Happy Birthday, Big C!