Black & White and Running Out of Time

We've got big Halloween plans. We've bought 24 yards of muslin and green light bulbs to do this. We currently have a gigantic (5 foot) paper mache head suspended in our garage awaiting painting. We've got a neighborhood party to organize, candy to buy, and pumpkins to carve. And we've got 3 days left. And the scariest part? We're not even close to being ready.

Inside, this is all the decorating I've managed. My little mantle. The sad little focal point of my home. Several years ago, I found the letter templates here, and I still love them. We took one of the portraits from the dining room and gave her a paper witch hat. I'm always a fan of using cheap and plentiful branches for seasonal decorations and these are the perfect perch for our vulture friends. We trapped a bat in a birdcage, printed out a picture of his brother, and added one of my pumpkins to the mix.

How do you decorate for Halloween? Happy Haunting!

The Great Pumpkin

I've been experimenting this week with pumpkin making. I got a bit carried away and now I've got pumpkins coming out my ears! There are some kinds of sewing I like (straight lines, small pieces, natural fabrics, quick results) and some I detest (slippery synthetic fabric, pattern following, fitted, Halloween costumes, ugh). Fortunately these pumpkins fit into the first category. I made a crate of these cuties for the 2nd Unique Chic show this weekend in Ashburn. Stop by if you're local!

Unique Chic Boutique

20618 Hiddengrove Ct.
Ashburn, VA

Thursday 10/15 11am-7 pm
Friday 10/16 11am - 7 pm
Saturday 10/17 9 am - 1 pm

I've listed a few pumpkins in the shop or if you want to try to make your own, you can find a simple pattern here. Now if only these could turn into a pie ....

Yes, I Love Technology

Another favorite activity of the summer has been outdoor movie nights. We shine the movie up onto the side of the house using a projector, laptop, and a pair of good speakers.. We get out the camping chairs, throw down blankets, pop some corn and wait for the sun to go down. The neighborhood kids show up and we have a grand time watching a movie under the stars. Sweet long summer nights.

PS - Can you tell what movie we were watching?

Farm Fresh

I have all sorts of good excuses for neglecting the blog. Lounging by the pool, lying on the hammock, reading good books, protecting myself from and enjoying the kids who are home all day. We're having a really good summer.

One of the things that is making me happy this season is the weekly delivery from our local farm. We purchased a CSA share and are loving having locally grown, organic produced delivered to our door. We've had kale, spinach, beets, asparagus, spring onions, lettuces, zucchini, cucs, yellow plums, apricots, berries. Yum. We also go out every other week or so and pick extra for ourselves - strawberries, blueberries, beans, peaches. When my oldest daughter asked if beans grew on trees, I knew it was a good thing we were getting this up-close look at where our food comes from.

I feel exhilarated when I'm out in that beautiful countryside - a rolling green valley in the shadow of the Blue Ridge. Makes me dream of one day, in the future, living in that kind of space. Maybe I'll be the country grandma that the kids drive over-the-river-and-through-the-woods to come visit. Of course, I'll also maintain an apartment in the city. It's all about balance right? Maybe that's called the suburbs. Sigh.

For now, we'll cherish our visits, and the fruits of our friendly farmer's labor.

Unique Chic Home Boutique

If you are in my area, be sure to stop by Unique Chic's first home boutique show. Some friends are starting up a new venture and asked Spring Chick to contribute. Lots of cute stuff will be available - bags, aprons, stationary, jewelry, clocks, throw pillows, etc. I sent over a bunch of my new favorite things to make - old fashioned patriotic buntings. Perfect for the 4th of July, right?

(Also available in my online shop)

Here's the info on the home show:

20618 Hiddengrove Court, Ashburn
Friday, June 12th, 10- 7
Saturday, June 13th, 10-3

Hope you can stop by!

Pink Bathroom

So... the pink bathroom. With all girls, it's a wonder we've avoided pink for this long. We were originally leaning towards blue and green, to promote tranquility and harmony in the mornings (ha!) but my daughter loved this polka dot shower curtain (and matching accessories), so we changed our color scheme.

To keep it from being too sweet, we paired the soft pink walls with hot pink and orange accessories. I made the simple valence from a twin sheet I found in just the right colors. I went with hooks (of course) for the towels and sewed a loop on each for easy/no falling off hanging. Each child is permanently assigned a specific color so there will be no denying exactly who left their towel on the floor. It's working out fabulously.

Specifics:

Paint: Benjamin Moore "50's Pink"

Shower curtain and soap/toothbrush holder: Target

Curved shower curtain rod (a la hotels, so much more room!)

Valence fabric (twin sheet from PB Outlet)

Towels and Rugs (Garnet Hill, so nice and plush!)

Catching Up

I feel like I have been going non-stop since April. We've either been traveling or had house guest every week since spring break. I have been able to see far flung family members and friends from every stage of my life. It has been awesome. And exhausting.

For the first time in months, I have nothing major on the calendar for a whole 3 days in a row! The pouring rain today is the perfect excuse to just stay in and RELAX, reflect and take a DEEP breath.