Welcome to Lissilulu Sewing Club...

Written last Tuesday
but lost in cyber space's holding dock (due to busyness of life)
until refound today .

Welcome to Sewing Club, we sure are glad you were able to come today.

Here are some softies for you to choose to sew; to make it your very own.

and some new friends just waiting to get to know you and sew a softie too!

We sure enjoyed having you in club today...see you next Tuesday!

Can you tell we just had so much fun today? Besides my two youngest daughters we had 3 other sewing friends sign up for the next three weeks. My two oldest daughters will take turns being my assistants. I am very blessed!

First day at Street Market and new bag design...

This past Saturday was the first ever Street Market locally. We have had numerous art festivals but not an ongoing Market. We were one of the first vendors so we will have seniority the organizer said. woohoo for Tessa and I.looking to the right of our space--there was more to the left too..this actually was a two block market this weekend but has enough space to enlarge to four city block lengths and everyone anticipates that by next years market
Our booth didnt look exactly like I want it to for the future but also not too bad for a days worth of throwing together (which is the notice I gave myself after deciding to be a member at the last minute)
We didnt have our canopy top yet so we were roasted. that was alright with me though..felt good to warm the bones after such a wet and windy winter. Tessa's things are all on the pink fabric--people were really proud of seeing a young person selling her hand made things.
You can see the little teddy bear and kitty head in the orange bucket that the kids will be making in the handsewing club for 6-11 year olds.
The bag in the front of the first column is my latest...I love this bag. Lots of orange with navy blue and green. Two of the fabrics are vintage and the other is thrifted...I did use a bit on new small gingham though because I couldnt resist mixing gingham with this big, bold flowers.
I'm going now to put it in my Etsy shop in case someone wants it for their very own before this next Street Market.
sold overnight---THANKS STACY!
the front has yellow ric-rac..two of my favorite thingsa little surprise on the inside pockets (there are three)

Fresh things....

Our town is starting a weekly Downtown Street Market....Tessa and I just decided to be vendors as of yesterday so we are tying up loose ends..literally and packing the van for in the morning.
Not sure if Tes will be able to go in the morning part of it..depends on how much better Sophie is feeling. The market will be every saturday...should be a consistent routine to get into as a family...creating and selling together.
I took a few of the projects I will be teaching the 6-11 year olds in the handsewing classes and bagged them up as Sewing Buddy Kits for kids.
BTW, Sophie isnt throwing up anymore and has actually taken a few bites of food and has color to her cheeks. Yay!! Makes this Mama's heartbeat slow down a bit.

I will get photos of the Market tomorrow..cant wait to share it with you.
Hope you are having a GREAT weekend!
Lori

tenderness...

snuggling in bed-
a little 6 year old head snuggled up tight under my chin...

her hands holding my arm to her chest for comfort...

one of her older sisters favorite books from when she was younger being read to her...

very diluted juice being drank; only to come back up again...

sweet, tired blue eyes looking at me...

mother to daughter and daughter to mother declaring our love to each other, while snuggling in bed---"I love you round the world and back again"...

Tessa and Hannah have already dealt with this illness in the past week...
Oh, if only this illness would be on its way far from my babies...

I'm more than ready to see her like this again.

kindness...

This past Saturday our church and several other churches had crews doing different acts of kindness to show God's love in a practical way. Some did the free car wash, some handed our flowers, some did money drops of quarters....
We were the recipient of one of the crews. Several of our boards were bouncing pretty bad on our deck and a few along the edge actually broke through. These guys came over and ripped em out and put in new.

It sure is nice to not worry about if another board is going to break through. Now that the bare bones are fixed we can start the beautification process. We have already started scrubbing white picket rails...boy do they get gross when a gigantic cherry tree drips on them year long. LOL!
Now to figure out what to wash it with to paint it a cheery color for summer time fun!

Thanks Love Grays Harbor Team!

Pink Petal Delight...

I call the Cherry Tree's petals *Pink Petal Delight* when they start falling. The girls (chickens) love them! They go absolutely mad for the first couple of minutes out of their coop eating them like I devour a Haagen Daaz bar.

Sadly, the tree is shedding. The petals are about half gone now and when the wind blows the petals fly...it's pink snow season for the whole neighborhood. The tree is so tall it blows half a block away.

Can you see some of the petals blowing toward the girls when they swing? Sophie was raking the petals thinking she would jump in them like others jump in leaf piles. ~grin~

I don't know what it is about the above picture of the chair and petals and sunlight that I love but I think I will have to have it printed out because of the peaceful feeling it gives me.

The next two days are supposed to get HOT....well into the 80's. yeah! Time to get some homemade popsicles freezing for the kids and figure out easy dinners for the next couple of days. Sure wish I had already gotten the propane tank filled for the barbecuer....time to do that I guess. :o)

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you!

Getting there...

Last night we did the trial run to see how long these hand sewing projects will take for our Sewing Club. Hannah and Sophie had fun and were so proud of their sewing. They learned the straight stitch, whip stitch and to pin fabric and not poke themselves on it while sewing around it.

They are so proud of themselves and I am of them. I didn't realize how comfortable they were with sewing. I tended to housework in between helping them because it took close to 2 hours for them to complete them. They didn't get bored or tired though....guess this is when they learn the lesson of being able to stay up late sewing on that Easter dress the night before Easter for when they are Mommies huh?I started working on the advertising posters...kids all came and did their own crafts...must be like the telephone when a parent gets on it huh? like bees to honey...
Tessa and I are going to print out the above photo of Hannah and Sophie with their finished projects and stick them in the empty spot on the posters. We have four business around town who are going to put them up.

This is a whole family business....my older 3 kids will be official (meaning paid) helpers and the younger two will be in the club.
We are so excited!

Not Dorothy...

I have an aunt named Dorothy but she cannot have these shoes...(Love you Aunt Dorothy). I tried the clicking three times but it didn't do anything...and my dog's name is meatball, not toto.

My Mom sent me some birthday money back in the beginning of April. I really haven't found anything yet that I wanted to spend it on...until I saw these shoes. I know the images are blurry but I wanted to show them to you.
I have a pair of black Mary Janes that I originally bought to work with a catering company several years ago that I still wear often...my little girls each have a pair of Mary Janes too. I have had a little girl (or 2 or 3 or 4) with a pair of black Mary Janes in this home for the past 16 1/2 years. Can ya tell how much I love the style of shoe? LOL!
Now I have a pair of red in the ballet flat style and I will make myself wear some summery skirts this summer with them even if I think the skirt makes me look fat. I broke them in wearing them to school the other day and finally felt stylin' walking onto the campus.]

There's just somethin' about wearin red.

Thanks Mom. ~big cyber hug~

Mothering...

I spent the day puttering around my house putting this here and that there while thinking "what would I be doing without tending house with my children"?

Oh, I love doing what I am doing so much more than all the other options....

I have had so many different thoughts running through my mind today on mothering and how we are each so different in how we mother individually, but also alike in the distinction of being mothers. Thoughts about the individual women in my life that have helped shape the mother I have become and how each of them has contributed to my Mama personality.

SouleMama has a wonderful post today that describes my feelings so much better on being a mother than even I could explain. How does she do that? ~grin~

The phrase "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world" has ran through my head all day. It is such a powerful statement. Motherhood is such an honor.

Here it is in its entirety~

Blessings on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace,

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,

Power may with beauty flow,

Mother's first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow--

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky--

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows evermore are hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)

Week of Spring: Celebrations

About 7 years ago Andy worked for an Oil Distributing Co. The Co owned several gas stations around town. One particular station was ripping up these beautiful yellow Rhodies and was going to throw them out. Andy being the type of man to know what is an excellent opportunity nabbed them and brought them home. They really are the most beautiful, cheery shade of yellow.

Tes thought we needed some cheering up on the table and she was so right. Who says we need to have a holiday or a reason to have flowers on our table?
Nothing beats a vase of flowers from your yard. They look so pretty with the lilacs, even though the lilacs aren't quite blooming yet. Can't wait til they do...they were here over 16 years ago when we bought this house and were also planted for the same woman as the Japanese Cherry Tree was. I believe they are a heirloom variety. Such a deep scent to them.

Today is Milkshake's 4th birthday. She is Tessa's baby and that is not an over statement. In our home the animals are for sure part of the family. They all have such neat personalities....even the chickens. Tessa buys a special can or two of cat food and has a birthday treat with all of the cats (5) enjoying the fun.

Week of spring: Outings

Wednesdays I take two hours to myself. Tessa and Aliss go to the park and library with a friend; Sophie, Zack and Hannah go to my friends house across the street and watch too much t.v.
being a busy single mom I NEED the teensy bit of time to myself, it goes by waaaay to fast. There are always way too many things calling my name. Quite often I find I can't remember what I did of importance when they have been gone other than sitting by the woodstove and reading a book.

This past Wednesday Tessa, Aliss and their friend took Sophie with them on their weekly outing. Sophie had fun hanging out with the big girls and getting all of the attention.

While the girls were playing I had a business meeting of sorts. You see, I have this grand idea of having a sewing club for kids of ages between 6-11 years for handsewing skills.
I couldn't think of where I would hold my club and was really praying hard about it. There is a real cute deli/sweet shoppe in our small town that has a separate meeting room. It is soooo cute with red walls, oldie pictures, big windows and lace curtains.

Can you tell how excited I am?

This weekend I will teach my girls ages 6 and 8 a few of the hand sewing felt projects I will be teaching these other kids so I can get a picture of the finished projects for a flyer to put around.
the ice cream shop and sweet shoppe have already said they would hang a flyer.

I am looking for 8 kids to start with for one class. If I get more of a response I will add in another weekly class right away. I am thinking of having the parents register the child for four consecutive classes then I wont be busy always registering new kids for each class.

More to come on the lissilulu-sewing club....hooray!

Week of spring: Activities

We have started a session of swim lessons for Hannah, Zack and possibly Sophie. The YMCA puts on a special session in the early afternoon for our Home School group. Sophie got wet and went to the pool but decided it wasn't her cup of tea...she is still considering it as we have another session tomorrow.

Hannah's hair sure looks super long when it's wet.

Zack is in the red shorts


My children have won one of the top three places in the AWANA Grand Prix for the past three years (as long as our church has hosted AWANA). I am so proud of them. This year Tessa won first place (her first win ever) and Zack won third. Way to go guys!

I showed the kids how you can draw symbols for each letter of the alphabet and write letters in code to others.
A little weeding at the church landscaping while waiting for the Grand Prix to start. Had to take advantage of that beautiful sunshine when it peeks its head out.

Week of Spring: Pink

I have lived in this house for the past 16 years and each year this flowering cherry tree gets more magnificent. It had to have a trimming last year and is still humongous. It is at least 50 years old and was a present from children to their mother. The mother was my ex step dads mom who previously owned this house and raised her children here.


This shot actually starts at about the six foot level. The birdhouse had a family of birds a couple of years ago....who had the sweetest babies, barn swallows I believe. It was neat to watch them learn to fly and how hard that pair of parent birds worked to keep their babies fed.

Since my theme is pink I grabbed the camera when Sophie was giving a treat to the bunnies. This bunny was given to Aliss about a month ago when the neighbor boy couldnt keep it any longer. Tessa also has a super sweet bunny that was saved from being the main course on a family friends dinner table a couple of years ago.

There are the monkeys! Hope you are enjoying some color where you are this spring. We are still fighting through the overcast days and rain but are getting a peek of sun here and there. The flowers are prevailing though and showing their cheerful heads where ever they can.

spring...

Tessa has been in the sewing room again. she makes these great business/credit card wallets. She also makes them in the size to carry plain ole' cash. I thought it was neat how she originally came up with the idea. I majorly horded the fabrics from the furniture store for handbags but put aside quite a few in a smaller size that I knew I wouldn't use. Looky what she came up with...we love recycling these fabrics. She has her own shop on Etsy if you want to support her creativity.

The tree is starting to bloom out...this is the largest flowering cherry tree I have ever seen. We will try to get a picture of it in its entirety on a nice day. Sophie raced through her chores and schoolwork so she could get a good climb into it. She was so proud as she is big enough to climb it all by herself now....you know how that happens almost magically when you turn 6.