JCasa BLOG

works in progress

of the wee variety ::

and the mama kind ::

also, i wanted to spread the word that today is nie nie day - take a look at the hundreds of amazing items up for bid in silent auctions on over 100 blogs, all proceeds directly benefiting the nielson family's recovery after their tragic airplane accident earlier this month.  have a look, send warm thoughts, hug your family a bit tighter.  celebrate life.  xoxo

40 things (!)

1. i have lived in 12 places (not counting college) - 6 with my family, 4 on my own, and 2 with the hub.

2. in 3rd grade, i broke my elbow, foot, and front tooth - on 3 separate occasions.

3. i am terribly nearsighted - when i was little, i thought the neighbor's st. bernard was a cow.

4. my family thought i was goofing around.

5. i have worn glasses/contacts for over 30 years.

   
   

   

6. i once played Moses in the church musical - none of the boys would do it.

7. i was an exchange student to Germany in high school.

8. i learned how to knit from my host mother - she didn't speak English.

9. the first thing i knit was a sweater - i still have it.

10. i spent nearly every summer of my 20's in europe.

11. i once biked from washington into california along the oregon coast.

12. i highly recommend travelling alone at least once in your life.

13. i bought my first guitar when i was 24 - a fender acoustic.

14. i have three guitars - a vintage 60's rickenbacker, the acoustic, and a telecaster knock-off just in case my strings break when we're playing a show.

15. i was a high school teacher for over 13 years.

16. it took us over 2 1/2 years to get pregnant.

17. i kind of lost myself at that time.

18. i am finally finding myself again.

19. i didn't speak publicly about infertility back then because i was afraid i would jinx something.

20. i am a little bit superstitious and a whole lot optimistic.

21. i am a morning person and a night owl.

22. i think Sloan is one of the greatest bands ever.

23. and i love classical music, especially the baroque period.

24. my husband pushed me to find a pottery studio after our honeymoon.

25. i love my husband, he rocks.

26. i started sewing again after our girls were born.

27. i really enjoy sewing clothes for them.

28. i get my crafting genes from my mother - she's a quilter and has been making things ever since i can remember.

29. i love cooking.

30. sometimes i pretend i am hosting my own foodTV show - it's quite entertaining, you should see it.

31. i am shy - most people would not believe that, but it's true.

32. i would love to move back to vermont someday.

33. i would love to live in new york city someday.

34. i don't think we'll be moving anytime soon - but we can vacation there.

35. i love James Bond movies and Law & Order.

36. i do not like exercising but accept that it needs to be part of my daily life.

37. i want to love exercising again.

38. today is my 40th birthday.

39. i am pretty much OK with that.  in fact, i think it's awesome.

40. i have a few major personal goals for this next year.  who knows what the future holds...

thank you for visiting all this time, for sharing bits about yourselves, and for your words of advice, encouragement and humor.  you are precious gems to me.
have a lovely day!  xoxo

*crush*

dear letterpress,

i think i love you.  will you be my valentine?  and holiday card?  and invitation to everything that might ever require an invitation?

xoxo
~me

one is silver and the other gold

our trip to the zoo with team sparklepower was most wonderful in more ways than i can fully describe, but i'd love to share a few of the extra precious moments.

at the beginning of our outing when we turned around to see the three of them on their bellies more interested in a "fuzzily" caterpillar on the ground than the three elephants breaking tree limbs.

and then there was the hand-holding, so precious.  i so love watching my girls form new friendships.  and when the mamas are lucky enough to get along famously, well it's peachy.   (or nectariney, right candace?)  very much so.

but the thing that had me flying higher than a kite all day was the sweet serendipity of running into an old teaching friend and his wife who has been battling brain cancer for years and whose summer did not begin on a bright note.  it was more than a miracle seeing them out and about and illuminating the atmosphere and celebrating her birthday.  celebrating and living.  and kicking some serious crazy sexy cancer ass, appparently.  wow - i still get the chills it was so awesome!

wishing you and yours a spectacular weekend, full of celebration, illumination, and living!  xoxo

back to school '08

the shop has been restocked for all the excitement of the season.  i am not exaggerating when i tell you that i was up until past 1am and still couldn't fall asleep.  it's always been that way right before school starts, even when i was teaching.  and although this isn't quite the start of school around here just yet, i can definitely feel that spirit in my belly.  here's what you will find at the bts '08...

quilted back to school notebooks (with a little pen sleeve and all) ::

pencil pouches with an apple for teacher ::

moleskines stitched with vintage quilty bits ::

made-to-order quilted moleskines personalized with your monogram ::

a trio of list-takers (yes! - the ones from the tutorial) ::

and vintage patchwork fabric magnets ::

i have been beyond giddy creating these pieces - my hope is that that they inspire the excitement and wonder that is the beginning of a new school year.  stop by the shop if you'd like to have a little of this collection in your world.  thanks for popping by my blog and have a great day!  xoxo

and the winner is

congratulations, kristin - check your email for a note from me about your kidlet kit!  thanks to everyone for your awesome comments :: it looks like many of us take along some form of needlework, and if not, there is always a notebook nearby for jotting down those creative ideas when they appear.

the back to school shop is almost complete, just one more project to do finish up and then a whole lot of pictures to take + edit into the night.  i'll post tomorrow morning once the shelves are stocked - see you in the morning and thanks again to everyone for entering my giveaway - never ever has this wee little blog seen that many comments!  xoxo

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2nd annual :: Back-to-School Shop
wednesday
20-august-2008
9am EDT

happy giveaway day

first of all, thank you thank you for the pattern love yesterday - i am terribly excited that so many people want to make List-Takers and it confirms why i created the tutorial.  many thanks!

so... did someone say giveaway?

you can win this kit to make your very own kidlet - use it along with the free tutorial (over on the sidebar) and like magic your little ones will tidy up the house.  ok, maybe not the entire house, but they will certainly have a place to put some of their things that you'd rather not step on in the middle of the night.  it's all bundled up and ready to go - all you need is a sewing machine and time.

to win, just leave a comment telling about what (if any) crafty project you take with you on-the-go.  for example, i always have a smallish knitting project in a tote at the ready - it gets done while the girls are in gym class, in waiting rooms, when i'm in the passenger seat of the car, and occasionally at red lights, but only if i'm alone in the car).  let's hear yours - i'll pick a winner at random tuesday morning, so good luck!  xoxo

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2nd annual :: Back-to-School Shop
wednesday
20-august-2008
9am EDT

DIY Quilted List-Taker

yep, now you can make your own List-Takers!

in response to many kind requests as well as realizing that i cannot physically make these things all day every day, i created a tutorial for my list-taker!  the pdf is set up much like my Kidlet tutorial with 4 pages of easy to follow step-by-step instructions and 22 full color photos to demonstrate pattern specifics, as well as complete sewing instructions with the visual learner in mind.  i have been blown away by the repsonse this past year with my List-Takers and so appreciate all of the interest and support along the way.  my thinking with this latest tutorial is to let my crafty people have a hand at them - i hope you enjoy making them as much as i do!

BUY NOW in my shop!

MAKE them for yourself.
GIVE them as gifts to all the special people in your world.
SELL them at shows, in shops and even on Etsy!

and thank you all for your encouragement and interest all this time - blogging has changed my world in so many ways and you are a big part of why that is.  the process of creating these tutorials really reminds me of the years i was a teacher and how much i loved creating lessons.  in some ways it seems like a lifetime ago that i was in the classroom, but i love that i am finding a way to once again teach what i love.  and i wouldn't trade my here-and-now for anything on earth.  xoxo

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2nd annual :: Back-to-School Shop
wednesday
20-august-2008
9am EDT

supplies

a preview for those who get as excited about the whole back-to-school season as i do.   last summer i wrote about the exhiliration of it all, the hope and promise and adventure of starting over afforded us all, not only every year, but with every sunrise ::

the wheels are in motion for my 2nd annual back-to-school shop update next week, i'm thinking mid-week sometime.  in the meantime, additional previews are popping up here.  details monday as well as a giveaway (and it's a good one).  for now, it's time to head outside - have a wonderful weekend, friends!  xoxo

spit

have you ever heard someone say "i am so excited i could spit?"  i don't know why that's the phrase that comes to mind, because it's a pretty nasty image and all.  but you know what?  i am.  excited, that is.  (not nastily spitting everywhere, thank you very much.)  so excited that i couldn't sleep, mind racing with inspiration so loud - have you ever had that?  pretty cool.  hope there's some pretty coolness in your world today!  xoxo