Kleas

Day Thirty-End of Macro Challenge

It was a fun run participating in Karin's macro challenge. 

Her lesson in photography has been a great learning experience for me and I'm pretty sure many more macro photos will be seen here from now on.

The even bigger challenge for me this month was trying to commit to posting every day.  Which I didn't. But twenty-five out of thirty days is a record for me.  Where before, I was averaging maybe five or six posts a month.  I certainly won't be able to keep up that kind of pace.

And the photos?  As I was walking about my house this month with a camera in front of my eye, I discovered I have a habit of leaving little beads and things in clay dishes around.  These I found on the kitchen windowsill, my night table and on the fireplace mantel.  Funny.  I never really noticed I did that before.

Day Twenty-Nine - My Friend Chelle

To some it may sound like bragging.  "Look what I got!"  But to me, it's an important and well deserved recognition of the nice things people do in this community.  That's why I've been dedicating some of my posts lately to the women and their wonderful gifts they have sent my way.  I was very much surprised by a package I recently got from Chelle.  Surprised because we first met in a swap that happened well over a year-and-a-half ago.  Take a good look here to see what she created for me back then, you'll be impressed by her attention to detail crafting such tiny works of art.  I immediately fell in love with her blog not only because of her creativity and sensitivity to her work, but because I always learned something new from her. 

There was no announcement that this gift was coming, in fact, I'm quite impressed she's hung on to my address all this time. 

Her embroidery is perfection.  (Oh how I love macro shots of stitch work)

Two beautifully embroidered onsies for baby.  Not only that, but she made the most darling linen shorts to match.  Here's the entire ensemble.

How cute is that robot fabric on the shorts?  And ever so thoughtful, she even included a shirt she made for Peanut.

She shares how she made it here (scroll down). 

I have been truly blessed with such gifts.  Thank you so very much Chelle.

Day Twenty-Eight - Mosaic Monday

Peanut has become fascinated with letters and words lately.  His almost four year old brain is starting to grasp the concept that stringing certain letters together can create a word.  Being bilingual, he's got double duty.  We have a new game we play at the dinner table.  Peanut chooses a word for me to spell in English, then he turns to Papa to get it in Spanish.  He never tires of playing.  To keep his interest, I found an old Scrabble for Kids game at the thrift store so now he is able to put the words out as I spell them for him. 

Another Monday mosaic I put together from photos from the Flickr Macro Pool. 

Letters&Words

Macro Photo Challenge

Last weeks shift back to cloudy skies and dark days (and yes, even more snow) left me completely uninspired to keep my posts up for the photo challenge.  Looks like the sun is trying to make a breakthrough today, but we still have a drab week in the forecast.  Yeah.  Enough of my boring weather report.  It's just that it sure gets me down...I never realized before how much it affects my mood.  On to some photos.

Day Twenty-Four - Sea Salt

Day Twenty-Five - Silk Ribbon

Day Twenty-Six - Coins

Day Twenty-Seven - Beadwork

Yesterday Sistah and I went to Craftstravaganza.  We were brief as the building was not heated and it must have been 25 degrees inside.  Those poor vendors!  Braving it out in the freezing cold all afternoon.  Anyway, I was thrilled to see blogging friend Lisa again.  She makes the most beautiful bibs and burp cloths. 

There were so many wonderful things to look at but I had the attention span of a three-year-old.  One thing that did catch my eye was the cutest and funniest crochet piece I think I have ever seen...Monster Pie

This piece just cracks me up.  Made the the lovely and talented fuzfrenzy.  Etsy shop here.

More craft fairs coming next weekend...now if only we get some decent weather.

Day Twenty-Three-Happy St Jordi's Day

Today is one of my favorite holidays.  St. Jordi's Day or La Diada de Sant Jordi.  If you are ever in Barcelona on the twenty-third of April, you will understand why.  The streets are packed with vendors selling roses and books.  Similar to Valentine's Day, it is a holiday to celebrate love.  The tradition is, a rose and a book are given to your loved one.   

How did this tradition begin?  Legend has it that in Catalonia, there was a fire breathing dragon who had an insatiable appetite.  He ate all the animals in the small kingdom and was still hungry.  So to keep him happy the King decided to feed him one of the people in the town.  A name was chosen by lottery and it so happened the King's own daughter's name was drawn.  As she faced her doom and went off to meet the dragon a charming Prince came along to slay the beast.  When the dragon's blood spilled a rose bush grew and from there the Prince plucked a rose to give to the Princess.

Thus the rose.  And why the book?  It just so happens that Barcelona is the publishing capital of the Spanish-speaking world and as a way to honor the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare on April 23, 1616, the tradition of giving a book was born.

For many years I traveled to Barcelona for work and had tried, in vain, to find a children's book celebrating this sweet holiday.  Imagine my pure joy when Papa came home from his trip and my new dear friend had sent this book for the boys. 

Happy St. Jordi's Day!!

Day Twenty-Two-Earth Day

It's amazing how much junk mail two adults can get in just a couple of days. 

We've tried with no success to get less of it delivered to our home.  We do recycle it, but is it enough?

I may be the last to hear of The Story of Stuff.  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out. 

Happy Earth Day!  We're heading to the river to explore and celebrate our beautiful earth.

Day Nineteen, Twenty & Twenty-One

It was a glorious two days.  We had friends stay the weekend, there was an art gallery opening and an Earth Day celebration.  The weather was even nice enough to go outside for walks.  I completely forgot about the computer and my thirty day photo blogging challenge.  It was a nice break.  But now to catch up. 

I am once again combining Mosaic Monday with the photo challenge and had fun finding common threads in the Flickr group.

SEW

DRAW

EMBELLISH

That was fun!  Peanut is busy making us sandwiches for a picnic.  How I love this outdoor weather.  We're off to enjoy the day...hope you are enjoying yours.

Day Eighteen

These shell food picks sitting on my kitchen windowsill have me pondering what I can make for this.

Day Seventeen-My friend Sonya

More surprises in my mailbox.  This time from my dear friend Sonya.

This shot of her owl is my macro attempt for the day, but with the clouds, it's a bit difficult to photograph up close.

That's better.  You can imagine how my jaw dropped when I opened her package.  This is the most adorable knit softie I have ever seen.  It's gorgeous!  And I love the colors she chose.  She also made this blanket.

 

The colors are off a bit (that cloudy day thing), the greens are more a pea green (not yellow green) and the variegated yarn is the same she used for the owl.  It's beautiful...just perfect.  Both owl and blanket came sweetly wrapped furoshiki style in this adorable owl fabric. 

As we've been out and about sporting matching blanket and owl I've had many inquiries about the owl pattern.  I am happy to learn today that the owl is Sonya's own design!  Go here for details on to to purchase your own.  Sonya...thank you so much!  You've made us all so happy with your thoughtful gift.  Especially Julen.

Day Sixteen-My friend Mimi

Almost a month ago I received the most wonderful surprise in my mailbox from my friend Mimi.   My very own woolly moon baby.

Initially, I thought it was a gift for baby, but she later said it was for me.  The mama.  My very own baby that will never get bigger.  I love it so much.  Her handwork and attention to detail make her dolls so special.  There is no question I am a huge fan of Mimi's work.  We share a love of embroidery and wool and she stitches up such beautiful creations like none I've ever seen before.  I love all her dolls, and this is one of my all time favorite applique pieces. She also makes the sweetest fabric postcards and ACEO's.  Check out her shop, you won't be disappointed. 

In her package she also included one of her ornaments.

     

Love this... and looks like a lot of fun to make.  Here's her tutorial if you'd like to give them a try.

Oh...and she also sent some wool.  (One thing I'm especially loving about the macro setting is I can FINALLY take decent photos of wool...).

And not just ANY wool, but wool that Salley Mavor gave to her.  Now, Mimi knows I'm a huge fan of Salley's work (just see here and here) and she knew this would be a big deal for me...and it is.  I can't wait to make something special from it.

Mimi's card on the left, Salley's on the right.

Thank you for all the surprises Mimi!  You have outright spoiled me.