SPT Personal History - Family Day

We were married in 1993. Man, were we young. Isn't he handsome? I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky. He's my perfect match. Really. We took an IQ test about 8 years ago and we are exactly the same number. Thank God, because THAT would have been awkward for the rest of our lives. Where one is weak the other tested strong.

We met at a wedding. I saw him across the room and had an intersecting thought You're going to marry him Good! He's fantastic looking! I always assumed I'd be stuck with a schmuck. Hearing that voice took the pressure off. I fully believed it so I didn't worry about a thing. I knew it would happen in it's own time. We were engaged three months later.

Fast forward 11 years later and we found ourselves sitting on a plane peering out at frozen tundra. Every once in a while we'd give each other a I can't believe we're really doing this look. We landed in China knowing that within 72 hours our lives would change forever. Indeed they have. Little Tootie was handed to her BaBa around 9:45pm Feb 2, 2004. He, in turn, handed her to me.


Two years ago today we got on that plane. Two days from now is the anniversary of when we met Tootie and our family of 2 became 3. happy happy.

Sewing Bag

After seeing this bag and this one I felt compelled to try my hand at one too. That, and the baskets were half off at Pier 1.


I had intended to do the drawstring thing at the top too but I made my bag too long and it just seemed clunky and awkward. My drawstring was sewn in and I had already cut and sewed a button hole for the string to come through. But it just wasn't doing it for me. That's when I got the idea to fold it like a brown paper lunch bag. I folded my edges and sewed a whipstitch to hold it in place. Totally making it up as I went along here. I like the idea of having a little handle and added that at the very end with ribbon. We'll see how well this works in real life not in my imaginary wouldn't-this-be-nice world.

Unfolded, although you can't tell from the photo, it is the same width all around as the basket. Should've taken a picture from the top but, alas, I didn't so you'll have to trust me on this.

I think it'll work for toting a small project to and from G-pa's and/or Nini's house.

Now for a preview of my next 2 little doll projects I have cut and ready for the machine. Karen? you like? hint hint
doll 1
doll 2

SPT - Personal History

I'm cheating this week. My friend took this picture of me last year. I can use it as personal history, yes? I love and dislike this photo. It's me vulnerable. I'm on the verge of tears or maybe I was already crying? I think we were talking about the character of God. My friend paraphrased from CS Lewis "don't you know, he's not safe but He's good." In that instant, while holding Tootie, I knew it in my bones. I may not get what I want when I want and I may not understand everything but that doesn't mean He's not good.

My House Could Easily Be Overrun

Remember this?


Well, I finally made a couple of them.


The pins are made with sculpey and straight pins. The bodies are old shirt cuffs except for the plaid one with the green button. She's made from a rectangle of fabric. These are super easy and quick to make. The pins take more time. I have a show coming up in April. I think I'll make a bunch of these. Some solid and some that are containers. And yes, I will be making dolls again soon. I just had get these out of my system.

Tiny Treasures

This is a little pincushion began as a cuff bracelet but I made it too long. I couldn't shorten it without destroying the design. Yesterday I got a brilliant idea to turn it into a little container with a pincushion for a lid. I wasn't sure how I'd go about it so I made it up as I went along. Although it's a bit wonky, I'm pleased with how it turned out. Now what should I put inside?

I have an affection for boxes and containers. I always have. My Dad does too as did his Mother. I know this because of the numerous boxes within boxes of another box I went through after she died. Some had treasure. Some had paperclips (which is also treasure to my office supply fetish friends). I couldn't predict what was under each lid. Fancy boxes had ordinary things and plain boxes held gems.

The lid is made from soft felt stuffed and sewn onto stiff felt with a velvet ribbon sewn around for the sides.



And finally a preview of what else I've been working on:

Accidental Artist : SPT - Personal History

Thanks everyone who stopped by to say hello in my previous post. I enjoy reading new blogs and getting an idea of who peeks into my little world.

Today is Tuesday which makes it Self-Portrait Tuesday but I don't wanna. Instead I give you this drawing I did last year at about this time. I added a current picture screened over top which you can't really see but only get an impression of. Not sure why I did that except that I felt it just needed something else. It's like the ghost image of the future. Now if only I could capture a picture of me NEXT year and screen that in as well. sigh.

I dug this out of the cobwebs today to remind myself to start doing this again. I have the art itch.


Tootie went over to see what I dug out. Her first reaction was to touch. She's such a compassionate little bug.


This image is starting to grow on me. I didn't intend to do SPT but alas I suppose I accidentally did. See? It really is a process. Accidental Tourist Artist*. The past and present combined and mixed up together. My daughter mothering the reluctant mother of last year.

*although Tourist may just be the better word for what kind of artist I am. I more or less wander into art like a clueless tourist.

Delurking Week

My friend over at American Family posted about this being official delurking week. She was successful so I thought I would try it. So, if you would could you please say hello? And maybe link your blog or tell me a little about yourself?

My Best Thrift Store Find Ever!

Today on a whim Tootie and I headed out to a local Thrift store and look what we found! I think I was more excited about it than Tootie although she hasn't stopped playing with it since we got it home. It was quite an adventure trying to fit it in the car but I was determined. It's made out of laminated wood. I'm guessing from the late 70's early 80's time period.

SPT - Personal History

No flashy photoshop work this week just a straight-forward snapshot. This is me at age 5 hanging out in the backyard with my Grandfather. What I have in my hands is a jart hoop which I had pulled a part and turned into a jump rope. Remember Jarts? Now there's a safe game the whole family can enjoy.

I clearly remember this photo being taken and the hour or so previous. I had been in the house and discovered some sheet music. I remember thinking in my little 5 year old brain "I can write music. All it is is a bunch of dots on some lines." So, I got out some paper, carefully drew horizontal lines and proceeded to fill them up with notes I copied out of the book. I was so proud and wondered what kind of beautiful song I had created. I ran clutching my masterpiece to find an adult to translate my work for me. I held it up "Look, look, I wrote a song!" I don't remember who I showed it to or what they said but they didn't say what I imagined that they would. I looked at my sad little piece of scribbles and dots and knew that it wasn't really music. It was foolish for me to believe that it was. Golly, if it were that easy everyone would be doing it. I mourned the death of a musical career for maybe 30 seconds or so and picked up the Jart hoop. I decided to hang out on the table until dinner was ready. That I also remember. We were grilling out.

New Year New Space

Howdy. I haven't been neglectful just busy moving stuff around. I'm like that. Constantly in chaos. Influx. But not like the disease. (oh, that would be reflux. ew.) Maybe it is a disease with me because I'm never content with my domesticity. There's my 50 cent word for the day. Anyhoo, chaos is afoot and that is to blame for the lack of craft these days. Once everything is in it's proper home I shall be producing abundantly.

Until then, behold The Dog. My 168lb baby:

Self Portrait Tuesday - Personal History

The theme for January is Personal History. If you click on the title to this post you can read about it in more detail. This photo was taken tonight. I got out a box of old photos while Tootie was getting dressed for bed. She picked this one up and started running around the house. I grabbed my camera and chased her. I took about 30 dud photos but was happy with this one. It describes much.

She is my daughter. A daughter a pined for and dreamed about for almost 13 years. This photo she happened to grab is one we used in our adoption dossier. It was taken a little over 3 years ago at my parents house. My grandmother in whom Tootie is named after is also in the photo. She passed away a year ago this month. She was 92? I think. I remember her being so excited for us. Well, about as excited one can get being a stoic German but excited none the less. She herself went childless for 11 years. The exact amount of time I did. Odd. When I said goodbye to her on this visit she told me she may not see me again. I reminded her that she needed to meet her future great granddaughter. She immediately perked up and said "Yes. Yes I do. I want to see that baby of yours." And she did.

Little did I know at that time what my daughter would be like and how my life would change. It's nothing that I imagined it to be and everything at the same time. The me in that photo was exactly that. Me. All me. It was all about what *I* wanted. What *I* imagined *my* child to be. Thank God she is who He created her to be and she couldn't be any more perfect. A loving, jumping, giggling, smartypants of a girl.

2005 A Year in Review

We've had a wonderful year. Here's to more in 2006!