encyclopedia of...really awesome

Yes yes, I know...I'm a dork (did you read the post title?).

But this book I found at my local thrift shop last week was a pretty darn neat find.

Behold, the Encyclopedia of Needlework!

Who knew there was such an ancient yet pretty little pale olive green book as this, filled with hundreds of pages of everything needle-wise under the sun, and all sheltered between the sweetest, leafy cover?

I didn't.

My first little project from this book? Making pom-poms. I'll let you know how that goes.

weekend sash...

Hub and I attended a fun wedding this past weekend, complete with silly photo booth festivities and individual cupcake party favors. I always love weddings...they make me a bit sentimental and what's more, I love seeing all the details and creative things the couple has planned. And this one really was quite a fancy affair from beginning to end!

I really don't shop for clothes as much since I've moved north from the Twin Cities...there really isn't anywhere great to shop here actually...and truly I've been finding myself happier with less, not so caught up in the latest this and that! So I'm glad that I have a few classic dresses to fall back on when needed.

For the wedding I wore an old J.Crew dress ~several seasons old!~ but I'm always happy to see it return again & again each year in their Spring catalogue...same style, just different colors & patterns. I decided to dress up the waistband just a bit for the wedding...so I found a strip of pretty vintage lace (previously mentioned here) and sewed (by hand) a chocolate-y brown satin ribbon on either side. And topped with a sweet little summer cardigan, it was just the perfect, much-needed touch! Voila! :)

summery thoughts...

I've had this very strong hankering (don't you love that word?) for awhile now to take a road trip...or hop on a plane to Paris. One or the other. But our past weekend spent at the cabin will have to do for now...and it was really quite a relaxing and sweet little getaway. Although the weekend was a bit on the chilly side, today was finally hot and steamy and sunny...about 80 degrees here, which is steamy enough for this Northern MN girl. I worked outside for hours this afternoon...tending to my garden (it has changed so much since this spring and it continually amazes me each day, the way it fills in, and things are beginning to bloom!), watering the plants, cleaning the birdbath, and other such outdoorsy, yard tasks... Our pretty, pale pink roses are beginning to bloom now. So I cut a few to bring inside. I was reading a new book the other night by one of my favorite authors (the other day I screeched with delight & nearly knocked Hub over in Barnes when I saw she had a new book out!) and it mentioned something about flowers in the house and well, it made me think that little bouquets of fresh flowers shouldn't be relegated to just the kitchen table......I rather like the idea of them everywhere! As long as they are so readily available right out my front door this time of year. So I made a bouquet of the pretty purple Chive blossoms for our mantle that were just drooping over anyways, a simple rose in a vase for the main floor bathroom, and a couple pretty roses for the table...in my favorite thrifted glass bowl I found last summer...I love the sweet, scalloped edge of it.
I was a very lucky girl that day last summer!
~xoxo~

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P.S. I made my very first Etsy treasury today...would you like to see?

in the studio {birdies}

A few photos of what's been going on at my desk lately...

I've been working on some new bird toppers, a few already in the shop here and here,

and a little deer in progress too...not sure what will become of him yet.

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Happy First Day of Summer!

hatched

I almost forgot...all 5 Robin eggs hatched sometime last week! While they aren't the cutest things right now really, they do look pretty cozy all nestled together.

I took these photos last Sunday when it wasn't raining like crazy...as it has been almost the whole past week or so. Today the sun is out and I'm so thankful to see it finally!

Yesterday, I had a bit of a "Birds" moment when I was out minding my own business in my yard, dumping out excess rain water in flower pots on the deck and then heading down to check our rain gauge, when from out of nowhere Momma Robin came flying down from a tree, dive-bombing me and aiming straight for my head! Truthfully, I was a little bit freaked out as I let out a little screech, ducked, and headed right back for the house!

I think I'll be quite a bit happy once all those little birdies have left the nest and we can have our deck back again!

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(P.S. It appears my blog may be turning into more of a Birds & Bloom type blog...but I'll be back with some regular crafty posts soon, I hope!)

spotted sweetness...

Spotted in the backyard today...

You can't help but go "awww", am I right?

dusk & pale pink

Spending a bit of Sunday evening by the Lake never gets old. Its always a calming way to finish a weekend and prepare for the fresh, new week ahead.

nesting

Seven tiny, speckled eggs lay inside a twiggy, feathery nest... ...nestled inside the birdhouse that Hub built... ...they are the Wren's eggs. So sweet.

And Momma Wren seems a little perturbed when Hub happens to mow the lawn. Or she just enjoys watching him maybe? I took this photo one evening when he was out mowing in the backyard, near the birdhouse...and she sat with her head poking out the hole for quite awhile.
And a Robin couple built a nest right underneath our deck stairs. Not the most peaceful place for her to sit on her eggs as she flies out anytime we walk up the steps or go near the deck. Then she'll sit on a nearby tree branch and closely watch us until we go. Last weekend, we washed all the windows & screens on our house...and I think this was a bit of a traumatic day for her what with all the going in & out and out & in, spraying down screens, windows popping open & closed, etc... I think she's okay though...although she may think we're a bit nuts!
However, when she does leave, it gives me an opportunity to snap a quick photo by sticking my camera up there in that tight space and hoping I've got a good shot.
Aren't they the prettiest blue?
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Happy Thursday!