I'm so patriotic... in my fabric choices at least.

I dug into my mail bag supply over the past few days and went to work. My very favorite combo is old canvas and vintage ticking.... gets me all hopped up! I hit the ticking jackpot a couple of weeks ago and wanted to incorporate it with some fab Canadian mail bags I had tucked away. This was the result... some of my best work so far:

LOVE the rusted spots, and the patina on the metal grommets.

Beautiful ticking lining and 2 lengths of handles.

I adore the way this one turned out. Check out the fabric patina!

I think this is my favorite ticking. Tan and navy.... delish!

The joy of simplicity...

Sometimes I wish I could go back to the place where everything is simple. Where pleasure is found in the smallest things. Fortunately, I get to look through the eyes of my child and see wonder in the seeds of a dandelion floating away.

He is a blessing.

If it's old.. I'll probably love it.

I'm sure it's obvious by now that I love vintage fabrics. 

But it doesn't stop there... 

I adore antiques, vintage items... anything broken down, paint chipping, wearing away awesomeness. I can't tell you the feeling I get in my chest when something REALLY loved appears in my line of vision. God help you if you're in my way. 

I've had the pleasure of photographing many of eclecticpelican's  and modernpoverty's fabulous vintage, antique, and primitive pieces. These are a few of my favorites...

glass eyes

beautiful detailing on a vintage doll

stunning set of children's cups

tooth necklace
yowza!

3 faced doll - happy, sad, asleep

miniature doll house rocker - LOVE

ah marbles... I still adore them.

watch innards

more eyes... so fabulous... so creepy

mixed antique doll feet

old bears never get....... old.

love the rich colors in the train set

A little about me and a little about you!

One of my favorite blogs My Little Girls Closet has posted "a little about me and a little about you!". She got it from Luv in the Mommyhood.I too shall bite. These are my answers. If you'd like to join in, take the first word of each line and fill in the rest! Post it on your blog, then come back and link me!

Making: pillow covers and Yah Bags
Cooking: spaghetti and homemade meatballs
Drinking: milk
Reading: blogs/twitter/etsy
Wanting: new clothes/shoes/cellphone
Looking: at 3 loads of clean laundry that need to be folded
Playing: catch up
Wasting: time, I should be sewing
Sewing: well... obviously I'm not... hence that last answer.
Wishing: money grew on trees
Enjoying: life/sunshine/Annie Lennox
Waiting: for my baby to come home from grandma's
Liking: peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
Wondering: if I'll ever sleep again
Loving: My boy.
Hoping: I win the lottery. LOL!
Marvelling: at the joys of motherhood
Needing: A nap
Smelling: clean laundry
Wearing: jeans and a tank top
Following: the leader... oh wait... that's me.
Noticing: that my cats spend WAY more time downstairs when the boy isn't home... BAH!
Knowing: I better get back to work
Thinking: about what to tackle next
Bookmarking: recipes
Opening: the patio for some air
Giggling: @thecheapbastard
Feeling: relaxed

A Chicken... in pictures.

Yup... he's the best.

Staying busy does my heart good...

I'm a disaster if my mind isn't busy. It will make itself busy if not given a project. I'll hyper focus on money, or lack there of,  the health of my child etc... none of which promotes mental well being. So, I have to stay busy. Lately I've been doing a pretty good job of that.

I've had some success in my business which makes me giddy... in a ridiculous child like way. I have managed to keep up with the housework enough that if people show up unannounced I don't close the drapes and pretend to be asleep (still not perfect in any sense of the word, but it'll do). The best of all... my son and I have spent some wonderful time together. Although, that has never been an issue! He's my favorite activity!
Here's what I've been up to... Canadian mail bag canvas... I can't get enough!

My mother "finder of all things awesome", brought me home an AMAZING antique french linen postal sack from Russia. So far, I have made this with it:

Today I'm working on a little something made with a mail sack from China.

I'll keep you posted with photos... :0)

To be or not to be... is that really the question?

I just read this article called "All joy and no fun... why parents hate parenting." and I gotta tell you, it makes me a little sad. It's just one more thing people today can complain about. Don't get me wrong. There are days when I wish to call a babysitter and get the hell out of my house and take a break from being "MOM". But, I certainly wouldn't say it has made me unhappy. Quite the contrary in fact.

You know what? Your life is what you make of it. You can let having children change your life for the better, or for the worse. I choose the better. It is the hardest thing you will EVER do. And there are days it will test you more than you ever thought possible. But being a mom has brought me more joy than anything else in my entire life.

Picture taken just before the fireworks on Canada Day 2010. (Chicken with his bubble blaster and me just lovin' being a mom)