feeling crafty?

hello blogging buddies,

it has been a while and i will tell you why.  this is not why: we have moved states, which entails things that you would never imagine once you get settled somewhere.  we have renovated a beautiful 1950's home.  i am 7 months pregnant.  yadda yadda.  this is why: as stated in my mission for starting this blog, sweet mollie is my inspiration.  she has become such an amazing and interesting person that it is difficult for me to focus on anything other than her. so in a nut shell: blogging and painting have been low on my list.

moving on...my talented sister has moved to town for the time being.  she has learned to sew.  score!  below are the cutest and softest nursery accessory she made out of fabric and buttons. also, an adorable puppy dog she gave mollie made from my brothers old socks (via none other than martha stewart's sewing book i gave her for christmas).  you will be very disappointed if you don't stay tuned for the post on the dress she made for mollie.  it is quite simply, amazing.  she only received the sewing machine for christmas, mind you, AND she is also now hemming my living room curtains.  side note: i took sewing classes for 3 weeks and gave up leaving with nothing, absolutely nothing. 

on another crafty, but not so creative note, included are also some shots of the hydrangea pressed flowers i made for our dining room.  friends have asked, so i am answering.  so easy...simply cut your favorite flower or leaf just before the end of it's life.  for ex. i cut these hydrangeas in august.  then, use newspaper and encyclopedias (or other heavy books) to press them.  be patient....i left mine pressing for a month! the key is after mounting them- i used PVA glue http://www.dickblick.com/products/polyvinyl-acetate-pva/ on the paper of your choice- i used somerset velvet http://www.dickblick.com/products/somerset-velvet-printmaking-paper/ -then you will need a little bit of acrylic paint to touch up the pressed plant giving it more "life."

baaahhh, mollie's favorite

if you look closely you can see i added some shades of teal and periwinkle paint to the flower