You are strong and patient

and playful and silly

and gentle and loving

but most of all you show our boys how to be a man of integrity.
i love you, babe!

today i’m feeling inspired by…

little boys who carry yellow plastic baskets with racecars

our local mexican restaurant with aqua walls and hanging glassware

fresh blueberries at the farmer’s market

the idea of a getaway, even it means a cheap motel

little shoes on a sun-bleached mat

what’s inspiring you today??

a little bit more at creative construction: life and art.

I’ve been learning how to knot silk cord…and having so much fun! I love a new project idea. It feels so good to use my fingers in a new and different way.

This one has sage pearls on brown knotted silk with a heart and key. Sweet and delicate.

Cream pearls between knotted brown silk thread with a sterling flower. Love.

I made this one mine. Bronze pearls between knotted pink cord with a hammered heart inside a circle. It makes me happy.

Here i am, happy with my new necklace

I am putting together a few designs that will be available on the website in the next couple weeks. If one of the pieces calls to you, let me know!

chrissie has started a new blog to share ideas for family togetherness. easy ideas to connect with our kiddos. i was so excited when she told me about her idea, but seeing it played out i am continually amazed and inspired by her creativity. go check it out get inspired yourself!

jen (my sweet friend) and gracie (her beautiful daughter) let me play with my new camera as the boys (david, matty and max) ran around at the park the other day. i took lots of photos but these were my favorites. so fun!

when you giggle with delight because you love being tickled

when you bang on the screen door because you want to play in the backyard

when you arch and scream in the bathtub

when you snuggle up a little closer because you are still waking up

when you fuss while i help you get dressed

when you tug on my hand and tell me to pick you up

when you knock matty’s toys over with mischief in your eyes

when you smile your big smile as we drop you off at school

when you go to your chair to let me know its time to eat

when you wrap your arms around my neck and hug me tight.

You might not say it like other almost-six-year-olds, but i hear you.

Happy Saturday! Here’s a code for $10 off your order. Why?? Just for fun!! When you check out, enter ilovesaturday and $10 will be removed from your total. The code is only good today, so get busy shopping!

WiNnEr! Jenn is our winner *randomly chosen* and we have quite a few similarities. We both have twin sisters and a child with a genetic disorder. She is quite the crafty gal. Go check out her blog!

And finally…a sneak peek. I ‘ve been gathering some new, beautiful beads and pendants. I know you’ll love them too! Stay tuned for some more on my new limited edition beaded designs (meaning I’ll make a few and when they are gone, then they’re gone!). Have a great day!!!

we’ve been cooped up and enough is enough! matty has been playing cars and watching ‘finding nemo’. david has been cruising around, slamming cupboards, clearing off tables. i am ready to get out and get some fresh air!!

seems like a good day for the beach. the weather is beautiful and it can’t hurt to put our toes in the sand!

best of all, steve is off for the weekend so I’ve got help (and my best friend to hang out with, of course!) and the boys love daddy time.

what are your weekend plans??

means one antsy mommy. both of the boys are sneezing and coughing…argh! i keep thinking ‘tomorrow they’ll be well’ and they keep being sick. lots of time at home lends itself to folded laundry, play dough, watercolors, bikes in the backyard and a tidy kitchen. you probably think i’ve got some wonderful meal planned for dinner, but by the time 5:30 rolls around i can hardly think straight from being cooped up all day! looks like take-out tonight. maybe tomorrow…