Flowers, Flowers Everywhere

Two of our dearest friends had a baby boy yesterday morning. I'm going to meet him today before work. I made mama a bouquet with a giant Blue Hydrangea, pale green Carnations, peachy Spray Roses and this cool lavender Stattice that I had never seen before. I hope she likes it.

Of course I made a couple of little bouquets for our house too.

I also just got two Hydrangea plants for our backyard. A tree in the neighbors' yard keeps getting bigger and shading out my garden, so I needed more shade plants. I have never grown a Hydrangea, but am hopeful that these will do well.

Here is my 1/4 circle skirt all cut out. I sewed it up last night and am letting it hang before I hem it so that the hem will be even.

Thrifting Thursdays

I have re-discovered my obsession with thrift clothes shopping as of late. I was an avid thrifter in college and have never lost my love of shopping for cast off junk for my home but I have been out of the habit of thrift shopping for clothes for quite some time. Well, thanks to several awesome local thrift shops I am back in action. I just love the thrill of finding a great deal on an item that no one else is likely to have. Most of these items aren't vintage, but lightly used or sometimes even brand new pieces of clothing. Some require a bit of reworking like this skirt. Here it is before, in it's full circle glory. It was too big and too long. I didn't want to lose any of the beautiful print, so I had to cut the length out of the top of the skirt. I then turned it down and ran elastic through the waist in order to gather to fit. It is not as elegant as it was in it's circle form but I still love this skirt and will wear it a bunch.

 
I also love my new wedge sandals and nail polish.
Here is a color palette for inspiration.

So just for fun, I think I will start sharing my thrifted clothing finds with you on Thursdays. Just because Thrifting Thursdays sounds good.

Oh, and this skirt got me wanting an actual circle skirt, so I found some tutorials and drafted a 3/4 circle and cut out a 1/4 circle skirt.  It should be a snap to sew up and I hope to make quite a few more.  I just love that you get the fullness from a circle skirt without unflattering gathers around the waist.

Ahhhh

It's been a long week at work but I actually have a proper weekend and I'm so ready to relax!
We are starting off Frank's birthday weekend by celebrating with my parents tonight.
The weather should be nice this weekend so perhaps we sill spend some time in the back yard.

The clematis looks better than ever right now.












And the Larkspur are abundant.


We better enjoy it while we can!
There will also be some cake and ice cream consumed, some cooking out, some bike riding and or trail walking, some junking and who knows what else.
I hope you enjoy your weekend as much as I will.
xoxo
Ashley

A Spring Walk

My sweetie indulged me in a walk on the Trinity Trail last night even though he isn't feeling so hot.  Unfortunately I think he has what I had.
It was a lovely night with a gorgeous sunset and an impromptu bluebonnet photo session with our little goofball Lucy.


She is a good picture poser and even smiles for the camera!






I love daylight savings time because we get to take more walks on the trail and it feels like we get more done in a day.  I hope there are lots more walks before the weather turns to stiffling heat and keeps us inside. Off to cook dinner, see you next time.
xoxo
Ashley

Some things I've sewn

I'm feeling much better but I think I did a little to much today. I took Lucy for a walk, went grocery shopping to two stores, cooked dinner and then went thrift and shoe shopping with Frank (score!). I'm a bit tired but expecting to be back to normal soon.

Since I had to get dressed and leave the house today and the weather was so nice I finally got around to taking pictures of a couple of my new pieces of handmade clothing.


The knit tank is from the Built by Wendy Sew U Home Stretch book.  I have been wearing it under cardigans all winter.  I made two other tops at the same time that I need to show you.  I love it.  I added the ruffle details, just three strips of fabric, gathered and sewed onto the top, easy peasy.  I want to sew more with knits and just can't find any that I like locally.

The skirt is view D of Simplicity 2305, a Cythina Rowley Pattern.  I made it much bigger than the pattern called for because I don't like skirts that sit on my waist, and it would have been way too short if it did.  Problem was I made it too big and had to take off the waistband and gather it up some more.  I love this skirt and pattern but am not happy with the fit.  What I didn't take into account was that the only fitted part is the waistband, so I could have cut a smaller skirt and had less gathers, which would be more flattering on me anyways.  I think I would like a wider and tapered waistband better as well. I really love the scalloped bottom of the skirt and though it looks like a special detail it was super easy to make. Over all I'm happy with it and will wear it.  I love the fabric, a cotton pique that my mom had given me  a few years ago. I will definitely be making this pattern up in more fabrics!

Here is a detail of the ruffles.  Ignore my vampire skin.


And, me being a total goofball.


So I still feel silly taking pictures of myself but if I want to share handmade clothes I guess that's the best way. I haven't been sewing much lately. I did buy and start a pattern for a pair of shorts, but am still having trouble with fit. I'm determined to draft my own pants patterns using Design it Yourself Clothes, a book that I have had for some time and not put to use. I bought some paper for pattern making and everything.  Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad's birthday was last Friday. We celebrated on Sunday at my parents' house with Easter dinner made by mom and Carrot Cake made by me. 


Karlie and her mama and papa couldn't be there so we made a video of Poppy blowing out his candles to send to her.





This Carrot Cake recipe is a tried and true, no fail recipe for me.  So seriously good, moist and delicious.  Frank's birthday is next and I'm pressuring him to pick a new cake flavor for me to bake.  He hasn't come up with any options yet so I might have to start suggesting ideas.  I do need time to obsess over recipes after all! 

I'm still trying to kick this cold.  I slept through the night last night but woke up coughing, so it must have been the cough syrup that let me sleep.  I'm so tired of not feeling like myself and just being run down.  I can't wait to get back to normal!

Camp Lonehollow Weekend

Last weekend was so much fun. We did so much and traveled so much that it wasn't really relaxing, but oh was it fun. I caught a bug on the trip and came home sick so this week has been mostly laying on the couch and knitting for me. I've been too tired to even post pictures here of the trip.

Mom, Dad and I headed down to Austin last Thursday to pick up my sweet niece Karlie Rose.
I was so glad that she was able to go with us to camp, it really made the weekend all the more fun.
I begged to stop in Fredricksburg for ice cream.  I don't even know the name of the ice cream shop, but Frank and I discovered it years ago and I have only ever had one flavor, Amaretto Peach Pecan.  Why try any other?!  I'm thinking of a cake inspired by those flavors....


We arrived at camp before dark, and though I was super tired I did stay awake to see the gorgeous scenery on the drive.  The super curvy roads made me understand why dad wanted to get there before dark.  The camp is called Lonehollow, and an old family friend lives and works there.  April is in charge of the horses and lives above the barn. We did so much in two days at camp that it really seems like we were there for a week, and I would have happily stayed longer.

We pet and fed the barnyard animals.


We drove to the front of the property, which is 3,000 acres, and fed ducks at the river, checked on horses and admired the pretty wildflowers.








We picnicked at the tree house cabins and Karlie fished with Poppy on the lower lake.




Karlie rode Pretty boy, a big paint horse, sat on the miniature horse pizazz and took turns with cousins riding another horse who's name I can't remember.  Here she is pointing out that she will be three on her next birthday.  I told her that Poppy's birthday was coming up and then Frank's, so she was repeatedly singing Happy Birthday to Poppy and Gaga. 


In case you are wondering, her "riding" consisted of April leading the horse and me holding onto Karlie's leg.  I had imagined that one of us would ride with her but April said that isn't a safe practice.



April and I went on a trail ride around the camp and middle lake.  I was on a horse named Trigger who was sweet and slow.  I hadn't been on a horse since mine and Frank's honeymooon in Belize, though I used to ride and take lessons in middle and high school.






After horse back riding we went back to the river, the Sabinal, to wade.  On every ride around the camp Karlie wanted to sit right next to April and Lily Lu so that she could help "drive".


The weather was perfect, the river was clear and full and we waded and swam a bit both days.






Each clear day ended with a gorgeous sunset over the Texas Hill Country. 










On Saturday my aunt, and cousin and her family came out to share in the fun.  We toured the camp,  some of us fished, some swam, rode horses some more, petted and fed animals, wrangled a few horses and ended the day with roasting marshmallows at the top of one of the higher points on the property.  All together it was a magical time and I'm so thankful to have a friend to visit in such a beautiful place.  I have beautiful childhood memories of time in the Hill Country with April's family and am so glad that we continue to make more. Photos really don't do it justice because they can't give you a scope of how spectacular the scenery is.  I had seen pictures from my parents visits but was just blown away in person.  The camp is just beautiful.  The buildings and improvements are really nice, but the landscape in this, the most beautiful part of Texas, really sets the scene.  I'm hoping to take Frank back for a visit in the Fall.

I'm still trying to kick this sick thing that I've had all week.  Yesterday was Dad's birthday and I made him the Carrot Cake, which we plan to take to my parent's house tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Poppy!