Belated Vacation Pictures

I went on vacation in mid July but haven hesitated posting anything because all I have to show for it are these Instagram pictures. Oh well, it was so relaxing AND productive that I have to share! We went to visit my family in the Texas Hill Country. Frank stayed for the weekend and then I stayed a few more days. Mom and I dyed a ton of fabric, which was one of my main goals. She taught me Ice dyeing, Indigo and I played around with painting with dyes a la Sallie Oh, with mixed results. I now have supplies to do this stuff at home, though I also have such a huge stash of fabric to sew through that I might not dye anything for a while.

The Ice Dyeing was my favorite. I love the unpredictability and the striking results!


Some of my newly dyed fabric stash, Solids, Indigo Shibori and Linen with dye sprinkled randomly.


The painted silks were fun to do, though my first attempt came out hideous! I didn't go in with a plan and just made a mess of it. I will overdye and rescue that ugly piece. These I love, but the bigger one faded a lot after they dried. I had watered down the dye and that was a bad idea. I will go back and add more color to make it more intense.

We swam several days in a row, and I even got a tan! This is Blue Hole in Wimberely and it was COLD. I also went to Barton Springs and swam in the San Marcos River. I don't get to swim often at home, and the swimming holes in the Hill Country are one of the main reasons that I want to move there. It is simply the only thing that makes sense when Texas heats up.

We went to Fredricksburg for the flea Market and ice cream, then swung by Luckenbach for a beer on the way home. It was such a wonderful vacation and I'm ready to go back. Work has been exhausting and though I had been sewing and working out and eating well, the last week of work threw a wrench in my plans and I have just fallen behind on everything. I'm off work today and am working on last minute birthday presents for Karlie, who turns five one week from today. She wanted a Hawk Girl Costume this year. I didn't think I would get it done but I'm having fun with it and it is coming together well. I have many unblogged sewing projects but do post frequently on Instagram these days.  Check me out if you want to see what I'm making.

2013 A Year in Review

I love looking back on what I have made and accomplished in a year. The process gives me a sense of fulfillment. Even if I haven't stuck to my plan or accomplished all of my goals I can see all the wonderful things that have happened. I did quite a bit of sewing in 2013. It was definitely my crafting focus. I mostly sewed for myself and Karlie, with a home decor project and one knit and one crochet completed. I would always like to make more, but here is what I completed and photographed last year.


I still have a couple of un-photographed pieces that I completed for myself.  I tend to go on sewing binges and make a few things.  I don't have a sewing room, so my machine and everything else get spread out on the dining room table.  Eventually I get tired of looking at it or we are having company so they get put away for a while.  I have so many more sewing projects cut and ready to go, so I have high hopes for this year.  I love sewing for Karlie as the projects are always high on cute factor, and easy with no fitting woes.  I do want to knit more this year.  I have conquered knitting to the extent that I can read patterns and it isn't totally alien to me know.  However I am the slowest knitter ever and can't imagine making a sweater, though I really want to!

You may be wondering why I never share jewelry anymore. That is because I rarely make new designs these days. With working full time my jewelry making is mostly limited to items that sell on Etsy. The rest of my time is devoted to selfish sewing and crafting. I did finish two new pieces just in the nick of time for Christmas, and both of which I am very proud of! The first is a Mother's pendant which was commissioned by a friend.

 The second is a Pendant for my mom that I started a Year and a Half ago! It went smoothly at first and then just came to a point where no matter what I did I couldn't solder on the prongs that I had planned. Finally it dawned on my to just change my plan and make it work. It isn't the best crafstmanship I've ever done, but considering my stale skills and the fact that it was a new design for me I am pleased. I love the little flower with the Peridot center. Karlie's birthstone is a Peridot and her middle name is Rose, so this is sort of a Grandmother's pendant for mom.

This time last year I had declared 2013 The Year of The Home. I made one pillow. I did do better with houseplants and with arranging some of my collections better. I do still want to give our home more love. With a big roof replacement pending and possibly more long overdue renovations, perhaps this year that wish will come true. In 2013 I ran a 10K and kept on running throughout the year, when the weather cooperated. We joined a gym but didn't stick with it, but hope to get back soon. Frank actually liked working out for the first time ever, which was a big change! We took a real vacation and I hope it's not another nine years before the next one. One of my biggest joys in life is traveling and going on adventures with Frank, so I hope that we can enjoy more of that together. We do as many small adventures together as we can, going on local trails and wandering through the woods. I had the best birthday yet last year! It included friends, family and a picnic in the woods with Frank.

For 2014 I plan to continue my selfish crafting. I want to get back in the gym and continue running outside as much as possible. We are going to attempt the Whole30 challenge, cutting out alcohol, sugar, dairy and grains for a month. I am also focusing on being more grateful. Life is never perfect, but I have a lot to be thankful for! Happy New Year Friends! xoxo Ashley

Hello There and Happy Holidays!

I've been absent for a while. We have been busy, doing all the regular pre-holiday stuff. We had a major ice storm a couple of weeks ago! These first two pictures were taken only three days apart. That's how it goes in North Texas. Sunny and seventies one day, ice storm and major gridlock the next day, which lasted for a week.

I live too close to work to not go in. I walked, and Frank was a sweetheart and walked me there and back. When I was home there was lots of snuggling under the down comforter.

And lots of crocheting. Karlie, my four year old niece asked for a new blanket for her baby dolls and of course I obliged. She knows her Aya will make whatever her heart desires!

I hope you are enjoying your own holiday prep and that you get to spend precious time with those you love. My work stresses me out to the max this time of year, and I always over commit and feel stretched too thin. I didn't bake cookies for the Christmas ever, but did make a delicious batch of peppermint bark. I also plan to make Almond brittle. I snuck in a few Christmas crafts and handmade gifts because it just doesn't feel right with out them. Don't stress out too much, and if you do take deep breaths, think of all that you have to be grateful for and eat some chocolate!
xoxo
Ashley

One Happy Lady

I turned 38 last Tuesday. I took three days off work and had the most wonderful of birthday celebrations. My days were filled with friends, food and time with Frank doing my favorite things in Fort Worth.

I made S'mores cupcakes again this year. Homemade and toasted marshmallows on top this time.

We go to the Japanese Gardens in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens every year around my birthday. It is the perfect time to see the leaves changing and the weather was just right.

On Monday we had an "Epic Picnic" and a hike in the Fort Worth Nature Center. It is one of my favorite secluded places in the area. There are hiking trails and they are actually hilly. I had been planning this picnic in my mind since our vacation when we picnicked in Central Park and Great Falls State Park. It lived up to my expectations!

On Tuesday night we had dinner with four of our closest friends. My friend Alley snapped this picture of my and I think I look so happy here. I truly feel honored and blessed to have a life filled with friends and love and to have spent my birthday enjoying delicious food and the beauty of perfect Fall days in Texas. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!

*I don't think I shared this but I twisted my ankle jogging about three weeks ago.  It could have been a lot worse, but I had to sit out for three weeks.  I'm finally back at it and do not want to miss any more of these perfect days.  I just need to be outside, especially when the weather is nice.  Not getting to run makes me tense and I'm so glad my ankle has healed.

A New Woman

I am a whole new woman. Well, at least I look like one. I finally got a haircut and glasses, both long overdue. I realized on vacation how badly I really needed glasses when I put on Gretchen's and could see so clearly. My hair is one of those things that I put off cutting and just wear in a pony tail for ages til I can't stand it anymore.

I'm loving my new look and it's just in time for the changing season. If you can't find me I will be outside running or in the garden. I ran a 5K on Saturday and did okay. I had just started running again last week and wanted to see how long it would take me to do a 5K. I plan to do at least one more this Fall and hopefully will improve my time. I finished the Rahr Octoberfest 5K in 33:21 with quite a bit of walking.

And wavy.
 

Back in the Swing of Things

It's been a while! We went on vacation at the beginning of the month, came back and had a long week of work and then more adventures. I have a lot to share but I figured I would start where I'm at and try to catch up. It's Fall! I started running again after almost three months hiatus from the heat. With vacation and life we have been slacking on the gym too, so I was really nervous that running would be like starting over. It was great though, I did almost four and half miles yesterday and ran most of it. I'm using Map My Run and love seeing where I've been. I so wish I had used that app from the beginning (it's been a year since I started running) so that I could have tracked my progress.



Our vacation was a wonderful adventure, but we came home tired. We went to DC and New York and were on the go constantly. We walked miles and miles per day, especially in NY. The nice part about that was being able to eat whatever we wanted, and boy did we eat. So much good food. The problem was coming home and still being in vacation mode, eating everything but not walking miles per day. So I'm correcting my eating habits and getting back in the swing of things.  The weather is in line with the calendar for once here in North Texas and it feels like Fall.  Fall is my season, my favorite time of year.  I feel like I'm coming back to life.  For a healthy snack last night I had Noosa Lemon Yogurt wit frozen blueberries.  It was so delish! 

Korean Short Ribs and not much else

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Looking through my photos on my camera roll I can tell that nothing exciting has been happening the last few weeks.  It is HOT.  I have no motivation or work out or cook.  It's all about keeping cool and staying still.  I'm ready for Fall.  I'm ready for running outside, sunset walks on the trail, working in the garden and just enjoying the weather.  Cooler days, please hurry.

I haven't been sewing much, though I did finish a knit top and fix a couple of things from my pile yesterday.  Mostly It's been work and vacation planning, which is oh so exciting!

We did cook something completely new to us, Korean style short ribs. They were amazing, so much flavor! I cooked them in the crock pot and it made the house smell so good. I think the marinade would be yummy on pork as well. We also tried a new restaurant, a Vietnamese place that had been recommended to me. My favorite thing was the Vietnamese iced coffee. After dinner we went to an Asian market and I almost bought the contraption filter thingy to make my own at home as well as the coffee itself. I talked myself out of it and now I'm kicking myself.

A Little (Mermaid) Sneak Peek

I set aside my own sewing projects to make Karlie a birthday present. Per her request, a Mermaid Costume with a Boobie Bra. Oh that makes me laugh every time. Her 4th birthday party is this Saturday and it is the first one we won't be able to attend. I'm sad about that, but we were just there a few weeks ago. Mom and dad took this gift for her to open at the party and I can't wait to see a million pictures, especially of her wearing the costume. I guess costume making for Karlie is becoming a birthday tradition. Last year it was Snow White. I suppose as long as she is into costumes I will be into making them for her!


One reason that we won't be at the birthday celebration is that we are saving for a real vacation, just the two of us. It has been ages since we took one and we are so excited. I'm in the midst of planning right now.

Cactus Margaritas

My parent's property is studded with Prickly Pear and they are currently covered in fruit. The fruits are called Tuna or Tunita in Spanish and are often sold in Latin Grocery stores. I had never tried one before. Mom got the idea to make a syrup from the fruit and use it in Margaritas. It was a lot of work for a little bit of syrup but the end result was beautiful and delicious!



I can't find the directions that we used but here is one way to make the syrup.  The Margarita was like nothing I've ever tasted before, we really couldn't compare the flavor to anything.  There are thousands more Tunitas waiting to be made into syrup on my parent's property!

Flowers For Karlie

My (almost 4 year old) niece Karlie is a total girlie girl. She loves headbands, having her hair braided and fixed and only wants to wear dresses to school. The funny thing is she is also a little dare devil. I finally got around to making her some headbands and I have more planned. I think these are so freaking adorable!

The top one is made with wool felt and this tutorial.  The bottom one is linen and this tutorial.


It took some practice to get the felt flowers right. I may make clips with these little ones.

Perfect evidence of Karlie's girliness. She had her hair braided in a heart at the salon.

Silly Pets

Roberta the watermelon loving cat was in heaven last night.

Lucy the bandanna wearing princess dog likes to have her photo taken.
That's all. I just had to share.

Late Spring Walk

It has been hot, muggy and humid here the past few weeks. We had a front blow through and it turned out to be a gorgeous day yesterday. We went to the trail for a walk, as I know it will be too hot to get out there much before long. We usually time our trail walks to end around sunset, but I was a little off on the timing. That was okay though because we were able to get this cool shot of our shadows as we headed back to the car.

 Last week I was sewing obsessively, and I finished a knit top, a woven top and a linen dress. All in one week! Really, mostly over my three day weekend. I hope to keep up the sewing but I know how my attention easily gets focused on other things. I plan to take pictures and share my creations soon.

Mornings in the Garden

My mornings always, always start with coffee. Lately I have been taking my coffee outside to check on my veggies and flowers. The weather has been cool in the mornings and hot in the afternoons, so I get out in the backyard as much as I can in the mornings.

Poppy colored toes make me happy.

My days off almost always consist of meal planning and grocery shopping. Last week I took my Bon Appetits outside as well. I started using little sticky tags to mark recipes that I want to try in my multitude of food magazines.

Many of my early Spring flowers are blooming like Clematis, Nasturtuim, Poppies and Larkspur. I have been making loose little garden arrangements to bring some of the color of Spring indoors. The only downside to mornings in the garden has been later jogs and it is getting too hot for that. I will have to compromise on some days so that I can get out on my runs before the temperature creeps up.