I'd Like to Buy a Vowel

Every year, I volunteer at the Wisconsin Public Television auction.  It's a fundraiser for WPT, but mainly I volunteer because it's fun.  This year, I scored a really awesome package at the auction, and I wrapped it up to give to a very special someone who loves a certain game show.  The package included:

 a hat

mildly creepy talking keychains of Pat and Vanna 

a smaller keychain in the shape of the wheel, a pen, a large signed photo of Pat and Vanna (trust me, it's in the envelope), and four VIP passes to a taping of the show (in the butterfly wrapping-- can you tell these photos were poorly planned?)

and of course a tote bag.  Go green! 

Quiet Book Sewalong: Page #6

Okay, I admit it.  I skipped a page.  And I totally changed another page.  But I think it turned out pretty cute! 

Whoooo could resist unzipping the tree trunk and playing with these two little owl finger puppets?  I'm secretly thinking about not attaching them to the page with ribbon or string.  I imagine that all those strings are going to be completely annoying to the parent who ends up untangling them all.  And if the owls fly away, who cares?  Just zip something else into the tree trunk. 

Garden Update

I have never been much of a gardener.  Typically, I plant things and then they wither almost immediately.  But this year we've worked really hard, and this morning I was thrilled beyond belief when I saw a litle green bean in our terrace garden:

Do you see that?  A green bean!  A green bean, people!  It's like it just popped up overnight.  And the real magic is that we planted the green beans from seeds. 

We also have a lovely fairy tale eggplant that is flowering.  It's supposed to bear mini eggplants!  Cute, huh?

The butternut squash- also from seeds- are thriving.   

And take a look at these beauties!  One of our tomato plants is loving life right now, and the others are pretty happy, too. 

I'm also proud to report that we've frozen one batch of kale, and we had many delicious salads straight from the lettuce patch. 

Quiet Book Sewalong: Page #5

What's this little suitcase doing here? 

Oh I see.  It has all kinds of little disguises in it!  A party hat, a crown, a pig nose, a mustache, glasses, and a bow tie!



Plus it's lined!  What more could you ask for?

Well, you could ask for a mirror, to see yourself wearing the disguises.  I'm working on creating a facing page with a mirror, so quiet book readers can look at their reflections and put the disguises either on their reflections or on their actual faces. 

More of Carissa's sewalong is here!



Sunday Morning Bike Ride

I was lucky enough to spend Sunday morning riding bikes and eating pancakes with five of my very favorite people!  We rode out to a little biker bar ("biker" as in motorcycle, but it's right on the bike trail, so it attracts a lot of bicyclists, too), had breakfast, and rode back home.  I couldn't have asked for a better morning!  

Garage Sale Goodies

Have I ever told you that I love Hallmark pins?  Maybe not, but I've at least hinted at it.  I'm not obsessed enough to be trolling ebay or anything, but they're one of the things I always keep an eye out for at yard sales.  So when I found this little turkey for a dime on Thursday, I snapped it up. 

I also scored this antique Swedish camping stove for $3.00.  We don't need another camping stove, but it's Swedish!  It says "SWEDEN" on it!  So obviously I had to have it.  

I also bought a Kelty child carrier (the backpack/frame kind) for $5.00 for a friend who's been looking for one.  Sweet! 

I hope your garage sale expeditions have been fruitful!

Quiet Book Sewalong: Page #4

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

In a quiet book you are.

Connect the buttons with the string

Make a constellation or any thing.

Okay, not my best rhyme ever.  At least I didn't try to work in the word "mutton" to rhyme with "button." 

Here it is... page #4!

The stars are shiny gold buttons with anchors on them.  Little quiet book readers can wrap the sparkly ribbon around the stars to create shapes.