going green...

Ok, I still want to clarify that this is not a 'foodie' blog...

...but hey, I like yummy food!

Annnnnnd, I figure it counts as part of my 'home.making' theme... so there.

With summer about to pounce, this is a delicious.fast.cool treat to make.

It's almost like a soup version of guacamole, which makes it top notch in my books.

 

Hence, eating it with whole grain nacho chips is super fun and yum.

(Some of us our a bit messier... but let's not name names). 

It takes all of ten minutes to chop.blend.pour this soup - and it's very rich in flavour... so it makes for a perfect appetizer to a meal.

I found the recipe in my "Cookshelf Thai" book, but the same one can be found online here:

Chilled Avocado, Lime, Cilantro Soup

For reals, anything with these three amigos in it has me hooked!

Gorging on green,

Mel ;o)

confessions [of a mama] part.11.

 Confession: Nothing in life makes me feel more bi-polar than being a mama.

If you have/had toddlers in your nest, I trust you can relate.

Those moments when your terrific kid becomes a terror.

They dribble milk over your laptop.

Jump on the couch with painted hands.

Poke/bite their baby sibling (or playmates...sorry friends!).

Shriek worse than Tolkien 'ring-wraiths'.

Whine endlessly for what you've already refused them...

... now, I'm only a patient mama for so long.

The tea kettle of frustration starts it's high-pitch squeal in my heart... (you can almost see the steam coming from my ears)!

In these intense moments, it scares me how bi-polar I feel.

That the daughter I adore with every molecule in me... can trigger so much anger.

 These are the times we take a break for 'fresh air'.

See, good mamas take their kids to the park for the exercise outside...  I go for the 'public accountability' to not throttle my child in the privacy of my own home! ;o)

I figure it's better I be behind these jungle gym bars... than prison ones!

(Lord, I hope you're not a new reader and think I'm being fully serious here.. don't call Children's Aid!).

Anyways, this is the truth:  Play dates/park dates... are really just the necessary measures of keeping this mama sane some days.

 For it is here that I give myself a 'time-out'... laying back on the slide, I look up into the blue sky and breathe the prayer: "God I need Your grace right now, I've got none left".

***

Meanwhile my daughter is oblivious to the fact that I'm 'freaking out inside'... and comes giggling down the slide for her signature 'smash mom move' (video seen here)!

And in no time.. we're both giggling, tickling, cuddling together.

The anger goes as quick as it came.

The diabolical daughter becomes a delight.

We are both reborn again.

I'm guess this crazy.cycle will likely be set to 'repeat' until she's past her teens!

Though I'm not sure when I'm supposed to 'grow out of it'.

Yep, bi-polar mama here.... please tell me your relate?

Gosh, we both have so much growing up to do.

Mel ;o)

Another Shop update: bird's nest pendants.

 So, I'm not going to lie... once the idea for this pendants hatched in my mind I was really excited to create them!

Slicing and drilling fallen tree branches.

Nestling tiny robin's eggs (blue beads) inside them.

Painting/Sketching a wee nest around it...  fun, fun!

They're the newest edition to my Shop, with the following three nest.lace options:

 Your nest pendant can hang from a Sienna brown suede band.

Silver lobster clasp.

 Second option is a chocolate brown wire hoop.

Metal twist bracket.

Or a delicate silver chain to hang your bird's nest from.

Lobster clasp with adjustable length.

------------------------

*Each nest is unique and may vary slightly from the ones shown here.

Wood slices also range from 1/2 -1/4" thickness.*

$20 Cndn. - FREE shipping!

To order, please contact me at:

needleandnestdesign@live.com

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o) 

Shop update: bird's nest brooch.

 Spring has sprung, and we love watching it unfold around us.

Chubby bumblebees hum around our back trees.

Baby squirrels are a hyper blur through the branches.

Young robins are being coaxed to spread their wings and fly above.

 And today while we were out walking we found two fallen bird's nests!

To be honest, I'm always on a robin's egg hunt actually... those shells are the perfect turquoise.

So, since I get so egg-cited about nests, I thought I'd add a few to my Shop here:

Bird's Nest Brooch

Three speckled jade eggs, perched in a wire/branch nest, atop two natural/green fabric leaves.

Brooch pin glued to backing.

2-3" in size. 

These are going for $15 Cndn - FREE shipping!
ALL SOLD!

Please contact me if you want this nest close to your heart:

needleandnestdesign@live.com

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

slide.show.sweetness

Hey friends!

In lieu of slide.show.sunday we're opting for some sepia sweetness shots today... 

 Oh how my heart keeps growing to match the whopper size of this darling boy.

 Brother and sister giggles fill our nest with joy.

 Sure, they're two years apart... but Hudson is catching up quick at this rate!

He's one happy dude most days now (insert mama sigh of delight)... always eager to smile.grin.giggle at all of us... looooooove these kidlets so much!!

sentimental mama,

Mel ;o)

thrifty & nifty threads: upcycled fashion. #3.

 Happy Friday friends, and here's my latest upcycling stitchery adventure!

Now don't gasp in amazement quite yet.. I did NOT do all that embroidery:

This gorgeous old tapestry did the detail work for me (you may remember it from my moccasin d.i.y project too).  It was a thrifted gift that just keeps on giving!

So, I had this light cotton navy shirt (JOE) and I wanted to jazz it up on the back... my own embroidered shoulder tattoo if you will.  I just had to cut out the floral designs, pin them to the shirt while stretched in a quilting hoop... and then hand-stitch it all on.

 Another funky and successful upcycled project in my books.

 Granted, this task was not my usual super fast.stupid easy approach, since hand-stitching takes way longer for me.  It reminded me that committing to bigger projects can bring valuable lessons, they teach patience and test the limits of my creative ADHD side!

It also is a great way to force me to be still... I really enjoyed being 'captive' to stitching this while listening to various online sermons this week: a wonderful way to feed both the soul and the creative spirit at once!

And there you have it, another edition of taking something thrifty and re-styling it to something nifty.

Past projects:

#2. Grandma shorts = light n' lacy shorts.

#1. Garish blouse = flouncy skirt & toddler vest.

Have a beauty-full weekend!

Mel ;o)

my mini.me...

 Well go figure... this daughter of mine seems addicted to painting!

It's not even like I tried to 'force' her to enjoy the arts... but ever since her first introduction to painting she just begs.whines.squeals to use it daily!

This is one of those 'supervised mess' moments... giving her the freedom to slop.slap.slip the paints around... even over her cute toes and fingers.

I really need to take the time to make some non-toxic homemade paints... for how often she wants to be coated in the stuff!

Yes, it's honestly like looking at a mini-me here... even sticking the tongue out to paint!

She also gets into a 'trance-like' mood when she's fully focused on her brushstrokes... quite something to behold.

I just had to make a video here... she's too beautiful sometimes.

Just so you don't think she's this 'calm' all the time, I'll have you know that shortly after this video Azi jumped up, tore off the paint shirt and ran around in wild circles barking because she suddenly wanted to "dance like a dog".

True story.

What do your kids love doing the most?

Colourful fingers mama,

Mel ;o)