garden inspiration from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

I'm an urban homeowner with a small yard, a young kid, and a crafty eco style.
I like to grow veggies, teach a thing or two to my kiddo and express my creative side out in the garden.
There was oogles of inspiration at the NWFGS. The big gardens were of course gorgeous. But too fancy and formal for me. Plants are great. But so expensive! I'm looking for fun things I can make.

I love me some vertical gardening! Pallets are great to reuse in the home and yard. I like the texture of the tall grasses and the color of inexpensive primroses.


Yay burlap! My Dad has a "source" for getting used bean bags and he's been using them around the non-landscaped areas of his property. He lays them in the dirt like little walkways. Keeps from caking dirt into the shoes. Who can't appreciate that?
So I like seeing the bags used for planting as well as these little gift bags. But not sure if I'm ready to stick them under the needle of my sewing machine.


This insect hotel reminds me of my 5yr old. Or maybe the 5yr old in me. Either way I'd have fun finding things to use and he'd have a blast looking for bugs.
Last summer he found a tomato hornworm after digging in gravel. He was pretty amazed by this discovery. Pure childhood. Love it.

Hoping to post

I'm hoping I can post little things from the iPad. It sure will simplify all the posts I have in mind.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Seattle

Laura - LASdesigns - etsyRAIN crafter - ceramics

a quick video update for the week

Yay it worked! Strange Flip/Blogger kept giving my an error.

Here is another video of what's been happening the past week in the studio.

I forget if I was going to say anything else... it was days ago that I started this process and I've since forgotten :)

My 1st Vlog. or is it? "Sunday in the Studio"

Popping the Vlog cherry.
Why?

I keep having the good intention of blogging. I have enjoyed a couple workshops on the topic this last year. And despite, learning, understanding, and wanting; I think I'm still lacking time.

Today I helped a fellow potter by scanning and emailing my recent handouts from a blog workshop and I really wanted to make my own post about what's happening in my studio. Because honestly, this BE "tis the season" and i'm CRAZZZyyyyy busy. Ok, maybe I didn't physically work in the studio today as I covered 30+ miles from city birthday party to farm birthday party and buying gifts for my hubby's bday tomorrow (and getting lost in that area: wrong/missed exit off freeway, store moved locations 3+ yrs ago...good times)

So while I had to miss going out for dinner and we opted to have it brought home I grabbed my Flip video and gave a quick view of the studio.

It's not my 1st posting of a video, but it's the 1st one with my narrative. So, I'm guessing that's my 1st Vlog (awwwe)

Super quick. Perfect for me with no time. Other than typing more description than I thought I would. And being over a year behind in dumping videos to the hard drive, I think I could do it again.

Oh, and listening to my own voice is torture, but especially on this video where I pronounce words in a super strange way.
I'll work on my speaking for recording voice. This is embarrassing and laughable for me. But overall I'm fine with it and still willing to post.

Enjoy this tidbit of Sunday in the Studio.

an Angry Birds birthday party. our version

As soon as the back-to-school buzz has worn off our family gets into our own season of birthdays. In a one month period we cover my son, myself, and my hubby. All nicely spaced out.
I planned it that way ;)

My son is the age where we could be at a birthday party once or twice a weekend. I admit to buying gifts on clearance and being ready to go.
One of the summer parties was an Angry Birds birthday. The game that EVERYONE loves.
The giveaway was a stuffy bird, the yellow one. And BOY did that transform our summer!
Made up games, and drawings galore!

The 1st stuffy that went EVERYWHERE! (I usually have an in-bed only rule) There was no breaking this bond. But all the imagination that came from receiving this stuffy that hardly involved spending time playing the game on someone's phone, was something to encourage!

One of my favorites was the special request to a face painter at the flea market. An older woman, never heard of the game. Didn't have a computer. Or cell phone. Heck, she took a picture of her yellow tweety bird paint job with a wind up, disposable camera. Luckily we had the bird with us to copy. And of course as a real artist, she did a great job. It was cute.

So this crazy kid knew he wanted an Angry Birds party for his 5th birthday.
At 1st he wanted it identical to the one he attended, same location, same gift to guests, etc.
But deep within my soul I cannot copy an idea to that degree. It was a quick conversation that it would be an at home party with a very small guest list.

The fun thing is that my guy has ideas, which I get to turn into reality. Takes some tweaking, but the process is fun.

Games included:
Angry Birds Bingo
Pin the beak on the Bird
an idea for hiding eggs in a nest of hay (going with the flow of the party, we didn't do this one)

other Creative endeavors involved:
decorating with Angry Bird balloons (found online ideas for this)
Angry Birds cake
and thanks to my talented and patient friend, handmade stuffy Pigs to give to each kid

more bird photos in my flickr set
had the Dad build this. I think he was a hot glue gun virgin.
making the bingo cards was fun. decided to get them laminated and use stickers to mark.
that big cheap IKEA paper roll always lets me make the project I want
thank god for good friends! the stuffies were awesome and I knew it took a long time to make. Major props to this mom of two who's hubby has been working out of country for 3 months.

I'm pooped. Maybe just a quiet dinner out for my birthday.

Being a Mom is...

changing plans.
It's a weekly effort that becomes a daily effort to make a schedule for the child and for myself.

I don't want him to have school and/or childcare everyday so that we have plenty of days for special activities in and out of the house and just quality family/growing up time.

But I have my interests and goals too. They let me be better at my parenting job.

Making time for these can really drive me crazy.
One day at a time, if this day doesn't work out I'm scanning the calendar for the next day that will. It can help me get through a day of changed plans just looking forward to the day that has that work and workout time.

Well it's been one of those weeks.
Over the weekend- I looked forward to Monday
Monday didn't pan out.
Tuesday? Nope- volunteer stuff
Wednesday? another volunteer gig.
...a lot of pressure on Thursday. Looking good. Lots of potential for the morning Body Pump class and an afternoon of studio time.

7pm Wednesday, the child's fever starts. 100, 100.5, 102. He falls asleep on the couch.
11pm he wakes up. Fever is 102.9 I give the fever reducing medicine so that he can sleep.
6am he tries to get in bed with us. Growing boy- no room for three in a queen.
7am a little throw up. He feels better, adrenaline pumping, pacing and chatting.
just lasts a short time and the fever takes over again.

Thursday (change of plans) will be spent chillin' on the couch.

It's interesting that I can put so much thought into wanting my time.
But I'm lucky, fortunate, and grateful, that when my kiddo needs me I'm here.

Thursday was a last effort for the perfect day of balancing the schedule for me and the kiddo for the week. Not sure when I'll get it together again.

But that's what being a Mom is...