a spider mum stamp

I don’t sit down and draw or just make art very often anymore. For one thing, I need lots of time and quiet concentration– a way to get in the right frame of mind– to draw. That is hard with a 2 year old who insists on climbing in my (shrinking) lap if it ever looks like I’m doing anything remotely interesting, and all the daily responsibilities that come with this stage of life I’m in. I also have a hard time justifying making things that aren’t useful, and so as I’ve settled into motherhood I’ve turned to sewing or knitting to fill my creative need because they require less brain power from me, and I end up with a finished project that can be USED by me, my family, or whoever it happens to be gifted to.

But, today I needed to make something just because I wanted to make it. My sweet husband has kept a bouquet of fresh flowers on my counter or kitchen table since Valentine’s day, and so every now and then I’d put a quick sketch of one flower or another in my sketch book. I’ve wanted to turn those sketches into hand carved stamps, but never find the time. Today I just made one.

(When Brenna saw me working she ran to get the camera.)

I was out the door to do grocery shopping much later than I had planned on, and then when we did go Hunter still had some wild and crazy bedhead going on. But let me tell you– it felt so good to sit and draw and create just for the sake of it– so right, so me. Does that make any sense?

My kids draw and draw and draw all day and I always tell myself I don’t have time to sit and draw with them, but maybe I do. The groceries did get bought and put away, diapers still got changed, meals got made– but drawing and carving just one flower helped me do it all with a brighter smile inside.

the first camp out of the year

We decided last minute to go camping over the long weekend. Barry had been out of town all week, so hurrying to get ready right after he walked in our door from the airport was a bit crazy and stressful, but it was worth it, I think.

We played and explored and got dirty.

And put those March birthday hand-knits to use.

My littlest boys drew and drew in the dirt. Ian left me love notes everywhere he could. 4 year old boys are full of so much love.

We’re welcoming summer.

the school/family/music/everything room

A while back I told you I’d show you the new art work and rearranging I’ve done in our family room. I did show you my new pillows, framed quotes, and my mantel. Here’s the rest of it.

You can see what it used to look like here. We moved the piano into this room and moved the big kid drawing table into my art room. This has worked much better for the flow of our days. Every morning we gather after breakfast with some singing and a prayer. With the piano in near my desk, sewing machine, and spinning chair it was often a tradition that caused me more stress than pleasure. Someone (read Logan) was always spinning in my chair, turning on my sewing machine, crashing into things, climbing on furniture not intended to be climbed on, being completely distracted by a book. We haven’t eliminated the book distraction with this set-up, but there is no spinning chair or sewing machine. Much better.

I splurged on some new alphabet art I’ve long been wanting. I love Ida Pearle’s paper cut illustrations and thought the alphabet cards would fit well in our learning space.

I also gifted myself this wooden laser cut alphabet from bookhou.

Inspired by this homeschool space I found some fun field guide posters. We use the bird one quite a lot. Ian has been really interested in the human body, so I thought the skeletal system poster would be fitting for us now too. Someday I think I’d like to add a small one with some more color — leaves or mushrooms or backyard bugs. Or maybe a colorful embroidered alphabet sampler. Something colorful, anyway.

I spruced up the curtains that hide the deep shelves crammed with extra school stuff and a couple of toy baskets with some patchwork stripes. They make me happy.

Here’s another view of the old piano. Every time we’ve moved the movers are incredulous. It is in pretty sad shape, but it works pretty well, I think it’s pretty, and it’s ours. Barry wants to paint it this summer. I’m not sure how I feel about that. It could be fun, but I also like that it is big and dark to balance our big and dark couch on the other side of the room. I don’t know what color I’d want either. I think maybe I’ll paint the bench and see what I think from there.