TWELVE!!

twelve

Well, I’m operating under the assumption that things are better late than never.  I’m behind here.  It is so hard to be consistent when life is just the opposite.  But, I’m showing up today and am determined to tell you that my beautiful girl turned 12.

Twelve seems so old, which means I must be old if I am the mother of a twelve year old.

blowing out a candle

a card from Logan

jewelry from grandma

a treasure from Hunter

We celebrated with cupcakes, sweet brother-made cards, and new earrings for her freshly pierced ears (among other things).

A couple of days later we had some of her friends over for dinner, a movie, and making.  Do you remember my days of jewelry making?  We decided that would make a super cool birthday party for a bunch of twelve year old girls.

precious metal clay by 12 year olds

They each made a pendant with precious metal clay.  (I have this kit.)  Over the course of the night we fired and finished them.  I was way too involved in helping them for the thought of taking photos of the process to even cross my mind.  It was fun, and went pretty smoothly.  It would have been a trillion times easier (and there probably would have been photos) if I didn’t have a baby on my hip.

cuties

such fun

I sure love this big girl of mine.

Happy Birthday Brenna!!

the ride

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perfect weather
sail boats on the reservoir
first king birds seen
first meadowlarks heard
goat-head in my tire
rode a long way without air in my back tire so Barry didn’t have to pay to get into the park
still a good ride

new knitting bag

gorgeous fabric, perfectly sewn

Each April my friend April spends her birthday month making things to give away.  How wonderful is that?  I was surprised with this beautiful bag in my mailbox the other day.

the new knitting bag

I do love it because it is gorgeous Amy Butler fabric, but I love it most because it is from April.  I miss her so.  It almost makes me cry as I write this.  She was my knitting, learning to spin yarn, koolaid dyeing, craft show stocking, homeschooling, bike riding, long walks partner.  I haven’t found another quite like her yet.

So I knew just what to do with the sweet gift for HER birthday–

works in progress

I filled it with knitting.  I’ve got a cowl (neck thing), a pilot cap for a fresh new nephew, a t-shirtish sweater for me, and a jacket for Eva all in the works.

the rainbow wheel

rainbow wheel

When we put up all of my new school room shelves I decided I needed rainbow quilts in the wall space above the desks since my books are arranged in color order.  What I had in mind for one side was this quilt from Purl.  I drew up a pattern to fit my wall and raided my scrap bin.  My mom also sent me a box of her scraps and I bought a few more.

warm

This is my first time piecing curves, so it’s far from perfect.  My seam allowances on my rainbow ended up a smudge less than 1/4″, so my top came out a bit ripply.  I could have ripped it apart and started over, I guess, but I’m more into getting things done  than I am into perfection.  I just made good use of my iron and quilted concentric circles to remedy the waviness.

rainbow wheel

I like it on my wall.  It is bright and cheery.

rainbow quilt in the school room

Who knows when I’ll get to making something to hang above the other desk…