Busy week/end ahead

I woke up this morning in a panic that I had missed the sign up for Sew, Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day but thankfully my worries were in vain! I'm all signed up now and so excited for the big day, though I still have to decide what to give away... This year I've decided to give both something handmade and some supplies and fabric. I'm one of those people who much prefer giving to receiving, I have so much fun putting gifts together so I've decided to make this a mega giveaway and share the wealth of my overflowing fabric stash, too. Perhaps vintage?

past giveaways

I'll need to make some room in the fabric stacks because starting tomorrow I'll be on a three day shop hop of local (and not so local) quilt shops. Woo-hoo!

knitting fever

loA few days ago the weather started getting pretty cool around here. I looove the fall and cool weather so I'm pretty psyched! The crisp air made me itch for something I haven't done for months--knitting. In one evening I whipped up a few hats for Lil and Lyr with a super easy, super quick, super cute pattern. This evening I'm starting a lace scarf for myself.

And, with impecable timing, my Hudson Valley Fiber Farm CSA share arrived this week! Skye gave me this share for Christmas last year and it's so nice to have it at long last. I love the idea of a fiber CSA, supporting a small farm and having wool from a local source. I opted to receive my skeins undyed and am looking forward to trying my hand at some dying of my own. Now to find the perfect pattern for all of my new yarn!

the end of the summer

We packed a whole lot into the last week of our summer vacation.

at the zoo in Syracuse

apple picking...and eating

housewarming party at long last (this is after the party--none of Toomey's Fine Ale, a kick-ass homebrew supplied by our good buddy, left for Lyric)

Not photographed but equally as exciting: new fancy Volvo station wagon purchased in Burlington where we also visited the super-fun Shelburne Museum and our bedroom completed at long last!

Today was Tigerlily's first day of first grade and she had a blast. Among the highlights that she listed from her day were reading the words "classic New York" and climbing the rope out back.

I think it's going to be a really great year for her, and for us all!

one more day for the giveaway!!

Looking for my giveaway for Sew, Mama, Sew's May Giveaway Day? Click here! Comments will be closed tomorrow night at midnight (My time--what is it called? Eastern Standard?). Good luck!!

I am so completely blown away by the response I have gotten, not to mention the hundreds of amazingly talented and generous crafters who are participating. But, really, reading all of the (hundreds!) of comments from visitors has been so affirming. THANK YOU! I'm so excited to give this book away, I wish I could give something to everyone!

It's been a whirlwind week with the giveaway and the local Quilt Shop Hop I attended over the past three days with my Mom and cousin (two amazing crafters!). This was our first time and it was so much fun! We travelled over 500 miles to visit 14 fabric shops in 3 days. It was a bit insane but I picked up a LOT of pretty awesome fabric. I'm too embarrassed to tell you just how much so I'll just show you a few of my favorites:

love those little tulips!

could this possibly be any cuter?

$5/yard? I'll take it!

another $5 deal; no idea what I'll do with it but I couldn't pass it up!

in the sale bin at one of the last stores. Of course I bought what was left on the bolt!

Look out, kids, Mama's got more fabric!

local at last!

I'll be there! Precise dates to be determined, but at least 4 Saturdays!!

shake a tail feather

It's official (and about time with only 5 days to go!): Tigerlily's 6th birthday party will be of the dancing variety.

Normally Tigerlily and I collaborate on invitations but this year I just need to get the word out so I threw something together on the old computer, printed on cardstock, rounded corners (ah, the wonders of the corner-rounder...) and stamped the bottoms with some birds from Lil's stamp collection. Easy peasy and still satisfies my diy sensibilities.

We'll be pumping the tunes from the window of our soon-to-be new place which backs onto the People's Park, actually a privately owned vacant lot that our neighborhood community has been steadily beautifying. A beautiful, clay wood-fired oven was built there just before our arrival in the community and has been such an amazing asset; we were there for a neighborhood dinner just last night and will be firing it up for pizzas during Lil's party.

Free school work party and Lyric at the bread oven

There will be pizza, dancing, and cake (I'm thinking of making a rainbow cake, though cupcakes would be MUCH more practical). Instead of the ubiquitous pinata I am going to make goodie bags and a few things to put in them. And, of course, a dance mix for everyone to take home!

In other news, I was featured on The Daily Stroll today!! Thanks so much, Lizzie!

my latest

What else to do for a little boy named Hudson than a Hudson Valley-inspired book?The cover image comes from the invitation for little Hudson's welcoming ceremony. So lovely.
I love the Halfmoon, Henry Hudson's boat. Each September the replica docks for a few days in Albany as part of the recreation of the original ship's journey and we always walk down to the Riverfront to climb aboard. Last year Tigerlily took over the ship, becoming the pirate girl she truly is.

The "U" was extremely difficult to come up with but I really love this. Hudson's mama came up with the idea to include the North Star quilt block which was used as a symbol of the journey North.
The (Shawan)Gunks were difficult to depict so I put them in a very typical Hudson Valley setting.

Of course, there are orchards everywhere around here.

The wigwam is one of my favorite exhibits at the NYS Museum so it was fun to create one for a book.

I tried to capture the history of the Hudson Valley and instill a real sense of place in the book. It helps that I live here, and it was kind of cool to remember that Albany, as small and insignificant as it sometimes seems (T'Lil likes to call it "Smalbany," as do many other locals), is one of the oldest cities in the country and is steeped in so much history.

out of the city!

With the help of good 'ole Auntie Jill we made it out of the city today, to Five Rivers, a local childhood favorite. I was thrilled that, for the first time in my life-with-kids I didn't have to carry anyone, not on my back, in a sling, or in my arms! It was so nice to get out, get a little muddy and have fun with the kids in a different environment. Thanks, Auntie Jill!
Of course, first we got ice cream. The chill and the wind weren't going to stop us--that's what hats are for, right?
Upon arrival at Five Rivers Lyric found many pine cones that needed inspecting.

So funny to remember a little baby Tigerlily who was afraid of pine cones. I mean, terrified. She's not always as tough as she looks. Case in point:

She's really scared of geese. With good reason, I think; they're pretty mean. Today she was running ahead of us over some drumlins when all of a sudden she came running back screaming--this pair of geese was in one of the dips and she nearly ran into them. She only recovered once Lyric and I chased them out of the path. "Go away big chickens!" yelled Lyric.

And while I have so much work to do and am kind of missing my full days of work time while Skye is picking up more work, it was such a good day with my kiddos and my best gal.

victoria is...

1. Taking a little break.

2. Eating the best cheesecake in the world, brought to me by my sweetie as a little surprise pick-me-up.

3. Listening to Goldfrapp

4. Missing my boy (but so grateful to Grammy for offering to take him out of the blue so I can do more work!).

5. Going back to work!

performance orb

We live in the shadow of the Empire State Plaza (or we would if we lived north of it...). Part of that enormous monument of extinct marble is The Egg.

In general The Plaza is ridiculous and The Egg is not the most attractive structure, but I'm not going to complain that I can walk a couple of blocks and see the likes of David Byrne, Andrew Bird (his show this fall was UNBELIEVABLE--this clip is not the show I saw but similar, he does all the parts and loops them. And he's adorable) and They Might Be Giants, who just happened to write a song about The Egg



LOOOVE John Hodgman, too.