Sew Much to do Sew Little Time!

Hello!

I hope this Fall weekend is bringing you joy. I only wish there was a magic wand that I could wave to extend this fab weather and number of hours in a day. Just don't seem to have enough hours to do all that I wish to do...same old story...same old results. I start a bazillion projects and eventually get to them, but I will say, it makes life fun and interesting!

And speaking of fun, I had a very fun day earlier this week where in the mail I received my issue of Where Women Create.

How exciting to discover that my photography appeared on the cover! What an honor for my work to be placed in such a wonderful position. 

If you remember a few posts back, I did a remake of my dining area into a sewing area, which could easily be turned by into my dining area, via furniture on wheels (metal furniture by Create-ologie. Shop their store HERE and save 10% off your purchase by typing in "Elizabeth Maxson" at checkout).

What a thrill to see that Where Women Create did a 10-page spread of my little project in their current issue. Below are a few images that did not get published, as well as some that I posted prior, but I thought I would share them with you all the same:

Found these fab lights at World Market. They screw on (like a little clamp) to the edge of the table which allows more table top space.

This corset comes in handy, as I sometimes slip a small pillow between it and the back for extra cushioning when I need it.

My silver goblets, doubling as trim holder. Just wrap and hang on the iron glass rack that I am using...easy!

My favorite stash and oldest textiles. I love looking at it, and yes, I have taken scissors to several pieces already....

And then my little dining area, which I am happy to have, but to be honest, haven't used (in this state) since the publication. We have a little back room with a table that we eat at at times, but with my sewing, well, let's just say I am happy to have PHOTOS of what it could look like! Ha-ha. 

(Hey, I'm not going to lie to my readers and tell you how many fab dinner parties I've had...but it IS nice to know they are still possible....)

This is set up for a soup party. Hot (and cold) soups will go into the ironstone pitchers, hot bread on the cutting board, and butter on the ironstone butter pats with a silver spreader.

Just had to do an old timey looking photo:

Here a few of the projects I have been working on:

Dying fabrics and lace:

Repurposing an old linen jacket...

Making little fabric roses from scraps:

Taking yucky, but comfy shoes and adding my own touch:

Needless to say, I have been experiementing. And my poor little area, while somewhat "organized" is actually more like chaos with purpose. But that's okay. I love learning and doing, and having a little space to make my mess makes all of my not-so-great experiments seem a little "whimsical." (That's my new word for experiments that turn out like crap - whimsical).

Next time, I will share my projects in more detail....for those who are curious about how exactly any of them turned out. 

I am curious too.

from my house to your house,

The Apple of my Eye

They say carrots are good for the eyes, but I think apples have a way of making the heart see what the eyes may missed...

My barber husband and I went apple picking a few weeks ago. We visited a Missouri orchard that is 200 years old, and we were there the first day of apple picking season. We had the entire orchard to ourselves, and just when I thought I couldn't love my special one a single ounce more...

...my heart for my beloved grew a bit more by just watching him enjoy himself so much. So I thought I would write about my thoughts of that day. I don't always write a lot about my barber husband. 

Maybe I should. 

He is great writing material in many ways.

While there are millions of fab husbands out there, I only know mine. 

And he is fab. 

And that is the real reason I should write about him more - his fabulousness. Fabulous mainly because God made him perfect for me. HE isn't perfect, but he is perfect for ME.

Big difference :-)

It was really nice to have the whole orchard to ourselves. The day was a spur of the moment. I found the orchard the night before, online, and asked if he would like to drive out and pick apples. To my surprise, he had never picked apples before...funny how one can live with another, and still find out something new about them without even really trying.

I so enjoyed watching him get excited by the apples and there were tree-fulls from which to choose! Several times, he would call over his shoulder, looking for me, "Aren't you going to pick some apples, baby doll?" He didn't realize that I was enjoying myself more watching him from a distance and snapping a pic here and there. 

It felt like Christmas in a way, walking between the trees, filled with apple ornaments. The color of the apples are what you see...so bright, almost seemed like a movie set.

But, I really had my eye on my beloved, not the apples. He was the brightest thing in the orchard - to me.

It's funny the things we love about our spouses...things that maybe others would never see, and that is okay. 

I love when he wears he overalls and hat. There is a certain masculinity about it that he doesn't see. He is only after comfort and to keep his little round head from frying in the sun.

I see it differently. 

Where he may see comfort and practicality, I see a man who enjoys life, on his terms. And I find that very attractive.

Even more attractive? A man who finds interests in other people. He can talk to anyone, and I mean anyone, without even caring where they live, what they do, how much they make, where they come from, or what they believe. 

He knows everyone has a story. After all, he is a barber. For 27 years he has heard snippets of stories from behind the barber chair. And over the years, those snippets become full-blown real life novels of those who shared their hopes, losses, grief, and joys with him. Between sounds of scissors and buzzing clippers, a story usually unfolds with time. 

And I think that is what I have learned the most from my beloved. Things take time. And taking time out is even more important, while waiting, working, hoping, and wanting time to speed up when wanting something.

Like I said, this apple orchard farm is 200 years old. That is a long time to work at something. And yet, here we are, 200 years after it began, spending the afternoon picking at something that took so long to create, nurture, and grow.

But I feel very blessed that it was no time at all, before I realized that I wanted to spend the rest of my time here on earth next to my overall-wearing man.

This pic is how I really see him. He fills my world with color and happiness. And I guess I just wanted to share a little of  his fabulousness with you all. 

He had no idea I took this photo. Why? 

He was taking time out to stroll the orchard and appreciate all that went into it, and I stood back to appreciate him.

May your part of the world be a place where you find contentment and take time out to appreciate all that is around you. 

Especially your loved ones.

from my house to your house,