~introducing~

The most joyful return of Tofu the giraffe! One of my very first felted sweater animals has finally made a comeback in a much smaller size and with a bit more personality. I'm sorta obsessed with mustardy yellow -I say  this  amazing wool felt is entirely to blame- and have been playing around with some different color combinations in the studio lately (::sneak peak:: inside that creative space later in the week) I've been busy on a very hush, hush top secret gift of which this little guy will definitely be a part of, and am just bursting with all the excitement and anticipation of  the actual giving  of this gift. Waiting is So hard sometimes :)

So, in my imagination where everything goes well, and according to plan one adorable little giraffe will be up for grabs in the shop tonight, or tomorrow morning ? Okay, let's see what happens!
::update::
so, you guessed it it's tomorrow morning! Well, I did finish last night..does that count? ;)
Here he is on over at my shop

{this moment}

inspired by :: soulemama

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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4 kids, no school and an empty house, for 4 weeks

Day in day out the same empty space many different and magical adventures. Our little two bedroom-yes, I know it's very cozy?!-  house sure seems enormous and loud with only four sleeping bags,an inflatable mattress, and three suitcases to furnish it. We had planned on our shipping container arriving one week after our plane touched down, at the time I thought what are we going to do for a whole week in an empty house? Ha! Oh, if I only knew. The days passed fairly quickly that first week. Lots of coloring and drawing, many walks around our new neighborhood. Exploring this house didn't take long ;) so we began to invent more elaborate games and activities to fill our days. After sunset, when daddy wasn't expected home til well passed bedtime, we began a game of marble monkey in the middle. If you ever find yourself in and empty home with four very energetic kids -who knows,could happen- this game could save your life -okay at least your sanity? So, the fun of the game is really in the size of the object, the smaller the better. Oh the laughter and strange noises heard as the littlest ones tried to out run that tiny orb across the living room floor and even louder cries of celebration or defeat as it was either captured midway by the monkey or made it all the way to the anxiously awaiting hands of older sibling. When surrounded by loved ones your imagination is really all you need to have a great day.

outside

It's almost magic how quickly a trip to the park or beach can turn any frown upside down. To say our first week here was stressful would be a gigantic understatement.Our game plan which consisted of showing up and signing papers for an adorable rental we loved ..fell through, and then plan B fell through too. So yes, there were some pretty tough days, in a rental car driving all over the island only stopping for food, gas, or to look at another house, left us all frazzled and weary. Despite all this uncertainty (or maybe because of it?)the beauty of our new island home was entirely captivating and on several occasions like :above: when we just swerved into the nearest park /open area  to take a break I would catch my breath at the sight of such   all encompassing beauty and be instantly refreshed, centered, and peaceful again. magic

All is made right with just the simplest of phrases," wanna go to the beach?"

it's about time!

Ah, it's so good to be back! I have been so excited to get back here and have so many wonderful amazing things to share with you. This journey over to Hawaii has been an enormous change for our little family. Leaving everyone we know, and the places we so dearly love to start a new chapter has been very challenging, quite often surprising (very large cockroaches are everywhere after dark! {{outside-thankfully})and above all wonderfully amazing in ways I never dreamed of. Starting over has meant Lots of letting go for all of us(only so much can fit into a shipping container), and has brought us together and changed our focus back to what really matters most our loved ones. So, in the spirit of all this newness I thought this space could use a bit of tweaking too. I'm going to be sharing a bit more of the day to day of our lives here in O'ahu, I still can't help but laugh out loud every time we turn a corner and "look there's the ocean ...right there... " ;) for a girl that loves the beach I am in my own little version of heaven. Of course being the craft addict that I am there will still be many crafty moments here as well, the sewing machine and knitting needles are never still around here for long you know. So many good things so much fun!

                                  

                     

                                                    

2011

Still working out some photo publishing issues, but wanted to pop in and wish everyone a happy new year!!
May this year hold as much magic and wonder as the last