In Search of Summer: May 28: Truman

{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. ~Amanda Soule

In Search of Summer: May 28: Isabel

{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. ~Amanda Soule

In Search of Summer: May 27th

We didn't have to search much for summer this afternoon, the warm afternoon just swept us there. The kids were itching, before the car was even in the garage to get out to the sprinkler.

We left Izzo's swim suit at our friend and daily babysitter's house, so we got creative-a pair of regular underwear and my old (so pre-baby) tankini. She thought she looked "fabulous!"

Truman had a very specific agenda for his summertime outfit, as little clothes as possible. He was sure his, "(S)wimmy trunks would be too HOT!"

Some baby birds were just born and live on our downspout. It has been fun to watch them grow!

*Please visit the list of other blogs participating, in my sidebar. It's not too late, you can participate too!

How To: Make your own 'pot holder' rug loom.

I've been wanting to make a loom for years, but I hadn't thought about it in a long time until, the Des Moines Farmers’ Market, on Saturday. I saw the most amazing woven alpaca, bamboo and cotton shawls. (Of course I neglected to take a picture). After a few minutes of chatting, come to find out this woman makes all of these beautiful shawls on homemade looms. Then proceeds to tell us HOW to make them. I make mental notes.

Then I see this on Design Mom’s blog today, seriously, today. And that gets my wheels turning. Let’s start with fabric instead of yarn. Then the task of making a loom might not be so daunting.

After dinner, while the kids were still in their baths (and husband was upstairs with them). I ran down to my studio in the basement and I grabbed what we had. A just-about-ready-to-be-thrown-out-white-board, box of rusty finishing nail-- hey, if I’m not sure this will work, I’m not buying anything-- and a hammer. Throw in a roll of blue painting tape and I ran back upstairs.

So... I took the blue tape and cut it into squares. I hate measuring and this look to be about the exact size apart I would want the nails to be apart.

Taped one whole side, nailed at each tape juncture.

Proceed all the way around the frame.

Place one extra nail at the start peg and finish peg of your loom to hold a tied loop, when finished loop can be untied and excess can be woven back into rug.

Thread as you wish.

And that folks is how you make a loom in 20 minutes. However, nailing will be loud, and may keep your kids up. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

 **********

Are you new here? We'd love to meet you!

Some of my favorite posts: 

1. We bought a Coffee Shop

2. 2014 theme for the year--Repeat the Sounding Joy.

3. Join our Weekly Family Meeting

4. Gluten Free Recipes

5. Road trip (with a Report)

Connect with Mary on Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram.

In Search of Summer: May 26th

 

Hello Friends! Such a great group is joining us for In Search of Summer. We will be documenting summer in all forms in all parts of the world. Asking the question, "What does summer mean to me?" If you want to join, just visit this post and email me a link of your blog and I'll send you a button!

[Me with two favorite things, flowers and coffee!]

 [Emily and I]

Today, I will be finishing up the last of the Des Moines posts and starting In Search of Summer with something that is so close to my heart, Farmers' Market. Farmers' Markets hold all that summer is, fresh, local, just picked, bottled or jammed food. Still warm bread and pastries. Beyond the food, it's the community aspect.

Des Moines Market is blocks wide-- brimming with people at 7 a.m. There was the regular but exquisite flowers and produce but the vendors-- were amazing. And BREAD. World Food. Yarn and baskets! O wow.

 [Breakfast of Champions too-good-to-be true breakfast burrito!]

 [Mushrooms that I've never seen before!]

[Hand spun yarn-- you know I had to buy some]

 [Orchids, Orchids]

I'm excited to say that Farmers' Market in Orange City (my own little town), starts June 1! I only am able to bake and sell for the Saturday morning session, but I love the group of vendors that we sell with. I'm so excited to be selling with all of them again!

In Search of Summer!

Tomorrow, we will be starting In Search of Summer. And I would love you to join! Tell us the way you are seeing the early stages of summer!

To sign up and get your own button and if you have questions email me at theyellowdoorpaperie {at} gmail [dot] com!

Ephemera!

On our weekend-getaway, we stopped at a favorite of Emily's (and mine now too!) Ephemera Stationery Studio in the trendy and friendly East Village in Des Moines.

I could have taken the whole store home with me-- impeccably curated, fun and funky-- local, handmade items from a variety of vendors and artisans. So much inspiration in their storefront, now I'm contemplating painting my whole house robin's egg blue!

Arin and Karen are just delightful, hilarious and ready to answer any questions. It's obvious the love what they do, they offer classes on book binding, jewelry box making, fused plastic and so much more. Seriously, let me be in town for cupcake day. Offering cupcakes while shopping. Yes please.

[While we were there we got to watch them make the cutest custom personal stationery.]

[I wish you could see the letterpress cards and prints on this wall, so awesome!]

When in Des Moines RUN to visit them: 

ephemera stationery studio
505 e. locust street
des moines, iowa 50309
515.974.6932 

Yes, they are online! Shop, Custom Studio Work, Blog

Mama's Weekend Away

[Views from the road]

This weekend I did something that I normally don’t do.

I took a weekend off. Eric held down the homefront, and fantastically well, I might add.

[Setting sun from the rear view mirror]

I packed my bags and headed South. Rolled the windows down— and sped towards a relaxing weekend my dear Emily; wind-blown hair in a sea of silence.

[Em and I at the Farmers' Market]

This Emily lives near Des Moines, in a cute little apartment. She graciously hosted me for the weekend, inviting me to all her favorite haunts. We so enjoyed the Des Moines Farmers’ Market, the Sculpture garden, and the super-adorable Ephemera (separate posts, people... It was that awesome!). We feasted on seasonal fare and had great conversations. 

She is one of those friends when we get together the months or years disappear, and it takes just minutes to step into stride next to each other journeying on the same road.

For the next few posts I'll take you on a few mini-adventures. If you ever get to Des Moines, these are things you shouldn't miss!

*At this point I must confess, three of my closest friends share the name Emily...

{this moment}-- Friends and Hats

{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. ~Amanda Soule

Grown-up Gratitude

Do you remember when I was teaching Truman to play the Thank You Game?  Well, now I'm trying to teach myself.

I think about writing Thank You cards all the time. I do. And Sometimes I even write them. Then they don't get sent.

And while listening to a podcast on Sounds True, Dr. Srikumar Rao, said something that really hit me. "I don't have a work life or a home life. I have one life. And either it's working or it's not."

Serious. Right?

For me my life works better, feels better if I'm grateful. I can get all tied up in knots about things that don't matter. Or how someone treated me. It is not living gratefully, it's just being a 'navel gazer'. Meaning, I stare internally or within the walls of my house and not outward. Too much- Me! Me! Me!

So, there are two things that I am doing to remedy my gratefulness deficiency lately.

I am now going to carry my quick list of addresses, stamps and a few cards with me at all times. When I think of something, I'll write a note and stick a stamp on it. And put it in the mail immediately.

And second, I donated about 200 papaya colored business cards from Paper-Source to my office. And I'm encouraging our team to see the goodness in others and then write down a note to that person. I put up a little sign by our mail boxes and unveil my plan in a meeting this afternoon.

My worklife and homelife, have to overlap. Because authentic living means I'm living my ONE life.

In the words of Mary Oliver, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?"

Tulip Festival-- Round Two

You know when I promise "tomorrow" it usually means somewhere in the near or distant future, right?

So... as promised some more tulip festival photos. Tomorrow? Raku.

[Dutch Dancing on our Main Street]

[A group photo of the dancers. 

See what I mean when I say that grown people dress up to support the community? 

Confession: Eric and I danced one year. Yep, we're not even close to being Dutch.]

[Silly-faced Izzo]

[One photo of the Night Show-- from this year's Bye Bye Birdie]

[A very little one in a baby-sized costume]

[Izzo's version of dressing up]

cv: Collections

Besides yarn, cameras and coffee paraphernalia, we collect dishes. Though I'm trying to curb this habit. Most of my dishes were from an inherited estate or gifts from family members.

If you want to see more collections visit jane.

Tulip Festival

Hello friends! What a weekend. The weather not only held, but it was beautiful. The sun shone in the bluest sky and it did not rain a drop.

It's hard not to swell with pride (ok ok-- and a little irony), when this little town is transformed for one weekend. Whole families, down to the smallest members dress in handmade dutch costumes, dancing, singing, riding bikes, waving from floats.
Our family is a bit less festive, we didn't dress up in Dutch garb, but Izzo did have several costume changes. Here are some pictures of the weekend-- which consisted of food and friends, s'mores and fireworks-- so many good moments to be treasured.  I stole away to a quilt show with my dear Wendy and then painted pottery with none other than Emily Sweet!

If you'll indulge me a bit, I'll have some for tomorrow too (:

[Izzo and her friend Lily]

[Eric and Adam with the boys]

[After they BEGGED to go on the Ferris Wheel, 

Truman decided he didn't want to go... too late!]

[We pulled our couch onto the front lawn to watch the parade!]

[Truman insisted on being carried all weekend-- too many people I think--

so we pulled out his old sling. Eric got a bit more support for carrying little one.]

What did you do this weekend?