Back Burner

I just noticed how it had been a week since I last posted.

This blog kinda gets put on the back burner now.  I have so much on my plate these days with trying to research and find a new fit for my boy.
He is doing great at the transition classes for the most part.  Some teachers are more caring than others, but that is just the story of life.
Some classes are not near challenging enough and he is bored after the first 20 minutes.  His mind is great, and it must be filled at all times with happy, inviting, challenging work.  He thrives on learning new things.
Giving him a sheet of paper to trace letters is not going to cut it...it has been writing on his own too long to go backwards.
So we will roll with the punches and keep our heads up.

Today 2 moms reached out to me after my boys teacher told me he was bored after 25 minutes and said it was time to take him home.  The moms introduced themselves and just happened to ask how I was.  Which was interesting, cause that never happens here, people keep to themselves.
Turns out these 2 moms with daughters in my boys class have autistic boys.
It was like they just knew to reach out to me.  My boy went off and played with their girls and we spoke for an hour.  It was a change that was meant to be in my life.  To pull him from private school, I have already met more moms in a week that in 12 years of living here.  And moms that have the understanding of what it is like everyday to live with a special needs child.
Well my mind was blown.  Life works in mysterious ways.

While I sit and wait for him in school, I crochet or sew.  But I don't have time for much else outside of that time.  Like I said, he has a mind that needs challenges.  We work on school work and craft time at home to keep his mind busy.  This set is my favorite for the week.  The task was to draw something red, he drew spiderman, plus sounded out the writing of spiderman...S-P-Y-derman  gotta love it.  Then on to his counting and writing.  He has come so far so fast.

Ever wonder what I look like while shopping for quilt fabrics...yeah me too.
Apparently he thought he would snap some very unflattering shots of me.
Note to self, by pants that fit. #losttoomuchweight

Otherwise still working on my crochet mood blanket and it is coming along lovely.  I decided I will add some crochet hearts to some of the squares.
Crocheting black hearts today for those who don't do reds and pinks ;)

And my biggest accomplishment of the weekend, if you follow me on Instagram @vintagemarketp you saw this.

When I was around 5 years old my grandmother crocheted this polar bear for me.(the one on the right)  Yes I still have it and it has been loved til his eyes disappeared.  Anyway, I have never crocheted a doll or animal before, but Mollie Makes Magazine printed a polar bear pattern and I had to give it a whirl.  I didn't have a hook or yarn to match what it called for but dove in anyway.  After some tweaking and stitching it came out.
So here it was 35 years later I have made my polar bear for my 5 year old.
Pretty stinkin' special.

Also this weekend I was able to do a bit of sewing.  I have needed a needle case forever and now that I craft on the go I really needed a place to store my pins and needles.  I got inspired to make more and I hope to find time (yeah right) to list them in my etsy.  Otherwise I am selling them on IG and here.  if you are interested email me.

I will post better pictures this week of each page.

These are the Days of Our Lives

Life is like a soap opera around here.
Seriously, So many twists and turns.
Someone really needs to follow me with a camera crew to believe how it goes around here.

(see, the cat knows)

For the most part it would be a lot of watching me crafting and sewing, especially this week.  I have been so addicted to my sewing machine in the morning and crocheting and knitting by night.
These little toadstools are popping up like crazy around here and little mice to sit under them.

Then we get to the soap opera part.  I have a feeling it is just the town we live in and the lack of real schools or schools who care for children typical or special needs.
Today my son lost his 3rd teacher for the school year.  It became too much for us to put up with anymore.  Change isn't good for any child but throw in one with a learning disorder it is a nightmare.  We expected more from a private school but once again it is all about the $ signs and the care went out the window.   We have decided to leave.  Luckily we acted fast and got him with another temp. location until we find a decent school.
Just when you think life is rolling and all is finally good, it throws a curve ball.
I think knowing I am finally good in health and have no underlying reasons to worry everyday, this curve ball is not hitting me as hard.  I took it all in stride and just let it roll off my back and moved on.  I will work with him allot at home and then fill in with classes and social life from other outlets.

We spent the morning playing in the park and pretend playing superheroes
Way better than sitting a classroom being ignored.

The upside of it all is I will have time to sit and crochet or hand sew while he is in classes.  Two birds with one stone kinda thing.

Well that is it for this episode.  Tune in next week to see if my world has turned once again, :))

 Now time to brew some lovely decaf and kick back with a crochet hook.

Spring like

For the past week I have been sewing my little fingers off.

Fun little springy, valentine items.

These iced lollies are so fun.  Perfect for birthday party displays, valentine, spring, summer oh so many possibilities.
I got wrapped up in making them yesterday and wouldn't stop until I got a set for a picture to share.

Then I was given this amazing vintage cotton shabby chic fabric and it was calling my name to use it.  I miss the way cotton used to be made.  So incredibly soft.  It just has way of making you feel like a kid again.
Well I decided to make some shabby chic stars with it and they would be perfect little teething toys.  So soft and lightly stuffed for easy grabbing by little hands.

I think I will also string some into mobiles.
And I want to make x-large ones for toss pillows.

Then it was back to my mood blanket in the evenings.  It is really coming along.  The second row is almost finished.

I have been thumbing through some of my old magazines and books for inspiration, trying to get back in the swing of creating after such a long break.  It is good to be refreshed and ready to try new things.

Sewing Days

They are here again.
I can spending every morning full of energy and sewing away at my machine.
The last five days it has been Whales.
I have one more to go and then I will move on to other things.

It is so spring like out.  Mid 60's and just a bit of a chill in the air.
I still wrap up in my boots and sweater by afternoon I am ready for jammies and an afghan.

Since getting rid of the cold I have been non-stop cleaning, organizing and sewing.
Making for long days that wear me out by the afternoon.  I feel like how fatsy looks.

So I sit and crochet on my mood blanket or embroider fun little things
this bag/clutch is my latest
Available upon request

Otherwise it is pretty chill and just trying to get back to a routine.

and watching movies, this movie was pretty much like watching me in my 20's  eerily similar...

Sunday Evening

After a week of antibiotics to get rid of the pressure in my head and horrible cough, I finally feel like a human again.
Waking up full of energy is what I love.
Being able to take on a 5 year old, 2 cats and a house that was a complete disaster after the Christmas holiday, feels so good not to have to sit down after five minutes of being up.

No down time this weekend.
I cleaned and sewed and sewed and cleaned.  I crocheted and cleaned and cleaned and crocheted.

We did art and more art and played video games,

went for late afternoon coffee and made wreaths.

It was a full weekend but I would so rather have full non-stop days than sick days anytime.

My mood blanket is on day 12.  I have completed one full row and now tonight I start the second row.  I am having so much fun seeing how this comes out.  It will be my second afghan and I am thrilled with how it is turning out.

Well this long weekend has come to a close and it is time for jammies and bedtime stories.
Hope your weekend was full of fun and craft.

Finally

Good night, it has felt like forever and ago that I was happy and healthy.
This cold really beat me up.  Yesterday had me on the couch with such severe head pain that it felt like a migraine.  Enough was enough and my dr called in some antibiotics and just like that, I am already feeling back to my old self.
I will take it slow as not to rush right back into things but man it feels good to be alive.

I have so many things I want to make and get to in the studio.  Plus I haven't even got to play with christmas gifts or put my new things away yet.  I guess it will be like christmas all over again :)))

I have kept up with my Crochet Mood Blanket and on to day 7.
It is really coming along and gives me a little something to do every evening.
Since it only takes about five minutes to make a square, it is something that I can easily commit to without being tied down for hours on end and then lose interest.

I did get out a few times during the sickness to get a few things from the grocery store.  I really was craving shakes and ice cream but my body is nondairy and I really have to be careful of products and fat content since the gallbladder removal. 

When I was lusting over the ice cream section at whole foods I stumbled upon this and O-M-GOODNES.  Life has been changed forever.  I have never loved ice cream but would crave it mainly when I would get sick.  This product will be my go to forever now.  It is the best tasting thing ever!!!!

Hoping to freshen up some of the winter blahs, my front porch is way to empty and my kitchen box needs some happy winter fun as well.

I hope to be able to get back to that tomorrow and maybe fill it with some greenery and life.

Thanks again to all those that sent well wishes.  I know allot of you have been hit with this crud as well or the vortex chill.  Stay warm and safe out there.  I will think of you as I am out on the porch in my ankle pants and light sweater ;)