Art, Quilts, and Other Adventures

Overalls

I pulled on my overalls today and it got me thinking about overalls.  I'm not really sure why I like my overalls so much.   They are something of a pain when it is time for a trip to the bathroom....

But man, they are comfortable.  And they do have lots of fun pockets.  I wore mine on the trip home from NH, and was able to stick my iPod in the bib pocket, which was really quite convenient. 

I started wearing overalls about the time that my boys stopped wearing them.  Is there anything cuter than a  little boy in overalls?

I know something cuter: the backside of a little boy wearing overalls:

Nope.  I lied.  Here's what is the cutest:  TWO little boys in overalls mugging for the camera:

For those of you wondering why the boys STOPPED wearing overalls when they were as cute as the dickens in them -- I have two words:  Potty.  Training.

Part of why I'm bringing up overalls today is travel tip #376.

Overalls might be comfortable, and they might be convenient with all those pockets and things, but:  flying in overalls is not advised.  Unless,  of course, you enjoy getting sent into the glass fishbowl and having the nice TSA person scan you and pat you down because your overalls are covered with metal buckles that don't make it through the security scanner.

You've been warned.  I'll probably forget and have them on the next time I fly.

I have some quilt related posting to do today, too, but that has to wait until I go take a different picture.  The one I took earlier is very blurry.

TTFN!

Suzanne

(The overall pictures are from December 2000, we were taking pictures for Christmas cards.  I had so much fun dressing them when they were little.  We usually tried for "same, but different" if we could.  They look so much alike that we try to make it easy on people by at least going with different colored clothing.  You can't tell from the pictures but the boots they were wearing matched the outfits -- Pooh and Tigger....)

Beads and buttons

I really didn't spend very much money at MQX last week, but what I did do was to splurge on some jewelry:

As with a lot of things, this is so much prettier in real life.  I wonder if taking a picture of it on a dark background would be better?  Or maybe seeing what it looks like on me would be better?

And this one (which has matching earrings):

And some buttons:

There are actually 8 of those gorgeous handmade glass button.  Haven't got the slightest clue as to what I'm going to do with them, but I'll have to find something now, won't I?

I got all of this pretty stuff from a place called We Got the Buttons

You should go visit her website -- she has some interesting information about how she actually makes the buttons.

There aren't actually any buttons for sale on her website -- the best way to use her gorgeous buttons is to ask her to make CUSTOM buttons.  Send her a swatch of your fabric, tell her what size, shape and color, and she'll make buttons to match!

I have some work to do today, but I'm also bound and determined to finish the pebbling on the red wholecloth.

First stop, though, is a trip the cough syrup bottle.  I'm feeling better, but I'm hearing horror stories from people that this crud lasts weeks.  Ugh.

More later!

Suzanne

My Favorite (Christmas) Things

Ever since my boys have been big enough to talk, we have asked them "What was your favorite part?" We ask them this question after we see movies, visit museums or zoos, or go on vacations, etc, etc...It's a nice way to get them to think about things, and as they get older, I'd like to expand on the question -- why was it your favorite...what was your least favorite part....what did you think about this particular part....

Of course, they are actually the ones that initiate the "favorite" part conversation these days.  Mom and Dad also have to answer the question, and it's been good for us, too, I think. 

After the Christmas decorations went up this past weekend, the inevitable question was asked.
"What's your favorite Christmas ornament, Mom?"

I wasn't able to answer them that day -- there are too many options!  I have been thinking about it, though, and have come up with an answer of sorts.  I haven't been able to narrow it down to just one thing, though, and have a couple of categories.

First off, my Favorite New Christmas Decoration.  I bought this last year.  I love Mary Englebreit's style, and fell in love with this.  I have a few other snowmen and Santa's, so I guess this can also qualify as my Favorite Santa and my Favorite Snowman.  At least for now....

Next up is my  Favorite Angel.  I have a small angel collection that is displayed year round.  Some of my angels are specifically Christmas (i.e. their clothing...) and so they only come out at Christmas time.  This is actually one of the ones that stays out all the time, but she truly is my favorite.  My mom gave her to me several years ago, and I sort of thought that she was the start of a series, but apparently I'm the only one that remembers that....

Her name is "Carol" and the artist is Sherry Buck Baldwin.  I guess I should turn to my favorite search engine and see if I can find any more to add to my collection...

Yes, this is another angel, but this category is actually My Favorite Musical Decoration.  Oddly enough, this is also a piece that has been out full time and would you believe it was actually a birthday gift?  My darling boys gave it to me for my birthday this past year and it didn't seem right not to leave it out all the time.  He sits over my kitchen sink.  I just realized that I haven't wound him up in a long time, and I'm not really sure what tune he plays....

OK, just checked...Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Speaking of music, in the category of Favorite Christmas Music...this is a toughie.    I'm not actually sure I could name a single piece that is my favorite.  I like a variety of songs for different reasons, so I guess I'm going to have to pass on this one for now.  It's sort of the case that whichever song I'm listening to at the moment is my favorite....

I had another ornament that I wanted to include as my Favorite Old Decoration, but I'm a little concerned -- I can't find it!  Not all of the decorations got put on the tree this year, and I didn't have anything to do with putting them away last year, so I don't really know exactly where it might be.  So, hopefully tomorrow I'll uncover it and be able to add it.  It's a very special ornament that I think my parents got for me when I was pretty small.

I suppose I should include the decoration that the boys are considering their favorite this year.  Naturally, it's something they made, and even better -- it's made out of Legos.  It's a little hard to read in this picture, and we need to work on a better presentation so I can get better pictures.  They asked me how to spell Christmas, and then they got to work creating Lego words.  They also made Rudolph, Santa (and an elf) in Santa's Sleigh, a tree (with a star on top), and children sitting on benches around the tree waiting to open their presents.  (The letters spell out "IT IS CHRISTMAS" -- clicking on the picture to view it larger might help...)

So, what are YOUR favorite Christmas Things?  Leave me a comment or put something on your blog -- and make sure to tell me so I can come read about it!