Photo Friday: Lilies (Georgia O'Keeffe style)

Here are some photos inspired by the abstract floral paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe...

Photo Friday: Hidden Treasures- South Lake

One sunny Saturday afternoon, I found myself wandering around South Lake Union

 with my husband, my camera, and all the time in the world...

Photo Friday: The Perfect Poppies

So if you assume that because I grew up in Kansas, I'm familiar with the movie The Wizard of Oz...you're wrong. I'm not just familiar with it...I'm pretty sure I could put on a fairly accurate one woman reenactment of the movie. Oh, and if you want to throw in my two sisters, we could absolutely quote the whole movie (songs included!).

Its been a really long time since I've seen the movie. Well, except the time Erik and I looked up 'Wizard of Oz Dark Side of the Moon' on youtube just to check out the urban legend for ourselves...but that doesn't really count, right? No matter how long its been, there are little things that remind me of this classic. Like the time we were out on a walk with Austin and without realizing it (until an older gentleman walking in the opposite direction pointed out), I was wearing my red tennis shoes, my Kansas hoodie, and walking my scruffy dog. Or whenever I hear any cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow...you know the song I've mentioned a few times that I like?

And then there's poppies...I will never be able to walk by poppies without hearing The Wicked Witch of West..."Poppies...poppies...poppies will put them to sleep..". You know the scene...

No matter what your association with the flower, you can't deny it's beauty- the crepe paper-like petals and the vibrant color. I've never noticed them as much as I have this spring though...maybe I'm under their spell?!

Photo Friday: Skagit Valley Tulips

April showers bring April flowers? I know that's not how the saying goes...but April is the Tulip Festival! It was a rainy drive up to the fields but completely worth it...

Brunch Date!

I remember our first night up here...our first night in the city. Our mattress was on the floor, boxes and Rubbermaid bins stacked up around us, and outside our window...our 'night light'. We could see the very top of the Needle from our bedroom window and we fell asleep to it softly glowing in the distance.

Over the years, it has became more than just a local landmark to us...not only did it help light the apartment for those middle-of-the-night sleepy stumbles to the bathroom- it also represented a brand new life, a new beginning, the journey we were starting on our own...just the two of us (ok, technically three of us, counting our pup, Austin).

After almost five years and with the help of a gift card (thanks Leslye & Don!), we finally made it to the top! We had the biggest brunch or my lives...lets just say my appetizer was a Belgian waffle.

Facing South- The skyline and Mt Rainier

Facing East- The Cascades in the distance

I may have been a little too photo happy...

We spent our two+ hours in the restaurant pointing out every building, landmark, mountain, neighborhood we knew. We pointed out the streets, the highways, the hills we've driven down and the streets we've walked along.

We could even see our old apartment building...it was crazy to think how many nights we spent staring at the Needle in awe...

And there we were, remembering that first night...staring right back at the place where this whole adventure started.

Trying to find hope in humanity...

I checked my phone over my lunch and found out through facebook posts and twitter what had happened. My stomach dropped...not again. More innocent people harmed by a selfish, hateful act. I don't think I knew anyone running the Boston marathon today, maybe a friend of a friend on facebook, but it doesn't take a personal connection to feel the confusion, the hurt, and the anger resulting from today's events. 

I don't understand. My whole life has been about being kind to people, trusting people and believing that there is more good than evil out there. I truly believe that most people are good...but then something happens...a school shooting, a coffee shop shooting, a bombing and I feel completely naive. The Pollyanna world of rainbows, sunshine, and 'do-gooders' is trampled. I lose hope, I become afraid...not just for us but for future generations, our kids and their kids. What's going to happen to them? Are they going to be able to go out to a public event or place and feel safe? Will they be able to live without being afraid to walk out their front door?

To be honest- I was having kind of a crappy Monday...stressful, customer issues, not ready for the weekend to be over, short staffed...I really had a case of the Mondays when I woke up this morning. I knew Erik did too. He started working on a task at work that he absolutely dreads on top of feeling stressed and exhausted. We were both a little grumpy and a little tired. Everyone has those days...but after I saw the news on my lunch break, I knew I needed to snap out of it. My day and my 'problems' were NOTHING compared to those whose lives will forever be changed by the bombings today. My blah mood and stress from work was nothing...I realized that I needed to get over myself and be thankful for every last ounce of life I have.

How do you cope with something like this? How does a participant, or a friend or family member of one cope? How does the community cope? How do we as a nation cope? We have to find that lost faith and trust in humanity. I've noticed a trend (it's sad that there have been so many tragic events that there can be a trend to be noticed). The worst times bring out the best in people. Through the confusion and tears, people pull to together. They help each other, they donate money and time to help. We start to realize again...that people are good. 

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”      

-Fred Rogers

Along with rebuilding our trust, we cannot be afraid of walking out our doors. We can't be scared to go out to community events, to public areas, to museums, parks, landmarks...We have to keep going places, we have to continue coming together and celebrating our communities. 

If the fear keeps us inside and stops us from living life, then they win...whoever they may be.

Spicy Pillows....so hot right now!

If it isn't already too obvious- I'm a fabric lover...some may call me a hoarder but I prefer collector or connoisseur. I have a closet full of beautiful fabric. Among the many, many, MANY large scale linen prints, I have silks, velvets...even maybe a leather or two. Believe me, I've collected more than my fair share of fabrics. I am seriously concerned that someday my piles and piles will end up in the apartment below us...ok, maybe not...but that gives you an idea of how much fabric I actually have saved up over the last few years.

So what do you do with so much fabric, you ask? Well, besides a handful of hot pads, woven rugs, and bags, I've really enjoyed sewing pillows! As I've mentioned before, I'm a self taught sewer so I jump on anything that helps me improve. I've made monogram pillows for my sisters and my sis 'n law (who also added a few more pillows to her collection a couple Christmas' ago). I've whipped up a set for my Aunt. I've made a ba-zillion (ok...more like 15-20) different pillows for our living room and bedroom over the past few years. They are a simple way to spice up a room. Its always exciting to pull the bins out of the good 'ol craft closet and build a color palette. It helps remind me why I push myself every evening and weekend...it makes me feel creative and alive! 

Most recently, my mother in law, Leslye, asked me to sew some pillows for her. She and her husband, Don, visited last November and we spent some time digging through the piles of pattern and color. 

She brought a few photos of pottery she has on display in her living room and away we went...pawing through the piles of fabrics and here is how everything came together....

Spicy, bold, summery colors...a mouthwatering salsa and guacamole color palette! (am I making you hungry?!) I love this classic but fresh combo. We mixed prints, velvet, dots, stripes, embroideries...a little bit of everything but it came together beautifully!

The pillows I've made in the past have had an envelope closure in the back so the pillow can easily slip in and out. I made Leslye's pillows two sided so she can mix and match until her heart is content!

Side 1 on the left and Side 2 on the left:

And of course a few a group shots for good measure:

And another satisfied customer...and sofa!

More projects to come soon!! :)