i am hope :: photos

There is a great Photo Friday series over on "i am hope" -- thoroughly enjoyable.

A little quiet for the week.

wednesday's ode

To beautiful surroundings.

 

pink frills and princesses

We don't really do Disney princesses in our family. Have you heard of the book Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein? I haven't read it, but heard her interviewed a few times. She aptly put into words my uneasiness with allowing my daughter to give her heart to the Disney princess empire. My position is not popular with my daughter. Every so often I overhear her confiding to one of her little friends, "My mom hates Disney princesses." (Though, in my defense, I have never used the word "hate" when explaining my reasoning for not having said paraphernalia in our house.)

It's a bit disheartening to already be the uncool mom (about 8 years early), but I suppose I've brought it upon myself.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited when I saw this print in my local fabric shop.

Rapunzel, but not Disney and not pink. I was saving it for the perfect occasion and Easter seemed to be it. Last year I made them personalized Easter skirts. The girls were delighted with them, but I think my older daughter still secretly craved a frilly Easter dress. So I decided to dress this year's up a bit. I had various scraps of pink silk dupioni - leftovers that a friend had given me. I fell in love with the pale pink and bright green combination (hopefully I'm not the only one who thought it the perfect color scheme) and designed the rest of the kids' Easter outfits around the five-year-old's dress.

I made hers fairytale-esque, with a graceful shawl-like neckline and a petticoat-type ruffle under the dress.

 

And cowboy boots (logically!).

Hopefully my coolness factor has increased just a tiny bit.

art from strangers

I glanced sideways out of the corner of my eye. He seemed to be sketching my baby and I - the stranger alongside us at the counter. I tried not to appear too obvious as I held a bit more still. But then a request from one of my children had me on the move again.

A few minutes later the stranger smiled and handed me a simple sketch. A random act of kindness coupled with a random act of art.

For someone quite self-conscious of her own drawing abilities, this was an excellent lesson as to the delight that can ensue from the uninhibited sharing of talents.

 Like this one.

wednesday's [thursday] ode

To beautiful surroundings.

"e" is for embroidery

And Emma. And Emilie. The 5-year-old had a double birthday party to go to this weekend, so I made a couple of "e" skirts with a pocket.

Pockets are a must for little girls' skirts, don't you think? Mine always fill theirs with flowers, rocks and leaves. My 5-year-old even surprised me by having my keys in her pocket on Sunday. I (who did not have a pocket) had forgotten them on our pew in church. She kept them safely tucked away for the next few hours and miraculously produced them just as I was formulating a plan B for how to get us home. Yes, I am a firm believer in pockets.

For Emma and Emilie, we started them out with a treasure for their pockets. A little memo pad (great idea, Allyson), the cover decorated with magazine clippings, then Mod Podged.

 

wednesday's ode

To beautiful surroundings.

And to a girl who knows how to accessorize a hike like nobody's business.

silly walks

planting time

We've signed up for a working share at a local CSA, prepped the soil at a friend's house (who will be out of the country for the summer) to plant enough tomatoes for gallons of sauce, and we're getting the beds out back ready for a second try.

And daily baths for a great many of us are making their way back onto the schedule. Clearly spring has arrived.

wednesday's ode

To beautiful surroundings.