A Little Bit of Magic

"To quietly work away at disposing of your own excess is actually the best way of dealing with a family that doesn't tidy."

                                                                   The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up 

                                                                                         by marie kondo

                                                         

  This may very well turn out to be my very favorite book ever.

Miraculously, within 24 hours of it being in my possession

dramatic changes were already underway...

 

...dear hubby thoroughly tidied his side of the bedroom!!!

Not only are the book piles gone, the clothing put away, and the bric-a-brac thinned but he is currently having at the furniture with Murphy's Oil Soap.

 

I figure one of two things is happening,

either the book itself has magic powers under which dear hubby has fallen

or

he actually spied the sticky note marker I had on the above quote and is trying
to send me a message!

 

 



A Little Bit of Friday Night Fun

 

I've been seeing quite a bit of this book around the internet.

Sometimes in a favorable light and other times a tad less kind.

 

I honestly had not intended to read it but a certain series of events landed it in my hands. 

I'm one chapter in and while not exactly hooked I'm definitely intrigued. Enough so that I'm all aflurry to get through the evening routine and settle in for a mini reading fest!

 

More details to come....

 

 

 

 

A Little Bit of Stitching

 

Piecing the hexies together is my very favorite part!

I'm not thinking too far beyond this step however as I'm not quite 100% sure

what I'm even making. Something small and sweet hopefully!

 



A Little Bit of EPP

 

 A new little English Paper Piecing project.....

 

...a reward to myself

for a job well done in the snow removal

department!!!

 

 

A Litttle Bit of Proof

 

If I ever begin to doubt the concept that little bits of effort can build up into something noticeable remind me to look back to this picture. The finest of snowflakes first began to flurry down on us around 6 o'clock last night. It hardly seemed like anything. All night long they continued but in a very calm and quiet manner. It did not register to be the "monster" of a storm so warned of on the news until, that is, I actually stepped out into it and took note of the fact that I was actually wading up to my thighs in snow. Nothing little about the amount of work that is going to have to go into digging us out of it!

 



A Little Bit of A Pop In

 

Busy, busy day of preparations for the big blizzard.

Stocking the pantry, filling the gas tanks, locating the flashlights,

and most importantly....

 

...outfitting the wee woodens in their winter wear!

 



A Little Bit of Organization

 

It's been quite a while since a wee bit of a doll named Lucy made her appearance around these parts. Way back when I mentioned the continuation of her story in a series of little tales and truly had the best of intentions regarding the availability of Book #2 within the year. Trouble was, as I started the process of getting her memories down on paper I just couldn't stop and over time I've pretty much sketched out the entire series from beginning to end. Unfortunately all the details exist in a huge jumble of mismatched notes and snippets of story lines. 

 

Today, however, I set out to remedy that...or at least to begin the process.

Composition books, while my favorite to write in, just aren't very adaptable when you set things down out of chronological order, which I seem to do quite often!

 

My solution (fingers crossed) is to transfer the information onto index cards that I can  maneuver here there and every where just like I did writing those dreaded term papers in high school.  At least this time the subject matter is to my liking!

 

 

 

A Little Bit of a Winter Wonderland

 

Snowflakes falling inside...

 

 

...and out!

 

 



A Little Bit of a Surprise for Someone Special

 

I was in need of a new micron pen so I swung by the Quill and Press on my way home from work this afternoon. They have oodles of paper goodies, office accessories, and art supplies which are ever so much fun to browse through. What I didn't expect to find there, however, was what I do believe must be the cutest and tiniest set of wooden blocks in the whole wide world! With the pen for me in one hand, I used my other to grab up this little treasure as a surprise for Lily Red.

 

 

It's been quite a while since she had a special treat just to herself and she could hardly wait to peek inside the box.

 

 

What a delightful clatter they made when we dumped them out!

 

 

Lily Red set right to work

 

 

Seems she could be following in the footsteps of Frank Lloyd Wright!

 

 



A Little Bit of a Special Day

 

Remember the special day mentioned on Susan Branch's calendar?

The one that said, "Visit your local fabric store today."



 

 

Well today was the day so what else could I do but celebrate the event by adding
 a few more goodies to the stash!

 

 



A Little Bit of Deja Vu

 

There is a long ago comment around about here that has so far gone unattended. It was a request for some details pertaining a batch of roasted garlic I made for a feast of sorts last fall. While I'm on a bit of a roll tackling procrastination at the moment I thought it the perfect time write out the details that should have gone along with the pictures first time around

So here we go!

 

It's quick, easy, and so very yummy....

 Slice the top portion off each of the garlic bulbs you intend to cook up.
 

 

  Set the bulbs in a foil lined pan and pour a fairly generous helping of olive oil over their tops.

Add a few shakes of course ground pepper and sea salt.

Bake in a 400 degree oven and get ready to enjoy!

 

  I usually keep them in for about an hour but go more by sight than time and know that when the little cloves begin to "pop" up they are done. Be sure to have some crusty bread handy to spread them on and some steaming soup as well!

 



A Little Bit of a Photo Shoot

 

Nothing like a bright sunny day for taking pictures and since I had some pincushion goodies ready for the shop I set about doing just that.

Profiles were taken...

 

 

...views from above...

 

 

...a peak at what is underneath...

 

 

...a close up...

 

...and last but not least, a little bit of size reference.

 

As an added note, would you like to know where I took these pictures?

 

 

In the newly undecorated sunroom!!!

Bright sunny days are good for chasing away procrastination as well it would seem.

 

 

A Little Bit of Procrastination Continues

 

Every year this tree is put up in the sunroom. It hosts a collection of birdhouse and woodland creature ornaments and white fairy lights. It is my little opposition to the disco atmosphere created by the spinning, blinking, and neon tree the family insists on having in the living room. Usually is gives me peace...but not anymore.

 

While all of the other Christmas decorations have long since been stashed away safe and sound this tree remains steadfast. For one reason or another I just cannot motivate myself into action.
 

It's either too cold, too early, too dark or too late.

I'm either too tired, too busy, or too distracted.

And the rest of the household members?

Too preoccupied with their own issues to even notice it still stands!

 

Today at least I took a picture of it.

If nothing else it should shame me into motion!

Fingers crossed....

 

A Little Bit of Gratitude...everyday!

 

Earlier this week I was surprise gifted with a 2015 calendar by Susan Branch.

It made for a wonderful start to my day! The best was yet to be, however, for later that afternoon, while having a cuppa,  I lingered over each and every page in order to devoured every nugget of joy she squeezes in to them. 

 

I was especially fond of one of January's messages, "Count your blessings everyday."

Considering the fact that I already had a trusty lined calendar with all my "must remember" dates  hung in the kitchen I decided to keep this one just for me and my daily blessings.

 

 

So far the year is full of things (big and little) to be grateful for.

And, thanks to Susan Branch's fun reminders, quite a few to look forward to.

Case in point, check out the 22nd!!!

 

 



A Little Bit of a Quilt is Complete

 

The cozy comfort of setting in quilting stitches was mine this morning.

 

 

But with patchwork squares no bigger than a quarter,

 

 

it was finished far to quick!

 

 

 



A Little Bit of Stitching in Place

 

So far so good....

 



A Little Bit of Patchwork Piecing

 

 A petite pile of patches...

 

 

...ready to be joined.

 

 



A Little Bit of Something Different

 

A new venture into uncharted territory is about to begin!

 

 



A Little Bit of a Friend

 

One little mouse friend ready for adventure!

 

 

Four sturdy legs have been attached for quick getaways.

 

 

Tiny pink toes will be handy for holding on to found treasures.

 

 

And one curly tail just because it's cute.

 

 

I'm ever so glad to have a mouse in the house!

 



A Little Bit of Light......makes a world of difference!

 

 During the dim, drab, and damp 4 o'clock hour of this afternoon I sat down
to take a few stitches.

This is what I saw before me.

 

 

Had I perchance taken the same exact photo with the same exact camera settings yesterday something entirely different would have been seen. 

 

 

That, dear friends, is because I finally caved and bought myself an Ottlite.

 

 

I've resisted for the longest time, mostly because I always thought them to be clunky and not very attractive to my more vintage tastes. I know now that not only was I not seeing clearly but I wasn't thinking clearly either because my new Ottlite is amazing! I'm so busy looking at everything it so wonderfully illuminates that I don't even notice what the lamp looks like anymore.

 

 

There was no squinting whatsoever while I stitched up the little velvet ears!

 

 

Which, by the way, were a cinch to sew in place.

 

 

Everything came together so easily in fact that I even had time to give the wee critter some shiny eyes so it could see as well has I now could!

 

 



A Little Bit of Detail...in pink!

 

Ear application may still be pending but my little mouse is now the proud owner of a tiny pink nose and some sweet whiskers!

 

 



A Little Bit of Progress

 

I found a bit of laziness was in order yesterday. Our first full week back to school and such after the holiday break made for a very tired mama who wanted nothing more for her Friday night than pizza and several episodes of  National Geographic's The Pioneers on Demand.

And so it was...and yummy too.

 

Today, however, the makings of my new little mouse friend were calling for attention and so I set out into my own pioneer territory of stuffed animal craftiness!

Tiny stitches were set in place.

 

 

Seams were trimmed and clipped and body parts were turned right side out.

I'm not entirely sure I'm following directions as I should but I've got my fingers crossed that it won't matter all that much in the end.

 

 

Even if lumpy and crooked upon completion I figure what little mouse wouldn't be proud to sport a pair of pink velvet lined ears...if I can figure out how to attach them that is?!!