This very moment...

I'm really missing Ryan.  He's been gone at a Boy Scout Encampment since Monday + we're all counting down the minutes until he's home.  The evenings in the cozy brick house have been very lonely.  Tomorrow can't come soon enough.

Craft Camp is coming together nicely.  I have a happy group of girls lined up and I'm looking forward to sharing what we create with all of you.  We start on Monday!

Speaking of creating, my friend Karen has just re-opened her etsy shop and stocked it full of the cutest name banners you ever did see.  I wish I would have been on the ball and ordered a "craft camp" banner.  If you're interested in getting your hands on one, know this: Karen is a gem of a person.  She will create the prettiest banner for you and package it up sweetly.  Trust me.  I speak from experience.

I've started potty training Audrey.  Don't ask me why exactly I'm sharing this information with all of you, I just felt like you should know.

I cried my eyes out tonight watching Toy Story 3.  Weird?  Maybe.  Maybe it was the tone of the movie.  Growing up, moving on.  I feel like my children are growing up so quickly.  We've watched the previous Toy Story movies their entire lives.  The end of an era, perhaps?  Or maybe it's the fact that my husband has been gone all week and I've been potty training Audrey.  Either way, I'm rewarding myself with 30 Rock re-runs thanks to Instant Netflix and a GIANT bowl of Tillamook Udderly Chocolate.  

Happy Weekend!

Summer Harvest.

Early morning blueberry picking.

15 pounds worth!

Do you want some local organic blueberries too?  I know you do.

The Passionista's husband is a true blue organic blueberry farmer + they've got the best blueberries in town!

1052 Lake Road Burbank, WA

U-Pick $3 per pound
They pick $4 per pound
Happy summer memories? Priceless.

Driving directions here.

Summer.

Father's Day 2010.

I did my best to snag a picture of Ryan with all of the children on Sunday, but I was pretty unsuccessful.  No one was interested in taking pictures.  The boys changed out of their church clothes in record time, Audrey was picking flowers, Abby couldn't think (or talk) about anything other than going to Grandma's house, and Oliver.  He wanted to eat.  

Regardless of how that all went down, we feel incredibly blessed to have this man in our lives.  There are not words to describe what he means to us, especially me.

And don't you just love his new pink tie?

Me too.

Welcome, Saturday.

i love days when my to-do list looks like this:

1.__________

2.__________

3.__________

4.__________

5.__________

and so on...

which leaves lots of time to gaze into audrey's big blue eyes.

happy saturday to you.

2010 Word Update.

Friends.  Have you checked your calendars?  It's the middle of June.  Time is flying, no?  I'm continuing to work on my word for the year.  (If you're new to this space, you can read what word I chose here and my last update post here.)

Lately I've been learning:

-To play the guitar.  I finished my first round of group guitar lessons a couple of weeks ago.  My plan is to practice, practice, practice this summer so I can move on to the "intermediate" class in the fall.  It's not going to be easy, playing the guitar is tough stuff, but I've got myself a fantastic teacher and a really inspiring friend.  Plus, my fingers are all callused over so there's no turning back now.

-Gardening is a lesson in trial and error.  After the very successful completion of our raised garden boxes, Ryan and I were eager to get things planted.  We planted strawberries, brussel sprouts, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, cilantro, peppers, beans, peas and spinach.  The problem?  Plant placement.  The row of cilantro went between the tomatoes.  Big mistake.  The tomato plants are now HUGE and the cilantro isn't getting enough sun.  The peas + beans were planted side by side.  The problem?  Both of these veggies like to climb.  They're getting entangled and top heavy. (our bamboo supports aren't working.)  We're making notes + determined to right these wrongs next year.  Your tips would be very much appreciated too, dears.

-To sew clothes!  I know I've already devoted an entire post to my first clothing sewing project, but I had to add this to the list.  My mother and I are taking a road trip next week to get our hands on some pretty fabric (this town's got nothing!) so I'm predicting more sewing posts in the future.

Have you been learning anything new and interesting?   I'd love to hear about it.

Her Crowning Glory.

These pictures kill me.  Especially that last one.  Full smile, mid giggle.  

Would you believe me if I told you she's even more beautiful on the inside?  

Because she is.  And I'm so blessed to be her mother.

A Shop Update + A Giveaway.

The shop has been updated with a few little treats + will be getting new pretty things added all week.  Brooches in lots more colors, a few more paper items, and some new card designs are in the works.  Would you like to win a $30 Dandee Shop credit?  If so, head over to The Blog Guidebook.  There you will find an interview from me and My Favorite Things conspirator Molly, along with the giveaway.

In other news, today is the last day of school for the children. Hip, hip!  We'll be spending the afternoon by Grandma's pool enjoying the "hooray it's summer, finally" weather.

Sneak Peek.

Along with the end-of-the-school-year hoopla, I've been keeping myself busy making a few new treats expected to debut in the shop early next week.  It's been a long time, and I'm ready.

What have you been working on, friends?

Craft Camp 2010.

Your little lady will take a finished craft home everyday from camp, broaden her crafty skills + be fed a healthy snack.  If you live in the Tri-Cities WA area and are interested, please email me at dandeedesigns@gmail.com to reserve her slot.  Space is extremely limited.

p.s. thanks lindsay!

Thank You Card Download.

Can you believe it's the end of the school year already?  The big kids still have one more week to complete but tonight, little Owen has his much anticipated preschool graduation (tear).  

Teacher gifts are always a little tricky for me.  I'm never quite sure what to get that fully expresses how truly thankful I am for the time + love teachers offer my children.  Nothing ever feels adequate.  This year I decided personalized stationary would suffice.  Each of the children's teachers will receive the design below.  In place of "thank you" I added their names.  

I know some of you have already started your summer breaks (thus making this post extremely late) but I wanted to offer this thank you card as a printable download to you.  You know, just in case you were feeling stuck too.  You could use the card to go along with the gift you've already made or purchased.  Or you could print off a bunch and give your children's teacher an entire set.  It's up to you.  Download and print the card here.

Oh, and it should go with out saying but I guess you never know... these cards are for personal use.  Please do not print to sell.  That would make me sad.

Audrey's New Dress.

I did it!  I sewed a dress!  I know all of you experienced seamstresses are rolling your eyes right now but to me, this is HUGE!  I've sewn in the past.  Curtains, pillows, aprons, blankets.  But never a real piece of clothing.  Never something someone would wear out of the house.

Miss Audrey has what you would call a "difficult body type" to dress.  It's nearly impossible to find clothes on the rack that fit + flatter her short and round physique.  I decided sewing a few basic summer dresses would be our best option and I knew Erin from Sutton Grace would have some great advice.  Erin suggested this Oliver + S pattern.  She said it would be a good beginner sewing project and she was right.  The pattern was easy to follow and even better, it was FREE!  Thanks, Erin!

Instead of using a trim fabric for the yoke and straps of the dress like the pattern suggested, I opted to make the entire dress from linen.  Once the dress was sewn I embellished it with an alternating color banner also made from linen (inspired by Susan's bunting pillow).

I'm really happy with the results.  The dress fits Audrey well and I learned a few things while making it.

#1 Never, EVER sew with a baby crawling around.  They are magnets to the foot pedal.
#2 A project that should take a couple of hours takes me a couple of days.  ( I over think.  and procrastinate.)
#3 There is something magical about creating something useful + pretty from a heap of fabric.  Magical, I tell you.