Friday, October 31, 2008

Grand Opening -- Playdates Without Pigtails

I am excited to announce that I have opened an Etsy Shop.  This is something I have been dreaming of for quite a while.  I have always appreciated art, but never saw myself as all that creative.  Wow have things changed!  In the past 5 years I have been dealing with the illness of my mother and had two children.  I found myself looking inward and needing a vehicle to express myself outwardly.  It didn't hurt that I lived on the most creative street in OKC.  Erin is one of the founders of the Girlie Show, and the other Erin volunteers with OVAC, works with the annual 12X12 art show and teaches art classes at the Oklahoma City Art Museum.  JD is a wonderful photographer.  This was enough inspiration to even get me going.  

I have also been inspired by the Creative Mom Podcast.  Amy Cowen is a talented artist and also a mom to two little boys.  She motivated me to "do art" in a way that would enhance the lives of my children.  I love the CMP because it has a great community of people from across the country who share their work and encourage everyone else.  

I began this journey knitting.  I signed up for a knitting class and the rest is history.  Then, I was inspired by one of the Erin's to design birthday invitations for the boys that reflect their individuality.  Meanwhile I had been sketching.  At first my sketches were rough.....I hesitate to call them sketches or even doodles, but I kept going and before I knew it I was getting better. 

Last Christmas was emotionally challenging due to the side effects of my mother's illness, so I decided to do an experiment.  I made almost all of the gifts I gave.  This was the best thing I have ever done.  I got so much joy from coming up with the ideas and seeing them come to fruition.  It helped my knitting too.  (I knit four hours a night for about 6 weeks.)  The gifts turned out awesome and everyone loved them....even my sister's boyfriend who received a halfway finished gift.  

I turned the corner with my art this summer when I began designing a robot card for the oldest's birthday invitation.  I couldn't find a robot I liked  so I drew one.  I loved it.  

This began my dream of an Etsy shop, Playdates Without Pigtails, to share these items with others.  Right now I only have some paper goods.  All of the illustrations are original and digitally colored.  I hope to have some knitted items, fabric gifts, and original art.....that will all come.  I am very excited and I look forward to sharing this adventure with all of my readers.  

The name, Playdates Without Pigtails, came from the fact that I have two boys and two nephew's....I have since had a niece.  Anyway, it often seems that all of my friends have boys and there are rarely girls at our playdates.  I wanted a general name so I would not have to focus on just one thing.  What is important to me, is to create handmade items to share with all of our children with the hope that they will inspire the creativity that lies in all of us.   Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Missional Extreme Makeover


Rev. Edward Paup began as the new top executive of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.  He officially started his new position September after serving as a Global Ministries director for the past four years.  

During the board's October annual meeting, Paup said, "we have the responsibility to work toward the kind of world where poverty can be eliminated."

Like other United Methodist agencies, the General Board of Global ministries will be guided by the denomination's four areas of ministry focus -- leadership development, church growth, global health and ministry with the poor -- over the next four years.

Making the most of "The Studio"


How I Roll
Originally uploaded by UpNAdam
One of the best things about moving to a new house is that I have a studio above the garage. I love it, but I have not been utilizing it like I thought I would. So, yesterday I got organized and I am LOVING it. It is awesome to spread out and I feel so productive.

Big Boy begs to come out here. That has not worked out.....for every minute he spends "doing art" I spend 10 cleaning up. I need to work on that.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Finley Ela



I am thrilled to announce the arrival of my first and only niece, Finley Ela.  She was born October 23rd at 7:13 am weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long.  She is just adorable. Recognize the hat?  I am here to see she has only hand knit garments on that sweet head of hers.  Congratulations to her mom and dad!  We love you.  

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Sunday

I love coming into town on Sunday's when I am here in Las Vegas.  It is so peaceful.  Almost everyone is with their family enjoying the day.  For some reason it just doesn't feel this way in OKC.  The hustle and bustle never ends.  Sundays are one of the busiest days of the week for us.  I love sitting here at the Spic and Span, drinking my coffee, and listening to the unforgettable voices of all the people.  Life seems simple.  

I am sure this says more about me and my crazy life than it does the locals.

Loving Las Vegas


We are finally here. Our annual family vacation in the mountains outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico. That is not to say it was easy, but we are here. The little guy was sick last week with some kind of stomach bug and surprise, surprise.....it followed us here via the big boy. This was only discovered after we spent one day in the car and the next in Santa Fe (our usualy OU/Texas venue). He was acting a little fussy on the way back to the cabin, but it was storming and hailing and he had limited sleep. On I-35 almost halfway back, we hear a noise followed by projectile YUCK...really it hit the windshield and everything and everyone in between. Lovely.

We made it back to the cabin, gave the boys a bath, fed them dinner and put them down. Just as I was about to sit down and pull out my knitting....the lights flickered.....then I hear the boys wail. The power was out. Did I mention that the highlight of our Santa Fe trip was not the yarn shop but Whole Foods where I spent quite a chunk of change on meat and produce. Now we have no power. The boys joined us in the portel and fell asleep while we ate in front of the fire place. We finally went to bed....all of us in the master bedroom......stomach flu and all. We slept in the dark until one of the children would wake up scared of the dark and then we would rush to turn on the one remaining flashlight we could find. Adam would get sick. We would clean everything up and then back to sleep for a couple of hours. Luckily, the power did come on along with every light in the cabin sometime in the middle of the night.

I will never have to worry if the boys will remember our family vacations. Stomach ailments and bad wiring tend to follow us wherever we go. It is just a matter of keeping them all straight.

The up side is that it is BEAUTIFUL here. Last year our lives brought us here in September. It was still warm, but we got to see the Ladybugs up on Johnson's Mesa. This year is the latest we have been here as a family. The aspen are beautiful. It is a little warm for me and a little overcast, but generally it is awesome. Here are a few teasers:


Tuesday, October 7, 2008

FALLing for Oklahoma

What a great weekend! Friday afternoon we went out to the Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch in Arcadia. It was beautiful. It reminded me of time I spent out at the Frantz ranch growing up. It was open and flat and vast.....well, vast for a 8 year old. The weather in Oklahoma has been absolutely beautiful. It has been sunny and cool. Some years we don't get much more than one or two cool days before the blustering winter takes over. This year is a treasure. It looks like we may have a few more good weeks. Oklahoma is known for going from 100's to 50's in a matter of days. The boys got to run around and play on the hay bales.


We got lost in the corn maze....there should really be a warning sign for mothers with young children who decide to do the maze alone.
As evening approached....a little early I might add, we headed down the road to meet up with some friends at Pops. It was perfect. We sat outside so the kids could run around and we enjoyed our burgers. Of course, I had a diet coke....I know, 300 to choose from and I get the Diet
Coke, but it was good. Adam had his first pop....Grape Soda.
The next morning we woke up bright and early do do the Race for a Cure. More awesome weather and it was so much fun to see the entire city come out for such a great cause. Our family raised over $150.

We had brunch at the Skirvin Hotel. Also great and the boys did so well.

Finally, we headed out to the Head of the Oklahoma, the OCU Regatta.

What a great weekend!

Friday, October 3, 2008

It's Hard to Believe


Last night I went to my oldest son's first school Open House. The whole family attended.....mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and even little brother. We walked in to a lot of overwhelmed three year olds, but my son held his head high and took us to the "pool," an area where he had been telling me he napped. When I looked around, I realized why he was drawn to this spot.....it was the reading area. He has always loved books.

Next, we did a scavenger hunt that led us through all of the things he has been learning. I was very impressed. He showed me the life cycle of a catepillar, some yoga poses, sign language, and how he could find specific letters and count. I was most impressed when he took me over to a book and read it to me...with a little help. I almost cried. The idea that he can read at all and some day will be able to enjoy the written word as much as I do. It was amazing.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Pretty in Pink

In just a few short weeks I will have two sweet boys, two nephews and a brand new NEICE.  Can you tell I am excited?  I can't wait.  I am not really a "girly girl", but let's face it...I grew up in a house of girls and it is just what I know.  My sweet sister in law is due November 5th, but I think she will be here on the first.  Last weekend we had a baby shower.  These are a couple of the gifts I was so excited to give the little sweetie.  The dress was my great grandmother Mary's.  We found several as we were going through my parent's house in preparation to sell.  This was one of my favorites.  I love the lace and ruffles and, of course, the eyelet flowers.  I think it is precious.  I framed it with Pink Polka Dots to match the nursery.  

I also made a few little knitted items.  The coordinating hat and booties are made from baby alpaca.  They turned out so sweet.  I also mad the little pink hat as one of many for her tiny little head.  
The only thing that even comes close to as wonderful as having two precious boys is having a NEICE.  

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Let the Countdown Begin

I am excited to announce that my inconsistent blogging is not in vain.  I have been spending every available minute working on a new project.  Yes, there is another one.  I was a crazy work-a-holic before kids....so, I figure why not do that as a SAHM.  I have had this dream since I had the boys that someday I would contribute to the wonderful handmade art and craft that I have found so refreshing.  I have spent hours looking at blogs and Etsy looking for handmade items to surround my children in with the idea that the less commercial the better.  

I was first inspired by a friend that threw the most wonderful birthday parties for her boys.  From the invitation to the thank you notes and everything in between, you could see the personality of the individual child and the family that loved him.  I began this tradition with my boys and......well...the rest is history.  The more I created, the more inspired I became.  One thing led to another and now we are collaborating to open an Etsy Shop.  Playdates Without Pigtails will be open in one month, November 1st.  We plan to use this venue as a way to share our little inspirations (4 boys between us) and encourage others to think creative and unique when mailing out cards, invitations, announcements, gifts, and much more.  

I look forward to sharing this shop with all of my readers.