It hasn't been very long, but I just needed to pop in and freshen things up a bit. Fall is knocking on our door. We have so much to do in our little cottage- it is a little overwhelming. We have lists upon lists of what we want to do- need to do-must buy in order to simply live.. um hello hot water heater. But we won't go into that! The leaves are starting to turn, the lake is getting a little bit quieter- no kids jumping off the docks- less swans than when we first moved in. Little changes to let you know all of the little creatures are foraging. Here are a few pictures from this week.


A few new cuffs in the shop!


A little girl who loves reading about the magical land of Busy Town and is not liking her picture taken at the moment.



See you soon!

TTFN

April 4th, 2007 was my first ever blog post! I've posted 572 posts since then, which is amazing that I have stuck with this for so long. As this blog grows older, I am realizing my zest for writing is not what it use to be. When I started it, I was working from home without a babe in a wee little apartment. Boy things have changed!

As for now I am taking a little break. I'm not quite sure- how long but for a couple of reasons. One being, I need to focus the time spent on the blog (which as of late has not been very much) and channel that into the shop. I also have not been as active on Etsy or even on the blogs of friend's I adore- because I am not handling my time so well. I also struggle with the content of this blog. I never wanted it to be negative or a spot for complaining, yet somehow I think I did allow that sometimes- in my writing! Well no more nagative thinking! Positive! Positive! I'm sure I'll want to post this fall as my 2 favorite holidays and that magical time of year approaches- but this takes the mental pressure off of myself!

Thank you to anyone who has read this over the last 3 years or commented or even glanced! Please do check back once in a while- for shop updates as we get closer to the holidays we might surprise you! Thank you for all your kind wishes and support- I'll be seeing you soon! xox

sweet land of liberty

Last week Hazel and I traveled to Rhode Island to see her grandparents. We hung at the beach and did a little local shopping, went for walks and of course she did a lot of cuddling with the grandparents. Friday Zach arrived on a very delayed train to New London. A short New England trip, but fun! Some photos from our trip!


Hazel walking down the beach briefly with her grandparents (she was a little frightened by the waves- the ocean is a little vast to a small person- even to a big person!)


Our encounters with the Beluga Whales at the Mystic Aquarium. Wow are they gorgeous and majestic creatures.


more beach


Peek-a-boo with the Beluga


I really fell in love with this guy. It helps that he always looks like he's smiling.


Saturday we went to visit Zach's grandmother... she always generously gives me fabric, but this was amazing.



VINTAGE LIBERTY of LONDON!!







Everything is now washed and folded sitting on my shelves waiting for some crazy project. So grateful!! Back to the grind.

a little here a little there

Is basically how we're bringing our house together. I found the best Goodwill the other day on an adventure around Connecticut. Who knew?! But here are some of the lovelies I found:


Two of the sweetest children's reads


and a mama read I've wanted for awhile. It seemed to be out of print- so you can imagine, finding it on the shelf was kind of amazing!


A few other goodies, a wooden Dansk bowl for fruit- to go with my handed-down Dansk dishes. A big glass jar for treats (we've got some moths visiting on and off- so keeping food in glass jars is important!) and a smallish stainless steel frying pan- perfect for eggs for 2 or even 3~

Along with trying to square away the house- I've been putting a coffee cuff bonanza box together for a friend's shop (Jen, if you're reading this it's coming soon!) then we just got an order for our little sweater cards to be used as Save the Dates for a wintry wedding. I'm so happy to have work and it is gearing me back up for the holidays.

Since Hazel's room and our room is coming along, now we've got the 2 bathrooms, kitchen and living room to tend to. Out of them all the kitchen is the most challenging. Here are a few pics of the cabinets without the doors. We are kind of in a stuck mode. We've got so much work to do in here- I feel a little overwhelmed.. but we're working on it. I'm also trying to purge- purge - purge. Little dishes and mugs we don't need and picked up over the years, fabric i love but need to pass on. Our house is small and I need to be mindful of exactly what I bring in. So the one in one out is another rule I am trying to live by. I'm also trying to come up with a virtual clothing swap- I'd love to hear if anyone is interested.





Sorry they're a little blurry. The paint I picked up for the kitchen is called Peaceful White in Yolo. I am hoping once it is finished we'll have a definite om moment.
Hope you are enjoying your summer xo Off to Rhode Island this week!

P.S. I'll be selling some of my fabric stacks in the next few weeks in my other shop, Button Chops!!

Making Up in Pictures

I've been absent. A little under the weather. But, I guess a lot of people just step away from the computer during the warmer months for whatever reason. I've also been pretty lazy. Yup. In the last 3 years I haven't been working hard enough in my shop. I have been focusing so much on parenthood and our steps to home ownership- that I just haven't had the time. But I've been trying to take some pictures to show you just what has been keeping me from Hobocamp and other craftiness.


drinking milk in a vintage Sesame Street mug while wearing an armful of mama's bracelets


our version of those fun little stars people have on their house. I painted them a citrina. we got the color from The Center For Green Building


the ferris wheel at the Danbury mall!


the lillies blooming in our yard


dressing herself


trying to figure out a way to spiff up the kitchen with out a lot of money or renovating- 1st try is taking off the cabinet doors- next painting.


making my day a million times a day




Pesto I made- so we had a green & white pesto pizza! Delish!

We've got a big order and a new sewing machine, Confidence by Singer- Ms. Martha Stewart herself approves. So hopefully I'll have some snapshots to share real soon. Oh and we finished painting our bedroom- finally!

Damn You Reality!

A pile of once-folded fabric, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

So in my other homes, we didn't live by a lake where we see a million new bugs a day, we didn't worry too much about spiders and we didn't have silverfish. We were pretty lucky, although we didn't own those properties. Having lived here for 2 + weeks we are settling and becoming accustom to most of the wildlife habitat- seeing real dragonflies on a daily basis is kind of uplifting- almost stepping on a silverfish during a 3 am bathroom visit is not.

After reading on natural ways to rid your home of these gross, pesky monsters.. I've come to the realization that having my fabric color-coded and neatly folded on my shelves ( in my magical dreamland where faeries do you biding and your folding) (this picture got out of hand and is neither of those things) is a dream of the past- for now.

Since these buggers get their kicks on eating linen,fabric,wool! ( they also eat paste in books- but we are trying to pretend this isn't true- where could we possibly put 4 bookshelves + an expedit full of books?!) I need to put my fabric back into sealed bins and then somehow find room for them. Yes, it is a sad day when reality seeps in. I need a few moments of silence for what was and what magical piles could become. Oh well!

Anyone have any other advice on these buggies?

around the house

While my sewing machine is on the fritz (I'll be dropping it off Wednesday) I'll share some in progress corners of my home.
Hazel climbing into her big girl chair.


A lovely embroidered alphabet. At $4.99 this was indeed a steal at the Sal's. I have a spot on Hazel's wall.

Among the boxes and randomness. Seeing how much we have makes me grateful but also makes me want to get rid of some things. Clothes, fabric and so many toys Hazel just isn't into.

Still tackling our bedroom. Hung a lantern in the living room. Starting to paint a shelf for H's room. I had grand plans for a garden, but we moved in a bit late and our yard needs so much work it sort of fell to the side. I have a bunch of containers with basil, Swiss chard and the like- that just are growing at a mediocre level.

I am starting to get through some boxes in our bedroom and carve a little corner for sewing. We'll see how it turns out. More soon!