A story without words

Original artwork and toys created by Becka

Paisley Passions

Ok, so I have completed another patchwork illustration!

This one is dedicated to Lori at Paisley Passions

This illustration was really fun for me to design.  I really wanted to try my hand at drawing a paisley symbol.  

I love the sound of "Paisley Passions" and that is why I decided to add the two Ps.

Lori at Paisley Passions has great tips and crafts to share including 

these shorts she made from old denim jeans 

or these chairs she re-covered with matching/non matching material.

I really like her style and she has a lot to share so if you're up for some crafting ideas, go check it out ;)

-CK

The Military Wife

My husband is in the military so he leaves home a lot.  

The first time he left home was when we were newly weds and still living in the college town where we met.  This was years ago when Becka and I lived in the same state and went to the same school.

One night I called her up, crying.

I was hormonal and pregnant, I hadn't heard from my husband in weeks.  I was a total hot mess.

Becka came over to cheer me up.

She needed to take some pictures for her photography class and asked me to be her subject. 

I just knew the photos would turn out terrible since my face was blotchy and my eyes were swollen with tears.

But her photography class paid off and she did a good job.  You can't even tell I was crying.

And now, these are some of my favorite pictures I have of myself.

She made me smile...

This post has been linked up to
Resourceful Mommy

Seven Clown Circus

Live and Love... Out Loud

The Misplaced Midwesterner

And to Word Up, Yo!

for using the word of the week: 

Hot Mess Definition 2:  a person who looks as if they've been to hell and back

Motherhood

CK and I are very aware that many of you who view our blog love children and cherish the moments we spend with them.  CK and I enjoy creating stories and small characters with our own kids.  It's fun for us, and we enjoy bringing some of that to life on this blog.

Motherhood brings us great joy, although sometimes things can get discouraging.  Life can seem dim when there are cheerios all over the floor, two children screaming, and visitors coming for dinner in an hour.  But our role as mothers is ever important, and is often the most rewarding.  Here is a short video on Motherhood.  I'll confess it took me three times of beginning the video over the course of two days before I actually had time to finish viewing the whole thing (and it's less than 4 minutes long!), but each time it started I immediately started to cry because I felt like it was something I needed to hear, and that someone out there understands me.
One of my favorite parts in the clip is when the mother is pulling her daughter away from the toilet (other kids get ahold of it too?!)  

We hope you find 4 minutes to stop and view this quick message.  It truly is comforting and inspiring.

Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership

Keep on going mothers!

with love,
Becka

Smocking Secrets- REVEALED

My good friend, Bianca, is a professional seamstress.

So when she offered to teach me a little smocking,

how could I pass up the opportunity?  

I always thought smocking was some kind of magic.  

And, in some ways, it is!

{I swear it takes magic to have the patience needed to get the tension 

consistent in each stitch!}

But after a few practice sessions I see that there are a few basics that make smocking so much more comprehensible.

Lesson 1:  Smocking begins with a pleated piece of material that you can make by machine or buy at the store.

 

My material was pleated by machine and if you look closely you can see that the folds make a series of what can be referred to as the hills and valleys:

Lesson 2:  For basic designs, the needle wraps around the hills and comes up between the valleys

Lesson 3:  For the basic wave stitch, the needle always moves from right to left, wrapping the trailing thread around two hills and then passing up between them through the valley.

The trailing thread always stays either above or below the needle, depending on which way 

the wave is going.

Here's my first design:

{Yes, I know I need more practice in order 

to get that magic!}

For more basic videos about smocking check out here!

For easy-to-follow diagrams check out here!

And now I present you with some

of the most beautiful hand made smocking designs ever!

This is my baby's blessing handmade blessing dress:

Even the little roses and ribboned hand cuffs are handcrafted.

Thank you Bianca!!!

-CK

This post is linked to:

Sew Can Do

Accessorizing

I'd first like to thank all of you for the hilarious captions you gave the plum and kiwi snapshot.  You guys are so creative!

Now on to the post.

I was playing with my daughter the other day and she brought me this doll of hers.  I noticed that the little blue dress she had on was getting pretty nasty.  The above picture was taken a few months ago, so it doesn't show the wear and tear.  Let me just say it this way, you see the little white blouse front?  It wasn't white anymore.

Grody.

So I took a nap time to make a new little dress for her.  And can I say just how hard it is to sew clothes with a machine for tiny little dolls?  This little dress had to be sewn on to her permanently because she is immovable.  Any tips would be great.

While I was at it I decided to add a few props.  

Like a little pillow and quilt ~

And a basket like this one.  

The basket was an instant hit.  Anything with handles on it seems to be a girly plus.

All I could think was to make the pillow, quilt, and basket.  I'd love to add more to her treasures.  Any ideas? 

Digital Patchwork- Andrea

So, you all remember, I did say that I would make a digital patchwork for each person who won the Versatile Blogger Award.  Just something fun to give.

This digital patchwork goes to Andrea.

There was a time when Andrea had the picture of a wilting, yellow rose on her header.  

Her top post reflected sadness but also a hope of good days to come.

When I saw that yellow flower, I immediately remembered a similar one I had seen on a walk in fall.

It was the same pretty yellow, only it was in full bloom.

The unusual thing about the flower I saw in fall 

was that it was growing straight up out of an outcrop of rocks.

I was so inspired by the sight of a beautiful, blooming rose 

surrounded by rocky, cold ground.

Well, it didn't take long for Andrea's post to turn positive again.

I really appreciate Andrea and all of her good nature and upbeat love.

This digital patchwork is for Andrea 

who blossoms even in tough times.

Thank you, Andrea, for all your encouragement and comments!

Love you!

-Becka and CK 

If they could talk...

I'd love to know what they're sayin'.  Any ideas?

-Becka

Rambunctious Velma

This is Velma:

She looks so mild and tame...

but really, she is 

 RAMBUNCTIOUS!

When I walk into the house, she is so happy to see me that her whole
body shakes with joy.
Her tail wags, her paws tap the floor like she's dancing.
She jumps in the air with a little twist, almost like she is clicking her heals!
She's rowdy, she's boisterous!  She's uncontrollably exuberant!!!  

(She always looks like she is smiling.)

She sits when you ask her to... but only for 3 seconds.  Then she's up again sniffing, jumping, dancing, moving.  She loves to lick :P

Velma came to us through a good samaritan (Christine) who found Velma in a bad situation.  Christine couldn't take the dog in but was was trying to find her a good home.  Christine knew Velma was special, worth saving.

When I originally met Velma, she was tied to a foot long, tangled chain outside a trailer home where ten or fifteen other dogs clamored for food and attention.
Because Velma had been abused, I was worried her canine, defensive instincts may lead her to be
rough and aggressive.

No, not Velma.
Turns out she has always been the sweetest, most-happy-to-meet-people dog ever.
And she's so good with kids.
I admire her resilience in tough situations.

We've had her almost 3 years now.
She was named after the character in Scooby-Doo
(The original owners had another female dog named Daphne)

Here is a picture of her right after we tried to shave her... she looked like a rat with a lion's mane.

But she didn't care how awful she looked.  She was still so happy-go-lucky as ever ;)

My Rambunctious Velma.

This post is linked up to the the Word of the Week (WOW!) meme!
Check it out!

Versatile Blogger- Revisited!!!

Well, I am going to break the rules a little bit and hand the Versatile Blogger Award out to two more people.  They BOTH deserve it!!!

Jenni at Finding Joy in the Journey.  Her blog is awesome!  Simple, sweet and really, so joyful.  I love her messages of gratitude sprinkled throughout her posts.  Her posts feature beautiful pictures of her girls and family.  Jenni is my cousin and her blog is one of my favorite blogs, really.

Liz at A Belle, a Bean and a Chicago Dog.  I always feel refreshed after visiting Liz's blog.  Her words are so kind and her stories often inspire me to be a better Mom.  Thank you Liz!

Congratulations, ladies!  I find your blogs absolutely fantastic!  I have been working on some digital patchworks lately and I hope to make one dedicated to each of you who won the award this week.

Love you!

-CK

Dinner Party Chicken Parmesan

Have you ever had trouble planning a dinner party because all you can think of making is some obscure dish like, say, spicy tuna with okra?
 And while you and your husband may be able to appreciate the tender fish and rare vegetable, you're just not sure that that it will go over well with the neighbors?
Haha!  OK, although I have never been tempted to create spicy tuna and okra,
but I have had a few nights where I am just stumped on what to cook.
(Or all I can think to cook is this.)
But chicken parmesan is a save all!
 (Unless, of course, you are cooking for vegans.  In that case choose something else.)

I've had so many requests for this dinner and I've made it so many times I know the recipe by heart.
My cousin, Crystal, taught me this meal a few years back and I kind of hope she comments
to tell me if I got the original recipe correct.  Ok, here it is:

Dinner Party Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients

6-8 chicken breasts

2 eggs

1 container of grated parmesan cheese

1 pack of saltine crackers

1 jar of your favorite tomato-based sauce 

1-2 tsp of dried/fresh of each oregano, thyme, basil, parsley and paprika... add to taste

(Fresh is better.) 

You will need three dishes to create this scrumptious meal.

I use two pie plates and a 9x13 dish.

In the first dish you beat the eggs:

In the second dish you crush the saltine crackers.  I use the bottom of a cup to do so.

Add 1 cup of parmesan cheese and all of the spices to the saltines and stir it up!

Spray the 9x13 dish with non-stick spray

  Using tongs or a set of two forks take one raw chicken breast and 

dip it into the egg batter.  Next coat it in the cracker crumbs.

Set it in the 9x13 dish.  Repeat with other chicken breasts.

Pop it into the oven.  Bake for 40 min.

Pull it out of the oven.  Poor tomato sauce over chicken.  

Sprinkle it with more parmesan cheese just for looks.

Pop it back into the oven for just 10-15 min till sauce is boiling and cheese is melted.

Depending on the size and quantity of your chicken breasts, you may want to make total baking time an hour.

Disadvantages of making this meal are that you have to clean three large dishes and you have to wait an 50 min-hour for the chicken to bake.

But you can use that time to finish prepping your house 

and cook some side dishes.

Serve the chicken with broccoli, brown rice and rolls and you will have- 

yum!-  a well balanced meal of such well balanced flavors.

Happy eating, folks!

cya,

CK

The Versatile Blogger

versatileadjectiveshe's our most versatile [blogger] adaptable, flexible, all-around,multifaceted, multitalented, resourceful; adjustable, multipurpose,all-purpose, handy; rare polytropic.  (New Oxford American Dictionary)

CK, here:  Thank you SO much Donna Perugini for granting us the Versatile award!  I'd just like thank my kids for watching Super Why one more time while I blog, my husband who loves sports like I love blogs, and for my other sister (Lydia) for making dinner for me... while I blog!!!  Haha!   No, in all seriousness, I really do enjoy blogging (both writing and reading) and I am so happy to have the chance to meet so many good friends through blogging.    -CK
We would like to pass this blog award on to some of our favorite reads:
1.  House of Sarager (pronounced like Sargent but with an 'r').  Jackie is hysterical!  Often brief and to the point so its easy to check her blog often.  I never miss a day of my friend, Jackie.
2.  My friend at Ryan, Andrea and Ethan.  Andrea writes with love and conviction and I so enjoy her thoughts and insights.  
3.  Paisley Passions!  This blog is way crafty and way fun to read.  Lori has great taste and great creativity!  
4.  Posts at On this Journey called... Life are SURE to please.  I always enjoy reading posts by Ms. Understood.  She's such a great writer and she's very versatile, for sure.
I have one more person to pass the award on to, so stay tuned to hear about her!

Part of the blog award rules state that we share seven things about ourselves.  So, here we go:
1.  Both Becka and I have taken rides on elephants, llamas and OSTRICHES!!!  Ya, they let you ride those in Africa...
2.  Becka and I grew up moving around outside of the US, mostly in South America and Africa.
3.  We both went to college together and shared a dorm room for a number years.  We fought over everything (shirts, curling iron, shoes, etc.)  every day.
4.  Becka was with me when I met my husband (at a dance)... and when I had my first baby at the hospital.
5.  I like to "go natural" whenever I can and I've had two births at home with midwives.  Becka also had a baby without an epidural and though she didn't plan it that way, I think she deserves kudos, for sure!
6.  Becka married a farm boy, I married a Navy boy.
7.  We played in two different orchestras together growing up.  I play violin, Becka cello.
What interesting things do you guys have about yourselves???  I'd love to hear it!  Thanks everyone for being such great friends!  I'm excited to see how the new versatile blog award winners accept their awards!
Sorry we've been out all week.  We've been doin' other stuff, but we still love bloggin'!  
-CK  

NO MONSTERS HERE!

My son woke up one morning and told me that he had a dream about monsters.

The next night he wouldn't go near his room at bedtime.

I had NO IDEA what to do.

A friend at church suggested to post a sign on the door:

NO MONSTERS

And it worked!

Not only was he willing to go back to his own bedroom,

he also wanted to keep the door shut!

Here is the original sign:

He also thought it might be a good idea to put 

a child lock on the door knob.

To keep the monsters out, of course.

The original sign tore and I decided to make a new one on the computer.  I thought this project was a fun idea so I made the image into a digital patchwork to print.

If you'd like a copy just click on the image below to print it.

And for those of you who'd like a coloring page version...

You can also download the image 

so that you can resize it however you'd like.

One time when we were kids my youngest sister, Tilly, got frightened of imaginary monsters.

Becca made a label that looked similar to this one and taped it to a spray bottle.

She filled the bottle with water and said it was "scary spray"

and used to spray away any hidden creatures that might be lurking under her bed or in the closet.

It worked for Tilly!

Do you have any ideas of how to deal with imaginary monsters?

-CK

I be a farmer

My husband and I decided to grow a few plants on our balcony this year.  The above is the pepper that we will be getting to harvest!  We are delighted.  I haven't been much of a gardener in the past.  I've killed one to many avocado plants in my day.  But there is something about seeing something recognizable and edible grow. 

...even if it's just one little guy.  Peppers can be expensive.

(the orange stick is a pencil, it rained too hard last week and knocked them over, so he's holding them up)

We also have oregano and basil...

Okay, I confess, I have no idea which one is which above.  Any gardeners out there?  Help please?

All I know is that the dried basil in my kitchen is running out (too many homemade pizzas), but having planted oregano and basil, I lost track of which I planted where.  And those little guys on the bottom don't seem to be very fruitful anyway.

So really, if any of you have any tips, it would be much appreciated.  I'm guessing the big guy is the basil.  Am I just supposed to pull of the leaves?  How do I use it?

-Becka (who is really hoping there is someone out there who knows a little more about herbs than she does)

Dancing hip-hop and little, tiny fairy horses

Ok, after having three kids in less than three years, I definitely have a few extra pounds 

that weren't there before.

How do I manage to work out when I've got two toddlers and a baby in tow?

One idea is to jump rope on the back patio.

So there I was, jumping, jumping, jumping,

and encouraging the two toddlers to sing, 

"Cinderella, dressed in yella, 

went upstairs to kiss a fella

Made a mistake!  Kissed a snake!

How many doctors does it take?  1, 2, 3..."

You get the idea.  

But they soon lost interest and each wanted their turn with the coveted jump rope.

So I asked my sister inside to turn up the music.

That's right!

I was out on the patio dancing and shakin' my booty to 

some hip-hop-country-funk on the radio.

And my little boy was twirling around with his super-man cape 

(aka my nursing cover)

singing, "I am Super Man, come to save the day!!!"

I picked up the one-year-old and her eyes were just gleaming. 

The kids took turns and I spun my son next.

So fun ;)  

And that is my story about a Mom of tots trying to loose weight.

You can also link up your story here

where two great Moms are coming together to share support for others trying to lose some of those extra special pounds!

OK... now for the art part of my post, the part with the bedtime tales theme:

Some of you know that I just moved my whole family across the country.  We spent 5 days on the road, 4 nights in hotels/friends' homes.

We stopped at one little spot in Kerrville TX.  We stayed at a great little place

with these gorgeous trees in the courtyard:

They were dripping with fantasy and I so wanted to imagine a story about them.

So hows this?

Two little ponies live hidden beneath the ivy in the courtyard

Two tiny little ponies.  One has little fairy wings and one can run faster than the wind.

And they like to come out at night and spy on hotel tenants,

showing interest and curiosity in all the different places people come from.

And... here they are!

Put together with digital patchwork:

This digital patchwork is dedicated to my little sister who loves riding horses 

and imagining stories about fairies and little elves.

I also added this post to this link up because I felt this post demonstrates that I am also trying to live life consciously