Radish

After we bought the empty lot next to our house, I started dreaming of setting up a square foot garden. I got the raised beds, three of them, configured and full of soil mix. It finally got warm enough to plant seeds, and yesterday, my order of dwarf okra seeds arrived. And my bright red tomato cages.

Yesterday, I harvested my first radish. 

And I ate it, with butter and salt.

So fun to eat what you've grown yourself.

Today, my granddaughter had a party at school.

And she wore the blue birdcage outfit.

She looks adorable!

This weekend I'll try to get some pictures of the garden.

Beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash.

I can't wait to get that first home-grown, vine ripened tomato!

Baby Blue Birdcages

Last weekend, I sewed up this little outfit for my granddaughter.

It's a halter top and little skirt, for the warmer weather that's coming.

The fabric is a soft blue color, with silhouettes of birds and birdcages on it.

Here's a picture of the halter back. I used a purple plaid for the lining, and it has straps that go behind the neck. So the size can be adjusted as she grows.

The halter back has elastic in it, so it's stretchy and will hug her as she gets bigger. Maybe she can wear it all summer during the hot weather. Her third birthday is coming at the end of August.

The fabric for the straps, pocket and lacy frill on the bottom reminds me of the old style vintage tablecloths you used to see. I wanted just a touch of nostalgia, to go with the quaint birds and flowers in the blue fabric.

Along with the halter top, I made a little straight skirt she can wear under it. As she grows, she will need something to cover her legs while she runs at the playground.

Elastic is a wonderful thing in kid's clothes! Makes them easier to fit and sew.

Next, I want to make some summer dresses for myself.

And maybe some maternity tops for my daughter, too. 

Mother of Pearl or Not

I made a few more button charms.

And actually got them photographed and listed in the Etsy shop.

I was hanging onto them, thinking I'd make something out of them.

But I decided to go ahead and let go of these three.

I'm still doing a lot of sewing these days. Maybe I'll find a good time to shoot some pictures of the outfits.

In the meantime, if you like these button charms, they're out there in Etsy-land for you, if you want to play with them.

Blue Flower Basket

The last time I made this little victorian style flower basket charm, it was all in pewter. I decided to try my faux enameling technique on it, to give it a splash of color.

It's turquoise, kind of a blue-green color. 

I want to make one that's red, but I like this one a lot.

It reminds me of the springtime blossoms all out in the yard now.

The azaleas are almost done here. Maybe I'll make one with a ruddy pinkish color, like the azalea blooms.

I'm headed over to the studio this afternoon for a session of creativity. I might have to turn on a fan or two and open the windows.

I love this weather and this time of year.