Friday Favorites

1. Persephone Party Dress from ggiotta
2. Vintage Thread Series by patinaphotography
3. Blue Birds from Geninne
4. Earring Czech Glass Brass by PoleStar

Tomorrow's my 30th birthday! I'm treating myself to a massage this afternoon and hopefully brunch with Andrew this weekend. These decade birthdays seem to drum up a lot of excitement, and some dread. Do things look differently on the other side of 30? I wonder. In any case, I'm sure I'll take a wee bit of time this weekend to scribble down some thoughts, make a list or two, and then put the pen away, sip my chai and think, this will be a good year! I can just feel it!

Sending you heaps of love,
Jewels and the baby otter

31 Weeks

Forgive the rather dark profile photos, the light is wonky in my bedroom in the mornings. The little otter is steadily growing, can you tell? We're at 31 weeks and this is what I'm learning:

1. Don't knock the waddle--just embrace it and be fine with the fact that it's going to take ten minutes longer than it used to.
2. If I drop something on the floor I will leave it there until Andrew gets home.
3. William's kicks are easier to handle than his full body rolls--the rolls involve organ shifting and make my eyes bug out.
4. Naps are heaven!
5. I can not buy oreos, lucky charms or skittles--although magically delicious, they disappear with mind-bending swiftness.
6. Don't cry at the stretch marks now--there are more to come.

I'm nearly done with William's quilt, too! Hurray! This is my first attempt at quilting, so don't look too closely. The plan is to back it with the light blue fleece and edge it in navy blue. I hope he likes it. Although, I'm considering keeping it as a decorative piece until the spitting up has been mostly managed.

XOXO,
Jewels

Precedence

Is it just the spring, is it just me, or are you feeling distracted too? Maybe it's finals looming? Or the fact that it's so beautiful out it feels like torture being indoors. I'm trying my hardest to stay on task this week, but I'm not being very successful. Naps, books, walks in the sunshine... they seem to take precedence over the arteries I'm supposed to be memorizing and the social theories I'm supposed to be tackling.

Images found here

Quiet Post

Quiet post ~

PS. Thank you so much for the encouragement yesterday, it warms the heart!

Image from here

Glitters

Trying to find the joy in the unknown this morning--oh beautiful mystery. There are moments when the unpredictability of our future glitters with excitement. Most of the time it just weirds me out.

Friday Favorites

1: Lenox China sugar and creamer from satisfind
2: Alium, Nine billion by Raceytay
3: Terracotta Patina by MySelvagedLife
4: Nougat Club from KettleConfections

I'm having one of those mornings. The type where you stare at the screen for a half an hour and only come up with "um," which is something like a hiccuping thought--nothing much of substance, although it's trying. You know I love you, you know all is well, so I'll sign off with kisses and hugs from me and the baby Otter, and wish you a wondrous weekend!

XOXO

Quiet Post

Quiet post ~

Image from Miss Otter

Grand Reopening

After a few months off I'm ready to announce my Grant Reopening of my little Red Otter Shop! I've been gluing, sewing and stitching over the past few weeks--it's been fun. I even designed a new collection, the Silk Truffle Collection. I wanted to use the best materials available and create something yummy and unique--something decadent. I still have quite a few more books and other bits to add, but they'll be popping up this week, slowly!

I really don't know what it's going to be like, getting into the fray again, but I will admit, I like the creative juices flowing once more.

Please, do stop by!

Birthday presents

As I doubt that my little niece and nephew will be taking a peek at my blog, I'll post their birthday presents I worked on this past weekend. I had so much fun! Trying to follow a pattern is a little like trying to follow a recipe--it takes a little time and patience--but, in the end, it turns out mostly recognizable. I embroidered their names near the bottom of the bags and filled them with coloring books!

How was your weekend?

Spring break

One of my favorite things to do in Duluth is to walk along Lake Superior and collect smooth slate colored stones. I like the way they feel when you rub them together, like ancient money pieces. And I like the soft weight at the bottom of my pocket when I've collected my fill--very satisfying. The fact that is was chilly, ridiculously so, and I needed my mittens and boots didn't dissuade me from taking my trek when we were up in Duluth for spring break.

By the way, I was able to sneak a shot of the whole family!

Happy Monday

It would be like me to write a passionate post about all the things I wanted to accomplish in the following weeks and then be stricken with the flu (nasty stuff), dash off to Duluth for a week on spring break, and then return only to promptly sequester myself for some manic studying for an anatomy test on Wednesday. Yeah... so, my plans are taking a more generalized air: I'll be back to regular blogging and commenting soon, I'll be opening my shop up in April. That's a bit better! In any case, Happy Spring, Happy Monday, Happy Easter/Passover/Pagan Fertility Rites.

XOXO,
Jewels

Image from here