Violaceous

Movin'

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm moving my blog to http://amandacowell.blogspot.com/

I've changed a lot over the last couple years and just feel like I need a fresh start! Hope you'll join me over there. :)

Color Cravings

Needing a little extra color in my life right now! It has been so gray and dull here lately and I can't wait for spring flowers to start blooming and for the sun to come out!

Luckily I've been able to surround myself with color lately...

Embellishments spilled onto my craft table...

Painting wooden figures for our Etsy shop, Armadillo Dreams...

And from today, selecting fabric scraps for a scrappy quilt I'm making Lucy for her birthday. Love all these colors.

Any signs of spring where you are yet?

Sunlight Patches

Don't you just love the patches of sunlight that come into the house on an otherwise dreary winter day?

Lucy always takes advantage of them...

What better way to spend a dreary morning than making a color gradient out of blocks in a big patch of sunlight while wearing a princess outfit? I'll have to try that sometime...

How are your winter days going? I can't wait until spring, but little things like this are what keep me going. That and the pussy willows on the tree outside!

Washing Dishes

Lucy and I were having one of those days last week where she was bored and had no attention span for her usual favorite activities. I was washing some things found at an estate sale and she wanted to help, so I filled the sink with soapy water and gave her a dishcloth.

I couldn't believe how busy this kept her. She was washing, rinsing and drying things for about an hour!

I think it's funny how kids enjoy the simplest of activities. Things that adults think of as a chore.

Just another reminder that kids don't need a lot to make them happy!

I want to try and remember to enjoy simple "chores" more, to find  peace in the repetetiveness. Kids are inspiring in their enthusiasm for little things like this.

Fresh and Clean

I like being able to get a fresh start in January. 2010 had some definite bright spots - I mean, we welcomed my son into the world, it doesn't get much brighter than that! I have to say I'm kind of glad to see 2010 go. Hoping for a better, not as chaotic, more peaceful year with better rhythm to the days as a stay at home/work at home mom. Adding a new family member was amazing, beautiful and definitely a much wanted experience, but everything around here went a little haywire. I feel like I have my bearings now and enough energy to try and balance all the different aspects of my life.

Lucy and I enjoyed putting Christmas decorations away last week, cleaning the house and setting up her winter nature table. The house feels calmer now and less cluttered.

It was really nice to put away the holiday things and to just focus on the season and what's going on outside.

I like the slowness of January. It can be a little dreary, but after the rush of Christmas it's a nice break. I have always had the tendency to lean towards depression this time of year, but celebrating the chill and stillness of winter with Lucy (and eventually Lincoln) instead of dreading it has made a huge impact on my outlook.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and your loved ones the happiest of new years, filled with everything happy and good!

 

Post-Holiday Quiet

Quiet, peaceful afternoon...

The first picture says it all, he is normally one busy little guy. Sending you wishes for some post-holiday quiet in your life too!

Merry Christmas!

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oh, life.

Jeez Louise. Life has been getting away from me! Poor neglected blog, I want to write lots of blog posts, really I do.

Turns out being a stay at home mommy to 2 kids under 4 and trying to run busy etsy shops doesn't give me as much extra time as I thought it would!

I don't really know how to sum up the last 3 months, so how about a few random photos:

Yes, this biiig baby is Lincoln! Silly guy, he's not even 4 months yet and he's in size 12 months clothes! He is just the sweetest, funniest, kinda feisty little guy. We love him to pieces.

This photo cracks me up because it totally sums my life as a stay at home mom of these two. This is my every day. Usually with me trying to sew at the dining room table and get orders out in between kid craziness/making dinner/etc. Trying to keep Lucy from dancing on top of Lincoln. I can't believe how much harder it is to get things done adding just one kiddo! Hats off to mommies of 3 or more!

Also over the last month or so my husband and I have sort of fallen into the world of woodworking! We're running a new etsy shop together, Armadillo Dreams, for handmade wooden toys. We are having so much fun doing that as a team.

If you start hearing talk around here about power tools instead of fabric and yarn, that's why. ;)

Hopefully we'll talk sooner rather than later.

An Introduction

Well then. When I say I'm taking a break I really mean it! A whole summer's worth of a break. I've missed blogging and chatting with other blog writers. We'll see how I do with posting this time...life is pretty hectic. I'm getting into the swing of mothering 2 so hopefully I can keep up. :)

We have a new family member since I last posted! My sweet little man was born on August 20, at 3:21am. Yup, he's already a month old. It has gone so fast and so slowly at the same time. Sleep deprivation, you know. But it's worth it!

This is Lincoln Edward Cowell. I am in love with the little guy. As is my husband. Lucy's pretty sure she is too...

As long as he's not "fussin".

Or being a typical little brother.

We're happy being a family of 4. It just feels right! I'm so excited to watch these two grow up together.