We had a lovely Easter, unlike last year, when D. and I were both so sick we had to postpone Easter dinner. We didn't get off scot free this year, though--the little Bambino was definitely off his feed, and spent the entire Mass huddled in my lap, complaining about his tummy. Thankfully it seemed to clear up by the time we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner! However, the mysterious tummy illness struck again yesterday, complete with fever and barf. So, no Mass today--therefore, no WIWS for this week--so you get last week's vision in pink and floral.
It was an unusual Easter this year in Maine. Sadly, Easter Sunday coincided with Maine Maple Sunday, the best event of the year for tourists and natives alike. It's the weekend where the sugarshacks are opened up to the public, and all along snowy back roads you'll find cars lining muddy driveways and clusters of hatted and gloved kids gobbling vanilla ice cream doused with maple syrup, while the grown ups huddle around and clasp paper cups of coffee and lazily keep an eye on the maple syrup-crazed children. The main attraction is the sugar shack--usually a modest (ahem, rickety), tin-roofed building with a giant vat of sap slowly boiling away until it becomes maple syrup.
Every year we love to visit different sugar shacks, sample the syrup, and load up on gallons and gallons of dark brown maple syrup, the kind that has real flavor. But this year, alas, it was also Easter, so...no sugar shack hopping for us. Truly a misfortune. Boo! Better luck next year . . .
It was an unusual Easter this year in Maine. Sadly, Easter Sunday coincided with Maine Maple Sunday, the best event of the year for tourists and natives alike. It's the weekend where the sugarshacks are opened up to the public, and all along snowy back roads you'll find cars lining muddy driveways and clusters of hatted and gloved kids gobbling vanilla ice cream doused with maple syrup, while the grown ups huddle around and clasp paper cups of coffee and lazily keep an eye on the maple syrup-crazed children. The main attraction is the sugar shack--usually a modest (ahem, rickety), tin-roofed building with a giant vat of sap slowly boiling away until it becomes maple syrup.
Every year we love to visit different sugar shacks, sample the syrup, and load up on gallons and gallons of dark brown maple syrup, the kind that has real flavor. But this year, alas, it was also Easter, so...no sugar shack hopping for us. Truly a misfortune. Boo! Better luck next year . . .
Sew it up Saturday!
I was finally able to mail off a beautiful dress to a friend last week. It arrived just in time for her daughter's 2nd birthday. I made it from a vintage pillowcase and a free dress tutorial, and oh, it is beautiful! I love the embroidery, and the amazing tatted edging. I used elastic thread for the first time ever in order to gently gather the flutter sleeves. It turned out just as I envisioned it--so happy for that! Most pillowcase dress tutorials have simple straps for sleeves, which isn't weather appropriate for springtime in Maine, so I had to draft on some little sleeves.
I am hoarding the second pillowcase of the pair, waiting until I perfect my dollmaking skills. I plan on sewing an 11-inch doll and making a matching dress, but I'm still working on the patterns, etc.
And frankly, I haven't had much energy for sewing lately. My creative juices seemed to have drifted elsewhere. Last night I did pick up a crochet project I started two yeas ago and put aside in September; I am sick to death of it, but it is for a college graduation gift and I do need to finish it. I'd like to be able to enter it in the Fryeburg Fair this fall, so I'd better get cracking' on it. I'll post pictures at some point: if you like crochet, you'll LOVE this pattern. If you hate making 700 squares of the same pattern, run the opposite direction!
I was finally able to mail off a beautiful dress to a friend last week. It arrived just in time for her daughter's 2nd birthday. I made it from a vintage pillowcase and a free dress tutorial, and oh, it is beautiful! I love the embroidery, and the amazing tatted edging. I used elastic thread for the first time ever in order to gently gather the flutter sleeves. It turned out just as I envisioned it--so happy for that! Most pillowcase dress tutorials have simple straps for sleeves, which isn't weather appropriate for springtime in Maine, so I had to draft on some little sleeves.
I am hoarding the second pillowcase of the pair, waiting until I perfect my dollmaking skills. I plan on sewing an 11-inch doll and making a matching dress, but I'm still working on the patterns, etc.
And frankly, I haven't had much energy for sewing lately. My creative juices seemed to have drifted elsewhere. Last night I did pick up a crochet project I started two yeas ago and put aside in September; I am sick to death of it, but it is for a college graduation gift and I do need to finish it. I'd like to be able to enter it in the Fryeburg Fair this fall, so I'd better get cracking' on it. I'll post pictures at some point: if you like crochet, you'll LOVE this pattern. If you hate making 700 squares of the same pattern, run the opposite direction!
Lastly, I designed a printable with the season's Marian prayer--Regina Coeli. It is designed to print on a 4 x 6 paper, so if you print it out on 8.5 x 11 it will not be clear and sharp. I like to print out our prayers on small cards so the Bambino can hold them and look at them while we say evening prayers; I can also print them out and stick them in 4 x 6 frames for instant seasonal decoration. Let me know if you enjoy the printable!
Yes, it's in Latin--OMG. The Latin version of this prayer is infinitely more beautiful than the English translation. Take my word for it; this is the version you want to memorize and keep in your heart forever!
Yes, it's in Latin--OMG. The Latin version of this prayer is infinitely more beautiful than the English translation. Take my word for it; this is the version you want to memorize and keep in your heart forever!