We're so crafty :-)

So Bridget has wanted to learn to use the sewing machine for awhile. I made the (incredibly huge) mistake of telling her that her Grandmother and Grandma's cousin both managed to sew through their fingers. I wasn't trying to scare the kid, I swear! I just wanted her to understand it *is* a "power tool" and you have to be careful, that's all. Of course, her Grandma and the cousin are not exactly crafty or "domestic" in any way. My mom, at 60 years old, *still* brings me shirts to sew buttons on them. She was proud of herself the day she "hemmed" a shirt with staples. So yeah, you can see why she might be able to sew through her finger on a sewing machine.



But because I told her that story, Bridget kept being scared of the machine. She wanted to sew but every time I brought it out for her, she froze.



Then came this weekend :-) She got through her fear and finally realized that the thing *is* under her control. And here she is, sewing straight lines to follow the stripes on the fabric. Next she wants to make a pillow. I'm guessing the crafts she sells at the fair next month will be machine sewn items :-)







Meanwhile, Owen made perler bead creations. I didn't get a picture (oops) but he was so cute. His teeny fingers are just right for those things! We got a $1 perler bead kit from Michaels that made a fish and he wanted to do that. I helped him follow the pattern and he did it! A fish was born :-) Later he made a creation of his own design (that still has to be ironed) and then he and his dad made pipecleaner bugs (also a Michael's kit).

Now for me :-) Inspired by various thing in my life (mainly a group of online women who are helping me figure out what I want in my life and a fellow homeschooler's art journey) I decided to paint designs on my front room wall. I've been saying for about 10 years now (kid you not) that I wanted to paint something over the archway. Well, I finally did that and the rest of the wall too. Next weekend I'll move out to do more on the other walls. Here's the archway.





It continues along that wall, near the ceiling, to the other end of the room. I was only able to do one wall this past weekend but I'm going to do the other two this weekend and next (the fourth wall is the staircase so it's not part of the scheme).

I smile every time I look at this :-)

After this . . . . well, I've had the idea for awhile to paint the downstairs bathroom in a garden scene . . .