Asterix Helmet

Most of my family were up for xmas this week and we had a blast. My Nephews current reading, and playing obsession was the inspiration for his christmas present. An Asterix helmet, from Asterix and Obelix. I got a kids snowboarding helmet at the thrift store, spray painted it silver and drilled the wing holes. I then fashioned wings out of milk jugs, old wooden salad tongs (for reinforcement), cardboard, spandex and ultra-suede. I bought 4 large washers at the hardware store and two 1" screws. And Voila! helmet!!!

latest projects

My brother and my amazing niece came to visit this week. We had two days of a family band. If you think this photo is great, imagine the video :) Nothing like a 3 1/2 year old impromptu song lyrics. Complete with a banana microphone.

little man

Gift

One of the best gifts Brian received this Christmas was a bag of beautiful river rocks. It has already provided countless hours of entertainment. Well done mom!

Merry Day, good christmas

score...again

OK I am sorry but I have to say, I love Reno! Thrifts stores that is. There was some wild weather this week that kept me sort of house and store bound. Well the weather and the need for things in my shop. So when Brian got home at 6:30 the other night we quickly got ready and went to Reno. Arriving 7:22 at Goodwill we were serious and determined.

I jumped out of the car before it was off. Brian got the micro man out of the car and we had a plan. I went straight to the women's sweaters, Brian to the men's. In roughly 15 minutes we were both laden down with wool and cashmere sweaters. 42 to be exact. With just a few minutes to spare we went looking for others things we "needed."

10 minutes later we found:

1. An Amazing wagon full of wooden blocks (are you kidding me this is exactly what I have been wanting/ making for the last few months.)
2. A great little drum for Micro

3. and various other un-photographed baby camouflage outfits, one of which says "buck hunter in training." No big deal, Noah we know you are jealous.

In just 38 minutes we managed to SCORE big time... again!

Yeah Reno! ( I never thought I would say that)

happy chomper

In a desperate attempt to get the micro man to sleep we have up'd the amount of solid food he is eating. And I am happy to announce that he is kinda eating it.

playing games

Micro has been having a really hard time sleeping lately, and yesterday we found out why! He got his first tooth!! Its amazing how much it effected his ability to sleep, yet has zero effect on his attitude and mood. What a happy little insomniac we have.

I can't say I have kept it together as well as he has, or at all for that matter.

He just loves his new hat! and loves playing peek-a-boo with all the ladies. Thanks Sondrea!

family

I am so tired! its been a long month already.

siblings

I am not sure if I mentioned early on that Lulu was kinda confused of just "what" baby Micro was. In the first week home she couldn't decide if he was to eat or if he was for her to protect. I am happy to announce that she has since figured it out and they are fast friends. Lulu's newest conquest is to eat anything Orland might drop, or leave on his chin.

good dog!

tis the season

For ornaments of all kinds!... right?

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

inspired by: soulemama

magic

Something magical happens here in the mountains. The sunset is reflected! I don't know what this is called... alpenglow?, reflected sunset, Magic!

in the spirit

I scored again! but this time it was in Truckee at our local thrift shop. Check out my three wise women. They came to me just in time for the holidays. They are made entirely out of paper with some of the most beautiful hand painted flowers and birds I have ever seen.



I have been trying to sort out how to decorate our tree this year... This is as far as I have gotten. Security envelope garland. Any other ideas?

Dear Santa,

I would like a Guitar for christmas... is that too much to ask for?

Love, Micro

today

Today I am making cards. They will be in the shop tomorrow!!

new buttons!

Another full day! I finished some little shoes just in time to put my NEW BUTTONS on them and get them into the shop for the weekend. I love vintage buttons however my stock was running low and I was having a hard time parting with some of the real gems. I designed these new buttons and had a fabulous guy in Portland Oregon make them for me.

We had a wonderful morning with our friends at our new favorite coffee shop where I ordered up a specially beautiful drink in order to take photos for my site.

Next we went and acted like tourists at Northstar, drooled over fancy, beautiful shoes, and ate a delish lunch.

Then... I got down to business sewing. I made 21 pairs of hand warmers (not pictured) and a sweet little-person sweater. All will be in the shop tomorrow!

...And of course a post on the blog wouldn't be complete without a super sweet pic of my micro man. He is such a big boy these days, sitting in highchairs!

a new pair of overalls

By now I think everyone has realized my obsession with overalls, yesterday I took it to a new level! I saw this awesome pair of vintage Osh kosh on etsy, I was so tempted to buy them and then a light went off... make a pair for crying out loud. Don't pay to have this vintage pair shipped to you when you have all the cool fabric in the world to just make a pair. So I used an old sweater, some soft canvas, some vintage corduroy and a funky striped strap I had made for a different project. and voila! overalls!

more for the shop

Today proved to be another productive day. Or at least as productive as I can be these days. I decided that everyday until xmas I will complete projects, or use materials that I have had for a while.

These little wrist pouches were pieces of fabric I screened in the summertime, zippers I have had for at least 6 years, and vintage webbing I acquired over a decade ago. The mittens are made of sweaters I bought last year. It feels great to get this stuff moving!

The above are all in the shop along with many new and exciting things.

shoes for the day

potty time

We have been doing EC training with O since he was three weeks old and it wasn't until recently that we started seeing a serious reward. Sure it was nice to save the washing of a few diapers a day, but were we really getting through...? This week marked a break through in our little routine. Celebrating the small things is what it is all about. I will save you the details, lets just say I think he is actually getting the point of the potty. Yippie!!!!

**disclaimer: I think at some point I promised "people" I wouldn't start talking about my child's "elimination" both in conversation and in blogging... sorry Tosh!

the weekend

This weekend was filled to say the least. The highlight was saturday when Orland got to hangout with his buddy Townes while the adults helped thin the forrest. The two boys are 6 hours apart in age, thankfully they both got their own day!

naps & coffee

What do naps and coffee have in common. They both happen at the same time in the river/hess household. Orland naps, mom drinks coffee so she can get some sewing done!

SCORE!

So I went to the GREAT state of Nevada yesterday, Reno to be exact! And I thrifted to my hearts content! I got so many scores its hard to know where to start describing them. But I believe the above photos will give you a little sample.

2. 20 merino and cashmere sweaters for making shoes! 3. Super Fun patterned wool fabrics andmetallic leather for some seriously 80's inspired shoes. 4. An amazing traveling shoe saleswoman case, can you believe it? 5. A new chair for the micro human

Not pictured are: A pair of snow boots for me, and pair of snow boots for micro, some new overalls for the small man and a new sweater for me, vintage buttons, and a renewed inspired look on life :) I love thrift stores, they might just be my church.

SCORE!!!!!!

happy 7 months!

Orland has officially doubled his birth weight. A Whopping 18 pounds! Happy 7 months.

getting out

Today I am getting out. The roads are melted enough for me to drive my (borrowed, thank you Karl) 2 wheel drive car and I am in desperate need of some serious thrifting. Reno... here we come!