20 minutes from our front door...

the shell-y beaches of west haven. Beautiful on a free Monday.

Gotta love being fair skinned. Sunburn still hurts.

Ta Da!

So, do you remember ages ago when I posted some pics of things I had sewn and there was a teaser pic? Well, I wanted to make sure that it got to the right people first, and now I am sure. Geoff and Gena welcomed a tiny new person into the world this week and I hope she will be sporting some of the goodies I sent.

 I think this is my favorite baby pattern. It's easy to make in all sorts of fun fabrics, easy to get on and off baby, and should be good for some growing. Also...

...it is super easy to make reversible!

Don't forget the baby legwarmies in non-girly colors. I think I need to make an extra pair for my arms in New England winter!

Anyways, best of luck to a fabulous couple of people as they embark on the journey of being mama and daddy.

Glimpse of New Haven

So, I went on this tour of Yale with my folks while they were still here in New Haven, and yes, it was a bit reminiscent of looking for a college to attend. More importantly, it was an easy way to see some of the iconic architecture of New Haven all in one morning. Most people go for the Gothic building which are so very "ivy league", or even the early colonial building which honestly just look like big rectangles, but the building which most caught my attention was sort of alien/insect hive-ish.
The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Check here for a picture from the outside. I was too hot to think about taking one from the outside.
Maybe I like it so much because it resembles waffles...?



And then we walked inside.
Remember, I already liked the outside, but the inside just... glows.

The walls are made of marble so thin that the sun filters through the grain of the stone and the building seems like it is on fire.

I could stare at these walls forever, or try to read the titles of rare books placed just on the other side of a six-story glass box, but since it was a college tour, we briskly walked past the Gutenberg Bible (yes, an actual Gutenberg), stopped briefly at the Audubon Birds of America, and continued back out into the blazing sun and wilting humidity. I am going to have to go back on my own time.

Did I mention it was hot?

Impossible

Every night, as I drive away, my heart breaks a little bit more. I don't know how to do this.

Weekend sewing

I took advantage of the long weekend and did a bunch of sewing. 

Mostly I made some goodies for the wonderful women who have been working with me at the preschool.

These two bags are for the director of my school and the teacher I have worked with for the last 3 years, both who were extremely supportive in my jump into teaching by myself. Hopefully the bags are big enough to hold some books and planning materials. They have little pockets on the side for keys and phones. My keys and phone always instantly make their way to the bottom of any bag hiding under whatever is in there.

These little triangle bags are for the assistants in my class. The zipper is 7 inches long and the idea came from a bag my friend Karen had made.

The inside has contrasting fabric cuz I think it's fun.

I was also working on this, but you guys are gonna have to wait to hear about it!

Shocking!

Is it possible? Could it be true?

I think my hydrangea might actually bloom this year. We put it in maybe 4 years ago and it has never flowered. I thought it was a boy plant, but...

photographic evidence that something might be happening! This was taken on May 13 and...

this was taken today!
All the other hydrangeas have been in full bloom for weeks, but mine is taking it's own sweet time. It is totally gonna be worth the wait. 

Gelato makin'

Flavor of the week?
Creamy strawberry
Yummy, but odd (although not unpleasant) texture due to whipping the cream then folding it in right before freezing.