vintage fabric stash

I'm eating, sleeping, and breathing this baby girl. She is delicious, truly. We still have a long haul up ahead in terms of the sleep routine, the feeding schedule, and the rhythm of our daily lives, but she is a jewel in our home. Whenever I look over to see her wiggling around, looking at the light, or grabbing at her brothers' faces I have to catch my breath for a moment. It's as thought I forget for a moment that she's really here, and then I'm reminded. It's a beautiful reality!

Needless to say, my hands are busy with many tasks, not the least of which is sewing for this little girl. Even when there is so much else needing to be done I can often be found at my sewing machine. I think Peter must think I'm possessed at times. Sometimes chaos can revolve all around me and I'm still stitching away... I guess you could say I become quite focused at times. I'm particularly proud of a recent summer jumper I made for Ruth.

While we were adopting her we stayed at Peter's grandparent's home. They no longer live there, and they asked that some family go through some of the items in their home and begin cleaning things out. His grandmother is/was an avid quilter, so I took it upon myself to go through some of her old fabric. There were some real prizes in all those cardboard boxes in her craft closet. I took a few lengths of floral prints, classic vintage textures and colors. I knew exactly what I'd use them for! Ruth now has at least enough fabric for an entire first year of vintage fabric shirts, dresses, and jumpers. I'm so excited! This was the first thing I made from the Grandma Opal fabric stash. More to come soon!

I created the pattern using another jumper as a reference. It isn't perfect, but it fits her perfectly for now...hopefully through some of the hot weather soon to be upon us? We've had a remarkable chilly summer thus far, but we always hope for summer to hit!

She reminds me of a Russian nesting doll in that last picture, her diaper bum, tucked up legs, and a little thumb in her mouth...what a doll.

there's hope for me yet

 Down In The Valley, 20 x 30, oil

available

In our time back home, in all our adjusting to this new world of three children I have found very little time at the easel. That's okay with me. There is so much love to soak up and give out right now, and we all are requiring a little more tender loving care at this point. So, I'm doing my best to be gentle with myself and give myself time to sit still, rock and bounce our tiny baby girl, feed my two lively boys, do some laundry and dishes without tears, and get the mail at the end of the day. Sometimes that's all that happens in a day. But there are those glorious moments when I can sneak out to weed the garden, cut out fabric for a new little baby outfit to sew up, read a bit of a book, play Kerplunk with the boys, or paint for 30 minutes. In those moments I catch glimpses of how our lives will evolve over time. This time is very precious. We are learning about Ruth, getting to know her ups and downs, going through them with her, and learning more about each other in the process. It's been wonderful so far. We are a month in and are anticipating each new day ahead.

With that being said, I've completed two larger paintings. I'm so happy to show these here and hope you will enjoy them, as well. Now, off to eat a sandwich for myself before the baby feeding frenzy begins again....

I Can Breathe Out Here, 18 x 24, oil

available

her name is ruth

We traveled to Utah earlier this month, to have a big adventure. We went to adopt our third child, to wrap our arms around her birth mother, and to feel the big western sky above us! Thinking we would arrive a week before the baby was due to be born, we planned for some pre-baby outings. We hiked to a waterfall, a cave, and up in several muddy canyons... We visited some museums, ate in several food establishments that we just don't have out east, reconnected with family and friends, celebrated a grandmother's 95th birthday, went swimming, visited the park and ate under the tree where Peter proposed to me nearly 11 years ago, and even managed a quick trip to Southern Utah (a piece of heaven on earth!). Little did we know that our little one was determined to show up a whole week late! So, our original 2 week trip turned into a 3 1/2 week adventure...

But it was all worth it, every moment of waiting! Our daughter, Ruth Noble, was born on Tuesday, May 19th, at 2:18 pm. She had a rocky start, but is a healthy and happy little girl. She seems to have a gentle soul and is not much for crying. We are so in love with her and are happy to finally be back home with her. Her sweet birth mom is doing well, and we keep up with her to give her all the updates about how Ruth is growing and changing a little every day. It's hard to understand how and why we've been given three amazing miracles in our children. All I know is I am so grateful for each of them and who they are. Our family is more complete with each of them in it!

So, our lives continue, with all the glorious chaos. Really though, there is such sweet harmony in the first days (and possibly weeks) after a new baby comes home. There is more gentleness and tenderness. The boys are all kisses and snuggles. Such love to be had in caring for a new life. She is completely sweet and every time I glance over at her as she sleeps I think she is a doll. But, there is still the reality of trying to find the time to do dishes and laundry and clean up stray toys and books, read with the boys, get out in the yard and the garden, go to the park, go to the grocery store, and not to mention finding the time to sleep while she's sleeping. These things all happen in short spurts. It's a life defined by spontaneity! I'm not as good at it as I'd like to hope, but I can only get better at it if I try, right?

This morning I have managed to package a painting needing to be shipped. It will probably be a good couple more weeks at least before I'm back at the easel, but I'm building up an arsenal of images that are inspiring me. We'll have to wait and see what this new baby girl brings to my art. It seems with each of the boys I've begun with fresh eyes and new perspective. For now though, my main goals are to love her to pieces, give my boys lots of affection and time, and somehow tackle my garden. Beyond that I just have to give myself some time. This is a treasured time for our family, one I don't want to squander with worrying and stressing about all possible things. So, get myself situated and settle into a rhythm, that's the plan. Once that's going I'll be back with new work I know!

Enjoy those big baby eyes! They are the window to her huge and beautiful soul!