Teardroppin'-Frame 2 and Metal Love Letters.

So all the metal work and welding has been completed on both frames!

They are also painted all shiny. Jeff fabricated and mounted some legs that pull out to balance the trailer while parked lakeside or wherever else we try to wedge it. Then they pull up and tuck in for cruisin'.

He has done some neat things with his torch so far and it looks so seamless and professional. Frankly he makes it look easy. I know it's not.

It probably will be easy for this guy when he gets a chance to be under a helmet. He is watching so very carefully and helping in every way he can. Turns out they make kid sized welding helmets. Sully could be welding sooner than later.

Here is the finished painted frame and you can kind of see the stabilizer on the front corner there. Isn't that black nice and sleek?

My favorite part though is that under all that paint, in between all the welds and sanded areas is a little love note from Colyer, written in Sharpie...

I LOVE YOU.

Well, I love that our teardrop is literally built on love, and with lots of it.

That is what it's all about.

Roll on back tomorrow if you like wheels... Happy Hump Day!

Command Center Anew!

Another Summer Mini Build complete!

This one isn't on that list but has been on my brain's list for quite some time. There has been a big slab of wood propped in the corner gathering dust to prove it. Well, no more!

(pause. rewind- in looking back i remembered that this project is on

my BIG summer buld list. cool! i can cross one of those off...)

The "Command Center" as we, (mostly I), call it is a huge tool for me in planning and getting stuff done. I am the only one that really uses it I think. Good thing it is bright and huge and right in the entry way for all to "enjoy". Jeff just put it up for me, no questions asked as usual. Nice man.

Here it is BEFORE-

in the dinning room, messy, and in a kinda boring store bought state.

After taping, painting, gluing, re-painting and some MORE tedious painting...

...here it is. In it's new home,

AFTER-

Not exactly as I dreamed but much better than before. That dry-erase paint was hard to get smooth. Maybe it was the brush I was using. The ink does wipe off though so something went right.

Thank goodness! Now I might even know what day it is.

***

For the next couple of days that I am aware of, I am going to bombard you with Teardrop stuff so I can catch up to Jeff's building. Then I will update once a week. Lots to show...

Happy Tuesday!

PS-My camera gets out of the hospital next week!

Happy Monday-I MADE A QUILT!

One of my New Year's Resolutions AND one of my Summer Goals is complete! Two in one. I like it.

I Made my first real person quilt! Introducing the "Tulip Coverlet"! I am calling it a coverlet because it sounds cute and seems fitting for Minna and her big-girl bed. (Uh, when we actually get a mattress and she can sleep in it.) I made it to fit well on a daybed and as far as I can tell it will fit just as I imagined it would. I actually made a big mistake when I pieced together the first two rows. The tulips on the top two corners ended up upside down. I was angry at first but now see that it lends itself to the daybed look. I am O.K. with it.

I used that old sheet that I have been talking about for ages, plus another old sheet that has the same coloring. The second sheet is also the quilt back. I really love the back. So pretty and simple and will look equally good on the bed.

The green with polka dots are from some fabric that has really gotten around. I had three yards of it for some reason and I have used it all over the place. THREADLINGS has some and it was our Christmas Tree skirt for Minna's first Christmas. The pink with dots was from Jeff's Mom's stash that she gave me when we were rummaging through her sewing stuff. I really love dots.

The batting is not batting at all. I wanted to find a thrifted flannel sheet but was too impatient. So I used a jersey sheet right out of our linen closet. I love the drapey weight but jersey was not easy for me to work with. It wasn't too much of a struggle though. I think the flannel sheet is a really good idea and I will use it next time for sure.

I cut 42 blocks and tried to be really precise with the cutting. Very important and unfortunately NOT my strong suit. I still had some abnormal blocks I think due to using different weight fabrics. All in all though, the seams seemed to match up. Yes!

I was excited to take pictures of it outside as lots of quilt artists do. That was one of the reasons I wanted to make a quilt in the first place I think. I love the photos in "The Gentle Art Of Domesticity" and Jane Brocket's latest book too. So lovely. Quilt photography is an art all by itself isn't it? Luckily I had an assistant helping me out while we took pictures in our jammies and bed-head.

And look how happy she was when I gave it to her this morning! She put it to good use right away with some cuddling and some reading. I was so glad she liked it so much and I have to say I am pretty proud of it. Very rewarding.

Looking outside around here it is obvious that it isn't quilt bundling weather. The fields turned gold over night and we are a little hot and sweaty. That is O.K. The "Tulip Coverlet" can still look pretty on the bed and we can use it for indoor picnics when we need to escape the heat.

Hopefully I made it strong enough for washing. I will let you know.

Happy Monday to you!

sunday

saturday

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.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

****

We have J home for 4 whole days!

So we know OUR weekend will be great.

Hope yours is too!

No Ranch, No Crafts, No Kids Even!

This little check-in is special. No "Out Here" stuff today.

Instead, it's all about;

Gathers, sweethearts, off-white or champagne? Veil, no veil, tulle and beading.

Plus mirrors and turns and fluffing. Us big sisters gushing and Mom tearing up, just a little.

Then it was all about finding that perfect balance of it all.

And boy did she find it.

(You will have to check back after the August 7th wedding to see for yourself.)

Oh, and we can't forget this guy, our chauffeur.

He would pop his head in here and there just to say hello, such a good sport.

At least you got to use your GPS gadget on the way there, right Dad?

Teardroppin'-Frame 1 and The First Few Weeks.

We are consumed with teardrop trailer talk these days.

When Jeff is home from work he is working away with three eager little helpers, or brainstorming with his Dad or excitedly talking about what kinds of trips we can take when it's complete.

Here I am to update you on all the building progress! It has been a little over a month and in real time we have lots complete, therefore lots to share. Today we will start at the beginning with...

Frame 1-belonging to Grandpa is being built at their house. All the basic planning and tweaking happened there in Grandpa's garage. The measuring and cutting of all the metal was a big task but went smoothly. Jeff got the welding done in a few days with the free hours he had between work and being with us. (He is so good about family time.) The amazing work that Jeff creates with his welder always astounds me.

There were only one or two things that needed to be re-done or re-thought and those problems were ironed out quickly and we had a complete base frame before us.

Minna tested it's strength and she came back with a very favorable report.

So, with Frame 1 being such a huge success, we lugged a pile of metal over to our place to do the whole thing over again. Jeff has been smiling during each and every minute of it too.

Stay tuned for the next Teardroppin' update where I will show you Frame 2 and the very important role I play in all of this.

Hope your Tuesday treated you well...

For Reals.

Happy Monday and Happy Summer!

I know I have been living Summer for a couple of weeks now, but today it's official.

Today found us working diligently outside with power tools, wood, math and measurements followed (or interrupted) by a couple of trips to the hardware store. Teardroppin' update tomorrow!

Midday we moved inside for some shade. We traded up the drill for a quieter machine and some softer materials. Sully is working on a secret project that I am not allowed to peek at.

While he was busy, I yanked this down and made a mini table cloth for a table that had some unsightly bare spots on it. The rest of that handy sheet is being cut into squares for my very first real person quilt. After all, each and every doll in the house has their own, so the humans should too right? First in line is Minna, to celebrate her gradual move into her own bed.

Now the boys are outdoors again. I hear hammering and buzzing as I write this. The younger of us girls is resting. As for me, I hear some plants calling out for some water after a warm day of sun.

Where did the longest day of the year find you?

sunday, father's day

busy, blurry, full of friends friday and saturday.

HELLO!

Hi! We are new in town.

We are temporarily staying

over at THREADLINGS and we need a new home.

Come and see us and have a good weekend!

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.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

Have a fun weekend and meet us back here next week for some tear-droppin' and motor-buggin'! (meaning-posts on the teardrop trailer progress and the new motorbike...)

The Girl Is Two.

Here is Minna.

This very same day last year. Oh, she was just 1 then.

Now she is 2, and trying to kick the diaper habit. And saying new, amazing things each day. And jumping and catching up with her beloved brothers.

And making us love her more and more every minute.

To celebrate we had fabric wrapped presents, lil' Lego party favors for the brothers, "The Perfect Chocolate Cake" with "12 Minute Frosting" that took only 36 minutes this time, a pair of mis-matched candles, our favorite ice cream and countless hugs and kisses.

Happy Birthday to you Minna-girl!

(Time to slow down with this growing stuff though. O.K.?)

A Newborn Gift.

Today I am sharing a little something I made for a special newborn girl. So today it's all about cuteness just for cuteness sake.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE making these little scrappy garlands? Well I do and the possibilities are endless. If anybody wants one, let me know. Any color, shape and size you can dream of. So fun and pretty. (Or rugged, if you need one for a little man in your life.)

Here is one for lovely Havilah Naomi. Just a couple sweet fabrics and her name. Some hand sewing, hand embroidery, machine sewing and some raw edges. See what I mean about possibilities?

My favorite part is the little heart on each end tied on with embroidery floss. I made my own bias tape for the first time for too. It is so easy with those little bias tape gadgets. The boys are fascinated by that little thing.

The big make though, was the little newborn kimono top. I used the Heather Ross pattern from her book, "Weekend Sewing". I had no problem with it and she stated clearly at the beginning of the project that it takes very little fabric and very little time. Sounded good to me. I think it took me longer than average but I enjoyed every minute.

And below is the pretty girl herself, all pretty in pink.

We are so happy for her and the rest of her family.

(Portrait by-Darby Ullyatt.)

***

Speaking of pretty girls, I am going to have myself a TWO YEAR OLD GIRL TOMORROW! She is again shocking me with the reality of time passing. More on my own pretty girl then.

For now, I am off to make "The Perfect Chocolate Cake" which requires an extra amount of stirring to become oh-so-perfect.

Have a good evening!