Suddenly, I have so very much to do. This week I’m having my entire family over for dinner as a farewell to my sister who is moving. And there is nothing like having the whole family over that suddenly prompts cleaning and repair tasks that never would have been attempted otherwise. Oh, I might expect my friends to overlook some dirt, but I know my family will see it.

And so, that’s how it happened that at 4 PM on an otherwise relaxing Saturday, I announced that really a couple of walls should be repainted along with one of the kitchen cabinets. And yes, it was also time to wash the windows. And repair some chairs that needed their seats reattached. And some other things I won’t even list here because they wouldn’t make sense or just plain sound too weird.

Oh, and the new rug is on its way. After some serious hopping up and down on the rug swatch, I decided it was time. Let’s hope that the upgraded shipping will get it here in time for our little dinner party.

And there’s another rug coming to the party too.

This panda bear rug was mine as a kid. He’s a little worse for wear, but I have a certain nephew coming to dinner who really likes panda bears. I plan to vacuum him oh, eight more times and see if he passes my sister’s cleanliness test.

(Top photo: the 2002 calendar from the Chinese food restaurant that was hanging in my kitchen. Now that it’s 2006, it seemed like maybe it was time to take it down.)

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I bought my first ever Japanese craft book/magazine in January, and I am just now getting around to sharing photos. I am lucky enough to live close to both a Mitsuwa and several Japanese bookstores, so you would think I would have amassed quite a collection given how absolutely addictive I find these. Then again, I find a lot of shopping to be intimidating, so it’s probably no surprise that I just stand there in the Japanese bookstore completely dumbfounded over what to buy.

This copy of Cotton Time, Issue 1 was all I went home with… I guess It’s more of a magazine than a book, and it was sealed in plastic when I purchased it. For some reason, it seemed easier to gamble than pick one out myself. (Who knows why?) It also came with a little booklet of extra crafts with instructions and a calendar. Here are some of my favorites pages (sorry some of the scans are a little grainy...)

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

A post in which I explain what it is I’ve been up to since last Thursday accompanied by Exhibit A – this photo of a rug swatch and an Easter card from my sister.

First, I would just like to point out that for the first time ever, I actually managed to send an appropriately-themed holiday card to my sister which is truly an accomplishment. Somehow being a mom has suddenly programmed her to commemorate all holidays with timely mailings of gifts and cards and notes. Well, I’m not going to let her have all of the fun herself. She’s just going to have to suck it up and learn to check her mailbox too.

Secondly, I checked my mailbox and was elated to discover that this rug swatch (pictured above – Exhibit A) finally arrived. Perhaps you think elated is a strong word for a rug swatch, but I’ve been waiting for this little piece of carpet for 2 months. (Please see horrible mailbox sob story if you would like to read the saga of the missing mail – AKA the time I put jellybeans in the mailbox.)

So now I spend all my free time standing on this rug swatch trying to decide whether or not to buy the full size version. I currently have one of those fluffy flokati rugs. When I called around, I found out it would cost the same amount to get my rug cleaned as it would to buy a new one. I don’t know why rug shopping is so hard – it just is. And let’s be honest, having to work with a purple couch doesn’t help.

I also had time for a beautiful Easter with my parents (who assured me that I’m not too old to get an Easter basket and took me out to lunch after church).

Ok. Back to hopping on the rug swatch…

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 07:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This past weekend, my orders from Posie Rosy Little Things and The Small Object arrived. (Talk about speedy!) It signifies quite a change in my life that instead of ripping them open immediately, I first opened the window shades and shot a few pictures of the wrappings. Such care and attention to detail went into these packages.

I will post pictures of “Follie,” my beautiful little apron, later. The results of the apron photo shoot did not really do the apron justice. (That and I had not paid enough attention to the background for the shots – and well, let’s just say it really looked like I needed to be donning an apron and grabbing some serious cleaning supplies. I desperately need to do some spring cleaning and tossing.)

In the meantime, you can see my new apron peeking out of the top photo.

The stationary flats and stamp from The Small Object could not be more perfect. I love how quirky these are (and well made, too). Now for some letter writing! I miss the days when my friends and I could spend hours writing a letter to each other. Of course, that was in high school, and we really should have been taking notes in Biology, but still... It was always exciting to unfold that piece of paper and wonder what someone has written.

In other news, I signed up for Back-Tack III so I can now indulge in searching for black and white fabric full time. I’m a little bit scared and a little excited all at once. Making little stuffed creatures is the one sewing task I feel pretty comfortable with – small mistakes are easily written off as part of the creature’s personality. (Not so with clothing and purses...)

And if you’re wondering about the little bunny peeking out of the last post, I hope to elaborate more on him soon. You can consider that quiet little post as a note to self.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’m back from my inadvertent break, and geez – I am so ready to bump that last photo off the top of the page. (Not the best picture… and I spend a lot of time in that spot, so I’m happy to look on something else for a change.)

Luckily, I got home on Friday to some fabulous mail – my “favorite sewing, recipe, & paper project club” (Amy’s mailorder) and my Aranzi Aronzo Post Club vol. 22. This postcard cracks me up. I really love the little Aranzi Aronzo characters, but I’ve never really understood this yellow guy with the long nose/beak. I find it really odd that he appears to be eating a bunch of roses with similar little faces on them. I don’t know how they come up with this stuff, but it brightens up my mailbox nonetheless.

Today, my boyfriend and I went on a 2-part mini-adventure to the Gardens of the World and the mall.

I find Gardens of the World pretty entertaining, because it is really trying to be a much bigger experience than it really is. I’m a huge fan of gardens. I’ve never been a big nature person (two words: hello bugs). Frolicking around a well manicured garden is as close to the great outdoors as I usually get. Some gardens are so well-ordered and maintained that wandering amongst the foliage feels magical, almost meditative. Gardens of the World is not like that. It’s a fairly small space (4.5 acres) that contains a pavilion/bandstand, several man-made waterfalls/fountains, a replica of a California mission, and a Japanese pagoda with a blue roof. My favorite part is the ornate gate at the front. Such a tease! Don’t get me wrong – it’s lovely for an outdoor picnic or a little stroll. But it’s not the place to feel like you’re entering a new world – or even a different neighborhood for that matter. It’s free, entertaining, and more peaceful than say, wandering around the mall – so we dropped by for a few minutes. Turned out that was just long enough to get crossed up in what looked like a wedding (but was actually an extremely lavish Quinceanera). We ended up getting stuck in the California mission building as a stampede of teenagers in formal wear paraded inside. Um, awkward.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Above: the view from my desk. I look out into a courtyard area. It’s not the best photo, but I thought my co-workers would think I’d lost my mind if they saw me taking pictures of my desk. This is my little hint of green for colors week.

I completely splurged today.

I got one of the lovely aprons from Miss Alicia P! I know it may be too much to ask, but I’m really hoping that it comes with Magical Motivation Powder which will transform me into a domestic being who loves cleaning and doing dishes. (Everyone would be so proud!) Of course, even if it doesn’t, I know I will enjoy wearing my apron around while procrastinating on various household chores.

Apparently one present for myself wasn’t enough, because I then turned around and purchased a little helmet friend stamp and some stationary flats from The Small Object. Yay! I love her style – so very unique and yet somehow familiar. I can’t wait to see what downloads she spoils us with next. (And I had to keep going back and staring at Amy’s use of the labels. I’m a huge sucker for office supplies in general… this just takes it to a whole new level.)

Then I spent far too much time looking at black and white fabrics online and planning 8 different softies for Back-Tack III. Somebody needs to stop me. I don’t even know if I’ll make the sign up list yet.

I’ve completely worn myself out.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 06:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

More rain.

I’m borrowing an image from special guest photographer, Mr. Bunny Slippers. He took this a few weeks ago while we were driving on the freeway; it was clearly not raining. I’m sure this is cheating on many levels (not my photo, not taken on Tuesday, etc.), but I’m appropriating it for my something blue.

There is so much goodness out there this week:

• Angry Chicken’s Tie One On gallery – such great aprons! I’m starting to brainstorm on next month’s theme, yellow and white. A trip to the fabric store may be in order here.

• The Small Object’s new stamps - I love these, and as soon as I can decide whether to get Little Helmet Friend or Little Woodland Pals Set, I’m placing my order! (Also loving the great downloads she's been sharing this week.)

• Back-Tack III – I didn’t participate in the first two, but I did love reading about them. I’ve marked my calendar to read the rules on April 5th. I’m not entirely sure I’m up to the challenge, but it sounds like so much fun. [Note: I went to grab the link for this post and discovered that the rules are up!]

And if anyone is interested in taking Madeline and her apron home with them, please let me know via e-mail. My e-mail address is kelly(at)littlehappyones(dot)com. Of course, I’ve promised not to be disappointed if there aren’t any takers.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, we had a few minutes of sunshine today. It was just long enough to take a picture of something yellow (part of a little photo challenge which I read about over here).

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 08:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The post in which I reveal my first apron for Amy’s Tie One On challenge and propose my first ever swap. (If you’re interested in having this little apron and doll for yourself, read on!)

I had decided even before the theme was announced that I wanted to participate this month, so I was a little bit distraught when it turned out we would be making an apron for a toy. Most of my stuffed toys are chubby little creatures who I couldn’t quite picture wearing an apron. So I was relieved when I found Miss Madeline hiding in the closet. Of course, she was wearing a Santa-style Christmas dress, so I had to make her not just an apron but a little outfit to wear underneath.

The apron is made of black lace trim, remnants of a white cotton sheet, and some green ribbon. This Anthropologie drawing room skirt was my inspiration. Her apron is really a tiny little copy.

She’s sporting a summer shift dress lined in green cotton. This was my first foray into making doll’s clothes (or any clothes for that matter) so it was challenging at times. In fact, Madeline was going to be getting a black dress instead, but that one was eaten by the sewing machine and ended up in the trash. This one was attempt #2, and honestly, I like the color scheme a whole lot better anyway.

I didn’t know how to make a doll’s dress, but I remembered all of you Blythe fans make doll clothes all the time. So I modified a Blythe doll pattern to make the little A-line dress. Madeline is still growing into her summer dress which is a little big for her in places. (And don’t even ask me to show you the back where the hem is all kinds of uneven.)

Now, the part about the SWAP… This is a little bit dangerous since I think there are maybe 3 people who visit me here, but I would love to do a swap. Madeline was sitting all lonely in the closet, and I would love for her to go to a good home where she could be appreciated. I would be sending you:

• 8” Madeline Doll
• Madeline’s red Christmas hat and dress
• Her summer A-line dress
• Her drawing room apron
• And assorted other goodies to be decided by me

Edited to add: What you'd like to send in return is up to you!

Anyone interested? Please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail at kelly(at)littlehappones(dot)com. Please keep in mind that the apron and dress were made by a very novice sewer, so they probably wouldn’t stand up to a lot of wear and tear from small children and animals. Madeline was never played with, but she did spend time in a couple of boxes during moves. Overall, she’s in very good condition and ready to be loved.

Posted by The Little Happy Ones at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)