the good {and a giveaway}

Zip.

Zip.

Zip.

That is the sound of our summer rushing by.

Zip.  A week.

Zip.  Another week.

I sit here, on the cusp of Independence Day, and grapple with my clumbsy entrance to this summer.  As is life with four kids bursting with energy and intensity and creativity, our summer has started off as a mix.  Some good, some not so good.  Toss in a hefty dose of anxiety about a couple things, and well, that's been these rushing weeks.

So I'm aiming for graceful.  It may be a bit late, and accompanied by the whooshing sound of weeks zipping by, but graceful is what I want my kids to see how summer can be.  The good, and the not so good.

And there has been plenty of good.

Moments of fun, mischief, curiosity, a hometown carnival.  A growing boy in his element

A wonderful afternoon with Annie, a dear friend who is so talented.

So much more good, if I look closely, and slow myself enough to take in these zipping by weeks.

And this.  This is so very good!   

 

This magazine.  Amy is the talented artist behind Amy Hood Arts, and the creator of the Art Together publication.  

Issue 4: Mixed Media/Collage is a journey filled with inspiration, insight, and permission.  Lots of permission to explore and create and discover the beauty of taking many different materials, objects, textures, colors and making art.

Her guidelines are perfectly presented for getting you started, or for helping you delve deeper into the art of mixed media and collage.  The projects vary in scope and time frame, and all can be adjusted for any age - so creating can happen together.  The magazine is full of gorgeous examples, and tons of resources and links.  I love that the projects are flexible enough to make them your own, and bring a playfulness and joy perfect for this time of year.  Take a peek at Issue 4, and check out the beauty to also be found in Issues 1, 2, and 3.

Amy is generously offering one lucky reader a free copy of Art Together, Issue 4.  Enter by leaving a comment below.  A winner will be selected on Friday afternoon, July 11. 

(Congratulations to Kortney - Amy will be sending you your Art Together issue!)

Everyone can also enjoy 20% off of any Art Together purchase with the code: ARTPLAY.

I can't think of a better way of being graceful with these remaining summer weeks.  Slow down, feel the freedom of creating mixed media with my littles.  And maybe even sneaking some time in to create all on my own.

postcards {the real kind}

I found these little treasures at an estate sale in our neighborhood.  Delightful, don't you think?

I wanted to buy the entire shoe box-full, but instead had to settle for the handful that I found most intriguing.  Intrigued by the pictures, by the colors, intrigued by the descriptions on the back.  Who knew the New Jersey Turnpike had such enticing entrance and exit ramps for easy traffic flow?  Postcard worthy I say.

And Club 31.  Easily one of my favorites, with that just-so kitchen gleaming in its pink floor glory.

Several of the postcards fold open to reveal an entire accordion of pictures inside, giving the recipient more than just one little glimpse of the destination.  Fabulous!

All of these post cards are blank, so they seem to have been purchased as souvenirs.  A lifetime of travels to many different places, stored in a shoe box.  I wonder about those trips and the travelers.  What was experienced that can't be shown in a post card.  I wonder if those travelers ever took out that shoe box and traveled in time and memory back to those countless places.  I wonder.

As I look at, and especially touch, these little gems I hope that post cards as we know them don't disappear.  That they don't become artifacts of history, found only at flea markets and the Smithsonian.  I hope that even in this day of tweeting your current location and sending an Instagram picture to a gazillion followers that there is still room for postcards.  To smell the scent of hand-delivered mail and to feel the texture of a postcard that has, itself, made a trip.  A trip from there to here.


:: I want to mail one of the special accordion postcards to a lucky reader.  Leave a comment for your chance to receive it! ::

awaiting downton {and a teeny tiny giveaway}

After months of waiting, the third season of Downton Abbey begins Sunday evening.

Fantastic!  Or as our friends across the pond might say "Brilliant!"

Plans are being made for tea and scones and settling down to watch the season premiere with a dear friend.  A few weeks ago I had the good fortune of seeing the first hour of tomorrow's episode in a special preview screening.  If you are a fan, you shan't be disappointed.

And if you are a fan, leave a comment, and enter to win this (very teeny tiny) giveaway of a Downton Abbey bookmark.  The winner will be selected on Friday, January 11.

If you want even more of Downton, check out these books:

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle
An interesting read that gives great historical context by the present day Lady of Highclere.

The World of Downton Abbey
Includes a nice mix of historical information and insight about the show.  Lush with photographs and quotes from the series.

And for some good British entertaining, check out Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends by the lovely Pippa.

So friends, until next time. Cheerio.

in progress {and giveaway}

I love that I have my hands in some works in progress right now.  I scored some great fabric sales this week and am delighted to be spending some time sewing a few many different things.

And designer fabric swatches, for practically nothing?  Please, load me up, I just got myself an idea.  Add another work in progress to the list!  And this one has a deadline, for they will become presents to give very soon.

Oh the blessing (or is it the curse?) of the creative.  There are always projects in progress.  Always.  And when I am actively working on something I tend to be thinking and daydreaming about the next three I want to do.

Even now, as I wash and cut the fabric I bought last night, I am thinking about the fabric I want to go back and buy because I have another idea that I. must. make.

Must.  Ah yes, the blessing of the creative.


~~ on to the giveaway ~~

It has been oh so long since I've had a giveaway, and have been itching to do so.  One of my recent projects completed was a series of mobiles for Pal.  I have an extra one that I want to give away to one lucky reader.

The mobile can be hung anywhere indoors, and doesn't have to be for a little one.  (I have caught myself watching the graceful twirl of these colorful mobiles.)  Since it is made of paper it would be interesting to write important or meaningful words on the strips, similar to this.  Perfect near a desk or somewhere where you often sit.

Simply leave a comment in this post by noon next Friday, May 18, and I will randomly pick a winner.

we have a winner

The whole family got into the excitement of drawing a winner for the Loving Hands Pillow giveaway.

And chosen by old-fashioned, pull a name out of a hat way, Tonya from Whoopsidaisy is our lucky winner!  Check out her great blog where she writes about family life!

I look forward to making this for you!

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Click to enter the Loving Hands Pillow Giveaway!  Contest open through Saturday, April 9th.

I'm a winner, and you can be too! {giveaway}

Several months ago I had the good fortune of winning a giveaway from EarthMama, a truly lovely blog.

Since that time I've been wanting to do a giveaway on becomingclaudine, but was never sure just what to offer.

Recently I made a pillow for my husband with the kids' hand prints sewn onto it.  The creative idea being that wherever he had the pillow, if he leaned against it, it would be like getting a soft pat of love from his kiddos.

And my son has asked for one for his birthday.  Gosh, that makes sense.  Who wouldn't want nearby a plush pillow that expresses the loving touch of a Mama and Daddy and siblings?  Gosh, I would like one with my parents' hand prints giving me constant support.

So, really, anyone could love this pillow.  It doesn't have to be simply a kids' gift. 

So,  Eureka!  That is a great giveaway!


So here you go readers, a chance to win a Loving Hands pillow, lovingly made by me.  The winner will send traced hands of their choosing, that I will then duplicate and sew onto a pillow, embellished with a heart.

To enter, simply leave a comment and share to whom you would like to gift the pillow.  And yourself is absolutely an acceptable answer!

If you prefer (or need to because of my comment settings) you can send an e-mail to becomingclaudine(at)gmail(dot)com with "Loving Hands Giveaway" in the subject line.

I will close the giveaway next Saturday, April 9th at 10:00 am, and draw a winner later that day.

Good luck, and wishing loving hands to all of you!

Claudine