Friday Favourite - The Monster

If it wasn't for the arrival of this amazing creature seven years ago I wouldn't be here at all. I mean, literally here in this space on the internet. That's because her arrival in my life forced me to see who I really was. In order to be the best mother, the best potential role model for the tiny creature placed in my arms after months of stress, I needed to be true to myself. That meant embracing my creative side and putting them out into the world. If it wasn't for her arrival I would never have started writing again, I never would have met all of you, I never would have been honestly happy with myself.

Besides all that, she has the best giggle in the entire world, she is empathetic beyond her years, her brain works in the most awesomely logical way, her contemplative nature fights with her energy daily, her fashion sense is to be admired but not necessarily copied, and she loves people in a way that has no boundaries.

His Room - Before

Because his room has been nothing but a crib and a dumping ground for hand-me-downs.
Because he deserves a brighter place to play.
Because we emptied a bunch of stuff out of the closet to move it into our new one in the basement.
Because Hubby was away.
Because I needed a break from quilting.

Last week I took it upon myself to redo The Garbage Truck's room. (Have I mentioned that is what the girls call their baby brother?).  Time to make it just his, and not the repository for our socks and underwear, quilting books, the girl's keepsakes, and other detritus of our lives. It isn't quite done yet, but close. I'll share the after photos next week, as long as you promise not to look too closely at my painting. I'll never win awards or write a book on that!

The Sirens' Song

Still working on that giant beast.

And new temptations are doing just that, tempting me. They sit on my cutting table, like Sirens singing their song. "cut me... sew me... tralalala..." Like Odysseus I am chained, only to the sewing machine instead of a boat, so that I can hear their song but not be lulled to the dangers near the shore.

 - Edges by Laura Gunn
 - Studio Stash by Jennifer Sampou

I believe these two lines will both play well together and I have a concept in mind. Alas, it must wait. I must not break free of my chains. Soon, soon...

Piles of Books (Not a Weekend Reads)

No such thing as too many books, right?

My husband and I are on opposite sides of that answer. but one of us is a reader, the other is not. You don't hear me complaining about too many Top Gear magazines filling the house.

I am rather impatiently waiting the arrival of the built-in bookshelf for my studio space. So, for now, these books pile around me on the floor. Until the other day they were in my son's room/house dumping ground but I went on a spree and did up his room this past week. So now the books are piling up on the floor in my room. And that's not counting all my non-sewing related books (novels, bios, non-fiction, etc.) piling up on the floor of the bedroom. Also not counting the boxes of books stored away, hoping for a glimpse of the light.

It's no lie, I've dreamt of a home library for years. Just like Lord Grantham with his red couches, impressive writing desk, and a tray of crystal and hard liquor. Or perhaps a slightly more modern version. A girl has to dream right? Because libraries are exactly what the architects of these 50s tract houses had in mind when designing boxes to inhabit.

Any suggestions or pin boards on book displays/storage for a mid-century girl?