Pirates & Beads.

I craft what I love. I love pirates and earrings. I love other things too but will get to those later :)

Here are some examples of what I have been busy creating. They will be available for sale on Etsy as soon as I get an account created.

I have started a new "line" of kids clothing that I have been calling, The Recycled Pirate. I purchase high quality used kids clothing at thrift stores. After washing them, I applique pirate symbols onto them ... and they instantly go from drab to totally cool! I have also made a bunch of them with appliqued peace symbols using hand-dyed batik cotton. Those are gorgeous. I will be sure to post them soon as well.

Thanks for looking. Comments and feedback are most welcome.

Also, Isaac and I had a wonderful, fun-filled Wednesday. I blogged about it on his site www.raisingisaac.blogspot.com. Click on his picture below to see photos of his dance class & his date with Rose.

Love,

Jodi

Laid Back Tuesday.

Tuesday has recently become my "stay-at-home-and-get-things-done" day. Though I did get a few chores started, I am pretty sure that the only thing I actually completed was cooking supper and making banana nut bread. I always start out my Tuesdays with the best of intentions. However, I think my flaw today was that I just didn't make a list. Perhaps I should start blogging my lists so that I am held accountable to them!

The weather was gorgeous here today (for a Maine winter day). Lots of snow melt. So Isaac and I spent some time outside with the chickens. We even brought them an applesauce/raisins/pickles goulash. Yum.

And when Isaac had enough of the great outdoors ... (he fell in the mud at least 3 times) ... he asked to go inside to watch "Nemo". Here he is ... with muddy pants removed ... enjoying a peanut butter sandwhich while watching his movie just before nap time:

And here are those yummy banana breads that I actually finished baking! One chore down .... several hundred to go!

Aren't they mouth watering? I make Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread at least every other week. It is a staple in this house. Isaac would eat it until he burst, so we have to be careful to hide it after he has had enough. I thought that I might post my recipe here ... but then I realized that I have become the Banana Bread queen in my family and network of friends, so I think that I will keep my recipe secret in order to maintain my title. Sorry. But I will share my African Chicken Stew recipe in a future post. It is another favorite.

Well, here is hoping that I get something done on "clean-my-house" Thursday :)

Love,
Jodi

Photographing Children.

There is something so wonderful about photographing children. They are such natural models, completely unencumbered by physical insecurities. Their inner light just shines through the camera and they love to display their personalities for the photographer. It is such a treat for me to follow a child with a camera.

Last night, my son and I spent some time with my best friend's daughter Sydney. When I told her that I had my camera with me, she was more than ready to take part in a photo shoot! We took several fun photos.

Here are my two favorites (with some special effects):

Isaac's First Movie Theatre.

Last night I took Isaac to his first ever movie theatre. We saw Charlotte's Web. It was an "okay" movie, but Isaac had the time of his life. He got to eat buttery popcorn, run up and down the movie theatre aisles, and play with his favorite girl, Meaghan ... all while watching larger than life farm animals grace the enormous "tv". He was so happy.

He is pictured here wearing one of my latest creations ~ recycled piratewear! I am going to start selling some of these on Etsy. I applique the infamous skull & crossbones motif onto gently used kids clothing articles. They are adorable!

I will let you know when I get them all posted.

Love,

Jodi