shellebellecreates

morning verse

"I will not die an unlived life.

I will not live in fear

Of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

To allow my living to open me,

To make me less afraid,

more accessible;

To loosen my heart,

until it becomes a wing

a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance,

to live so that which came to me as seed 

goes to the next as blossom,

and that which came to me as blossom,

goes on as fruit."

Dawna Markova

Second and third

Yesterday I noticed the first crocus but it disappeared before I could photograph it. Wow! Early spring, I wonder when it will snow again.

kids art trading card swap

the process

the finished cards

the final product. i made simple blank books to send to the kids as well :)

This is our second kids swap, I am not sure if we will do it again. She starts out with such enthusiasm but it wanes and I then feel I am forcing her which results in less than her best work. I thought the art trading card would not bring that due to its small size but alas a five year old is not about production work. I thought the plan of doing just one a day would also stop the nag and I sat and we created together,  I know in the end she will love when her cards start coming in. I am hoping we can continue to make this small artwork and put them in a book for the grammies for mother's day.

making: lip balm recipe

Lip Balm Recipe

inspired by a recipe at martha stewart.com

makes about 4 1/2 tins

ingredients:

1 TBS beeswax

1 TBS cocoa butter

2TBS almond oil

squeeze lanolin optional

squeeze honey optional

10-15 drops essential oil

how to:

mix first 5 ingredients together over double boiler 

heat until melted

mix in essential oil

pour into tins

let cool

label

give

and

use

This is my first run of lip balm. I am testing recipes and flavors. I want to make lip balm to sell at our local farmers market this summer. I also want my manthing to use these as promotional giveaways for his company at the coming up conferences. Don't you think supporting a small home based business would be better that made in china? And who really needs another junky pen? 

The initial reviews have been very positive, the lip balm works well and smells great! I just need some help designing a logo and sprucing up the website. When the new tins come in I think a giveaway will be in order :)

friday field trip: Butterfly Pavilion

mo with rosie

owl butterfly

can you spot the prairie dog?

outside the pavilion is a beautiful native trail, we enjoyed watching the prairie dogs go in and out of their tunnels while a hawk circled over head

Fieldtrip Friday: Denver Zoo

Mo and I are busy at home Monday through Thursday so we have made Friday our special day to get out together, and errands do not count :)

The last two weeks we had beautiful weather so we decided to see the zoo.

We start our morning by packing lunches and then heading out to see what is happening at the zoo. We have watched the lions being fed, experienced a feeding frenzy by the ducks. We are always amazed by the beauty of all the animals the colorful birds, the muscular horses the playful foxes. I could visit the zoo weekly and still be in awe as to the diversity the animal kingdom has to offer. 

kids apron

kids apron
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

I am pleased with how this turned out. I modified the Sew Liberated kids' apron pattern. I made it larger both in width and length. I also added pockets- I wish they were bigger. I changed the velco closure to longer tied waist straps. The fabric is from Joanne's remnants bin, I wish I had more I would love an apron like this.
I put this and a small art kit together to benefit the schools auction. I hope somebody bids on it :)

candlemas

"If Candlemas day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas day be clouds and rain,

Winter is gone, and will not come again."

--E. Holden

this may be one time where 300 days of sunshine do not work in our favor...

winging it

so i took a pair of his boxers, made a pattern out of them

stitched them up

and 

they are way too small, too tight-- while sewing i thought they looked

ENORMOUS 

and in the goodwill bag:(

i did enjoy making them, i think it would be wise to get a real pattern