Christmas Break

So I wanted the kids to pick out a few gifts for Jimmy and Jenny for Christmas. We all know we don't need more crap but I want them to understand giving more-so we went to the Target dollar section and I gave Oscar and Franki a list of people they had to buy for. Oscar picked out santa claus chocolate for Jimmy and clappers for Jenny. He was pretty adiment about Jenny having party clappers. It was funny. And Ms. Frances picked out a yo yo for Jimmy. We can always use yo yo's! Also..wrapping by Oscar and Franki!!

I was looking around the house for something to use for our advant-like countdown till Christmas. Chinese Take out cartons seemed to work. I bought them awhile ago for gift boxes but I think they spiced up our tree!

Snow in Seattle!!! Crazy.

Franki hitting Oscar with a snowball in the back.

Uncle Ralph, Franki , Oscar and Aunt Jenny -ahhh so cute.

Uncle Jimmy helping Oscar put together his Anniken Lego ship

Oscar opening up some spider man pajamas!!!

Oh dear....This barbie is Frannie's favorite gift and is annoying as heck!!! The barbie sings super cheesy songs. One of the songs starts out..."I feel connected...protected..." Jimmy made up some words..."I feel rejected....suspected.." hee, hee.

One of Oscar's favorite gifts..another light sabor. You can never have too many light sabors!

Frannie was serving us coffee with her new barbie tea set and putting barbie stickers all over our faces.

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Merry Christmas 2008 Whahoo!!!!!!!!

Make a Smilebox greeting This past year has been a challenging year. A quick move from Madison, Wi to Seattle, Wa. We couldn't have made the move without great friends like Jimmy, Jenny, Retta, Lori and Kevin,Jo and Bob, Rambod and Judy,Kim, Lisa, Kathy(and Dean),Jennie(P.), Amy P., and Eydie and Dave. I can't say thank you enough to especially Jimmy, Jenny,Retta and Lori for encouraging the kids and I and just being there for us. May you all be blessed with great friends and good cheer!!! Love,katie, Oscar and Frances We are what we believe we are. C. S. Lewis

Pumpkin Patch

“Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.” -Henry Van Dyke

Bellevue, WA

One of my last peices to take to Fremont. Thanks Retta-I finally used one of the salt bags!

Ok Jo-Do you lika? This old boat peice came off one of Bob and Jo Kay's boat somewhere-I don't know the whole story but I decided an old map was best suited for this salvage peice.

Just a simple project here-I used the last of one of my favorite crazy fabrics.

Yeah!!!! Lori labeling all of my shop hardware/junk. Thank you. Thank you Lori. I officialy have a shop that is all organized and I know where all of my tools are!!-

Frannie at the beach park in Kirkland last weekend.
She thinks she is a big kid and is not afraid to jump from high places.

Oscar talking to me while I'm snapping some random pictures.

As a lot of you know I have started a new job-teaching art K-8 in Bellevue, WA. I'm sad to leave my "Dilly Dally, rubbish redefined" business, but I hope to get back to it some day. I hope to post an occassional project being that creating is something I must do. ....and I know I will incorporate my reuse/recycle art into my art lessons at school.
So Oscar, Frannie, and Jimmy and I moved here to Bellevue last week. Thanks to Jimmy,Zak(a UW runner), and Kevin and Lori Kay we made a smooth transition from West Seattle to Bellevue. I can't even begin to show my gratitude to Jimmy, Lori and Kevin. Lori spent a few days here organizing my house as I do not even know where to begin when it comes to organizing. I like to stick to the fun decorating part. But as Lori showed me, getting organized makes it so much easier to live and especially with my new busy schedule I need as much organization as possible. Anyway-thanks you guys-I love you.
So this week the kids started their first full week of day care as I begin professional development week. The kids are doing great. Franki(my little fireball) is so excited to go to daycare=she says,"I play mom,""by mom." Oscar is my little homebody. Today I told him when he misses me to close his eyes and picture me giving him a hug-and I asked him,"do you feel my hug?"...He said I will mom. When I picked him up today had been struggling the last hour or two and said, "Mom I felt your hug today at nap time." I couldn't help but cry and squeeze him tight.-Its funny the things our kids remember. I didn't think he would remember me telling him that. Tonight we read, "SkippyJonJones" for the 20th time this week. If any of you get the chance to read this book-you should, its quite entertaining to parents as well!!

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” -John Wayne

Be Happy

Be Happy - When life's problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate. Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. God is Love Rev Run

Gooooo get em!!!!- inspiration from Rev Run .....and a Table

This old rusty table came out of my dear friend Jo's shed. Some primer and a fresh coat of paint and this table is new.

So occasionally when my brother is chilling out and watching the Rev Run show on MTV, I'll watch it with him. I don't remember the name of the show but I love his quotes he sends out to all of his friends:

Good morning Its a new week! A good day! Walk with an extra boost of energy. Ride the crest of the wave that extra mile! Things will play in your style if you smile! Its all about your attitude! Goooooo get em!!!!God is Love Rev Run

Old Map

I was looking to put this map somewhere until I took it to my booth. I kind of like it here now-maybe I'll keep it. I could have a million zillion maps in my house-Jo-thank you-I might just keep it.

“Creative minds are rarely tidy”-anonymous

Headboard

This door has been sitting in my dining room area for about two months now-I had been planning on making it into a headboard and finally got to it. I used black pleather that I have had for a long time and some upholstery tacks. My poor pillows-This bed gets jumped on a lot by two little people you have seen in my previous posts. I think I'll hang some art work above it at our next place.

“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” -George S. Patton Jr.

Thank you RoboLady!

So I don't always check my blog comments-well because frankly as you can see I don't have too many. Hee, hee. It was such a great surprise to see Robolady's comment that she had given me an award on her blog. Check it out- robolady.blogspot.com

Margo-You are so sweet to give out awards. Its so amazing to share our creativity with one another-All of us bloggers spurr eachother on to do good work. I wish I could hang out with you and your ladies on your blog. Thank you. love,katie

Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.
Lord ByronEnglish poet & satirist (1788 - 1824)

Frannie's butterflies

Well I finally finished some art to go above Frannie's bed. Oscar has the rocket and I wanted to continue the metal look over to her side of the room. I cut some bed sideboards/screwed some metal flashing on/painted the squares and then deco. 'd the vintage butterfly pics.

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.-- Louisa May Alcott

Art Nook

I finally got some of the kids art work hung(as we are moving soon). I wanted to show our little art center. I found the ikea cubbie at a yard sale and painted it with chalkboard paint. My favorite kids art is Oscar's spider he drew at 2 and half yrs. old-He drew it after reading the "Little Critter" books.

homemade swing

I saw a homemade swing in an old potterybarn teen catalogue. So...I had to make one for my little man. The piece of wood we found at the beach.

Growth Chart

Frannie and Oscar helped paint the sides and back of the growth chart. Frannie spent a little longer just doodling and talking to herself as she painted layers apon layers of paint. I just let her do her thing because I knew she was having fun. I put alum. flashing on top of the piece of wood and then stapled an old tape measure to it.

Rung Ladder Bench

Dilly Dally

Vintage Radio Cabinet

Modern Bookshelf

I sanded and stained the doors/top of shelf and added an extra shelf that was missing on the left. I changed the casters and added them to the very bottom of the piece. I liked how this piece turned out and would keep it if I had more room.

The Ugly LIght made chandelier!!

Well-Lori and Kevin-Do you see your old light fixture in the chandelier? I have a plan for the glass piece. Maybe a fancy pot for a plant? I don't know. I'm waiting to find the perfect piece of wood to go with it.

Housekeeping!!!

This was an old housekeeping cart used at a hotel. I transformed it into a urban-like vanity. I used an old mirror and attached some wood to hold it in place. If I only had a loft (hee, hee) this would certainly be in my room.

Birds!!!

I have a whole file full of bird clippings. I love these old gold frames with the the black and white bird pics.