Vintage book surprise

Look what arrived in the mail this weekend!

25 books from Burgin Streetman, author of the fabulous blog Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves. She's clearing out her shelves, and I won her resulting giveaway!

Burgin's blog is dangerous for me. She makes me want to run out to a library book sale right now, and adds new must-have books to my wish list on an almost-daily basis. When I first came across her blog, I went right back and read all the archives, and knew I'd love her new-t0-me recommendations because I loved what she had to say about the books I did know. When I'm at a library sale or thrift store, I love it when I come across a book she's reviewed, and grab it up like it's an old friend. I've discovered many wonderful authors and illustrators this way (and greatly endangered my already-groaning bookshelves).

So what a thrill to open that box and see what was inside!

So far, this is my favorite new discovery:

Doesn't look like much from the outside. But check it out inside:

So much to see! So much to talk about.

And the kind of slow, detailed storytelling that makes me think of a grandmother sitting beside you, telling you all about what life was like when she was a girl. They describe just the sorts of things a young child would be interested in, so that you can almost feel you are there: "But a farm in the country is not quite as deserted and quiet as it seems. Listen carefully. Cows moo. Dogs bark. The sheep complain. Cocks crow. Geese gabble. The cats meow. The tethered goat is bleating. A combine whirrs and rattles. A door slams. A shutter creaks. The wind gossips with the leaves."

She included lots of science and nature books. I love the illustrations in this one, and the interesting way that the animals are presented, with predator and prey together on a page ("polar bears and seals," for example):

(One of the reasons I love vintage science books is the way many of them rely on very detailed realistic drawings and paintings rather than on photos. Gorgeous and inspiring in a way not usually found in newer books.)

This one made me want to get out a magnifying lens and start studying stuff I'd never thought to before. I look forward to sharing it with Lucy some day:


There were some for sharing with others, too. This one was perfect for my horse-loving niece:

(I remember loving the cat book in this series way back when.)

And I had this one, but I have another niece who's fascinated by bodies, so it's for her:


That just barely scratches the surface of this big pile of books!

Thank you so much, Burgin!

I won!

Remember the Sew, Mama, Sew May giveaway day? I won something! Addie, of Waldreck Dry Goods, offered these personalized tops. When I won, I told her I would love to have a t-shirt that wasn't a onesie, as it's easier to use with Lucy's cloth diaper. This week, the shirt arrived; this is what she came up with:

Cute! Girly, and yet not pink. Strong, like my girl. (And check out the cute matching card!)

Now, if I could just finish up this diaper-cover-in-the-works, we'd have a cute outfit for fall!

You can check out Addie's blog here, and her Etsy shop here. (She has lots of sweet baby gifts.) Thanks, Addie!

A winner!

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my 1-year-anniversary post. It really is wonderful to know there are people who enjoy coming here and reading (and, of course, admiring those cheeks!) As promised, we drew a name today to see who'd won Gerda Muller's Spring.

Lucy helped me choose a winner.


She didn't want to let us in on the secret, however.


So I recruited an older child to share the good news:


It's Mary Jo from fivegreenacres. If you haven't been to her blog, go on over there right now; you're going to love it! Congratulations, Mary Jo!

1-year "blogiversary" and a giveaway

(How do you know it's time to start a blog?
You start taking pictures of things like bread dough rising in a bowl.)


One year ago today, I began blogging. I'd been reading so many amazing blogs--about the environment, about cooking, about motherhood, and teaching, and homeschooling, and unschooling, and homes and crafts and sewing and all the other incredible inspiration that's out there. And I couldn't help it; I started taking pictures of the things I was making and jokingly referring to them as my "blog photos" when I emailed them to a friend. After a while, my partner started to insist "you need a blog." And I kind of did. I wanted to show the things I was sewing to someone who'd be just as excited about it as I was. I wanted, when I joined a challenge, to be able to record my progress on my own blog. I wanted to participate in some of those tempting swaps! I wanted to add my voice to the bloggy conversation, though with so many inspiring bloggers out there, I wondered what I had to offer.

I'm still wondering. Why do I feel compelled to do this? Why does the feedback from strangers matter? What is my particular niche?

But it doesn't really matter to me right now. What matters is that I've loved doing this. I've loved coming here to record some of the bits that make up my life. And most especially, I've loved "meeting" you who come here. Thank you. Thank you for reading and caring and commenting.

In honor of my "blogiversary," I'd like to offer a little thank-you present. I hope you'll understand when I tell you it's thrifted and used (the way I like things, and a part of my commitment to the environment). I know you'll understand when I tell you it's a children's book (have you noticed I LOVE books?). I recently came across a near-perfect copy of the lovely book Spring by Gerda Muller (you can see my copy here), and I'd like to share it with one of you. Just leave a comment on this post to be entered in the drawing, and I'll pick a name on Friday. (Please include your email address if your comment doesn't link back to your blog.)

Surprise in the mail

I won a giveaway I didn't even realize I'd entered! What a treat! All I meant to do was to comment on a great pair of pants Trish had made for her daughter, and I ended up winning a handmade lanyard and key chain. One of these is destined to become the strap for my new camera.

And you know you're really far gone into craft-land when you look at this:



(which was used as ribbon to wrap the gift) and think "ooh! I can use that for cards!"

Thanks, Trish! They're beautiful!

Where the wonderful books are

One of the blogs I absolutely must read every day is Vintage Kids Books My Kid Loves. Like me, "scribbler" is a children's-book lover (have you seen my obscenely-large, beautiful collection of children's books? Some might say I'm addicted. Some might say it's hard to maneuver around the piles. Others might relish every word, every illustration, and every minute spent snuggling up with a child, sharing the joy.) She has a special fondness for vintage books, and, apparently, amazing skills at finding vintage treasures at bargain prices. And every single day, she reviews another one. The part that really shocks me is how often she reviews books I've never seen (I know more children's books than anyone I know, and yet...) She's dangerous to my wallet; my wish list is full of books she's reviewed. And, as if that's not enough...every Monday, she gives away a vintage book to some lucky reader. This time, I won! What a treat! I wasn't paying enough attention when I was reading (might have something to do with a teething baby...) and mixed up which book was being offered this time, so I won one I already own: "Where the Wild Things Are." No matter. It's a classic that every kid should have, so I'll give it to one of the children in my early childhood program. Anyway, if you have any interest in children's books, or vintage books, or good design, go check out her blog (in fact, if you go right now, you can enter to win "The Big Orange Splot," another wonderful book...).


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I won!

Back in May, Sew, Mama Sew! sponsored a giveaway day, with hundreds of bloggers participating by offering wonderful craft supplies and handmade goodies to commenters. I was on vacation then, so had time to browse many new blogs and enter the giveaways. And I won one!

Trish, at Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs, offered this beautiful farmer's market tote, and then at the last minute, decided to add a lovely produce bag to go inside. They arrived yesterday and are more beautiful in person than photos can show. They are very well made, sturdy, and lovely. I adore the mix of vintagy-looking fabrics.



Trish had asked for snack suggestions: "your favorite fresh wholesome after school snack... It should use fruits or veggies and not a lot of ingredients – something tasty and good for you and something that celebrates nature's harvest." I won with my (admittedly very strange) suggestion of cabbage and ketchup--but I can't take credit for the idea. Last summer, I took an online food storage class with Sharon Astyk, and I asked the group for suggestions about how to get kids to eat more greens--particularly cabbage, which I had tons of from the farmer with whom I was bartering. Sharon suggested offering it with ketchup as a dip, which seemed like a gross but perfectly logical choice, as kids love to dip. Sure enough, they all ask for "more cabbage! more cabbage!" when I offer that now-favorite snack. (I make my own ketchup, so I know they're not getting too much sugar and nasty ingredients.)

So this summer, when I shop the farmer's market for more cabbage and tomatoes destined to become ketchup, I'll carry them home in a lovely new bag. Thanks, Trish!