Would you believe it's made of wool?

I know I've mentioned this before, but my mom is the most creative person I know- and the ideas and projects she works on never cease to amaze me! For example, a few months ago she learned how to needle felt- and of course she's brilliant at it! While we were on vacation she was able to take dyed wool...And use a few tools...
To create this beautiful doll! Can you believe that's she's just made of wool and 2 pieces of wire?
I had never seen my mom's process, so I was fascinated by the work (maybe I can convince her to share a tutorial sometime)! Early on in the week I caught her making some finishing touches to the head. (And I can't fathom how she can get wool to look that smooth!)
And a while later she had completed the body (I added that censor bar for decency).
And after hours of meticulous work, the doll was complete. Isn't she is gorgeous? I can just imagine her walking around Colonial Williamsburg or something! (Oh- and if the felting isn't impressive enough, she also crocheted the doll's shawl!)
In addition to this Colonial woman, my mom has also made a couple other dolls. I particularly love this Scandinavian one (given our heritage and everything)!
I love her vibrant dress with those incredibly intricate details...
And I especially love the golden braids coiled atop her head!
And on a totally different note, my mom also made a lounge singer doll. (And if I'm not mistaken, this was the first doll she ever felted!)
Isn't she a hoot? I love her eye make-up, the bouffant, and coordinating jewelry.
Oh- and the microphone is absolutely perfect!
I can't tell you how beautiful these dolls are in real life! I'd like to thank my mom for letting me share her beautiful work today- I hope you're having a wonderful day and thank you for stopping by!

On a clear day you can see forever...

There are several mountains around Lake Placid, including the beautiful Whiteface Mountain. I really wanted to visit the summit, so one afternoon my dad and I jumped in the car...
And began our ascent to the top.
Of course we couldn't make it the whole way in our vehicle. After we parked, we walked through a tunnel (that was carved into the mountain), which took us to an elevator...
Which brought us to the peak of Whiteface Mountain!
Talk about breathtaking!
I started snapping photos...
Furiously trying to capture the fantastic vista!
We totally lucked out...
And managed to visit the mountain on a afternoon where the air was incredibly clear.
As we explored the summit, we took pictures of everything (see my dad there in yellow?)...
From the look-out...
To Lake Placid...
And everything in between!
Talk about a beautiful backdrop for a portrait!
I couldn't get over the terrain- I loved the contrast between the jagged rocks and the tenacious plants that are able to survive the harsh conditions at the top of the mountain.
I was having an absolute blast, as you can see from the goofy grin on my face.
But eventually we had to make our way home. Instead of taking the elevator back down the mountain, we decided to walk the trail.
I'm so glad there were handrails- it was a little treacherous (and the fact that I was an idiot and wore flip-flops didn't help)!
On the way down there were several markers that shared interesting information about the mountain. For example, these trees were 50-100 years old. Because of the brutal weather conditions at the top of the mountain, the trees grow slowly and are permanently dwarfed in size (they're about 5 to 6 feet tall)- isn't that interesting?
As we walked down, I couldn't help but steal a few glances to where we had just been...
And every time I did, I was truly amazed by the beauty of Whiteface Mountain!
Thank you for stopping by- I hope you're having a wonderful day!

"... It gives a lovely light!"

There are few things more wonderful than a summer campfire. There's something about the cool air, a gentle breeze, the buzz of insects, and a smoky scent that make me supremely happy. So when we were on vacation I got to enjoy a lovely little blaze, courtesy of my brother!
My brother makes great fires! He was an Eagle Scout so he can whip up an inferno in no time flat!
Before long, he had built this perfect bonfire. But the fun didn't stop there, because earlier in the day we had stopped to buy the ingredients for s'mores!
I don't know about you, but I love s'mores! I love how hard it is to be patient while the marshmallow toasts... I love the way the chocolate gets all mooshy once the s'more is completed... and I love the way I get messy and gooey every time I eat this blessed treat! Like most folks, I have a very specific method to create the best s'mores. First, I skewered the marshmallow and toasted it until the end was a bubbly golden-brown.
Then I carefully removed the marshmallow, and reinserted the skewer on the other end before returning it to the fire. (This ensures that my marshmallow is toasted on both sides, and therefore the perfect consistency to make the messiest dessert!) After I was content with the color of the marshmallow, I slid it off the skewer and smashed it between graham crackers and a few pieces of chocolate.
Talk about yummy! I must admit: it was hard to stop eating long enough to take this picture.
And as usual, I got sticky marshmallow gunk everywhere... including my shutter button! But the mess was well worth it, because you can't beat a good s'more!
After we'd had our fill of s'mores and mosquito bites, we decided to call it a night. My brother deconstructed his fiery masterpiece, and we watched as the embers burned into nothing.
Talk about a fun way to spend the evening! I hope you had a great weekend- thanks for stopping by!

Rock-in' out on vacation...

Well folks, I made Rock Monsters.
A few months ago I was completely inspired by Alisa Burke's idea... and while I was on vacation this week I set about making my very own set of monsters.
The supplies I used were pretty simple- my dad and brother fished some rocks out of the river...
And after a good scrub (to get rid of the river slime) and a few coats of my mom's paint...
I had a whole family of Rock Monsters!
Aren't they odd? I must admit- I had a blast making these little creatures. From designing the faces to choosing which outlandish color to use next, this silly project was quite fun!
But I couldn't let the fun stop when the painting ended! Once every last Rock Monster was dry, I packed them into an unsuspecting casserole dish...
And traipsed down to the river for a photo shoot.
When I'd finished snapping away, I got down to the real work: I hid my Rock Monsters throughout the woods!
I tucked each and every little rock in a crevice or nook just off the path to the river, in the hopes that anyone walking to the water might spot one of my colorful little monsters and find a little whimsy in an unexpected place!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend- thank you for stopping by!