Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spring Fun


 Happy Spring!

We began our first day of spring by dyeing some Easter eggs.  I've always wondered about using natural dyes... this year I decided to give it a try, but I didn't buy anything special. I just told myself we would use whatever we already had. 


 It kind of felt like a science experiment... some of it worked (frozen blueberries and tea bags), some of it (red wine vinegar and lettuce) not as much.  But I will say this... it was fun.  Next year I think I'll try it again, but maybe then I'll actually follow some recipes (smile).  

(Here is the tutorial I kind of followed.) 


  After I set up a little work station and put all the dyes in jars, Jillian did everything else on her own.  I sat in the background distracting Rosetta with blueberries and wondering how it was possible I had a little girl old enough to dye Easter eggs without any help.  


 Once we finished, we couldn't help but put all the eggs in a basket to admire, particularly the egg with the smiley face that Jillian drew with a crayon.


 The adorable grain sack bunny garland hanging on the window was a surprise for my girls from Ann of On Sutton Place when she sent my last grain sack pillow.  She suggested hanging it in the playroom, but it was way too cute to hide away. 

Sometimes I think about hanging a curtain here, but then I always reconsider.  Somehow being able to look out the window with an unobstructed view of our yard and being able to watch the sunset in the evening always makes washing dishes more enjoyable.


I hope beautiful, sunny spring days are in your forecast!

  

44 comments:

  1. What fun you had! I love the garland over the sink, and in fact, I love your sink.....
    Boho Farms blogspot was talking about using natural dyes and she gives some suggestions....
    Happy Easter...
    Nancy
    http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  2. What a fun idea! Yes I worry about that too! I am going to give this a try.I wonder if strawberries would work too??What a sweet banner!How nice of Ann to send you that!

    xx
    Anne

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  3. The eggs turned out beautifully! I will have to try this with my kids, with what I have on hand. We are getting snow flurries here in NC, it's hard to believe Spring is here. This is unseasonable weather for us, we usually are between 60's and 70's already but my daffodils, and tulips are a sweet reminder.
    The Bunny Garland is adorable! You picked the perfect spot to display it :)
    I love these pictures of your kitchen.
    Happy Spring!

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  4. Lovely! That grain sack bunny garland is wonderful!

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  5. Oh, what fun dying eggs and great photos. The bunny garland is just too cute. Ann is so talented.

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  6. Dying eggs was a favorite childhood tradition. I'm way past grown and still enjoy the process. Yours turned out great. Love the little garland ... and the open window.

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  7. Just dyed eggs last Sunday with the grandkids and we had a blast ( food coloring, though...not natural dyes, though that sounds fun and I would like to try it next time as yours look so pretty! : )

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  8. I know Jillian must have had a ball...my best memories are dying eggs with the kids every year! Neat idea using natural ingredients!

    I love your bunny swag, it looks perfect in your window. I adore Ann's work, she really finds the best fabric around.

    Happy Spring!

    XO,
    Jane

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  9. Time passes... I wondered how I had a child old enough to graduate from high school. That was 20 years ago. :) Now they've ALL graduated from high school and it happens in a wink. Enjoy. Linda

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  10. What a sweet post! We usually wait until the day before Easter to dye eggs but I think after reading your post today that I'm going to experiment and try to dye them naturally. My thirty-one year old son says to forget the dye and just devil all the eggs! Lol! Happy Spring! I agree, your kitchen window is darling with the burlap bunnies!

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  11. Very pretty Easter eggs ~ Jillian did a great job ~ I think she has her Mama's touch! The bunny garland is so adorable. I don't blame you for not putting curtains on your window ~ I have large windows in our kitchen and it's so wonderful. At our last house, my kitchen window faced the side of another house so I really appreciate my view now!

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  12. Our boys love doing eggs ! I just wish the weather around here knew it was spring brrrrr ! Have a wonderful day

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  13. gorgeous post today! all of your photos are so light and airy and springy. we just got some snow here in maine, and your pictures help remind me spring is coming! :)

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  14. You're photos are always so pretty..

    Dreamy. Swoony.

    Love them.

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  15. The photos are pretty! That's so like me, not to follow the recipe and just scrounge around for what is available. It works!

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  16. What a wonderful idea to use things that you have to dye the eggs! They are beautiful and look so much more natural with the natural colorings. I also love that grain sack bunny garland! I wonder if she has these for sale in her shop. I will have to check it out. Hope your weather turns warmer soon.

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  17. So pretty. I miss dying eggs with my sons. Love your photos.
    xoxo
    Lisa

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  18. Oh, what pretty eggs, and your photos are always so lovely. My grandfather used to tie onion skins in cheesecloth and steep them in boiling water to use as his egg dye. The eggs were a beautiful, brown mottled color. The bunny garland was such a thoughtful gift!

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  19. The eggs look so pretty with the natural dyes! I tried it one year and just loved the way the eggs turned out. Every year I mean to do it again and then run out of time!
    I adore the grainsack bunny garland! Such a wonderful and sweet surprise!

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  20. I love how your eggs turned out. You have inspired me to try natural dyes this year! Your pictures are {always} so gorgeous!

    ~Julia

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  21. Your eggs are beautiful! I'll have to try natural dyes next time. I wouldn't cover that window either!
    Kelly

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  22. Ooh that is all kinds of pretty! I love how the bunnies have that vintage tea towel feel. So cute and so pretty in it's simplicity. :)

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  23. Oh my gosh...I love the garland over your sink. It really couldn't be more perfect so I'm even more glad I sent it. I'm envious of your blooms. It is still freezing cold here. Today I went out and cut some forsythia and I'm going to try to force them. I've never done it before but I was at the end of my rope! I need a little spring. :o) Huck is getting big too!

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  24. Love the garland over the sink. The eggs look like so much fun. Your daughter is a pro at decorating eggs.
    May you and your have a Very Happy Easter.
    Mary

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  25. Who would want curtains when you could have the most adorable grain sack bunnies hanging in your window? I loved seeing the photos of your daughter dying her eggs! Hope spring weather comes soon so that your girls can get outside to hide those eggs!

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  26. Dyeing eggs is always a fun time! And the bunny garland is way too cute.
    Mary Alice

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  27. We tried dying eggs with natural dyes last year. It was semi-successful. :) That bunny garland it too cute!! Have a beautful weekend.

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  28. You've done it again! Once again I sit here and drool over the simple beautifulness that is your house! I love the grain sack bunnies, they go so perfectly with your home. The flowers in the mason jar I am certain would not look quite as at home in my house as they do yours. Lovely. Very lovely.

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  29. Personal question? How do you do all the wonderful things you do with your girls and manage to document it so well? Every year we dye eggs with our daughters, Isabelle 6 and Claire 2. While we are dyeing them I am telling myself to smile smile smile and enjoy the moment, but usually in the back of my head i am stressed about the dye staining the floor, their clothes, getting everywhere. It wasn't even until child number two that I was able to turn my head away from crumbs and let them be for a minute. I do bake with the girls as often as I can, but even then, I am actively telling myself to overlook the flour that doesn't make in into the bowl. Not to imply that i would be angry, that's not the case. Just that rather than focusing on what we are doing together, in my head I am mapping out a plan to clean the mess. When really, I should simply just enjoy the process of the baking with my girls. Any advice?

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment! Oh my, I am probably not the best one to give advice... I always feel like I need to learn to be a better mom! I think maybe there are a couple things that are helpful for me. I usually only let my girls help with things that they are capable of helping with. Meaning, I let Jillian, our oldest daughter who is almost 5, dye the eggs while I entertain Rosetta, our youngest who is 1 1/2, with something else. When I bake, I might let Jillian stir the real ingredients while I give Rosetta another bowl with just a tiny bit of flour and a spoon. I also think it helps to do projects when there is not a time-limit, meaning you can allow yourself to relax because you know you have plenty of time to enjoy whatever you are doing AND have time to clean up the mess! :-) I am really probably not much help at all. :-) It sounds to me like you are a wonderful mommy who enjoys spending time with your two precious girls though - that's what is most important!

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  30. What a wonderful idea. It looks like a great time.

    Cynthia

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  31. Love this, need to try it with JAck & Shane. Your kitchen is so bright & happy, I wouldn't put anything up either:). Happy Spring, hopefully you guys are having better weather than us, 28 this am.

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  32. The eggs look so pretty in your gorgeous basket! I love the bunny banner too!
    Spring has not arrived yet in new jersey. I wish it would hurry and get here.Have a great weekend.

    Kathy

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  33. How sweet seeing the eggs she colored. Tell her she did a great job!

    The bunny garland is perfect over your sink.

    Enjoy those sweet girls and everything they do.

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  34. What fun! i love the colors you ended up with. And that easter bunny garland is great! I love Ann and her lovely handmade stuff!

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  35. The eggs are so beautiful! Especially sitting on your counter in that basket. I just love how white and bright your kitchen is. And that grain sack bunny garland is too cute!

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  36. Great job on the eggs! I love, love, love that view of your kitchen! Beautiful!

    Have a great day.
    Pam

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  37. i love the pretty, muted colors, andrea:) jillian must have had so much fun doing them. LOVE the bunny banner and all that sunshine in your window! we're getting 8" of snow tomorrow:(

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  38. Simplicity is a gift you do better than most. Love what you do. A kitchen window treatment would be over kill.
    Keep doing what you are doing...or not doing.

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  39. Oh how I miss those days! Loving the subtle colors you achieved and the memory you made!

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  40. i just read your comment on my blog. hysterical! i hadn't read this yet. i think natural dyes are in the air this year. yours look great! i was happy to have sasha's book on hand to talk me through some of the details. and i love that bunny garland hanging in your window. happy Easter to you and your adorable girls.

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  41. Gorgeous photos!...I have such fond memories of dyeing Easter eggs with my mom...love that you uses natural dyes...and that garland from Ann is the greatest...just love it!!

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