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Sunday, June 2, 2013

Embroidered Caravan Pillow and ... Our First Camping Trip of 2013

Lots of pictures today  - FAIR WARNING!! : )

I bought this embroidery iron-on pattern while visiting my sister in Ottawa last month.  
I couldn't wait to get started on stitching the cute little caravan!!



I picked the threads to match this caravan fabric I picked up last year.



I hadn't stitched in ages - but I quickly remembered that I REALLY enjoyed it!!

And in one evening I completed this:


All said and done, the embroidered picture finished about 6"x6"-- perfect for the centre of a pillow sham.
I bordered the stitched piece with a sashing of the caravan fabric, then trimmed the centre with a ruffle made using this ruffle tutorial.



Now it's all nestled in on the family room couch along with a few other home made pillows.



Speaking of caravans. . . 

We just returned from our first camping expedition of 2013.  

The weather was warmish and the rain stayed (mostly) away.  
We rented a site at a family "resort" about and hour from our home.  
Hubby and I had purchased our first travel trailer back in the fall and we were looking forward to using it as soon as the weather came around.


Our children were VERY excited about the weekend away.  We had read in the brochures about the petting zoo, the mini-golf, the tractor-pulled hay rides and the heated swimming pool.  

They wondered . . .
Where would we start?
Would we have time to do it all?
Will we meet any friends there?

We wondered . . .
Would the "new-to-us" camper leak?
Would the kids get enough rest, or would they be grumpy and over-tired?
Would our 4-year-old feel like he was just following his big brother and sister around all day?
Would our daughter find other little girls to play with?


I have recently read an article about one man's finding that the best years of child-rearing are the years that fall between the 10th and 25th wedding anniversary.  
The couple is well-established and financially secure and the children are usually at an age where their lives are not governed by diaper changes or nap times.  
Because of this, the family has far more freedom to explore, more time to go on vacation, more opportunity to take pictures and more time for memory-making.  

 Hubby and I just celebrated our 11th anniversary and our three children are 4,7 and 8.  We are JUST finding that they, 9 times out of 10, can handle any situation we can throw at them. 
 Because of this we are doing more things, seeing more things and living in the moment. 

 Don't get me wrong - - the baby-making years were very exciting and I'll cherish those times forever.  But now - - we are REALLY enjoying these "maintenance" years.  The family is made and done, and the adventures are just beginning.  



During the past weekend, all three of our children proved to us that they are growing and maturing.
They CAN stay up late to make s'mores and fluff-covered strawberries.
They CAN walk to bathroom as a threesome and return back to the camp site safely.

They CAN make connections with other children at the playground and solve little social problems without adult intervention.


My husband and I are so proud of our little people. They are just so pleasant.  And helpful. And happy.
And because of that, we'll take them anywhere.  
We're pleased to share them with the world . . . 

. . . whether it's in our new camper caravan. . .

. . . or in a Parisian hotel.

We are really excited for what the next 15 years bring.  

Oh, the places we'll go . . .

Oh, the memories we'll make. . . 


Hugs to you and yours,

Bronwyn



12 comments:

  1. What fab pics of you and the little people, enjoy every moment the years fly so quickly ... my lad is 16 now and just leaving school. He's gorgeous and I love him to bits but miss the younger years when he needed his Mom more, although he still asks for the occasional cuddle :) Love the caravan cushion ... Sarah x

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  2. What a beautiful post Bronwyn! It is so true, although I miss the baby years, as the kids get older, it is more fun to be able to see and do more with them and have conversations about politics and current events! And my husband and I can go to movie or whatever without getting a babysitter. Absolute heaven. We love camping a family and I personally thing that it is one of the best experiences ever for a family! Wishing you a summer filled with happy camping adventures! Angie xo

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  3. I love your little embroidered camper, just so stinkin' cute!! :) Hearing how you love taking your kids places makes me look so forward to when our own kids are older. I LOVE the toddler stage right now, but it's so fun to be able to look forward to the future as well!
    Heidi @ handmadefrenzy.blogspot.com

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  4. Ditto the previous posts!!!! I always enjoy reading your blog and seeing your kids do fun happy things. Love the pillow and the strawberry. I never thought to do that to fruit.

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  5. Love the pillow and the reflections, B. Perhaps we also need to talk about making your blog a book too! THis is an excellent resource for your little people to remember and cherish with you!

    (I can't wait to join the camping.)

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  6. Beautiful embroidery and a sweet family! Thanks for shring this nice post.
    Have a great week!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  7. Love your little camper and the embroidered piece too! You will love camping. We've been camping and/or RVing all our married life (39 years this May). We have had just about every kind of camper and now we have downsized again to a little 22 ft travel van (Pleasure Way) which I love. It's so easy to clean and we have learned to take just what we need on our trips. Glad I found your blog and now I'm following you on Bloglovin'.

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  8. This is super duper adorable. IN another life I had a little trailer that I loved to deck out with projects. This little pillow made me miss it. Ah family camping-- that is the life! :)

    ~Emily
    A Tossed Salad Life

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  9. that is the cutest pillow ever!!! Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays... This will be featured on Saturday in a sewing features! Come check it out and grab a featured button for this post!
    Emily @ Nap-Time Creations

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  10. What a charming little camper pillow. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday at Organized 31.

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  11. We have just discovered the JOY of camping and traveling about.. It look like you family had a lovely time.. Your gardens are lovely as is your hoop art. Hugs Judy

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  12. This is really pretty cool place I like it because it has everything I want more on this blog soon. www.skipsea-caravan.co.uk x 6

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