A Mission Trip

The oppressive heat is beginning to abate and Texan’s can now contemplate spending more than a few seconds outside.



With that thought in mind we decided to take a trip over to San Antonio and do the missions trail before Bunny has to head back home to Canada.

All of the missions are along the San Antonio River, with the first one being the Alamo.

 {source}

We skipped the Alamo because we’ve seen it a million times.  Plus it’s in downtown San Antonio and it’s hard to get a feel for real history when busses full of tourists are zipping past.

On to the second mission, Mission Concepcion.  Click on the link if you want all the deets.



You can see in the picture that the ruins next to the church have definitely been restored but still maintain much of the original stonework.

The original buildings had frescos painted on some of the walls.

Notice the blending of Christian, Spanish, and Native American influence.
 

This is from the back of the Convento.  You can barely see the top of the church.

Since we went on Sunday, they were holding a regular service.  While I was snapping these pictures I could hear rejoicing worshippers!  Very nice.

I love scale models, don’t you.

A little further down river, we came to Mission San Jose which was everyone’s favorite because of its numerous architectural features.

If you want to get a real feel for a Colonial Spanish Mission then this is the one to see.

The entire property has been preserved.  And, it is huge. I snapped this scale drawing so you could see how huge it is.
 

At Mission San Jose many of the rooms have been restored and they give a sense of life in a Colonial Spanish Mission.  

Because this mission is so well-preserved we were able to get a good picture of everyday life.

The most striking thing is how they had created a highly sustainable lifestyle.  An example would be redirecting the river to bring water to the mission and also to run a mill.

They would store grain in this room.  Even on a hot day, it was nice and cool inside.
 





Next stop, Mission San Juan.  This mission was mostly ruins and undergoing some renovations.

Even with the scaffolding, you can still see the beautiful colonial architecture. 

Ancient door and a flying buttress.

 

Last stop, Mission Espada.

This one is interesting because it is an active Franciscan community.
 
We actually visited with Brother Jim who has a glass-making studio on site.  Some very beautiful jewelry and crosses.  (no pics, I thought it would be kind of cheeky)

Notice the well-cared for plants and flowers, evidence of the active life of this community.

A couple miles up river is an aqueduct that was built for this community.  It has been restored, but was pretty impressive in size and scale.

We finished off our day with gluten-free waffles at the Little Aussie Bakery followed by a stroll through a used book store.
 
I even ran into a friend who was doing a bike tour of the missions.
 
Hmmm.

Mother's Day Giveaway - Day 5

First things first...

 
Today's winner is Brenda from Songbird Designs!  Congratulations, Brenda.  Email me at sugarpiechic [at] gmail.com and let me know which pattern you want!

This is the last day of the giveaway and I can say that it has been really fun.  I hope you've enjoyed it, as well.

Today's topic is a little different.  I wanted to talk about having a crafting business.

A little over four years ago I was contemplating aprons.  I was also looking for a way to earn a little bit of money to support my sewing and crafting ways.  Then, I heard about Etsy.  In a flash I chose a name, opened a store and began making and selling aprons.  What I didn't know was the path this would lead to...

The thing about setting forth on a new path is all of the unexpected things you learn along the way.  I already knew how to sew, but I also learned a few new things.


I have learned how to write, copyright, and publish a pattern.  I have learned how to set up {with help} and write a blog.  I have learned {am actually learning, still} how to use a DSLR camera and am becoming a bit of a shutterbug.  I have learned how to use photo editing software and, I swear it has melted my brain in some places.  I have learned how to use digitizing software for machine embroidery.  As I continue further down this road, I know there are going to be lots more opportunities for growth.

So, today's first contest entry is this:  

1.  First Chance Entry:  In the "Comments" section below, leave a comment telling me what kind of crafty/sewing/anything you can dream of business you would start.  Just say something like, "I would like to have a ___________________ business."


2.  Second Chance Entry:  Subscribe to my blog and then leave a comment below in the "Comments" section saying you have done so. If you are already a subscriber, leave a comment telling me this.

3.  Third Chance Entry:  Visit my updated Facebook page and "Like" me.  Come back and leave a comment below in the "Comments" section saying you have done this.


I am looking forward to learning new things, but also sharing this incredible journey with you.

Abundant Joy and New Life

Last Spring, we planted a garden.  A lovely garden.  And then:  The Drought (remember those fires in Bastrop - just down the road from me).   After 80+ consecutive days of 100+ degree temps, the city of Austin constricted our yard watering abilities to about 2 hours once a week.   After that, the lovely landscape was on its own.  Think: dying, dying, dead.

And then we had a mild, wet Winter.  The landscape is springing to life with joy.

The artemisia is HUGE and when you walk past it, you can smell its loveliness.

Lantana's are overflowing their borders and the blooms on the rock rose wink at me when I pass!

When I walk down the path, the energy and fragrance is delightful.  Abundant life is everywhere.

The renewal of this (for all practical purposes) dead patch  has greater significance for tomorrow is Easter and we will be celebrating a different Resurrection.  

Our celebration will be simple.  First, there will be church.  Then, there will be a feast.

Our family won't be hiding eggs in the lantana; that is being done today with the grandsons.  I won't be setting my table with a pastel table runner, eggs, or bunnies.  I'm not against any of this...I'm just keepin' it simple. 

Instead, the tablecloth will be white (for the Spotless Lamb) and the plates will be red (for the blood that was shed). A simple reminder...

Simply, wishing you Abundant Joy
Happy Easter!

{FREE} Fearless Poster Download

One of my daughters made this poster as a result of my most recent blog post.  It's a freebie which can be framed as a 5 x 7 (trimmed, of course) or an 8 x 10 with borders.  I've set it up at Media Fire just click and it is yours!

I'm printing mine on some card stock and framing just the gray center...

Photography 101

When I first opened my Etsy store I thought I had died and gone to heaven!  After all, I would be getting to sew all day, buy obscene amounts of fabric and maybe make a buck or two.  Sounds like a dream come true.  What I didn't anticipate is the amount of time I would have to spend learning photography.

I have always had a passing interest in the subject, but now my Etsy store success requires that I take decent pictures.  I now have to become proficient in photography and photo editing.  Thus, I have become a bit of a photography blog stalker.  I think it might be starting to pay off a little bit...don't you love my picture of cherries? 

One blog that consistently offers fabulous inspiration as well as a few free Photoshop Actions for photographers is MCP Actions.




In the cherries picture, a free download from MCP Actions took the picture to a new level.  Those cherries look so real you want to reach in and grab one.  If you are serious about improving your digital photos, I suggest you get a bit of inspiration from  MCP Actions.  You will be amazed at what you can do with your camera!

My, My, My...

I believe I read somewhere on the Etsy site that their sellers live and die by their pictures. Well, if you've visited my Etsy store you will notice that I am much better at sewing than I am at photography. However, in my defense, I will say that I have done pretty well with my Nikon point-and-shoot camera.

Still, my husband and I felt it was time to crank it up a notch so we legged it over to the camera store to see what digital slr cameras had to offer that the ol' point-and-shoot didn't. Like Jasmine and Aladdin sang, "It's a whole new world..."

I have truly never felt so ignorant in my whole life. While the new camera does take ah-maz-ing pictures, before snapping a few shots, I have to stop and read the manual for 15 minutes just to sort of know what to do. True, there is the auto-focus, but that only takes you so far.

So, here are two shots of the same apron...with old camera and new camera.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

Recently, I was contacted by a photographer named Rachel who is was new to Austin and wanted to trade some exposure on my Etsy site for a few photos of my aprons. Now, I'm aware that the photos for my Etsy site are less than desirable, so we began a dialogue that resulted in some great photos of my aprons. This picture is one I snapped with my point and shoot camera. Not bad when you have a professional setting it all up. Now I know what I am missing in my pictures: talent! Thank goodness for Rachel. Check out her blog; she's posted the apron pictures: http://rachelbrooke.squarespace.com/