Stitches

As we begin to turn inward for the winter months, with all that early darkness and wanting to be in bed by 7pm, I am reminded of the tricks of the season that help get me through. Knitting, handwork, reading, cooking….more time for the slower paced things in life.

Ty has a book report due next week. In efforts to help him catch the flame for reading, we often trade off chapters and work through a book together. This has required me to settle in for hours throughout the week with him…something I mostly am glad to do, but the challenge is for me to sit still that long. I find if I put a project in my hands though, it’s no problem at all.

Here is a cute embroidery pattern from www.sarahjanestudios.com, which I can no longer find on her blog, but if you make the trip over there, you are bound to find something adorable to inspire you.  Embroidering is something I am learning as I go.  This little help from Sew Mama Sew has been exactly that.  I’m a fan of the backstitch.

I’m excited to have finished this one for my niece whose middle name is Autumn.  I’m either going to frame it or make a pillow of it.  Her face was redone three times, but other than that these stitches represent a relaxed evening or two in.

Nine and Counting

For just about a year now you have been making your birthday list.  Waffling between one thing and another.  Always at the top of the list was a pet to call your own.  Luke had Skip, our beloved black and white dwarf rabbit.   Turtles just aren’t as cute and fun to play with as critters.  So we agreed to let you give it a go.  A guinea pig it was…or two rather.  One for Ty and one for the rest of the crew as everyone knows they are better in pairs.  It was so fun to watch the look on your face as you chose the one you wanted.  Proud and excited.We celebrated your day with family–a steak dinner with lots of fresh fruit ala Grandma; your kind of meal.  You took big cookies to school and as is always the case, you enjoyed your day.

Eight was a growing year for you…I feel like we’re growing too…learning what works best for you as you are clearly your own man.  You loved your teacher this year and sometimes I think you might rather have lived at her house.  You are a pretty easy-going kid with a great arm for baseball and a good amount of patience.  You have lots of friends and you know how to be silly.  You are a good brother to Jack and Britta and though you would not dare admit it, we know you love the other ones too.

I pray the coming year holds good things for your precious life.  That you will do your best at all you put your hand to, and that we will listen and instruct you with faithfulness and wisdom.  You are dear to us Ty!  Happy ninth year!

Another Cool Use for Cereal Boxes

This truffle box was our thank you token to the kids’ Sunday School Teachers this year. The day I planned on making the truffles, we were snowed in and unable to get to the store for containers.   A Google search produced this nifty template from Mirkwood Designs, and we thought cereal boxes would be cute.  I reuse the bounty of cereal boxes our family plows through in place of newspaper for art projects, as magazine organizers, and now, as gift boxes.

One deconstructed cereal box holds 4 templates. We used scissors to cut along the outside shape and an exacto knife to score as needed.

Ty was my truffle maker.   I helped minimally.  He did a great job!

Each box held 4 truffles.  We tied on a painted Christmas bulb along with a note from the kids.

These would also make nice Valentines;  filled with small soaps, chocolates, or toys.  Enjoy!

Painted Bulbs

I seem to be posting a month in a rears.

This was a craft we did for an advent activity last month. I picked up some miniature, clear bulbs from Hobby Lobby. Each able-bodied child decorated a row of bulbs on their own. After removing the foil top, they squirted different combinations of acrylic paints into the bulb and swirled. They took a few days to dry, then the kids recapped them. They made nice present toppers, and it’s a great kid friendly project.

I think they look very pretty.

for a bird

I tucked this idea away for a minimalist bird house from 2 straight lines last year in September 0f 2007.  Didn’t I mention how my life is on a time warp continuum?!

Anyway, these gourds sell for a song in the fall.  I bought several and hung onto them for some such occasion as Christmas gifts.  There was no cost other than the gourds, as I used what I had on hand for all of the rest.

The paint was simply interior latex I’m using for our bedroom.  I applied 3-4 coats to ensure a good cover.  I would have coated it with polyurethane, but the shabby chic look will be nice over time too.  Next I marked off a 2 1/2 ” diameter circle.

Sorry for the bad lighting in this pict.

I then drilled 3 holes: one on either side at the top–to loop the twine through, and one below the cutout for a perch.  I cut twigs from my honeysuckle bush to size, and Gorilla Glued them in place.  Finally I used a utility knife (though a jigsaw would have worked better) to cut out the opening.  Once that was completed, I fed a garden twine from one side to the other (I used a straw and a knitting needle if you’re curious), joined and wrapped it at the top base then tied off a large loop for hanging.

I also painted one I had hanging in my front flower bed. It still needed a perch, so in my mind it wasn’t yet a true birdhouse. Apparently perches aren’t necessary when you’re a bird. Because when I walked up close to get this icy blue macro shot, the bird who was living inside suddenly flew out and whizzed right by my ear. My scream and little dance must have made my neighbors laugh if they happened to catch view of me. It made my heart race anyways.

In case you were wondering, they are inhabitable. Proof positive!

A year of gratitude (wraps)

My go-to gift this (last) year was the “Gratitude Wrap” by Soule Mama. I made 9 all told, and plan to make one more for myself. They sewed up in about an hour once I did a mass cutting. Quite a fun project. Four went to the kids’ teachers, filled with notecards. And the rest went to special friends and family.

The best part of this project for me was that I learned how to make bias tape. This is a very handy skill and I think I could easily go bias-tape berserk if given the opportunity. It’s a fun way to add detail to a project and I love being able to use my stash for something that would normally cost me 3-4 bucks.

I will post some of the other handmades later this week, but for now, here are a few more. A dried orange, apple and bayleaf wreath for a friend. I did tie a pretty ribbon at the top. Some year I’ll keep one of these for myself. I’m a big fan.

And one of my favorites to do with the kids is the Gumdrop Wreath. This is what we made their teachers last year. This one was for our house. Yes!

I’ll be back with more crafting successes (and failures) later this week. I guess it takes all kinds.

Playing with light

I took a few pics of the morning light last week. It was a welcome change to December’s cloudy drear around here! We did get 2 inches of snow today which is also welcome this time of year. Everybody likes a little snow at Christmas.

How about that princess sippy cup on top!

My mom got me this mug. It’s becoming my new sippy cup. Thank you mom! and thanks for the Black Friday shopping date. Let’s do it again next year!

pajama plans

I found these pretty fabrics on sale last week. I think I see a piano seat cover…maybe a softie… and a lap quilt in their future.

And then I also found some not-so-pretty fabrics (that I thought my kids would like) that became Easter pajama pants. I’ve not made this pattern before. It’s from New Look #6641. It was so quick to sew up. I finished 3 in the last 1 1/2 days before Easter. I finished the waistband the day after they received them so I could size them.

By the way, it took me forever! to get this shot. As soon as I said, “I want to take your picture”, they went absolutely squirrelly.

Giving and Receiving

The past 3 weeks have felt a little blurry. I feel like I’m just getting the bare essentials covered, and it may be that way for quite a while. But my overarching feeling right now is gratitude.

I’m thankful for our wonderful friends and family who have supplied our brood with meals and gifts to the point of overflowing. For carpool rides with no strings attached. For babysitting while I run to a steady stream of appointments. And for the love and support we have been the recipients of. As the adage goes, it is better to give than to receive. We are humbled as we receive, and the kindness we’ve been shown only motivates me to want to give all the more.

I’ve been thinking alot about giving lately. I can become so focused on what’s happening under my own roof that the rest of the world escapes me. To be in need gives cause to understand another’s needs–to gain empathy on how someone else might be feeling.

This is something I want to cultivate more in my children’s hearts as well. So often they are seeking to receive more than they are to give. I’m brainstorming intentional ways that we can give to others. My hope is that we all are filled up to the brim in the act of giving and want to do it more and more as a result.

I’ll share what we come up with. I’m also interested in what others have done that works. Leave a comment if you would!

Sleep Tight

My friend works the most random hours of anyone I know and is forced to sleep at random hours as a result. I wanted to make her a little something for her birthday and thought a sleep mask might do the trick. Along with a sachet filled with jasmine rice and dried lavender. Just a small token. I hope it brings her many sweet dreams!

Here is a bumpy pillow I made with this same fabric last summer. It turned out how I’d hoped it would–except for the lumpiness–which I guess is kind of a big deal. I think I’ll try stuffing a canvas? liner when I get a chance and slip the sateen around it to smooth it out. Any other suggestions?

Tomorrow I have a huge cooking day planned in efforts to stock the freezer for baby girl’s arrival. Sleep, don’t fail me now!