this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

The Night (and day) Before ::

It went late, late into the night to finish this doll. But it was worth it!! Lots of memories made making this Christmas!!

this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

Shhhh!

I had so much fun sharing this sneak peek two years ago, I wanted to do the same today. So here goes!

I’ll share more when I can . . . the workshop is still going strong!

Side note::

I’m so encouraged that so many families are chosing to make gifts for their children at Christmas. Just today, I met a lady at Michael’s who was buying a lot of random scrapbook paper. Whenever I can, I like to ask the person what they are making when I see someone buying supplies. She shared that she was using the paper as wallpaper for the dollhouse she is building for her girls. I was so proud of her and didn’t even know her! That’s the spirit. I love the creativity that comes out sometimes with necessity. I know for me, when I’m not able to purchase something already made, the creative juices seem to flow even better. I feel like I need to start planning for next year, because it seems like I always run out of time . . .

So if you feel inclined, please share what you are making this year in your gift giving. I know we would all be inspired!

Merry Christmas. I’ll be back after the merriment!

Warmth ::

Today is the Winter Solstice. Happy Winter Solstice! Along side each child at the dinner table this evening was a wrapped package of what I love giving most, something hand knit with wool. I little warmth for each of them. {ball pattern from Knitting for Baby}.

And for the bedtime story tonight {because I couldn’t get to it this morning} we will be reading “The Shortest Day of the Year” by Wendy Pfeffer. We love that book!

{I had to share this winter shadow that appeared on my floor today! I love Rosemary's puffball shadow.}

Have a great night everyone!

this weekend we ::

This weekend we did more baking and celebrating. It was indeed a full weekend, full of fun and late night preparations. Preparations which will continue into this next week, a few sewing projects I must finish up, and one knitting project that must get felted before Tuesday morning. Hope your week gets off to a great start!

this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

Elise is 5 ::

This week Elise turned 5. It was a birthday that we have been waiting months, and months, and months for. Hearing about birthdays since September, December is a long wait for young people. But it came and she really enjoyed her day.

Her big gift from me this year was this robe. I had cut out the patten for this last year in December but had to put it away since things got a little testy before Christmas with lots of Emergency Room visits. This year I was in the right place to get it back out in order to finish it for her birthday and before Elise would outgrow it. {Advice – buy patterns big so if it takes a few years to make it, it may still fit!} It’s been a fantastic and fun pattern to make, a little challenging at times – learning to use bias tape for its intended purpose of hemming sleeves, wow! You never know when you make something for a child - like a robe - if they will really love and appreciate it, but she did!! And I was so happy that she did. She really is a special little girl. Happy Birthday Elise!

This Week in five ::

This week there has been lots of ::

:: Crafting ::

:: Wintering ::

:: Constructing ::

:: Playing ::

:: Celebrating ::

*** Hope your week has been filled with lots and lots of goodness!! ***

on the craft table :: wool

On my craft table today you can find lots and lots of wool. Ahhh! Wool is so magical to work with. Here is the beginnings of lots of doll making going on this week.

I just know she'll be lovely.

this moment ::

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

right now ::

Right now, I am loving ::

:: this puffball

:: making wreaths

:: knitting booties

:: sewing projects

:: nicknames : Ro-Ro & her newest "Tumbleweed" by her uncle at Thanksgiving

:: using my old 50mm manual lens on my digital camera body

:: celebrating advent - getting out our advent wreath and buying new candles this week.

********************************************

Hope your holiday making and sharing is what you're loving right now.

St. Nicholas Day

In our home, the night before St. Nicholas' Day, the kids leave out their shoes by their bedroom doors in hopes that St. Nick will come in the night to fill them with goodies.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

and the stockings were hung ~

24 stockings that is~! Mission completion. It feels so good to finish up projects that were started last year {more on that later!}.

I really enjoyed making every one of these. They got easier and easier the more I made. I definitely have my favorites, am really digging the blue ones! I hung these up before Thanksgiving to get them up and checked off my list! But this morning, I brought each of the kids in and explained what the stockings were for, Elise immediately asked which one was going to be on her birthday. She's so into that these days (and has been for months, its finally here!). So we counted down to 14, which seems like such a long wait doesn't it for an upcoming 5 year old?

Now off to finish up those other projects on my list!! Happy merry making to you all!!