A Crafting Home is a Happy Home

Our family has been very busy getting ready for the holidays.  Logan and Rose spent Friday night making an evergreen forest with tree sprigs and clay for all of their little critters to play in.  Dad even got in the creating mode and spent about an hour making a clay Santa.  It is so warm around this house right now.  The energy is wonderful.

  The kids also worked on painting ornaments for loved ones.  We all sat at our small round table crafting and listening to holiday songs.  Rose is extremely creative and spent most of her time making up her own words to the well known holiday favorites.

One of our gifts this year will be handmade, embroidered bookmarks.  The kids started working on these Saturday using fabric markers to draw on linen and then embroidered over their drawings.  These will then be sewn and turned into fabric bookmarks.  The kids really enjoyed learning how to embroider.  They are both so patient.  

Today we finished our ornaments, worked on some more embroidery bookmarks, and made Peppermint Bark.  We split the batch into 4 masonry jars that will be ready for gifting to various family members next weekend (the chocolates stays good for 2 weeks in the refrigerator).

The recipe calls for round peppermints, we opted for canes instead.  Also the recipe states that you should crush them by hand (or hammer) we used the food processor which did the whole 60 mini candy canes in just a few pulses.  YUMMY!!!

Gifts With Meaning

This year I have decided to gift as many "homemade" gifts as possible.  Many of you know that I have been knitting up a storm since moving to Wisconsin in August.  This has supplied goodies for all of the teachers in both Logan and Rose's schools.  We will be spending the next 8 days cooking and crafting up a storm to finish the rest of our gifts from the hearts and hands of our family.  In addition to the gifts that we will be making ourselves, we have also purchased some amazing gifts from some crafty friends of ours.

One such friend is Amy from Pony & Poppy.  Amy is a really dear friend that has been part of our lives for at least 8 years.  She has always had an amazing eye for design and used to awe us with her beautiful paper goods.  A couple years back, she expanded her vision to include apparel and linens.  Her items are lovingly screen printed by hand using her own designs.  Her Etsy site has gotten so popular that she has even been featured in Cottage and Bungalow's Dec. magazine.  We have included her items in every gift we have given so far this holiday season and the feedback has been so positive that I thought I should pass her info on to all of you.  Here is the link to her Etsy shop:  Ponny and Poppy

Here are pictures of my favorite items that she makes:

Remember that a gift made by hand carries so much love in it.  Enjoy crafting and shopping!    

Crap.... down to 9 days! Where did it all go?!

Okay, I spent my day yesterday trying to get our schedule down (on bright orange post it notes) for the days up to Christmas.  My main fear is that I will end up forgetting something important (like picking up Logan from school...) as my brain gets crowded with all of these other non important items.

I find that I sometimes have to take a deep breath and remember that every second is an opportunity to create a memory that my family will fondly look back on.  Let's be honest, holidays are surrounded by stress and the memories are created regardless.  I don't want my children's memories to be filled with a stressed out mom.  For me, the bright orange notes will help me stay stress free.

On the agenda for today.... finish stuffing and sewing up this doll, taking a nice hot shower, going grocery shopping, and at least starting my next knit project (a cashmere scarf for a very special person).  What are you all doing as the holidays approach?  

Only 10 days left:

So, the countdown is in full effect.  There are only 10 days until Christmas, and only 2 more school days until winter break.  So, I have put together our family's list of activities for the next 10 days to help me stay organized.

Wednesday (today):  Sew together the doll I have knit for my niece from the fabulous book Babes in the Wool by Fiona McDonald.  Visit Fiona's blog where you can see these beautiful dolls for yourself.  I have already sewn the body together and included the belly button and even buttocks.  Next I will be sewing on the arms and legs.

I have knit one dress for the doll already and hope to make a bikini for her as well in the next day.  

Look at that cute belly button!
To come in the next 10 days:  homemade granola to gift, homemade peppermint bark to gift, and homemade chocolate/ fruit squares.  Plus, a family favorite: sour cherry oatmeal cookies!!  Stay tuned!