Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! 

a Peanut for a Peanut

I told you before how I was making Peanut for a baby on the way.  Well, I finished him up and am getting ready to head out with him in a few days.

It was a quick project and fun to personalize.  A great gift for a new baby who already has two of everything.  Homemade gifts really are the best to give.  (which is reminding me of that daunting to-do list for christmas...)

We're staying in tomorrow and decided not to travel this year so Thanksgiving should be pretty peaceful around here.  Are you guys hosting or traveling?

Holiday Photo Props Tutorial! Sew or Printable!

 I have such a fun tutorial to share with you today!  Whether you sew or not, this can work for you!  I created this tutorial with both options to sew, or print!  Sometime, we're even just pressed for time or too busy with other projects to sew.  It's about prioritizing around the holidays!

These Christmas holiday photo props are fun for family gathers, as well as taking some candid shots of your own children.

Aeris thought that the santa hat and beard props were hilarious.  And Ephraim couldn't stop laughing at her!  I think I'm going to use some of these photos for my own Christmas cards.  

Follow the tutorial to make your own!

For printable version:

click here to download the template

Just use foam board to back the images for durability, then add some dowel rods with hot glue!  too easy!

For the felt version:

click here to download the template

Materials:

2 9x12 sheets of red felt

2 9 x 12 sheets of brown felt

2 9 x 12 sheets of white felt

scrap of red glitter fabric (optional)

1 large sheet of poster board (cereal boxes will work just fine!)

stuffing

cooridnating embroidery thread

4 dowel rods

hot glue

Santa Hat Instructions:

1.  Cut 2 Santa hat templates of red felt.  Cut 1 of the white pom poms of white felt.  Cut 1 of the white hat trims of white felt.  Cut 1 poster board support of the hat shape, a bit smaller than the outline.

2.  Glue the poster board to the wrong side of one of the red hats.  Layer the second hat on top, then the white parts on top of that.  Sew around the edges with a blanket stitch.

3.  When I would get close to closing up the fur parts of the hat, I added some stuffing to make these parts a bit poofier.  

4.  After the hat is sewn, use some hot glue to secure the dowel rod to the back.  Place a small rectangle of felt over the exposed glue on the dowel rod just to give it a nicer finish.

Santa Beard Instructions:

1.  Cut 2 beard templates of white felt.

2.  Begin by sewing a blanket stitch around the mouth with white embroidery thread.

3.  As you sew around the perimeter of the beard, add the stuffing a bit at a time.

4.  Attach the dowel rod to the back.

Rudolph Instructions:

1.  Cut 2 antlers of brown felt.  Cut 1 antler of poster board. 

2.  Sew around the perimeter with a blanket stitch, stuffing as you go.

3.  Attach the dowel rod to the back.

Rudolph Nose Instructions:

1.  Cut 1 nose from the felt or sparkle fabric.  Cut the smaller circle of red felt.  

2.  Sew a gathering stitch around the perimeter of the nose fabric.  As you pull the thread taught, add a bit of stuffing.

3.  After your thread is secured, glue on the dowel rod and cover the opening with the circle of felt.

Oliver + S Cozy Winter Mittens

 

I wrote before how much I loved Little Things by Oliver + S and this mitten pattern is no exception.  I found a bunch of fleece on the shelf from this project and haven't used it since.  Fleece isn't really my thing, but it does have it's uses, and is perfect for when you truly need it.  

This pattern came together very quickly.  It would have been even faster if I had some ribbon on hand, but I ended up making my own trim with some leftover Chocolate Lollipop fabric.  I made a couple extra pairs for some little girls I know.  I think they'll make some nice holiday gifts as well!

I made the xs size for Aeris, to get an idea of what to make for Ephraim.  I have some black fleece in the stash from Halloween and think he's next on the list.  I have a turkey trot this weekend in Lake Geneva so I'm sure the kids will be thankful for their cozy hands!  

 

Curling up with a Book

It is getting cold up here.  It snowed one day last week, but the ground was too warm for it to have stuck.  I will admit, I was a bit disappointed.  I've braced myself for long months of winter and I am ready, so the snow would just complete it.

I do love the snuggling that comes with winter.  Crawling under a blanket with a good book, or your sweetie, or both if you're lucky!  I've been trying to relax a bit more after the kids are in bed.  I used to read a lot, when I had more time.  I'm sure many of us moms say that...and honestly, there is time if you want there to be.  You just have to sacrifice other things to have time to read....like tv time.  (I do like my tv time though!)

Most recently I snuggled up with SeaChange by Jeremey Page.  It's a tragic story about loss, and finding oneself despite of it.  It takes place out on the sea for the most part which is the perfect setting in relating to Guy, the narrator.  After losing his wife and daughter as a result of a freak accident, he finds himself sort of "adrift" on the sea.  While Guy learns to find himself, in this new life, he carries his wife and daughter with him through a series of journal entries, sort of writing an alternate ending for them.  I've never really lost anyone so close to me, but I can understand how Guy struggles with not being able to let go.  Ironically, I think it's what keeps him from moving on. Rather than grounding his reality I believe that allowing himself these false, interior monologues is really impending on his future growth.

Source: witanddelight.tumblr.com via Whitney on Pinterest

The book is beautifully written. It is very lyrical and descriptive, something I love in a novel. I had a really hard time reading the book though. I was shocked at the level of detail Guy gave to the death of his daughter that every time he would bring it up I could feel his pain. It made me really uncomfortable and I would want to stop reading at every mention of her. At first, I tried to compliment Page's ability to make me hurt in a way similar to Guy but eventually, I just grew annoyed at him for beginning the story in the manner that he did.  I think he should have chosen specific passages in which to use his strong, lyrical talent.  I felt that it would drag the story unnecessarily.

Sea Change is a great maritime novel for those of you into that sort of thing, so if you're thick skinned, I'd recommend checking it out. If you do, let me know what you think of it!

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

*top image via witanddelight.tumblr.com and alifeofbeautyandgrace.tumblr.com

Chocolate Chip Brownies Recipe

About a week ago Jason bought some cocoa powder from Penzy's and has been dying for some brownies.  I don't really have favorite recipe for brownies so I thought I'd give this one a try.  

They turned out to be very good and think that this one is the one I'll use for whenever I'm using cocoa powder, rather than melted chocolate, as my cocoa source.  

They're pretty much perfect.  They're a bit cakey, a bit fudgy, kinda a perfect marriage of the two, so they should be sure to please every brownie lover in your family!  Here's a link to the recipe I used.  Do you have a "go-to" brownie recipe?  This one has a ton of sugar and I'd like to find one without so much...

A Little Black Dress...for Everyday Mommy Things

It's been a while since I've sewed for myself, and boy am I glad I did!  I love making new things to  wear.  I love the feeling of accomplishment and wearing something cute when I got out.  I especially love when I get compliments like, "That's a nice dress.  Where did you get it?"  And I get to respond that I made it.  I think that is all sorts of fun and a great compliment.  I remember when I first started wearing clothes that I had made myself in public thinking, "Oh no, everyone is going to know I made this!"  Like it was a bad thing...

So...back to this dress.  I needed something I could mix and match with everything and anything.  My initial idea was something black with a slip peeking out underneath.   I  scrapped that idea and just went with all black. This pattern is the same one I used here.  I made it short sleeved this time.  I had to take in the sleeves quite a bit, and am still not really happy with how they turned out...

Today, I paired it with this ballet pink cardi that I made.  It was originally this sweater that I never wore.  It fit weird in the hips but I spent a ton on it and it was so soft.  My favorite part about it were the satin elbow pads-so cute!  Finally, I took some scissors to it and turned it into a cardigan.  I love it!

This dress is great for me to wear every day.  I can layer it with belts, cardigans, statement necklaces...whatever! 

Miss Aeris was a bit disappointed she missed the photo shoot, so we needed to do a few quick ones!

Flowers and Peanuts

Have you guys seen the 20/20 home cure on Apartment Therapy?  What do you think?  Are you participating?

I found a link to it while I was in bed on Flipboard the other night and just started.  I usually try to run around cleaning up after the kids all day, and nothing seems to feel accomplished.  Like all of the rooms just feel partially cleaned, and I'm left defeated.  I love having goals, so I decided to give this a try.  

I'm actually having a lot of fun with it.  And I feel a bit more relaxed with the kid's messes during the day, and more strict about them cleaning them at night.  I really love how on some days, the only job is to buy flowers.  Brilliant.  I really love having fresh flowers in the house, and my daughter loves having a bit of them in her bedroom.  I suppose it makes her feel grown up  to have a little vase on the dresser.  

I also started sewing a little something for a new baby that is on the way as.I.type.this.  I'm waiting until he's here to get the family in motion but I wanted to make a little something.  I sewed a beautiful quilt for him about a month ago, but was so rushed with getting to the baby shower that I forgot to take photos.  I'll get some from his mommy for you...

Anyhow,  this little peanut.  I love this book and got it years ago, but have never found an opportunity to make this elephant.  I had a lot of minkie fabric on the shelf, and thought that it would be so soft for the baby.  

That said, I better get back to sewing it.  Those babies are so unpredictable!

What have you been up to this weekend?

Silk Shirt Refashion with Tie Collar

Do you remember this post?  I finally got around to redoing the blouse.  

Once I started, it was pretty simple.  It only took me about 30minutes from start to finish.  Not bad for a $3 shirt!  I was pretty fearless since I've had the shirt hanging around for so long...and being so cheap.  

First, I removed the sleeves.  Then I put the shirt on the dress form to get an idea of where I wanted to cut the opening at.  I drew right on the shirt and cut it.  I reused the fabric from the sleeves to make bias tape to finish the edge of that opening I cut.  For the sleeves, I just used my serger and then turned the ends under.  Then I took some elastic to sew underneath so that they would be a bit poofy.   Using some more of the sleeves, I just made a long tube and sewed the ends onto the collar to make the bow.  Pretty easy, right? 

Refashioning is fun since there are no rules.  Just have a vision and attempt execution.  If it doesn't really work out, that's fine too, because you've learned something along the way!

plethora of pine cones

Source: Uploaded by user via Lina on Pinterest

We have a ton of pine cones here!  For the past few weeks, they've been falling off of the trees and my kids have been on adventures in the back yard collecting them up in a wheel barrow. 

I've been gathering up ideas on Pinterest as for what to make of them.  As a kid, I only remember rolling them in glue and glitter, or making bird feeders by rolling them in peanut butter and bird seed.  I'm really loving this wreath with the little bit of color. 

 These turkeys are also a fun idea to let the kids create something.  After all, they did all the work collecting them for me!

Now, if just all this rain would stop so I can let them dry out....I've already braced myself for the snow here in Wisconsin, so bring it Mother Nature!  I'm ready!

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an amazing use of jelly bellies!

When I was younger, I used to be way into music.  We all hung out in a local cd store, discovering new tunes, discovering ourselves.  I've since grown out of those days, but in nostalgic times find myself yearning for that something new for my ears.

I don't have time to spend sourcing new artists these days, but the internet is amazing for sharing.  The internet is also amazing for creating artists and helping them reach their fan base.  Take Kina Grannis for instance.  Total "you-tube sensation."  She earned her greatest claim to fame during that Doritos Super Bowl challenge a few years ago.   She's not anything really special.  Not blow your mind what is this?? kind of music, but she's got a great voice, and is really happy behind that guitar.  So, I dig her...

Anyhow, this post is not about any of that...I really just wanted to share this amazing video with you!  

I'm a fan of Kina Grannis and was checking out her youtube page one day to see what new covers she's posted lately, and saw her new video.  It is really a work of art.  They say that video killed the radio star, but video opened up a whole new realm to be explored.  This video took nearly two years to make; no green screen was used.  It's a pretty brilliant use of Jelly Bellies!

Make sure you watch this behind the scenes footage, as well.  

Are you guys music buffs?  Would you be interested in more music related posts around here?

Apple Pie Caramel Apples

After my husband saw this post, he was craving these apples.  

I've never made caramel apples before the other day.   I used some leftover caramel bits from some other project, and found these huge apples at the market, so the apples were meant to be.  I can bake many things, but making caramel is beyond me.  My husband can do it quite well, so I decided it is something that I just don't need to master...we work well that way!

I used Granny Smith apples for this recipe, which I recommend since the coating is so sweet.  I found it too sweet for my liking, but my guests loved the apples, so to each their own! 

I found the apples via pinterest, but you can find the recipe to make your own here.

Halloween 2011

Today is November 1, folks!  I feel like there is a brief pause, maybe today only, and then it's time for the holidays.  I just mean personally, not retail speaking.  Doesn't that start in June these days? ;)


Anyhow, here's our Halloween, in photos...