wise craft

faked out

Okay, I admit it, we have a fake wreath this year. First time ever I think. We will have a real tree as always, but when Emma and I spent that half an hour standing in line at Joann's like we did yesterday, we started to look very closely at everything around our bubble space and started liking the idea of the $4.50 wreath after about 10 minutes of waiting and the 60% off birds and berries after about 15 minutes. By 30 minutes they were in our hands and we were paying for them.

I was worried that I'd come home and realize what I'd done, but I sheepishly admit its kinda working for me.

Plus it gives me a reason to buy one of those special round-shaped wreath storage things for after Christmas.

So, we went fake on the door. We will do it up on the front lawn though. Peter spent way too much time making this sign last year. I was secretly afraid we were opening up a retail space on the front lawn when he was putting it up.

My little Clark Griswold.

The fabric destashing/scrap bag sale will be over at my etsy shop starting at 9:30 am PST tomorrow (Monday, 12/1). I will only be keeping these listings active for a week, and will be taking them down on the evening of Sunday, 12/7/08 so if you're looking for some new fabrics for holiday crafting, now is your chance. I will promise you great fabrics (some Japanese, some vintage, some new). The scrap bags are divided by home decor weight fabrics and quilting cottons. I have tried to give as many details as possible for each of the fabrics. The lighting was absolutely terrible over the weekend, but I tried to photograph each fabric as well as I could. Feel free to email me at wisecraftblog@gmail.com with any questions.

after

Thanksgiving was really fun. Hope yours was too! I consumed too much of course, shared a fun evening with friends. I love the whole grab every chair in the house for the table and get everything on the table n-o-w frenzy of the whole event. I was only responsible for making desserts this year...I made that cheesecake...pumpkin cheesecake...which came out of the oven with a crazy big crack in the top...the same craft that Emma -in her usual optimism- took one look at and said it was "t" shaped for Thanksgiving...which I ever-so-strategically covered with piped whipped cream...and which thankfully did not affect the taste.

Tonight, I'm making Swedish Meatballs from this month's Everyday Food, mainly because I have everything here to make them, and the house feels cold and they sound good. Then later, after kids are in bed I'll either laze in front of the TV with Peter, or I'll go in the complete opposite direction and begin a Christmas sewing tear. I really could go either way at this point.

The next time you hear from me I'll have all my little scrap-bag, surplus-fabric ducks in a row for a little destashing sale. Till then, be well!

guarded

I don't think I've ever had more fun making stuffies than I had making these door hangers for the kid's bedroom doors. First off, above, you have Emma's Guardian Creeper, showing off its Do Not Disturb side. Turn it over, and you have the Leave a Message side, complete with pocket for a notepad and pencil-

Ian's Attack Creeper, and its Do Not Disturb side-

and its Leave A Message side...

Both from this book, which is great and my kids are looking through it and lusting for more monsters.

Yep, we're pretty much rock solid here. Nothin's getting through these guys.

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Thank you all for your feedback on the scrap vs. larger pieces of fabric question on the last post. I think I will go with a little of both. Now, I will say that yes, there are some red fabrics Kristy, and I unfortunately have no more of the handwriting fabric you were speaking of Jessica, so sorry! There will be some Japanese fabrics, there will be some vintage, as well as some newer stuff. Its just a whole assortment, all kinds of fabrics. I will offer a little of everything in the scrap bags, and also some scrap bags of home dec weight fabrics, cause there's plenty of that around here too. I plan to offer larger pieces of wool plaids and some 100% cotton prints when it just feels wrong to cut it up otherwise.  I will be so happy to see them go to anyone who will use them. I made two pillow covers last week (I'll show them soon) and, looking at them I suddenly felt very silly for thinking the fabric would be better off folded up as yardage in my cabinet. I mean, I could get so much enjoyment out of actually using it! Imagine!

Okay, I am in full immersion baking mode tomorrow and will be enjoying every minute of it. Talk to you in a few days. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

breathable...

I cannot overestimate the renewing power of a commitment-free weekend for our household. It just doesn't happen very often these days. Peter often works straight through the weekend, until he comes up and joins us for dinner, declaring he cannot stand another minute in the basement that day. Spare moments are spent preparing for an afternoon soccer game, or doing laundry to prepare for the week ahead. But when we have an open weekend (even the semblance of one), we make the most of it. Scones baked for breakfast stay out (and are nibbled on) until lunch, just cuz. The pj's stay on (well, for some), the really complicated Lego structures take shape, all sorts of important stuff.

And there are the opportunities to clean and sort. Like this past weekend. I did a major overhaul of my studio. You see, it, being a mere slip of a room, filled to the gills with every supply for every creative whim I've ever had (many), there was so much accumulation of stuff I was beginning to feel uninspired and exhausted just trying to find anything. Sooooo, I have gone through all the fabric, gotten rid of probably 75% of what was in here, did a thorough dusting and wiping down of everything. This is where it can all pay off for you! I am planning to offer some great deals on fabric I've had in my stash, some larger pieces, and some scrap bags of fabric just too good to get rid of. If you've got holiday crafting in mind, this sale could be just what you need to get a few new pieces of fabric in your stash (which, when carefully chosen, makes all the fabric look new). I'll get this all up and ready to sale on Monday, December 1 and will let you know all the details then. In the meantime, comment and let me know if you are interested in bigger pieces or more scrap bag sized pieces (larger scraps, nothing too tiny).

Yay! for empty spaces. Okay, more tomorrow!

surrounded by

* Abby's wonderful prints. Their soft glow is really magical and they need proper frames, in due time.

* Bright, jolt-y hits of colored fabric soon to be more pillow covers. I'm still on a bender. (Thanks for all your kind words on the gray one.)

* Cornelius. Just can't get Music out of my head. Doesn't the end of the song sound like bubbles popping? Peter discovered this band when he was in Tokyo five or so years ago.

* And, after kid bedtime, a little more Henry Rollins.

I haven't said it lately, but a million thanks for all of you who stop by and comment here in my little space. You make my days better by just saying hello. I wish I had the time to answer everyone, but I can't even pretend I do anymore. I'm sorry about that. But know that I read every comment, will always answer specific questions, and appreciate your kind words.

cozy up

In my attempt to celebrate the change in seasons (and yes, I celebrate Fall, its my favorite), I am working on changing things up around the wise craft home. With the beach balls and floatys now deflated, flip flops put away, and newly cleaned and organized kid's room (oh Emma, I found those empty pixie sticks) it feels much better around here. (I feel like every few months I'm blogging about a major clean-up and clean-out, but that's exactly what happens, we get it done bit by bit, room by room.) We're cooking more dinners here at home, actually trying to cook more in general. The house smells good, and usually (okay sometimes) feels clean.

I'm making new pillow covers for most of the pillows around here (and gee, I realize we have a lot of pillows) and this was the first one I finished up. I just love it. Thrifted gray wool I've had since last year (and doesn't it look prettier here than folded in my fabric stash), sewn into a rectangular pillow cover with a ruched panel in the center. This was so easy once I got the hang of pulling of the thread and spacing the fabric. I cut the center panel twice as long as the other two, then gathered it up. I love that it looks textural and cozy. Its home is our chaise lounge, a very inexpensive IKEA piece that tends to get a 10 year old girl in it on lazy weekends. Good stuff.

The kidney shaped table by the chaise was found second hand by Peter, its really wonderful. I still collect those little German weather houses, the one on the table doesn't work but we still love it. The lamp, second hand, the bird, moi, the bowl, Anthropologie sale. Inside the bowl are the mossy rocks from Small Stump and new felted wool stones from Reya that are gorgeous (typepad is doing something to my photos and they come out a little washed within the post, is anyone else having this problem?).

At Ian's parent/teacher conference last week, his teacher showed me a poem he had written that goes something like this:

I love my home because

Home smells good

all my toys are there

I feel safe at home.

Folks...I believe my work is done...

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Seeing and loving today-

s t i l l  Flickr pool

Andrea's home tour (so many beautiful collections in her home)

Amy Butler's free patterns from Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion (scroll down to free patterns, choose ME Holiday Patterns)

thanks guys, here's the mix!

I had to revise a few song selections based on what was available, but I think Emma will approve.

                           

party things

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes for Emma. The celebratory activities continued through the weekend with a small kid party on Saturday. Then the last soccer game of the season on Sunday, which was then celebrated with a little party, a weekend of cake, cake, and more cake. Its just past dinner on Sunday evening as I'm starting this post, and I'm thinking we're officially "celebrated" around here and are moving on. For now.

I still say turning ten looks so great. Emma seems to be a balanced kid. No big social problems to speak of yet, and I've realized that she lets lots of that stuff just roll off her back (impressively so). She seems to be a kid who's happy with herself, and I think that's so big, so important. I figure liking who we are and what we are is a hurdle we'll grapple with our whole lives, so if anybody around our house feels okay being themselves anytime in their lives, that makes me smile. She has a balance about her that I didn't have at ten.

Each kid that came to on Saturday got a mixed CD of Emma's favorite music these days, and a Mad-Libs booklet tied up with a pencil.

Here's the playlist:

Young Folks- Pete Bjorn and John

Hey There Delilah- Plain White T's

Brand New Colony- The Postal Service

They'll Soon Discover- The Shins

Bicycle Race- Queen

Patient Patient- The Morning Benders

Stay Up Late- The Talking Heads

This is The Day- The The

Birdhouse in Your Soul- They Might Be Giants

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa- Vampire Weekend

Domino- Van Morrison

Mushaboom- Feist

Deadbeat Club- The B-52's

Mr. Blue- Catherine Feeny

Over and Over Again- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Sweet Lullaby- Deep Forest

Honkey Cat- Elton John

1234- Feist

Here It Goes Again- OK Go

Happy Birthday- Altered Images

Channel Z- The B-52's

I wish I could just make this as a playlist somewhere and you could just download the whole thing, but I would probably be arrested. And apparently I have a date to do yoga in the morning.

My sewing machine has been buzzing. Projects are laid out everywhere, and now I've got to add the chicken's cute new skirt to my list of what I want to make, cause I love that. I am in full immersion domestic mode here...there is a quilt to be finished, arm warmers to finish knitting, scarves to make, pillow covers to change, ornaments I want to make.

I, of course, won't get all of it done. But I'm having fun trying. Although Peter would probably love a little "something simmering on the stove" to be added to that list. (I'm working on that too.)

I leave you with what Peter and I were trying to explain to the kids today, Toonces the Driving Cat. Remember him?

its been a decade

Emma is 10.

My firstborn is 10.

I wish I could remember what it felt like to be ten years old. I seem to remember small details like braids, Levi cords in sherbet colors, Bruce Lee posters in my brother's bedroom, Grand Funk Railroad. Seems there was no big stuff yet, no worry. There probably was, but I don't remember it.

What happened to that girl that was so excited when we finally decorated the Christmas tree that year?

Or sitting at the aquarium, sketching quietly and intently, trying to memorize every detail?

the one never missed an adventure?

Oh, wait.

You're still here.

Just older.

Emma, you are more special every day. May today be as shiny as you are.

This is the day....

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The stamp I used for Emma's wrapping paper in the first photo was designed by Lena Corwin and can be ordered here.

house news

*I was feeling all posty yesterday, and wrote up a nice one, which was promptly eaten up by typepad for an afternoon snack, and, as mad as I was, I had to move on. But today I thought I would try it again. I'm so glad you all liked the tomorrowland trees. I'm thinking a kid version at some point. Emma is at such a great age to craft with these days, her ability to stick with a project pleases me to no end. She will be 10 soon, and although I feel weird about that (my child's a decade!), I think that being 10 looks from here to be about the best thing in the whole world. She starts a small sewing class on Monday and is really excited about it. I'm so happy to see that the sewing and knitting and general crafting that goes on around her hasn't turned her off completely (it tends to skips a generation in my family).

*My mom's birthday was recently, and I gave her one of my eight by eight pieces framed up. Something a mother would love. Things in square frames vs. rectangular make me happiest, not sure why that is.  I always envisioned these pieces floating in frames. I'm going to hang a few of my favorites in our bedroom when I finally take on the task of repainting it (one day). To be honest, I don't know if we'll actually finish the year of eight by eight projects we planned for ourselves. But its been a great challenge, even if it were to end now.

*A few of us started a small knitting group on Tuesdays and its given me a reason to pick up some needles again, which I seem to have an urge to do this time every year. I've been wanting to make a pair of toast wrist warmers for myself, and I had this Rowan Cashcotton DK yarn on hand (Pool #602), so I grabbed it and some double pointed needles as I headed out the door Tuesday afternoon. These are quick to knit and so cozy to wear, and completely usable (and cute!). I've already started on a second pair, for Peter, in black, to wear when riding the bike this winter (toast for men, but minus the fashionably slouchy effect). And there are plans for a third, which will be a charcoal gray pair for me. They are just that great. Nothing complicated, just good rhythmic calming knit stitches.

*I changed up the blog sidebars a bit. I always feel like there is so much information crammed into those sidebars, sometimes I feel like just making it all white space again. But, its now up to date with what I'm reading, listening to, and loving out in the land of blogs.

*Last night we discovered Live From Abbey Road, a series on the Sundance Channel. One of the featured bands happened to be one of Peter's favorite bands, The Fratellis, a clip of it is here. Good TV is hard to find, especially now that the election is over. I myself have become a podcast junkie as of late. My newest favorite would have to be All Songs Considered. Just in time, I had reached the outer edge of my Ipod and wasn't sure where to go next.

*I will talk politics here only long enough to say I'm happy, proud, and hopeful. And to say Peter just sent this up from the lower office, go have a look.