Wise Craft

Now I can show you some gifts!

For the past few years, we have exchanged handmade gifts with Peter's parents. This year, I asked Emma to draw a picture of Papa and Mamere's "mountain house" in rural Colorado.  I realized when creating this post that I don't have a good picture of Emma's artwork. What she came up with was her own twist on what she considers a place full of fun memories.  Their house is the one on the top right hand corner (doesn't seem to show up well in the photo, but its the small tan one), up on the *snowy* hill (elevation at their place is actually close to 9000 feet, so she's got the right idea).  Below it is a pond with a pink fish (of course) and a lily pad (why not?).  There is a stream running through the picture, with a white horse, a cat, and various other houses, plus a church (cause my kids think God lives in Colorado- but that's a post for another day...)

I was originally going to make this into a pillow, but I've done pillows more than once for them so I needed an original idea.  I decided on a wall hanging.  I appliqued Emma's artwork onto canvas with fabric and felt (all of the felt colors were chosen from the stash I got from the very generous Alicia back before Christmas).  Since Emma outlined everything in the original picture using a blue marker, I used blue embroidery thread to sew everything on.  The only thing I did which varies from the original is that used a printed yellow fabric for the biggest house- which was approved by the original artist.  Its all backed with plain muslin, and three green ribbon tabs at the top for threading a dowel through to hang.  Some more photos and details here and here.

Jen got a canvas zipper pouch (I'm suddenly realizing I used a lot of canvas) with an embroidery idea I got from this book.  The inside of the bag is lined with this vintage feedsack.

For my niece Kate (Jen's daughter), I had bookmarked this incredibly cute sock monkey from Blackbird Fashion back months ago.  As far as Kate is concerned, his t-shirt says it all and can't you just see this on a Freshman college dorm room bed?  We're still trying to make up for the fact that her mom told a member of this band backstage that she loves to listen to their music- when she's on the treadmill.  True, yes, but apparently not a cool thing to say.  Therapy is expensive, so I'll be mentally filing this one for future reference when Emma is 16.  You're still the coolest in my book Jen.

Till Then...

I don't know how I could say it better myself.  Thanks Mav!

Taking a blogging break till the new year, when I'll be back and jumping in head first.  Very happy holidays to all!

Feeling ready

Kid's Christmas lists mailed to Santa- check
overbuying of kid presents- check
handmade gifts completed- check
Tree decorated- check
obligatory gingerbread house (from kit) decorated with kids- check
gifts distributed to teachers- check
packages mailed to family- check
Christmas cards addressed and mailed- check
Sara Lee pecan coffee cake ready for eating while opening presents on Christmas morning- check
Eggnog ready for a little rum splash- big CHECK!

WHEW!!!!!

Now I will sit back and relax in front of this and this and dream of a slightly calmer 2006.

As my kids say, only 3 more sleeps...

More ornaments

Oh, how I do love the smell of Mod Podge in the morning...(I'm not kidding, I really do)

I'm not sure how I'm feeling about these ornaments, but I'm going to keep going.  Maybe I just need more of them.  Another old Martha Stewart idea, making ornaments based on "The Night Before Christmas".  I'm using paper clay, which I've never used before.  I really love this stuff.  Its so easy to just roll out like cookie dough, then either free-hand draw/cut out, or use cookie cutters.  Then let it dry for 24 hours, and you've got yourself an ornament that can be embellished to your liking.  I've done a little painting, then Mod-Podged some fabric on the one with the squiggly circles (from a vintage feedsack, currently my favorite fabric in the universe).  The others are done with floral paper and ric-rac.  When all is dry, a dusting of clear glitter and baker's string to hang.

Mail tales will have to wait till tomorrow, the pictures I took are lousy and I must make dinner.  Tonight is my favorite TV night of the week and I'm ready to sit and cozy up with some knitting.  Auf Wiedersehen!

The Big A

My second attempt at this bag.  I think this one is a big improvement over the first one.  I really worked on making the interfacing weights much more compatible with the shape.  If the interfacing isn't sturdy enough, the bag "sags" at the top middle.  If the interfacing is too stiff, the quilting looks a little too flat.  I have described this bag in my sketch book as the "Big A".  So, that's its name for now.  Till a better one comes along.  Merry Christmas Mom, you new Spring bag will look amazing at your next bridge club game.

More details here...

Ornament memories

I have always obsessively created all kinds of Christmas ornaments.  There is some sort of ornament that exists from most of the stages of my life.  My mom has lovely styrofoam glittered ornaments from elementary school, and the crosstitched Victorian-inspired ones later on.  Here are some that I have-

Stick horse ornaments I made around 1986, out of lollipop sticks, embroidery floss and assorted ric rac.  At this stage of my life, not yet an adult, but thinking I was.  The world was my oyster and I was going to save it, one craft project at a time.

I made these toy soldiers around 1988.  I was close to graduating college, was living in an apartment just off campus.  My roommate and I made enough of these little toy soldiers to cover a small fake tree we had.  I am sure I was drinking lots of black coffee and listening to The Smiths as I made these guys.

Santas I made around 1991, using wooden spools and puffy white texture paint.  I was cohabitating with a cyclist boyfriend and working as a small insignificant spec writer at a jeanswear company (spec writing is sitting at a desk all day, examining a sample pair of jeans and writing down in detail how the factory should sew them, classifying seams into flat-felled, double needle topstitched, etc).  How very glamourous!

 

 

Crafting with Emma

Gifts ready for family and friends after a very crafty weekend.  We made glycerin soaps (third year in a row) in a rainbow of colors.  Some letters, some new versions of simple shapes with cutout stars or trees inside.  Wrapped simply in clear cellophane bags.

Ornaments, which I was originally inspired to do by Amanda, but then also saw it in Martha Stewart Kids.  My little artist was feeling some creative block so we reached for a bit of inspiration from her favorite art book.  Soon enough she was rolling again.

Magnets of kid photos or vintage fabric, packaged in metal tins with homemade labels.

We will also make some cedar sachets, but ran out of time. 

Another joint effort over the weekend, Emma helped me make a new T-shirt for Ian to unwrap at Christmas.  He's crazy for robots at the moment.  Don't hold me to it, but I may try to make a plush version of this to include with the shirt.  My list is growing, but the clock is ticking.

Halls...Decked

You know its Christmas in our house when the crumbled styrofoam "snow" is sprinkled on the winter village.  I made this paper village about 4 or 5 years ago and never quite finished the last detail of adding snow drifts on the rooftops with chunky white glitter...maybe one day I'll get to it.

I prefer the sprinkled snow instead of the roll out snow.  I think it goes well with my personality-  both are high maintenance.  This stuff needs to be picked up and resprinkled every few days.

These two little angels have been with me since elementary school and are always hanging on for dear life at the top of our big tree, all decked in their blue eyeshadow.  I was reminded of these when I saw Hillary's new pipecleaner and cotton ball ornaments.

I have so much great mail to share, and other decorations- including the tree, but they must wait until my camera is back from the camera dr.  Hopefully soon (Nikon, if you're reading this...)

Books

Taking a cue from Amanda, here's list of our favorite Christmas books. As I'm creating this post, I'm realizing that the books I'm listing are rather light reading, even for kids.  To explain, Emma and Ian do not like story tension or suspense (even small doses), especially before bed.  They insist on going to sleep thinking that its a perfectly pollyanna world.  So we oblige with books like these.  Also, both the kids are part of a bloodline of very creative artists on Peter's side of the family, and because of that, "illustration" is their favorite word when describing books.  These books have apparently met their sometimes stringent criteria.

"The Snowman"

   

A simple story about a magical night, a boy and his snowman.  The illustrations are just wonderful.

"Eloise at Christmastime"-

Heavy rotation at Christmas, miss Eloise is.  I love reading this because I can say things like "sklinkles and glinkles".  And we love Weenie and Skipperdee.

"The Story of Holly and Ivy"-

Again, the illustrations draw us to this one, but a slightly sad story of a girl wanting a doll, and a doll wanting a girl, with a happy ending.

"Merry Christmas Maisy"

Anything with flaps to lift and tabs to pull are always big hits, and these are well-worn from years of enjoyment.  We love Maisy.

Like Amanda's family, we are also very big fans of Jan Brett and love "The Wild Christmas Reindeer"-

Our hands-down favorites this year are "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Christmas Alphabet" books illustrated by Robert Sabuda.  His all white pop ups mesmerize the kids and adults in our family.

       

We head out to the library once a week or so, and I'm sure we'll be bringing home some new favorites.

So, this is Christmas??

       

I have a macabre fascination with seeing where something like this is grown...Oh dear....Be sure to click on the 3rd picture to enlarge it.  I think I once had a candle that dripped colors like that.  Frightening.

Stephanie chose the correct picture from yesterday's post, top right.  You guys made me take a serious second look at this one, but like all the others, it had too much of something for me to pick it.  But as a result of my indecision, some close relatives will now be recipients of this version. 

Much crafty activity going on in our house, but I'm not one to give away Christmas surprises, just yet anyway.

I leave you with a very favorite decoration in our house, my bobbleheads-