Progress

Kitchen help Impromptu sibling tea party Highchair banner in progress
Thank you so very much to all of you for your encouraging comments on my post about our upcoming move. They made my week and made the whole situation feel just a little less overwhelming. I am trying to remember to just day it day by day. Having Baby F's birthday coming up this week seems to be helping to take the edge off.

Speaking of Baby F, he is growing up almost overnight on us! He started walking holding onto our hands last week (completely out of nowhere) and today he suddenly took his first step as he went from hanging on to the windowsill to walking towards me. Does he know he is turning one this week? He is cutting a new tooth right now, too. With so much happening at once my poor little guy isn't sleeping much. I hope that it settles down for him soon, it breaks my heart to see him miserable.

K rearranged her room over the weekend. She is a mini-me in that regard. I can remember constantly moving the furniture around in my own bedroom growing up. She pushed her bed up against the wall making her room a lot more spacious since her last arrangement. I am noticing that the whole family is drawn to her room now. It is so welcoming without all the clutter that filled it before. It is making me realize that I need to work on making the rest of our home feel this way, even if it is only for a few more months. Oh while we are on the subject, I was thinking of getting Little L some kind of toy chest with a lid for his train tracks that are taking over our home. I have only just started looking but am having a hard time finding one that is big enough, made from real wood and is friendly on the budget (we are trying to pay off the last bit of debt we have before he retires). I thought I might check with all of you to see if you know of any off hand.

p.s. - the booties pictured above are the project I mentioned that I was knitting for a friend awhile back. They are finished and have already been sent off - actually they were even already received and looking quite cute on an adorable baby girl. Pattern info can be found here. Oh and do you happen to remember me talking about those books (the booties are on) many years ago? Kevin got them for me for Christmas. I am looking forward to reading them all over again.

Progress

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two, post it on your blog, on Instagram #craftingon and/or Flickr and then share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.

Sewing the birthday boy some quick-change trousers from Handmade Beginnings. His crown is done and a bunting is in the works. This fabric is just too much fun to work with! I think I will just keep on sewing until I run out of it...or run out of time. Hmm, what else can I make for him?

What are you working on? Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two, post it on your blog, on Instagram #craftingon and/or Flickr and then share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.

Being snowed in for days on end has its perks - like dreaming up and creating birthday things for a certain fox baby. I promise all of those fabrics and ribbon are not all for one thing, though! I actually ordered that ribbon from Germany with thoughts of a birthday crown a bit simpler than my usual ones. We'll see if it happens!

What are you working on? Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The Year Without a Christmas Tree

C wanted this costume for years - Nana and Grandpa made her day! C's Christmas hedgehog A new sweater for C's Phoebe for Christmas Hello, hello! I feel like I have been pretty absent here these last weeks of Advent. I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season so far. I honestly can't believe it is already the fourth day! This year my children are truly reminding me of the meaning of Christmas. Remember my mention of Kevin being away for a few weeks? Well, that time away was extended and he didn't end up getting back home to us until last Thursday. Talk about a mad scramble to get everything ready before Sunday!

Every year we try to wait as long as possible to get our Christmas tree. This year the wait was a bit longer because we wanted to pick it out with Daddy. There are only two places to get them locally so we essentially play a game of "tree chicken" trying not to wait too long to get one or else they may all be gone. Well, this year we lost. Not only were they sold out locally but in Boise as well. I was fretting just a bit, wanting this Christmas to be perfect since it will be our last one here. Ridiculously allowing myself to be consumed with self-pity I mumbled something under my breath about having no tree. Little L somehow heard me, looked deeply into my eyes and said, "Mama, we don't need a tree for it to be Christmas." The pure innocence, wisdom and love in his words just made me melt. He was right. The next day K took her personal mini tree from her room and placed it in our front room where we would normally keep our tree. We decided that would be just the perfect thing. Little L topped it with his "Happy Birthday Jesus" star he made in RE class, reminding us what Christmas is all about.

p.s. - Our cat, on the other hand, is not too happy about our lack of a Christmas tree this year. She loves spending all her time sleeping under the tree. The little one just isn't cutting it for her, but as you can see in the photo she is trying her best to make do!

The Year Without a Christmas Tree

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two, post it on your blog, on Instagram #craftingon and/or Flickr and then share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.

Christmas is only a few days away. Quick, start all the projects! Finishing them might be another story.
 All of my grand ideas of Christmas crafting have gone out the window but I am still hoping I can pull a couple of things off. Pictured above are some of those projects: a wee envelope knit for Baby F with my new favorite yarn (whose cute little hands also made it into the photo), a fox pillowcase for the mini pillow all my babies used to elevate their head when sick, and Alicia's Love and Joy cross stitch pattern. I was certain I would finish my cross stitch before Christmas arrived but I haven't found the time to start it yet. Who knows, maybe it will be finished by Epiphany!

What are you working on? Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

On Saint Lucia Day {and a bit of sewing}

My Saint Lucia stitch marker arrived just in time!

This year's Saint Lucia day (AKA Little L's namesake day and the feast of my patron saint) was one of the best we had ever experienced. I think because of that I didn't find as much time to photograph it all. We started the day with my children waking me up with Lussekatter and singing. They even snuck Baby F out of bed and had him dressed in his star boy outfit. Admittedly I think they woke a bit too early, especially after going to bed so late the night before from their AHG Christmas party. They were at each others throats for a good chunk of the morning but thankfully that all went away by the time we left the house for Mass. We met up with three other Catholic homeschooling families that we all absolutely adore and celebrated Mass. Afterwards everyone came back to our place for some Lussekatter, and a potluck style lunch. Our home was full with the laughter of children and my heart was just ready to burst.

After our friends had to leave we walked over to a couple of our neighbors to deliver Lussekatter. We ended up spending a good chunk of the afternoon/evening with one of those wonderful neighbors as our children played and we had a chance to chat. Such a good time was had. I honestly didn't want our day to end but boy was I exhausted by the time we got back home!

Baby F's namesake day was actually the day before but I feel a bit bad because we didn't really get to celebrate it. I spent a good chunk of that day baking the Lussekatter. I think next year I will make it on the 11th instead so that way both of my boys get their special days.

On a completely different note - I had been meaning to share some photos of a finished project but the sun just didn't want to shine so I gave up waiting on it. Baby F needed some soft cushions to boost him up and make his highchair a bit more comfortable. The random throw pillow we were using just wasn't cutting it. The last set of cushions I made for this highchair were from when K was a baby so it was definitely time for something new.

I wanted to use fabric that was neutral enough for a boy or a girl (just in case for the future 😉 ) and something that I already had on hand. I ended up going with this cute chicken fabric leftover from the girls' Easter dresses of 2012. This time around I made the cushion covers envelope style so that I could easily take them off and throw them in the washer. I think Baby F approves of them. What do you think?

On Saint Lucia Day {and a bit of sewing}

Steady now

Life is good. I am alive and that in itself is something to be grateful for. But some days I just need to remind myself to give in and realize I am not always in control. I wouldn't call it failing necessarily but learning when to admit defeat. Days like this call for sewing nights. The steady rhythmic hum of the sewing machine drowns out my worries and upsets from the day and allows me to center myself so that I may try again tomorrow.

Steady now

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.
With Baby F being happier and calmer overall, I am feeling the itch to sew. I am not quite ready to tackle summer dresses for the girls yet but a little kitchen/baby project should be a good warm up. Goodness, it has been far too long!
What are you working on? Happy creating!

An InLinkz Link-up

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

Disoriented

I am feeling rather disoriented after the long weekend so please forgive my scatterbrained thoughts in this post. I keep feeling like every day is Monday. We in the fog of sickness right now too, adding to my confusion. So far everyone but Baby F and Kevin are sick. I am praying it stays that way. I thought I might help to cheer up my sick K by sewing her a mug rug for the nightstand next to her bed (and to help preserve the nightstand since I seem to have to sand it and re-beeswax it once a year). I found a tutorial that was really cute and seemed simple enough, but I forgot that I lack the ability to sew straight lines. The tiny pieces were super fussy to work with and well, I think the photographs pretty much speak for themselves. I was disappointed with the outcome but K loves me and it anyway. Maybe when the quilting plumps up with a washing it will help to cover up the mistakes.

Did I ever mention Baby F's umbilical hernia to you? I can't remember. Well, it is healing up on it's own now, thank goodness. I think his cloth diapers helped with that as the come up over the belly button helping to press it down - similar to the belly bands they sell for umbilical hernias on babies. His stomach doesn't seem to get upset as easily now that it is healing up which is a huge blessing for all of us.

Speaking of tummies, we decided as a family to go completely gluten-free for the next 15 days to see how our bodies react. I went grain-free for Lent one year and I remember feeling so much lighter and full of energy. C might have the hardest time with this trial since she would live off of bread if I let her. I am hoping I have enough delicious alternatives for her that she'll get by. I'll keep you updated on how it goes!

And on that note I need to get my sick self into bed with the rest of my family. I hope you all have a truly enjoyable rest of the week.

p.s. - Ravelry notes on the completed unicorn gift can be found here.

Disoriented