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.


I am ever so happy to report that I found something I can do that isn't (currently) irritating my wrists - (machine) sewing! Yep, I have been bit by the sewing bug, again. I love it when that happens. This was just the motivation I needed to finally sew up those pants for Little L that I have been talking about for over a year now.

In case you are forgetful like me - they are another pair of quick change trousers (from here). They are sewing up just as fast as his first pair  (which still fit - I might add!). The owl fabric brings back happy memories of when Little L was first born as well as memories of one of my favorite outfits of his. I think these will be his Easter pants. It's only fair he gets something new to wear, too...right?

The girls Easter sweaters are finished as are their bunnies (Except for their pink cheeks and starched whiskers). I don't think I will get their Easter dresses finished (or even started for that matter), but that's okay. They can wear their dresses from last year and then I'll get around to this year's dresses eventually.

What are you working on? Happy creating!

If you would like to link up and share your current works in progress (or finished works) please leave your link below. It can now be either to your specific blog post or Flickr photo. There are no rules, only that your link is current and something about a craft project (of any kind) you are working on. Don't forget that there is now a KCCO Flickr group for you to share your crafting photos at anytime.

Please remember to link back here so that others who may want to join KCCO can find us.

It's as simple as that. Remember your post can be from any day of the week, it doesn't have to be today. We all love feedback so if you have a moment please leave a comment on some of the KCCO posts you may visit. I know from my own experience just how much your comments really motivate me! Now please share and inspire us all!

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

Widows Mite

Widows Mite (Lepton): Judean coin in general circulation during the time of Jesus Christ referred to in the Holy Bible.

I have a little story that I have been meaning to share. Unfortunately I waited too long to type it up so I have forgotten the details but hopefully I will still convey it's message.

A few months ago, K declared that she needed to give all the money she had to those who really needed it. She caught me by surprise with this wonderful revelation, I mean what a huge deal for someone so small. My heart felt as if it could burst. She had been saving for a doll so I wanted to make sure that donating all of her money was something she really wanted to do. I asked her a couple of  times more over the course of a few days and each time she was very decisive and had such a sparkle in her eyes telling me that others needed it more than she did (her stubbornness can be a good thing!). So I set to work to find the right local charity to go to. It was a bit trickier than I thought it would be. Her piggy bank was full but probably had nothing more than a few dollars in it so I wanted to make sure that whoever she gave it to saw what a big deal this was for her and that she was giving all that she had to help others. I reached out to people in our community asking their advice on the matter and finally the perfect answer presented itself (via Pat, my RCIA organizer ) - Madonna's Center. I had never heard of it before but it's cause was already dear to me. It was kismet. I knew K would love the thought of her money helping babies, she has such a deep love for them all. Wherever we are at, if their is a baby around (stranger or friend), you can always find K alongside it.

It ended up that Valerie, the founder of Madonna's Center, is a member of our parish. Pat contacted her and told her our story. She enthusiastically embraced K's kindness and agreed to meet us after the next Mass. I told K all about it and she could hardly contain her excitement, it just radiated out of her. Even C couldn't resist K's energy and decided to join her in giving all that she had, too.

The following week, after Mass, the girls both had their piggy banks in hand and very happily (and shyly) gave them over to Valerie. She accepted them with so much love and really made the girls feel absolutely amazing for their gifts. She took the time to tell them how their gift would help babies and their mamas. What a beautiful and sincere soul Valerie is, I could write pages and pages on her. I aspire to be like her someday.

She even had a gift for the girls. She told them the story of the Widows Mite and then gave them both their very own Widows Mite coin. Neither of my girls were expecting anything in return, but they knew these coins were very special and were very happy to have them. We have since been studying them at home trying to see all that we can with our magnifying glass. C seems to have the best eye for finding symbols on them.

We are so happy to have found Valerie. I have been trying to find ways to help however I can with Madonna's Center since that day. It's a bit tricky with Kevin working all the time but one small thing (with great love!) at a time. I am  currently trying to knit up some mittens for all the children even though this winter is now over. They will need them next year though, right?!

The biggest gift of all, was the simple gift of giving in and of itself. There is no other feeling like it and both of my girls would quickly agree. They are filling their piggy banks back up again so they can give them to those in need again, and again and again...

Widows Mite

The root children arrived at our home (and appreciation!)

Spring arrived with a gentle morning of picking daphne and searching for wool eggs that the root children left behind, but then followed with a BANG! of hailstorms and very unpredictable weather.  You can see a storm quickly approaching in the magnolia (11th and 12th down from the top) pictures. Just moments before I snapped those photos the sun was out bright and cheery.  It seems as though we are getting "in like a lion, out like a lamb" all in one day!

Typing seems to bother my wrists more than anything else right now so I am keeping this short and sweet but I wanted to share a link I found with you: Blogging from a non-bloggers perspective
It really touched me. To all of you out there in the blogging world - you are appreciated!!!

p.s - You can learn more about our root children celebration here.

p.p.s - Poor Little L has a yeast (diaper) rash. his doctor want us to use athlete's foot cream but I know there are natural alternatives. Any suggestions?

The root children arrived at our home (and appreciation!)

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.
Cuteness!! Bunny has boots Capelet for K's bunny Ladies and gentlemen, after avoiding it for far too long - the bunnies now have noses!

It appears that I have been doing too much hand work these days. Impossible, right?! That's what I would say but my wrists will tell you a different story. I have barely been able to do a thing craft wise.

I first started having pain in my wrists right after K was born. It hurt to nurse her or hold her, or to do just about anything with my hands. I went to the doctor in fear of carpal tunnel syndrome - I could remember my Mom having that. The doctor checked my wrists and said it was probably the start of CTS but he gave me some magical wrist bands to wear that held my wrists in the proper position. After a month or so of wearing them the pain went away. Every now and again the pain comes back but if I wear the wrist bands to bed it's usually better by morning. Usually being the key word here. The bands seem to have lost their magic. I think it's time to make another doctors appointment. I hope I can still finish the girls' Easter gifts in time. I'm in the homestretch with them but we'll see.

Oh, and happy day before spring! The root children will be showing up here on Wednesday. Just in case I forgot (which is a normal thing around here), I wanted to share past Easter/spring tutorials and ideas with you, all in one place:

Wet felted eggs to store gifts in
Sprouted grass in an egg shell, Easter table decoration, Easter basket with a chick puppet & more 
Beeswax egg candles
Beeswax and tissue paper flowers

What are you working on? Happy creating!

If you would like to link up and share your current works in progress (or finished works) please leave your link below. It can now be either to your specific blog post or Flickr photo. There are no rules, only that your link is current and something about a craft project (of any kind) you are working on. Don't forget that there is now a KCCO Flickr group for you to share your crafting photos at anytime.

Please remember to link back here so that others who may want to join KCCO can find us.

It's as simple as that. Remember your post can be from any day of the week, it doesn't have to be today. We all love feedback so if you have a moment please leave a comment on some of the KCCO posts you may visit. I know from my own experience just how much your comments really motivate me! Now please share and inspire us all!

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

Mayhem and little personalities

K needle felted C a little Phoebe (from Phoebe's Sweater). C instantly adored it, but so did Little L. Neither of the girls wanted him to get his hands on it knowing what he would do to it, so we put it up on a shelf in our dining room. I stood on a chair to snap a quick photo. It probably took 2 minutes at the most but then I looked down to see this: Wherever Little L goes, mayhem follows! Although he did sort of do us a favor by showing me that these potatoes needed to be thrown away...
This might be why I have slowed down in the picture taking department the past couple of months - too much to clean up afterwards. Ha!
Little L reminds me so much of C at this age (and even now!) Remember this incident? I believe there was a reason K was our first and that she enjoys helping. Just look at her trying to teach C how to knit (on her Easter sweater I am knitting, no less!):


Being a goof with our Geisha kitty. I wonder if there will be any more children in our future with her personality or if there will be more Cs and Little Ls...

This weekend was an exhausting one. We had a birthday party to attend for a sweet friend yesterday  and then a 7:30 am Mass today, but what really wore us out what was in between. I want to share but I can't just yet. It's a surprise for someone special and I know they will be reading this  so I will have to share it once it has been revealed in a few weeks.

I had the fun experience of my e-mail and pinterest accounts getting hacked at the end of last week. I was still trying to work through it all over the weekend. My e-mail account was suspended because of it all. It was quite the mess but I think it's almost worked out now.

How was your weekend?

p.s. - Jackie over at  Luna Grey is offering a coupon code right now. It's for 20% off your entire order using code: Irish20. The coupon is good through Sunday, March 17th at midnight (MST). If the order includes a green or partially green skein, she will throw in a free mini project bag!

Mayhem and little personalities

On these last days of winter

Before I know it our little world will no longer be dormant but very busy and alive filled with lush, green landscapes and the songs of spring. I thought about this many times over the past couple of months while keeping warm by the wood stove. I may have even dreamed about it. But as much as I have been (and still am) looking forward to spring, I want to just pause and savor these last few quiet moments of winter. It has such a unique allure that can not be denied.

I know a little pussy,
her coat is pearly grey.
She lives out in the meadow,
not very far away.

She'll always be a pussy,
She'll never be a cat.
For she is a pussy willow,
Now, what do you think of that?

Meow, meow.
Meow, meow, meow.

                                    -Traditional Waldorf Kindergarten verse
                            (C and I have been enjoying this song at circle time)

On these last days of winter

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.
Another bunnies on the woodpile shot. I told you it would end up a series! Oh my, their ears! Please notice their ears! Aren't they just so dainty?! I swoon each time I look at them. I wonder if my girls will feel the same way...

I have the first bunny done minus embroidering on the nose and the second one is quickly taking shape.  Thank goodness they seem to be fast projects since I really don't have a lot of time to complete them! Once they are done I'll work on their adorable shoes, dress and capelet.

C's Easter sweater is very close to done, too. I was knitting up a storm while everyone was sick last week, but I haven't had the chance to pick it back up since they started feeling better. I'm thinking of adding the Wooly Moss Roots buttons now, simply because I am too impatient to see just how delightful they will look!

What are you working on? Happy creating!

If you would like to link up and share your current works in progress (or finished works) please leave your link below. It can now be either to your specific blog post or Flickr photo. There are no rules, only that your link is current and something about a craft project (of any kind) you are working on. Don't forget that there is now a KCCO Flickr group for you to share your crafting photos at anytime.

Please remember to link back here so that others who may want to join KCCO can find us.

It's as simple as that. Remember your post can be from any day of the week, it doesn't have to be today. We all love feedback so if you have a moment please leave a comment on some of the KCCO posts you may visit. I know from my own experience just how much your comments really motivate me! Now please share and inspire us all!

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}