whatchabuildin

keepin' it together

Hey, happy November! Well, at least a week into it! I've spent the past few days getting the studio organized and cleaned for my holiday making. It feels so good to have a semi-clean, semi-organized studio! I actually need about another week to say I have a really clean and really organized studio, but I'll take this for now.

It's that gifting time of year, and this little tip I am sharing today has really helped me out a lot for the past few years.  I like to use 3x5 cards for notes, reminders, shopping lists etc... I thought these would work for Christmas lists too. I took a stack of 3x5 cards, and used a rubber stamp to stamp the year on each card. Then I put each persons name and gift ideas on the card. The gift ideas I used a pencil, that way if I thought of a different idea, I could erase it and write in the new.

I also made a little pouch for the cards so I can easily carry them in my purse or tote bag. This really works well, and I have actually been carry this around with me for about 6 months now, writing notes as I think of them. That way, when it comes time to make or buy gifts, it will be easier.

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We've been reading about "Hiawatha" lately, and Colin has been studying and studying the Native American clothing, especially the young Hiawatha. He finally said, "Mama, I need a Hi-yup-wafa (Hiawatha) dress up, can you make me one, please?" So of course I couldn't say no to my sweet baby child, and made this little get up. Quick. He wanted it, NOW. (You know those patient 4 year olds) It literally took about 45 minutes, with one fitting. He was so happy! Love it.

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Sew, Mama, Sew! Is having their third annual "Handmade Holidays"! Yeah! This is so inspiring! Great tutorials, recipes and give aways! Check it out!

Have a great start to the holiday season!

 

in the studio

I've been busy in the studio lately making quite a few things. I hope I'm not the only one who has two, three or four projects going on at one time! Yup. That's me! Here are a few things that went out the door in recent weeks, and a little project I'm working on for a special little boy.

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These hand bags, along with the children's smocks were part of a wholesale order I sent down to a cute shop in Rockport, MA. I loved working on the patches for the handbags. Completely improvisational piecing, and boy did I love that! No pattern, or detailed instructions, just piece as you go, quite addicting, actually! 

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This little fella is still in the early stages, but thought I'd start showing him anyway. I'm making a boy doll for my little boy. I designed the pattern, inspired by the many drawings I have of little people ( I'll show later) and my own little guy. Now I'm trying to figure out the whole process. I've made quite a few bears and dolls over the years, but I have always followed patterns. Now, apparently I like a challenge, because I decided to start from scratch and build a little doll. So far I think he's coming along nicely, I'll keep you posted of the progress. 

I love the cute undies I made for him! I used an old white t-shirt then sewed them right onto the body.

The body is a wonderfully soft interlock knit, the same knit used for making Waldorf dolls. I used wool felt for the hair and wool stuffing to fill him. Oh, in saying this, I LOVE using wool stuffing instead of the poly-fill I have been using for years. It is sooo much easier to shape and stuff the body, and really feels so good in your hands! I'll never go back to poly-fill, I'm sold.

This fella needs a name. I suppose it will come as I continue to finish him.

This kid decided to do my ironing for me while I "played" around in the studio. Nice of him, huh?

left overs

Sometimes during the week, when things get hectic, we do leftovers for dinner. Actually, sometimes it is more than "sometimes", it's every night, sometimes! But that's another story! (I think that's too many "sometimes" in one paragraph... need coffee!)

Anyhoo! A few nights ago I made a frittata out of left over angel hair pasta, fresh spinach, onion, cheddar cheese and eggs. We had a simple salad with it, and there you go, dinner. 

Oh, the "leftover" part was the angel hair pasta. Do you ever look at a box of pasta and say to yourself, "I think I need to add a little more, it doesn't look like enough for all of us." By all of us I mean, two adults and a 4 year old picky eater. So I put a little bunch more in the boiling water, and suddenly I see the need to feed all creation! Then of course I don't want to waste it, so I put it in the frig and it sits there in one clump waiting, and waiting for me to do something with it. I like the frittata idea because I can usually use up all the left over pasta, but I have used it is soups, and also added it to veggies that have been grilled or just fried in a pan with some garlic and olive oil. Yum.

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I am still going through projects that I have been working on in the past several months. Here is another fun thing I did for my little guys fourth birthday. These are gift bags that I made for his friends at the birthday party. They were quite a hit, mostly with the moms!

Have a lovely weekend!

more making

For Mother's Day my little boy (with those yummy toes :)) and me made these bookmarks for each mom. We got the great idea from Amanda, and can't wait until her new book comes out to try more ideas!

This is a great thing if you are short on time. I make my batch of cookie dough, and instead of baking them all at once, I shape the raw cookie dough on the cookie sheets and place them in the freezer. Press the dough down a little so they are flat discs. Place them really close to save space on the sheet. When they are completely frozen, I slide them into a freezer container. This way I can take just a few out for us to eat, or when we have company I can have fresh baked cookies for them. I bake them at 350 for 15 minutes and they come out just perfect! This also saves me from "knowing" that they are in the cookie jar, and going to get one...oh say, every five minutes! Just watching out for the waist line!

 

 

wooden magnets

These little wooden refrigerator magnets were so much fun to make.

The wooden discs and the magnets were bought at a local craft store. I then took my wood burning tool and burned unique designs in each piece. I used a hot glue gun to attached the magnetics to the back. Simple and fun.

I'm really please with how they turned out. I think they would make nice housewarming gifts.

shop update next monday

I am finally having a shop update! A little one, but some new fun things for summer. Stop by next Monday and check them out!

a strawberry weekend

Our Fourth of July weekend was fun filled, but mostly it was....

...filled with berries! Strawberry picking...

 strawberry freezer jam...

 Oh, so yummy, strawberries and cream scones...

Recipe follows:

Strawberries and Cream Scones

Preheat oven 425 degrees

2 c. flour

2 T. sugar

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1/2 c. butter

1 c. chopped, fresh strawberries

3/4 c. buttermilk (I use whole milk with 1 T. vinegar for sour milk)

Heavy cream for brushing on top

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- In bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder.

-With pastry cutter, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.

- Gently mix in strawberries.

- Add milk and stir in gently.

- On a floured surface, knead for about 2 minutes. Dough will be a little wet, so knead in a little of the surface flour.

- Pat into a 3/4" thick circle and cut into 8 pieces (like a pie)

- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

- Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.

- Place in prepared oven for 25 mins. or until golden brown on top.

ENJOY! ~ excellent with coffee of tea.

... and a strawberry quilted picture! I am still trying to find my "voice" with these little fabric pictures, but I really love making them! Stay tuned for more down the road!

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

weekend catch up

Well, I was finally able to get caught up on making things this weekend.

We have a "brand new" baby nephew in the family, so I finished up my goodies for him (you know, before he leaves for college!)

I made some burp clothes out of really soft flannel.

A mobile for his room. I couldn't get this to photograph very well for some reason. I really need that new camera!

And a pillow to match the quilt that mom made for him. Hope you are having a lovely weekend! I'll be back in a few days!

creative play

Wow! It's been awhile since I have posted! Busy. We have had several guests over for the past few weekends and crafting has been slow. In between my  guests, cleaning the house, getting the guest room ready again for the next guest to arrive, I have been doing a lot of mental crafting, and a little physical crafting. Working out ideas, playing around with fabrics (late at night when all the house is quiet) and reorganizing the studio. I really needed to do that, and is probably the main reason for not doing a lot of crafting since Christmas. I needed to see the table and floor again!

I'm working on some "work-in-play" aprons for the younger set (18 mos. to 3 1/2 years old) that will go in to the shop next week sometime. This is some of the fabric that I am using for them. Most of them are cut out, just need to finish the trim and pockets. I am also adding a little "play pal" to go in the pocket. I give you a seek peek of the completed aprons in a few days. I will finish them up this weekend and put a little note in here when they are in the shop. Shop update to be announced at a later date!

I will also be putting the shop this cute little "project tote" that I finished before Christmas, it just never made it! It is a great size for your take along crochet or embroidery projects. Or any others for that matter!

Well that's it for now friends! I'll be back in a few days to share some more goodies I have been working on.

Cheers! 

another shop update

Tis' the season! I have been making ornaments for the past several weeks. Here they are! I am going to snag a few for our tree and the rest are in my shop ready to hang on your trees around the world!

This chubby pompom snowman is a one-of-a-kind little guy and is so adorable! Colin already grabbed one for himself, "I be gentle, mama". Now, how gentle is a toddler boy? Well, actually he has been very good with them, but I still made him his own special one! His big smile was sooo worth it!

These folksy modern birds are so beautiful even just hanging on a cabinet knob! We will hang ours on the tree for now, then the rest of the winter on the china cabinet door, cheering us on to spring. There are five different color ways with these beautiful birds.

The flowers are another ornament that can be kept out for all seasons. After the holidays are over hang one in the window or on a door. Cheerful aren't they?