Super Quick DIY

I have been collecting 100% wool sweaters from the thrift shop.  Usually a bag of items is only $2.  Sometimes at the end of the season sweaters are FREE. I bring them home and wash them and then toss them in the dryer.  I knew I wanted a hat for the new jacket I just got.  Down to the basement I went in search of a sweater.  I keep them in a rubbermaid container out of sight.  This is such an easy craft.  All you need to do is find a hat you already own.  Trace around it leaving enough room for the seams.  I used the bottom of the sweater. I cut out both pieces at the same time.  Then turn the sweater pieces inside out and sew around the edges leaving the bottom opened.  Turn right sides out and you are done.  If you'd like to make leg warmers, all you need to do is cut off the arms and sew an edge around the top.  The bottom edge is already done since it is the cuff of the sweater.  This project took me a total of 10 minutes to complete.  I'm so happy with the results!

Childhood Treasures

It's been awhile since I posted about one of my childhood treasures.  When we were little we had a Mickey Mouse record player.  I wish we still had it but for some reason we never kept it.  I would listen to "Bedtime For Frances" time after time.  It is still one of my favorite children's books.  I even wrote in my book what grade I was in and my phone number.  On the back cover I answered the question too.  The girls find this all very amusing!  I think that I might have gotten this set from a book order.  The other night I got it out and snuggled up the with the younger two, listening and turning each page.  I couldn't help but smile.   

Custom Order

I love working on custom orders, especially for brides.  This weekend I got a sweet email requesting two ring bearer pillows in I think my most favorite color combinations yet.  It truly makes me happy to think that these will be carried down the aisle on such an important day!

Freezer Cooking

I know, another post about freezer cooking.  I'm getting really into this cooking ahead concept.  I have weird feelings about purchasing boxed food for my family.  I have bought so much of it and it is starting to get to me.  I want to know what goes into their bellies.  Sometimes though, I feel like it is such a huge task to make homemade food.  Freezer cooking has been great for our family.  When I have a few spare moments I tackle my freezer cooking list.  I know if I did it for a big chunck of time I'd get tired and not bother.  Today I spent a couple of hours tackling my list.  I ended up with:

1 loaf of chocolate banana bread
24 oatmeal muffins
10 waffles
1 batch of rice krispies
1 chicken in the crockpot (for soup and extra chicken for another meal)
spaghetti noodles (for soup and extra for this week)
I made one huge pot of chicken soup

A few things:

The chocolate banana bread was found on the http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ website.  It is so good.  I will definitely cook my chicken in the crockpot again. It turned out very moist.   I didn't take a picture of the cooked chicken.  It really didn't look that appealing!     

Saturday craft

It's been awhile since I crafted with the girls. I hate to admit this. My cutting mat was under a pile of fabric and I just couldn't imagine doing a project like this without it. First we made braided necklaces out of t-shirts. This is one of the easiest crafts and so very inexpensive! Just my kind of craft. I cut strips of t- shirts that were thin and 100 percent cotton. Next we pulled the strips so they started to curl a bit in on the sides. Then we just braided them and tied a knot. Elara's turned out beautifully! Since I had the mat and rotary cutter out, I decided why don't I make an even bigger mess and get out some fabric scraps. Yes, if you look closely, that is a punch bowl with all my fabric in it. This is when I knew I had a fabric problem! Anyways, we saw this on www.ashleyannphotography.com. I will definitely be making more. I love how both of these turned out. Again, cheap and it kept us all busy for a couple of hours:)

5 Things About Me

Hello!  Happy Saturday:)

I thought today I'd share 5 random things about me:

1) my hair was never curly until I had our third girl.  I used to get spiral perms to get my hair like this when I was growing up!

2) I used to live in Quebec, Canada.

3) I love coffee and seriously look forward to it each and every day, sometimes twice a day!

4) Our house is over 100 years old.  We have original tin ceilings in three rooms. Love them!

5) I play street hockey.

What are some random facts about you?  Leave your link in the comments and I'll come visit:) 

Christmas Ornaments

We have the day off today!  I got up early and made some ornaments to add to the shop.  I've had them stuck in my head for the past month.  It feels good to finally see them in the shop! 

My Favorite Accessories

Today I'm linking up my favorite accessories with Gussy, from http://www.gussysews.com/.  These are my grab to and out the door items that I wear most of the time.   In no particular order:

- a sterling silver cuff (with my grandma's initials) from my grandma
- pearl strand necklace, again use to belong to my grandma
- cuff made from a Popsicle stick made especially for me from Elara, love it! Awesome teacher helped the kids make these!  
- My Lisa Leonard necklace, I get so many compliments when I wear it!
- Sterling charm bracelet 
-goldenrod headband from my shop

So there you have it.  What are your favorite accessories? 

When you are checking Gussy's blog, click on the holiday gift guide and you'll find my shop!:)) 

Bits and Pieces

my new coat

my second cup

It's only a little after 8 a.m.  I have already made two trips to school.  My oldest has band practice early.  Then I made a second trip with the younger two.  I was noticing how different our town was on the second trip.   I really liked the peacefulness earlier in the morning.  It's been crazy here lately.  I think you might be able to tell.  When I get super busy, I find it harder to blog.  Yesterday, I sat at the kitchen table when everyone was gone and got really emotional.  Don't worry, it was the happy kind.  My shop is getting busier each day.  I'm so thankful for all the sweet people that buy handmade items from me.  Each one means so much.  My house is starting to show for all the orders I have been getting.  Laundry is so hard to keep up.  Halloween costumes need to be made.  At least now, all three know what they want!  I know this post is kind of random.  This is what my brain feels like right now.   What have you done so far today?

Vintage

I cleaned out one of the built in cabinets in our bedroom on the weekend to make room for some of our extra blankets. I had been storing picture frames in a huge box in there. I came across this handmade picture of a baby. The details amaze me! So many elements were used to create this picture: beads, yarn, ribbon, handkerchief's, embroidery, etc. This would look beautiful hanging in a nursery. I might end up hanging it up in my sewing room. What a lovely gift this must have made!

Fall Nesting

The weather has been unseasonably warm. I didn't let the warm weather get in the way. Around here the weather can change rapidly. One day we can be in the 80's, the next a killing frost. I got the wool blankets out for all the beds. This year, I decided to put the red with black stripe Hudson Bay blanket on our bed. Yesterday, we carved pumpkins. Thankfully, hubby suggested we carve out the pumpkins on the porch-not in the houses like in years past! When we were all done, I threw some garlic, salt and a dash of oil then roasted them. They were enjoyed by all except the littlest. Jumping in the leaves came next. Raking up the same pile over and over again. We love good old fashioned traditions. The leaves have been breath taking. I love them early in the morning as the sun shines on them for the first time. The colors are so vibrant. I keep reminding the girls that trees don't change color everywhere. We are so used to this change. Sometimes we all take it for granted.

Hello October

It's a dull day here.  I LOVE it!  Lately, I've been craving the crisp weather and cozy blankets.  I wish fall would last longer than it does.  Today is a great day to decorate with the kids and bake (another) apple pie.  We also have a birthday girl in our family today.  She is turning 3.  I picked up this gift for her at one of the craft fairs this spring.  Absolutely one of my favorite gifts.  It's also in her favorite color.  I hope she loves it as much as I do!