2011 :: an inspired year

 

 

playing * knitting * sewing * mama made * kiddo made * baking * cooking * nourishing * learning * dress up-dress down * nest fluffing * sharing * loving * laughing * crying * healing *

celebrating the simple and the sensational. 

i love the new year. a fresh slate of sorts. i have some new goals for 2012 and some old resolutions that are ongoing works in progress. i want to work on being tidier {especially in my studio}. i am going to work on using my time more wisely. these things do not come naturally to me.

i also want to become a better spouse, and a more patient mama. more understanding, less yelling, don't sweat the small stuff, deep breathing and letting go.

tonight we are settled in with popcorn, sparkling {and hard} cider, cozy jammies and the times square count down. a simple yet sensational celebration...

happiest new year wishes, friends. 

cheers, erika

christmas day :: instagram edition

{christmas swagger}

{handmade christmas foxes}

{new collection of stuffies}

{christmas crew}

{mama, harper, and yet-to-be-named foxy friend}

{super hero cape - tiny tool bench}

{the big kids - new footie jammies - new faux fur and flannel hat - tiny fake tree}

{end of the day self portrait}

i hope your holidays were merry and bright, friends! i am currently looking forward to the brand new year and some selfish, egocentric knitting and sewing. in fact i think i will go ahead and dedicate the entire month of january to creating wonderful things only for myself... sounds pretty good, yes? perhaps you will join me?

***

{the sewing pattern for the stuffed foxes can be found here}

peace and blessings.

 {peaceful garden}

 {reindeer greetings}

{red-nosed bundle}

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul

~Maya Angelou - Amazing Peace

wishing you all a peaceful holiday. lots of love,

erika

small style :: bearded balaclavas

i knit these little balaclavas with beards and mustaches for my friend tahirih's little boys in exchange for one of her gorgeous prints {this one to be exact}.

seriously, could they be any more adorable. i die.

normally i would link up the pattern except the pattern i tried to use was simply awful and i would not put you through that, friends. no good. so i kinda just winged it and did my own thing and it was smooth stitching from there. perhaps i will put together a little bearded balaclava tutorial and post it here for you all. after the holidays, of course.

i am linking these cuties up with morgan's small style post! go check it out!

winter solstice happenings

welcoming the idea of longer days, coffee with a wee bit of homemade irish cream stirred in, a fun crafty project with the littles, welcome daddy home from work, a delicious homemade meal with my loves, a celebratory visit to the beautiful botanical garden this evening to chat with santa and pet prancer the reindeer {sad there is no snow this year}, and perhaps a late night toast with the mister after the kids are all tucked in tight. 

 {harper's solstice sweater :: december 2009}

i didn't make wonderful homemade solstice gifts for the kids this year and i have been feeling a little sad about it. i simply planned way too much for myself this month and was not able to complete many projects for my family. so instead of a mama-made solstice gift i picked up three white ceramic piggy banks at a thrift store a few weeks ago and we are going to paint them together this afternoon. and even though it is still just a little too big luca is going to wear harper's cozy orange wool solstice sweater to the gardens tonight!

love and blessings, friends ♥

hey girl, just for fun.

handmade ryan gosling. new love. check it out.

handmade workshop :: tile magnets

ceramic tiles,  markers,  magnets and a hot glue gun

become the most adorable and inexpensive handmade christmas gift.

i bought these small ceramic tiles at our local habitat for humanity restore for 10 cents each. we purchased an assorted pack of fine tip, permanent markers (similar to sharpies , but we used less expensive bic markers) with a 40% off office depot coupon for less than $6. and the magnets were purchased several months ago at the craft warehouse ($1.79 for 6) and were hanging out in our creative cupboard waiting for the perfect project. 

this project is simple - let your kiddos draw adorable pictures on the tiles, hot glue a magnet to the back, and you have a sweet handmade gift ready to give! they are perfect for teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles...

we wrote the artist's name and year on each tile. then i used glue dots to secure each set of four magnets to a decorated piece of recycled cardboard then placed them into a cellophane bag tie closed with pretty ribbon. super cute and super easy - you can make a little magnet set for everyone you know in one fun evening!

enjoy friends! xo

i am linking up with gingerbread's sweet saturday post! 

Pin It

noseprint cookies :: a recipe

1 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 egg

2 cups flour

1/2 seedless jam

***

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

cream butter and sugar together. mix in salt, almond extract and egg.  add flour and mix until a ball of dough forms. roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on cookie sheet. 

make a "noseprint" in the center of each ball.

 {if you happen to have a cute human button nose rather than a long pointy troll nose please use the end of a wooden spoon}

bake 10 minutes, then let cookies cool completely. read stories about naughty christmas trolls to pass the time. fill in each noseprint with jam and serve with tea.

tasty variation :: this is my personal favorite

omit the almond extract and add 1/4 tsp lemon extract instead and fill your noseprint cookies with lemon curd. yum!

giveaway day :: charming mr. fox

meet mr. fox. he is pretty sweet little fellow, yes? he has been hanging out with my in the studio for a few days. he is great company, i mean really, who could be grumpy in the presence of such a cheerful face?

i sewed him using this pattern. i am making christmas foxes for my little ones too. one for esmé, one for harper, and one for luca. they are all cut out and being worked on a bit each night after the kids are tucked into bed.

now onto the giveaway - i would like to offer this charming mr. fox to one of you! he is approximately 19 inches tall, firmly stuffed so he can be hugged and played with for years to come and is lovingly stitched out of woven cotton, soft cotton flannel and wool felt.

and just look at his darling fluffy tail!

*****

if you would like to give mr. fox a home please leave me a comment telling me so. i would love to hear all about who would be caring for him.

anyone is welcome to enter, i am happy to ship internationally.

comments will be open until december 16th. 

if you feel inclined to follow my little blog and come back again for another visit i would be thrilled, though it is not required to enter this giveaway.

thanks a bunch for stopping by! i hope you win!

xo

visit sew, mama, sew for more amazing giveaways!

comments are closed - i will announce a lucky winner this weekend!

charming mr. fox is currently on his way to meet kate who left the 11th comment ::
I have three daughters, the older two would LOVE Mr. Fox! The little one will too someday - now she's only 2.5 weeks old!
Hope your kids love their foxes too!
Thanks for the chance to win!

winter market.

sunday ::

good morning * coffee, green juice, waffles, fruit * jammies til noon * finally dressed * tame three bed heads * brush teeth * bundle up * off to a winter market *

{cozy ride}

{layers of warm}

 {sun in eyes}

{fresh air mama}

we found two perfect christmas gifts, bought special sweets at the candy shop, shared fresh doughnuts, said hello to friends, then packed up and headed back home for naps. 

*****

in other news ::

tomorrow kicks off sew, mama sew's big giveaway day {which actually lasts a whole week!} i will have something special to offer so be sure to come see!

a couple of my lovely sponsors have holiday happenings not to be missed ::

go check out {and like!} humble luna's facebook page - there are only a few more days to have your order shipped in time for christmas and she is offering a generous discount to her facebook fans! find the coupon code on her page.

and knit girl in idaho is starting her 12 days of christmas count down tomorrow and will be offering amazing discounts and freebies! visit her on facebook to join the fun!

see you all tomorrow for the big giveaway fun! good night, friends! xo

handmade workshop :: in progress

just a sneaky peek of the super cute project i am hard at work on {there are four of them, actually!}

i can't wait to come back and share with you!

happy friday, friends!

handmade workshop :: handmade, with love, toy swap!

oh, dear friends, you have probably been waiting on the edge of your seat for this post, yes? no?? well, i certainly have. 

 my amazingly talented mama friends and i just completed another handmade toy swap. beautiful toys, created with love, and carefully packed up and ready to put under the tree. gah, i can hardley wait!!

here is a peek at the toys ::

{sweet stuffies}

{super hero capes}

{bean bags sets, matching and pb&j games}

{fairy wings}

esmé is wearing her fairy wings from last year's swap in this post

{felt story boards}

and this was my contribution ::

{woodland friends felt masks}

you can see our previous toy swaps here ::

2010

2009

2008

this is what we do.

* christmas music * warm sunbeams * baby napping * mama sewing * empty box discovery * creative wheels turning * proper modifications made * a little paint here * some red ribbon there * imagination comes to life *

good on you, monday.