I am drowning in a sea of “catch-up”!!!
Is there an end in sight?!?!?!
Down to the wire…
•December 23, 2009 • 1 CommentJust mere hours until I need to be DONE with all my various projects… that means very little (or as in last night NO) sleep!
But things are getting D-O-N-E, done!
I made Nate’s stocking (yes a year late).
It is ready to be hung and filled!
I finished up Francesca’s doll. She’s an 18 inch Waldorf-inspired doll. I made her a dress, but is was way to big and I didn’t have the patience to sit and fit it, SO I made her a skirt instead.
I worked on some cookies. These are 7-layer (rainbow) and anisette cookie, 2 of my faves, at Christmas time and all the time!
I made tutus for the girls (and matching ones for their dollies)
And I took two guitars I pickud up second hand from a momma over at www.hyenacart.com…
sketched a design…
and turned them into these!
I also made cookies! Whew, all in all lots done, not finished, but lots done!
Must get some sleep tonight! My eyes are crossing just getting this posted!
17 Days of crafting until Christmas…
•December 8, 2009 • 4 CommentsToday I’m finishing up Christmas stockings for my sister and her family.
First I sketched out and cut a template on posterboard of an ample sized stocking and two snowflake designs.
Be careful not to cut too much detail into the snowflakes, because it really won’t translate well on the felt.
Now trace your pattern onto red (or color of your choosing) using a piece of chalk, for the body of the stocking.
And trace your snowflakes on a contrasting color (I used cream) using a disappearing marking pen. I fit three of my snowflakes on each stocking.
Now get busy and cut it all out!
Use a pair of pinking shears to cut the bottom edge of the contrasting color felt for the top band of the stocking and pin into place to sew to the top of the body (I make mine around three inches or so, just eye whatever looks best proportionally to your stocking).
Stitch into place across top and bottom edges of the band. I used a straight stitch on the top of the stocking and a zig-zag for the pinked edge.
Once those are on all your stocking it is time to add the snowflakes (or which ever shape you chose). I pin them into the spots I want and then use a straight stich to sew them down, it doubles as a decoration so if you have metallic thread that would be a great addition!
They’ll look like this:
Repeat until all your decorative elements are stitched into place. I save all my thread snipping until the end. Here’s my pile:
After you’ve cleaned up all the snipped threads pin a front to a back for each stocking.
Don’t forget to pin in something to hang them with! (I have skipped this part before, oops) I used twill tape.
Then stitch together along the edge. I used a straight stitch. Leave about 1/4inch edge, but don’t worry too much about it because you’ll trim it down and neaten it up at the very end. DO NOT STITCH THE TOP EDGE TOGETHER 
Once they are all stitched together go grab some glitter glue and personalize them!
All done, now sit back and enjoy your handy work. If you are crazy you can add more details like blanket stitching around the edge or embroidery on the body. They look great simple though!
18 Days of crafting until Christmas…
•December 7, 2009 • Leave a CommentTrust me I am actually working on projects everyday, I’m only posting them once they’re complete though.
So here is the next installment.
Holy Family Wooden Spool Dolls
With a few simple supplies I was able to grab at Michaels,
and some scrap fabric in my stash, as well as some acrylic paint and embellishments from my scrapbooking supplies,
I created these little guys…
Maybe next year I’ll add some more figures, but this is a good start!
Babydolly gets a spa day and makeover…
•December 2, 2009 • 3 CommentsIt has been almost 2 years since I made Mikaela her first waldorf-style babydoll. I wasn’t very good at it in the beginning, I just didn’t pull tight enough, but I’ve gotten better.
Everytime I look at Mikaela’s baby I have wanted to re-do her, but Vince talked me out of it reminding me that she loves her and it is just fine.
Well, we were out and about the other day and apparently Mikaela gets car-sick… long story short she got sick and baby needed a bath in a bad way!
So, her stretchy was removed and she took a plunge in a bucket full of warm water and dish soap.
And well, let us just say that I cannot leave well enough alone. As soon as I got her clean I could see that her inner head shaping had fallen apart. So while Mikaela was sleeping Babydolly got a face-lift and new wig.
Now she is as good as new and a lot more durable!
25 Days of crafting until Christmas…
•December 1, 2009 • Leave a CommentThis is for Mikaela, a snuggle dolly for bed (with hair she can brush).
Want to see how she was “born”?
First all the parts were drawn on the fabric, then stitched, then cut.
Then it was time to work on the head…
A big ball of wool
then covered in stockinette fabric
then started the shaping
does it look like a face yet?
After covering her in fabric and adding some emboidery, look at this cute face!
All that is left is to make her wig. I had some tips from Juliane for making a wig. I’m not sure if I got it quite right but I’m pretty happy with the result. What do you think?
2009 Christmas Wishlist…
•November 27, 2009 • Leave a CommentFor those that were wondering here’s the list (a work in progress). For those of you that weren’t sorry to bore you, but maybe you’ll find some fun stuff to add to your lists!
the Kidlets
- extra Wii controller (or two) and steering wheels
- LEGO Rock Band
- drum pad for Rock Band
- gift cards to AMC or Regal movie theaters
- gift certificate to Port Discovery for admission
- gift certificate to Bounce With Me for admission
- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30785482
Evan
-
size 8 pants (with button elastic in the waist) size 7/8 tops
-
marble sets or different shooters http://glassmarbles.com/megaset/
Andrew
-
size 5 pants (with button elastic in the waist) size 5/6 tops
Francesca
-
size 4T shirts, skirts or dresses (below the knee) different color knit tights
-
something like this http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id=42651&vid=3410
Mikaela
-
size 2T shirts skirts or dresses (below the knee) different color knit tights
Nate
- size 12 months
Vince
-
Razor Blades Sampler: Feather, Astra, Merkur and Derby
http://www.fendrihan.com/razor-blades-sampler-feather-astra-merkur-derby-p-230.html - Chrome Stand for Safety Razor & Shaving Brush
http://www.fendrihan.com/chrome-stand-safety-razor-shaving-brush-p-82.html - Shaving soaps any of the following flavors: Lavender, Sandalwood, Lime, Almond (see the above website, but they are sold out of some of them. Col. Conk brand is inexpensive and has the flavors I want; you can find that brand anywhere just google).
- Pixar Short Films DVD
Lisa
-
Twisted Fiber Art roving of the month http://www.twistedfiberart.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SOArv
-
something from here- http://www.pullingatstrings.com/registry.php?rgid=3&rguser=leimarie
-
roving of the month from http://sunsetfibers.com/Roving.php [Merino fiber]
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subscription to Spin Off http://www.spinoffmagazine.com/
-
Making my list…
•November 21, 2009 • 1 CommentYup, Christmas is breathing down my neck again. Every year I promise myself that I will work a little way down the list each month to avoid that last minute up-every-night-gotta-finish-gift blues.
But now it is November 21st…
I’m not ready.
T H I S I S N O S U R P R I S E
But I’ve got a list. Well, the start of one.
- Francesca and Mikaela- new doll babies (have the supplies and patterns, need to work while the girls sleep)
- Finelli family stockings (have the supplies, need to have these done in the next 2 weeks so they can actually hang them for Christmas)
- Evan, Andrew, Francesca and Mikaela- sew new pjs (have the fabric and patterns, boys pants are already cut)
- Matthew- felt food for his kitchen set (have the materials and patterns )
- Finish THE painting (ummm, yeah)
- Socks for my FIL (wool dyed, 1/3 spun)
- Slippers for the boys (have the pattern, felt and, leather)
- nativity sets for the kidlets and Matthew
So there is the start of it. I know there is lots missing, but I don’t want to admit in writing how over-committed I really am. 
)
I need ideas for lots of others *ahem* Britt *cough* Joe *everyone, etc*…
This is why I am not a food blogger…
•November 12, 2009 • Leave a CommentI can not seem to master the “take-a-pic-of-EACH-step” that would be required to keep the interest of readers.
But anyway, here’s another treat.
Saltine Toffee
I know that sounds wierd, but just trust me and try it. I hesitated to share this yet, because some of you may receive some of this from us at Christmas time… but I’m just going to go ahead and share anyway!
Preheat the oven to 400°
What you need:
- Jelly roll pan (about 11×18 I think, it’s a big-ish pan that isn’t too deep)
- a sleeve of saltines
- 1c butter
- 1c brown sugar
- 1-2Tbs corn syrup
- 1c chocolate chips
- chopped walnuts
spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray
now lay out a single layer of saltines(I used Club crackers in this batch, but I liked the saltines better)
in a sauce pan melt together the butter and brown sugar (I also add a couple Tbs of cornsyrup because that’s what works on my stove top) and let it come to a boil.
allow it to boil for about 3 minutes (I’m sure you could use a candy thermometer here, but mine has vanished so we’re going with time)
pour the candy mixture all over the crackers, you can spread it with the back of a spoon but don’t worry too much, it will even out in the oven.
bake for about 4 or 5 minutes. don’t leave the kitchen because your candy will burn (trust me I’ve done it)
once you remove it from the oven let it sit a minute or two
(now the rest of the pics are missing because the process moves pretty fast and I’m just not that good, and there might have been a kidlet or 5 that were distracting me)
sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the top and allow them to sit for a few minutes (until they start to get glossy and melt) then use and offset spatula (frosting knife) to sreapd them into a fairly even layer of chocolate (I just like a thin layer, if you like more, use more chips or even a mix of chocolate and peanut butter chips)
once the chocolate is nice and spread sprinkle the chopped nuts over the top (if you’re using them, they aren’t required but I like them) you can also sprinkle crushed cracker crumbs over the top.
place it in the fridge (or if you’re as impatient as me – the freezer) until copletely chilled and set up.
take it from the chiller and start to cut it into random bite-ish sized pieced.
Enjoy (and please do NOT hold me responsible for your dental bill)!
Another recipe…
•November 12, 2009 • 1 CommentHere’s another recipe perfect for fall (or anytime you need a “harvest-time” fix)!
Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes!
vanilla ice cream (I used about 1/2 of a Breyer’s container to make shakes for all of us)
pumpkin puree (how pumpkin-y do you like it? I used about 3/4 cup or so)
a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar or maple syrup (real maple syrup NOT pancake syrup)
a little milk (you’d be best to use some good whole milk, it’s worth the calories. Have I mentioned that I’ve been buying my milk from a local creamery and we’re even getting raw milk?) not much, just enough to keep things moving through the blender. I’ve used a little eggnog too, eliminates the need to add nutmeg later.
a sprinkle of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to taste (more cinnamon, less cloves)
blend well (it’ll probably take a couple of passes and a spatula to get it good and blended)
Drink up!
