ordinary mommy design

New Headband Design + Spring Pinwheel Clips.

2012-03-06T09:22:00.001-05:00


Golden Moss Leaf Laurel Headband

A new headband design hit the shop this week! The leaf laurel headband is now available in Golden Moss and Gray Greens. The base leaf is reminiscent of a bow or turban headband, and is layered with more hand stitched leaves. It looks so lovely when worn!


Gray Greens Leaf Laurel Headband

New pinwheel clips are also available for Spring in Ginger, Sea, Pistachio, and Lavender. Don't forget, they make the perfect little addition to Easter baskets!

Ginger Pinwheel Clip

Sea Pinwheel Clip              


Pistachio Pinwheel Clip

Lavender Pinwheel Clip

Pirate Owl Now in the Shop.

2012-02-27T12:44:00.000-05:00

This adventuresome owl is now available in the shop! His eye patch and sword tie on with baker's twine, and can easily be removed for those times when he simply feels like being an ordinary owl in a t-shirt. Pirate owls make the perfect addition to a nautical or adventure themed room. He especially loves sea-faring tales, so hang him nearby when you read to your little one at night.

Simply Handmade Sewing Magazine Feature.

2012-02-26T18:17:00.000-05:00

The new issue of Simply Handmade Sewing Magazine is out and features a tutorial for my bunting necklace on page 46! Can't find it at your local bookstore? The issue is also available online here. And don't forget, all bunting necklaces in the shop are marked down to $18 for a limited time only!

Sneak Peek - New Pirate Owl.

2012-02-24T13:43:00.003-05:00

I sat down last night and took this little owl from sketch to plushy hang-able goodness. Look for him in the shop soon! I also made a paper boat for the first time ever to use as a photo prop. Once the sun comes back out in my part of the world, I'll get down to taking photos!

DIY Doily Hoop Art.

2012-02-20T13:09:00.001-05:00

When my husband and I were first married almost ten years ago, my Grammy made me a bunch of lovely crochet doilies. There have been some pretty tutorials lately for doily table runners, doily lamps, and doily buntings, but I'm not sure I have quite enough to complete a project like that. Instead, I thought I would take a couple of my doilies that haven't been used yet and display them in embroidery hoops with a bit of colored fabric for contrast.

For this project all you need is a doily (or two or three), an embroidery hoop, enough fabric to stretch in the hoop, a needle and some thread, and scissors. I purchased these vintage metal hoops on Etsy, and I had just enough green fabric on hand to fit in the hoops. To create your own doily wall art, simply stretch the fabric in the hoop, tack down the doily with matching thread, and secure the piece in the hoop.

I wanted to finish the back of the hoops in such a way that I could remove the fabric for cleaning. My friend Sasha from What. No mints? shared a tutorial with me for gathering or cinching the fabric in the back. Keep in mind that this fabric was a scrap, so there wasn't much fabric to gather in some spots but I made it work. It certainly isn't pretty on the back side though!

I think the hoops add a sweet touch to our tiny living room, and the pop of color on the wall is perfect. They are definitely making me smile. Now we just need to get that second coat of paint up on the wall to get rid of that wonky color look!

Fun with 16 Bean Soup Mix.

2012-02-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

I have a bit of a confession to make. It's hard for me to get into Play-Doh. I think it's the smell. The kids still play with it now and again because what's a childhood without Play-Doh? For quite some time now I've been wanting to make the leap into playing with dry beans as an alternative. A child may not be able to build with beans, but it's the next best thing to an indoor sandbox. Except the children come out of the experience a lot less messy. Speaking of mess, the beans didn't make as much of a disaster as I thought they would. At least not this time. Much of the mess was contained to the plushy baby quilt we put down, and the beans were very easy to scoop up off the blanket.

All you need for a fun playtime is an inexpensive bag of mixed dry beans (the bag we purchased was less than $2), some plastic spoons, muffin tins and/or egg crates, and a few different shaped containers. We ended up using muffin tins over egg crates; it was much easier to scoop the beans up with the plastic spoon in the more slippery metal muffin tins.

My oraganizationally thrilled heart happily spent quite a bit of time with my four year old daughter, sorting beans by shapes, colors, and sizes. Some of the beans looked terribly similar, so it was a great experience for her to learn how to classify something by more than just color.

Both of the girls played happily for hours. HOURS. The baby was none too happy when it came time to clean up for dinner either. A day later, we're still finding some of the split peas here and there on the carpet, but I do believe this is going to be a favorite lazy afternoon game for a long time.

Two Spots Around the House.

2012-02-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

There are a couple of spots around the house that are making me smile lately. I'm in the process of seriously decorating on a strict budget (finally, after we've been in this house for 5 years), so things are still being switched up. There is a bookcase on the way from Target next week that will help to get things more settled and organized in our small living space (we have this particular bookcase in the 5 shelf already and we are really pleased with them). We're also hoping to get a hand-me-down day bed from my parent's this Spring that is destined for the girls' room.

Did you ever have a suitcase like this when you were little? My mom dug this out of the attic for me; it was one of my favorite things when I was growing up. Right now it is sitting on top of a wee dresser my mom was getting rid of. The dresser needs a bit of work, but it's clean and functional for now.

The suitcase stays open and stores the girls' play jewelry and dress up crowns. I always smile when I see it.

The other spot that I'm loving is the new-ish shelf above my desk. The driftwood photo hanger probably won't be staying there permanently, as it is too high above eye level. Red Riding Hood and the Wolf are about to go in storage while they wait for their new home, but I've enjoyed their company for a couple of weeks. See that snow globe? That's the only thing I have ever purchased form Sax Fifth Avenue.

What spots in your home make you smile?

Let's Practice Adding Money Toss Game.

2012-02-07T08:47:00.000-05:00

We're playing games over here again for math class! There is only so much workbooking a restless first grade boy can handle, so we really try to mix things up a bit and find creative ways to encourage learning. We still play our math hunt game on occasion, and last week we added another math game to the mix. The main objective of this toss game is to help R add random quantities of change together quickly.

To make your own game you'll need four or five paper plates, about six sections cut from an egg carton, and an equal number of coins. My husband helped me out by printing the name of the coin and its corresponding amount on the paper plates; he also added the name of the president pictured on the coin to the back of the plate for extra points, and added a one dollar plate for good measure.

We then cut sections from an egg carton, and weighted them on the bottom with pennies. We cut out six sections because we wanted R to get at least three weights on plates for good addition practice. To play, toss the weights at the paper plates, see where they land, and add up how much "money" you have. (We let the kids keep tossing until they had landed at least three of the weights on plates.)

Even the cat was into it.

Birthday Food.

2012-02-06T16:03:00.000-05:00

We don't have a lot of traditions in my family. But it seems to me that we have food traditions. There are certain things we eat on certain holidays (turkey on Thanksgiving, ham on Christmas, lasagna or stuffed shells on Easter), but aside from that we tend to go a little crazy with side dishes. Yep. Apparently we like variety. This past weekend we celebrated that my husband and I both turned a year older (we share a February 4th birthday); this dinner was also in honor of my Dad whose birthday was just a week ago. Two of my sister's live out of town right now, so it's not quite the same anymore as it seems one of them is always missing.

As far as food though, this year certainly didn't disappoint. My mom always works so hard making food for our family, and my sister rounded out the menu quite nicely. My sister Bethany loves food, and manages to find time to put together some really delectable treats!

The main course was chicken enchiladas and steak fajitas. For appetizers we had guacamole and salsa, spinach and artichoke humus, sliced mango, candied grapefruit peel, fig and goat cheese spread. Believe it or not, I feel like there are things missing from that list. You can find the recipe for the fig spread on my sister's blog. I'm telling you, that stuff is SO good I could eat it all day long. Seriously.

In lieu of cake, we had cookies and biscotti for dessert. The pink cookies on the top of the tray were new this year, and were definitely my favorite; they were kind of like a thumbprint cookie with rhubarb in them. My mom wasn't thrilled with the recipe so she added a black raspberry icing. I thought they were delicious, and could totally forgo the sweetness of the icing so that the tart rhubarb could come through a little more. Bethany made her yummy coconut chocolate chip biscotti. She also canned grapefruit in mint syrup. Oh my. I'm a grapefruit lover, but this brought grapefruit to a whole new level for me. I almost shed a tear when it was gone.

Improved Packaging.

2012-01-31T17:21:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty sure that my quest to better my shop packaging is going to be the sort that goes on into eternity. Last year when I had this stamp made, I began to attach my goods to manilla tags for shipment, doing away with the hand cut-card stock that I had been using. Big improvement. A few months later I added glassine bags to the mix, doing away with the tissue paper wrapping. Not only does this look suit me better, but it actually streamlines the process and allows me to package orders more quickly.

At Christmas my packaging was looking like this, with a manilla tag taped across the front. Thanks to the addition of washi tape I was getting there, but the current state of packaging still felt lacking. In the past couple of weeks, I started to cut my own kraft paper sleeves to wrap around the glassine bags, and I'm liking it so much better! It feels more professional to me.

This is now the look of my bare bones packaging. All items are still attached to manilla tags, and then slipped into the bags. The bags are sealed with washi tape, as is the sleeve.

Orders shipped in boxes will also include a sweet mini clothespin that has been lovingly covered in washi tape on both sides. This element is a little more time consuming than I had expected, but I think I've got it down now and I love the accent. Plus I'm pleased that it is a part of the packaging that the customer can keep and reuse.

Next up, I'm working on a new design for my business cards that is more fitting with the new look of my blog. I also plan on going back to full size business cards. Also on the agenda for this year is getting a new stamp made that's more clean and likely text only.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Circle, Circle, Dot, Dot.

2012-01-30T12:22:00.002-05:00

For the last week or two, my two-year-old has been producing lots of drawings. They all look the same. It's almost freaky to go through a stack of papers and see the same thing drawn over and over and over on them! She's sketching these odd little faces on blank paper, in her tablet, on instruction manuals, and paper plates. It's actually quite fun to watch her little hand manipulate a circle! I wonder what will be next on her repertoire?

Bits and Pieces of Little Projects.

2012-01-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share some of the little projects I have been working on this past week! My husband and I share a birthday (it's coming up on February 4th). He's been telling me that he wants a walrus mask for an owl based on my masked owl series, so when I found a sketch he had made sitting on the table I tweaked it and stitched up a walrus mask for him. Now all he has to do is choose the colors for his owl!

One of the other things that I've been working on is updating my shop packaging. Mini clothespins covered in washi tape are one of the new components. It actually took more time than I expected to cover two dozen of them. Most orders that ship in a box will now include one!

There were a few paint chip circles left over from my last DIY project, so I covered a piece of paper by overlapping and layering them. I plan to hang it in the girls' bedroom as a small piece of "art".

I've also spent quite a bit of time working on a new business card design, and giving this blog a mini makeover. I had lots of fun designing new elements for the sidebar!

What fun projects have you been working on this week?

DIY Paint Chip Dry Erase Calender Tutorial.

2012-01-26T12:03:00.001-05:00

First off, I have to apologize for the quality of these photos. Trying to take photos of marker on glass wasn't easy for me! Anyway, I've been seeing DIY dry erase calenders all over and thought I'd like to try my hand at creating one with my own spin.

SUPPLIES.    paint chips (or scrapbook paper)
   frame
   white paper
   paper punch
   Elmer's glue
   dry erase marker
   ruler, pencil, and good eraser(not pictured)

When choosing colors, try to pick paint chips in two or three different colors with a variety of values. I chose corals and aquas with green and blue bases. You will need 37 circles to complete the calender (in case the 1st of the month happens to fall on a Saturday). My paper punch is 1" in diameter; I used an 11 x 14 inch clip frame I had in the attic that was large enough to accommodate seven circles across and six down with room left at the bottom for writing notes.

Begin by punching out circles from the paint chips using the paper punch. I always flip the punch upside down so that I can see exactly where I'm punching.

Once all the circles are punched, arrange them in such a way that you can see all the colors at a glance. This will make it easier to put them in a pleasing order or pattern on the paper.

Cut the white paper to fit the size of the frame (I have a roll of white paper that I keep for crafting purposes). All of that blaring whiteness frightened me a little, so I lightly drew a grid in pencil which really helped me to space the circles evenly.

Play around with placement until you find one that suits you (the one above was not my final scheme). Arrange five rows of circles all the way across the seven days of the week, with the sixth row containing circles in the first two spaces only. Once the placement is set use the glue stick to adhere the paint chip circles to the paper. I found it better to put the glue on the background paper, as opposed to the paint chip itself. Don't forget to erase the pencil lines when done!

If you want some modern minimalist art, feel free to simply display your new piece without anything written on it.

Have fun playing with color and decorating your new dry erase calender!

The sweet "I make pretty things all day" print pictured is from Yellow Heart Art. The little red riding hood owl is part of a set available in my shop.

Partnering with My Customers and World Vision.

2012-01-23T14:48:00.000-05:00

I love partnering with my customers to help create a better life for women, children, and families living in poverty around the world. Every time someone purchases an Ordinary Mommy Design piece 10% of the sale is donated toward this cause through World Vision. Every single sale, 365 days a year. I feel that we make a bigger impact when I save up until the end of the year and then choose the direction I want these funds to go in all at once. On December 31, 2011 with the help of my customers, I purchased a bicycle to provide a girl with safer transportation, and procured small business loans for four single mothers. This is always such a thrill for me!

Thanks so much for partnering with me in this way. I can't wait to see the impact we can have at the end of 2012!

Valentine Flash Sale on Necklaces.

2012-01-19T17:23:00.001-05:00

broken heart necklace.

From now through Sunday, January 22 all ready-to-ship necklaces will be marked down 25%!

lemon ginger lace necklace.

tiny bunting necklace.

zig-zag necklace.

Be sure to visit the shop for the full selection of on-sale necklaces!

Fairytale Owl Set. Little Red Riding Hood + the Wolf.

2012-01-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

I've been dreaming on this set for a little while, letting it stew in my head, and then fighting with the capelet to get it just right. But they're finally here! Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf are now available as a set in my shop.

Little Red's capelet features a baker's twine closure, and has a sweet heart subtly stitched on the back. The capelet is easily removable to reveal her sweet pale pink and red "dress".

The "wolf" owl is all done up in two shades of gray. He mask ties on with baker's twine, and can be taken off to reveal his sweet and friendly owl face underneath.

A lot of love was poured into making this fairytale duo, and I hope they bring lots of smiles and spark the imagination!

Morning Walk Print by Leah Duncan.

2012-01-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

I've been a fan of Leah Duncan's work for a while now, and I was so thrilled to finally order one of her prints last week! When it arrived the print was wrapped up in such lovely packaging that I grabbed my camera and opened it up painfully slowly so that I could capture it and share it with you. (It was a dreary day, so the photos are a bit on the blurry side.) The print is stunning! The colors meld together beautifully, and it is full of tiny details. It pairs unbelievably well with the paint color on the walls, and the grays in the print pick up perfectly on the slate of our blackboard.

Included in my package was a hand written thank-you note that was so sweet on the back it easily doubles as a piece of art (pictured upper left). Also in the package was a glossy postcard with a geometric animal print.

We're still waiting to purchase a new bookcase for our school room/dining room area, but once we have that in place I'll be able to decide on a permanent home for my lovely new "Morning Walk" print.

New Woodland Set Sneak Peek.

2012-01-16T10:55:00.001-05:00

There is a new set of masked owls coming to the shop this week! I'm sure the above photo gives it away entirely. It was a bit of a challenge to create a cape for an owl (what with their big heads), but I think I actually managed it. Stay tuned for their release!

DIY Driftwood Photo Hanger Tutorial.

2012-01-12T09:34:00.000-05:00

Back in October our family went on a weekend trip to Maryland. While there we spent an afternoon on Assateague Island looking for ponies and scouring the beach. We found this pretty piece of driftwood, and brought it home with us. I thought it would make a lovely photo hanger, and, by George, I think I was right about that.

SUPPLIES.       piece of driftwood (or even a sturdy stick) 

             screw eyes

             mini clothespins

             cotton twine or yarn

             thread

             ruler

scissors

Determine how many photos the piece of driftwood can display. My piece of driftwood is 18 inches long, and could nicely showcase 5 photos. I placed 5 screw eyes along the underneath at 3 1/2 inch intervals so the photos would overlap slightly, leaving about 1 1/2 inches on either end. Driftwood is pretty soft, so I was able to twist the screw eyes in by hand rather easily. (If using a stick you may find that the holes need to be pre-drilled before putting the screw eyes in.)

Put a screw eye through the top on either end of the driftwood. Be sure not to place them too close to the end to avoid splintering. To create the hanger, attach cotton twine or yarn to the screw eyes, keeping the twine relatively taut when you attach it. Knot it well.

Tie a loop of sewing thread through the coil of each clothespin, and slip the loops onto the screw eyes. Now the driftwood is ready to showcase photos!

Don't stop at photos though, this display also works well with artwork, postcards, or even accessories.

I'm really pleased with the way my driftwood photo hanger turned out! It looks so extra sweet with photos from my sister's summer wedding, don't you think? The clothespins make changing out photos and artwork a snap too.

Small Storage Solutions.

2012-01-10T11:55:00.000-05:00

Creative storage is a way of life over here. At least it's something I'm always brainstorming. In our 750 square feet of happiness there lives five humans, two cats, a homeschool, and a small business. Thank God for attic and basement storage.

Because of my quest to organize our space to the max so that things don't seem overwhelming, all over the place and messy, I tend to compulsively purchase any and all storage boxes or baskets that wander into my path with a sale tag on them. It's a problem. Really. But because even buying storage on clearance can get expensive, I also never throw away a shoe box or mandarin orange container.

Our kitchen has pretty minimal cabinet storage. We supplement with our old two shelf television stand and put the microwave on top. Quite a few years back we also snagged a narrow white decorative storage unit that was on clearance in the bathroom section of Target for $40. We use it to hold my tea and fancy tea cups in the glassed section, and plastic food storage containers in the bottom cupboard. A few months ago we finally added a floating shelf above the small kitchen table that we use as a food prep area. Ironically, we purchased this shelf for our old apartment, and after we bought the house it sat up in the attic for almost five years.

The shelf is now home to odds and ends like a fruit bowl, a basket from an Easter past that holds K-cups, and a salvaged glass jar that holds clothespins used for closing up bags of tortilla chips and frozen fruit.

Refrigerators get messy enough with photos and calenders and kids' drawings plastered on them, so I think it is important to keep the top somewhat streamlined. This is valuable space that we need to store bread and boxes of crackers and cereal. (It doesn't always look this empty by the way.) When we lived in our tiny apartment, we used the above green baskets to store my son's clothes on the shelves of a changing table that had been passed down to us. These also spent some time in the attic before we thought to remove the fabric liners and glue felt to the bottom so that they wouldn't scratch the surface of the refrigerator. They work nicely to store and hide the mess of our bagged bread and bagels and chips and pretzels.

My husband picked up these ceramic canisters at a thrift store. We keep them on the kitchen table and use them to conceal packets of oatmeal, hot cocoa, dried fruit, popcorn, or whatever will fit into them.

The narrow storage unit in the corner of the kitchen also serves as a place for me to have a couple of decorative items in the kitchen. The jar in the center was cleaned and spray painted white to hold pens and pencils, and also serves to keep the scissors up high and away from the baby. (If you want a sweet kitchen companion you can find my owls here.)

Sometime during my teenage years I saved this wooden recipe box from a rummage sale. It doesn't hold recipes, but instead houses granola bars.

Not only does our house have very few cabinets, it doesn't have a pantry either. For the last five years we've been storing almost all of our food items on the 5 shelf bookcase that was in my husband's bedroom while he was growing up. To help organize it and keep like items together, we section off most of it with clementine boxes. This makes putting together a grocery list a little bit easier too.

Other box storage that has been re-purposed for use around the house are shoe boxes. We have quite a few of them covered in kraft paper placed here and there around the whole house. I use them to store anything from loose DVDs in paper sleeves, to USB cables, business supplies, stickers for the kids, and Lego direction booklets to name a few.

This is probably some of the ugliest storage you've seen in a long time, but these cardboard fruit crates were just too useful to get rid of. I may eventually cover them, but for now they fit perfectly in the odd bit of space next to either side of our bed that is too small for a traditional nightstand. I just add to the stack when I get a new crate, as they fit together nicely. Each little cubby can hold a few books, and even bottles of water.

My husband purchased this shiny metal bucket in the painting section of a hardware store for a few dollars. It sits on the bottom shelf of our phone table to hold a tablet of paper, and the mouse and power cord for our laptop.

For the stash of headbands and necklaces I've acquired from having the shop, I had my husband hang two inexpensive metal robe hooks on the bedroom wall. Not only do they keep my accessories where I can easily see them, but they look pretty too.

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm always mulling over new uses for empty containers of any shape and size. I mean, why spend money on storage containers when you can re-purpose things you already have? Jar lids make great little trinket dishes. They just need a bit of fancying up. (Okay, in reality this dish actually holds SD memory cards, but these hair pins look much prettier. You can find hair pins in my shop.)

You may remember from this post where I shared about our new book nook, that we found this wire basket in the yard when we bought our house. I cleaned it up a bit and spray painted it. Now it holds books, as does this little metal tub I just got at Target last week for $2.50. (Read about the book nook here.)

Clementine boxes are also the perfect size to hold children's books, specifically Little Golden Books and Dr. Seuss books. This one I tried to cover in kraft paper and added twill tape to the edges for durability, but it's not terribly nice to look at. (I think I may end up covering it in yarn, like I did here.)

Thanks for reading! I hope you've been inspired in your approach to small storage solutions.

For more home storage and organizational ideas, see my organize page. Please feel free to share ways that you've re-purposed items to use as storage in the comments below!

The green scarf in the top photo was screen printed by Michelle Brusegaard, the bird and flower print in the kitchen is from Gingiber, the sweet fabric plant is from Jane Joss, and the wee chalkboard bears were made by Handy Maiden.

Wee Chalkboard Bears.

2012-01-07T10:32:00.000-05:00

How cute are these wee chalkboard bears from Handy Maiden?! They will be living around my desk space bringing me smiles. I adore their tiny faces and pink ears, but most of all what I love are the prints and finger smudges that are forever pressed into them. The mark of the maker. That is one of the things that make handmade so special.

Danielle's shop is full of tiny animal goodness with other chalkboard animals, jewelry, and animal sculptures. Be sure to check it out here.

Limited Edition Striped Bunting.

2012-01-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

These sweet beach house and cottage themed striped buntings are now available in the shop! Limited edition in peach and blue, sold separately.

Bookshelf Storage.

2012-01-05T08:11:00.001-05:00

When we bought our house there was one tiny corner closet in the main bedroom. That was it. There is also minimal cabinet space in the kitchen. Right after we moved in almost 5 years ago we put a Rubbermaid closet unit along the back wall in the smallest bedroom. And then we had two more children. Last year we ripped out the standing stall shower in our 2nd bathroom and put in a small closet. Of course, under-the-bed storage is a must, and we're installing more vertical storage in fits and starts.

Another thing we did last year before Christmas came (which means more toys, books, games, and other things that will need a place to be kept) was to get rid of two big old speakers and CD changer and radio to put bookshelves on either side of our television unit.

It was very important to me that the shelves stay organized since I'm always warring against clutter on flat surfaces. I put a lot of thought into my quandary as I organized the shelves. It soon became apparent that I would need to find another place to store a good quantity of the kids' books, as I would need a lot of this space for other things, so we took care of that by installing book ledges in our dining room/school room.

Click on photo to view it larger.

On the bottom shelves the kids each have a fabric box labeled with their name for storing their smaller toys. The shelves above are home to some of the larger toys and their stack of magazines. Then comes the things that we want out of reach of the baby: some of the "nicer" kids books and boxes of puzzles and small games that belong to the older kids. Above that we store some of our school books, library items, and a basket for keys and other odds and ends. The top shelf is reserved for crafting supplies and my camera and Flip, and a few of mine and my husband's books. I purposely kept a mix of boxes and books on almost all of the shelves to encourage the shelves to stay organized. A place for everything, and everything in its place.

Even still, it's a bit overwhelming as the living room is small and one can't get further than 7 or 8 feet away from the wall of storage. (If you rememeber, this is why I needed a photo wall that was uncluttered and uniform.)

The bookshelves are from Target, as are the fabric boxes.

How do you organize your space efficiently while utilizing affordable storage solutions?

Valentine Bears.

2012-01-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

Sweatered bears are back, new and improved! Well, not improved so much as just changed a bit. Their sweaters are now on the backside too. They aren't embroidered as the fronts are, but the side seams are left open to stash little notes.

Yep, these lucky polar bears got Valentine's sweaters in the mail from their Sweethearts. Give them to your sweetheart for Valentine's Day with a note slipped under the bear's sweater. A little "I love you" or "Will you marry me?" or a 14-things-I-love-about-you note would be just the thing.

This lady is snuggled up in her bright hibiscus pink sweater embroidered with X's and french knot O's.

This guy doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, but he wears his love on his ruby red sleeve.

For the ultra feminine girl this little lady has a floral sweater full of golden and purple blooms.

All are now available in the shop!

Kid Goals.

2012-01-03T15:10:00.001-05:00

Last year was the first time I ever sat down at the beginning of the year to write out goals. Looking back, I have to say I accomplished 9 out of the 10 to some extent. (The one that fizzled about the middle of the year was my mailing list; every time I sat down to work on it I'd get totally stuck with Mail Chimp. Arg.) This year I've got three major goals. I tend to add more specific goals as the year progresses, but right now the three things that I want to focus on are grasping a more creative approach to homeschooling, taking more pictures of those sweet three up there, and just playing with them.

So far we've completed Kindergarten with Master R and half of First grade; he easily gets bored, so trying to buffer the bookwork with learning games and reading is essential. As far as photos, I feel that I've been so busy taking photos for the biz the last few years that the number of photos I've shot of the kids are a lot, lot less than I'd like.

I'm continually working on learning how to focus on being still. All of the things around me that need to be done are a constant distraction, and when I'm tired (which is often) I tend to wander and wander without accomplishing very much. I want to be with my kids. I know this time is precious and will be over very soon. I want to play, but sometimes I feel I've forgotten how.

What's in My Bag.

2011-12-29T10:46:00.000-05:00

Hey, there! This is my first "what's in my bag" post. I'm not at a place right now where I can get in on the fun of the "what I wore" posts, but this I can do. I adore my purse. I bought it as a little gift to myself from Made by Hank. Not only is it pretty, but this puppy is durable too.

I'm not one to dig around endlessly for the things I need in my purse, so I try to keep it organized. The two pockets in the interior hold my lip balm, gum, and biz cards. I have a hot pink clutch that was gifted to me corralling my receipts, loose papers, wee notebook, and pen. Another zipper purse (also from Made by Hank) doubles as a fancy wallet. I wear prescription glasses, so I also need to tote around a big old case for my sunglasses in my purse. The lip balm and little bottle of lotion are all from Flourish Bath & Body on Etsy.

So there you have it! The first peek inside my bag.

Christmas + a New Blanket.

2011-12-28T11:34:00.000-05:00

This year I decided that I wasn't going to get all crazy trying to take photos of the kids while they opened gifts. It's pretty much all we can handle to keep the baby from going berserk and ripping into everything she can get her hands on! Plus I wanted to be more in the moment and really be able to focus on what was happening. Sadly I forgot to take the camera with me at all when we went to my parents house Christmas morning after we finished up at our house. Looks like this is going to be the Christmas of very few photos! Thankfully my Dad took a fair few; all I need to do now is get some of the files from him.

This year my Grammy crocheted Sean and I a new blanket. I got on her about it after she gave two of my sister's blankets for their weddings in the last two years. Our ten year anniversary is coming up in June, so I kindly asked her to make one for us as a special gift. She surprised us with it a little early! It's perfect and cozy, and keeping us warm on these cold winter nights.

I hope everyone had a blessed and memorable Christmas!

New Line Launch Today!

2011-12-27T14:55:00.002-05:00

You may have heard me lament over my lack of drawing skills in the past. It can be really, really difficult for me to take an idea from visualization to reality because it often gets lost in the pattern-drawing stage. I was recently getting really frustrated trying to draw some new animals; this time, however, I decided to work with my weakness and approach my problem from a new angle. Instead of trying to draw the entire animal, why not get a good face template and create a mask for my owls? I think these new little guys are whimsical and lots of fun!

The raccoon costumed owl features a sweet tie-on raccoon mask with a couple coordinating feathers thrown in.

The foxy owl has white-tipped wings to match his bushy white facial fur.

The third owl sports a fawn mask, and has three wee little fawn spots on her back.

All of the masks tie on with red and white baker's twine, and can be removed if you want to change things up and just leave the owls out for a bit. I had a lot of fun developing these three masked owls, and I hope to add more masks over time. All three owls are available in my shop; thanks for taking a peek!

DIY Storage :: Yarn Wrapped Clementine Box Tutorial

2011-12-20T13:02:00.000-05:00

Every year around Christmas I find myself in need of more storage. Often times I also need to do a bit of rearranging to make room for new books, toys, and games in our current space. I shared some creative shoe box storage recently, but I also love to repurpose clementines boxes. Clementines are great because they're super tasty, and they come in a wonderful box all ready to store scarves or books, or organize like items in the kitchen pantry.

The last box that came into the house got a makeover by being wrapped in yarn. The shape of clementine boxes can be a little bit challenging to cover, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend this project for someone who is an intense perfectionist as it can be difficult to cover up every inch of the box underneath the yarn. Also, this post is not very image heavy, as my memory card went and corrupted almost all of the files. But as each clementine box is a bit different anyway, you'll just have to figure out what works best for yours.

SUPPLIES. clementine box

             yarn 

             hot glue gun

I began by wrapping each post of my box individually. You'll want to apply a dab of hot glue at the beginning and end to adhere the yarn. Be careful not to burn yourself; I found that using the side of a pencil worked well to press the yarn into the glue without it sticking to my fingers. Try to be a bit stingy with the glue so it doesn't make a mess and get stuck to the yarn in places you don't want it to be seen.

Once you've got the posts wrapped, start at the top of the box and wrap around it until you get to the bottom, occasionally applying some hot glue to keep the yarn in place. I also glued a piece of yarn to the very top edge of each side of the box.

Clementine boxes are the perfect size for kids books. Depending on the surface where you'll be storing it, you may want to consider gluing a piece of felt to the bottom of the box so it won't leave scratches when moved; if using the box for storing kid items it would be really cute to glue their name to the front using fabric or wooden letters. For storing fabric items it's a good idea to adhere a piece of felt to the inside of the box on the bottom as the texture of the box can pull at fabric.

I use a clementine box to store school supplies we use daily, and with its new yarn-covered facade the box will blend nicely into it's surroundings on the bookshelf. I hope to share more about our bookshelf storage area soon!

Giving Back.

2011-12-16T11:02:00.001-05:00

It's just about time for me to make my end-of-year donation to World Vision! 10% of each and every sale I make in the shop 365 days a year goes to this organization; they provide all kinds of services and meet tons of needs for those living in poverty around the world. Last year, I chose to make my donation in the form of buying farm animals and fruit trees to give families in Africa and Asia a means to provide income or food for their families. So far this year I've also given money for disaster relief in Japan and Alabama. Farm animals are just one potential gift: World Vision also provides help to sexually exploited girls, offers impoverished women business loans, and digs wells to provide clean water, among other things. I'm excited to peruse my Wold Vision gifts catalog again, and make my final decisions as to where I want my monetary gift to go!

Thanks so much to all of my customers for making this possible!

Peppermint Bark Recipe.

2011-12-14T12:55:00.002-05:00

Last Christmas was the first time I ever made peppermint bark. It was so super easy and the kiddos really loved it! Plus, I love it because it's got the flavor of a candy cane that the kids love without as much mess and stickiness as a candy cane! This time when I went into the kitchen to make peppermint bark, I thought I'd mix things up a little by adding a layer of milk chocolate to the bottom. While it worked out in the end, I did encounter a few wee problems trying to whip this together as fast I could and take photos while all three kids kept climbing onto the table to stick their hands and faces in it.

Peppermint Bark Recipe.

INGREDIENTS.

12 ounces of milk chocolate chips
12 ounces of white chips
1/2 cup (7-8 regular sized) candy canes, crushed
1 tsp peppermint extract

Unwrap all of the candy canes and smash them into bits. I've tried various methods. I once put the candy canes into a large plastic freezer bag and whacked them with a rolling pin; my kitchen table is pine so it left a few dents. The sharp edges of the candy canes also tend to puncture the bag. This time I put them in my blender for 2-3 seconds on the chop setting. They were pulverized. It worked well enough, but if you want the peppermint bark to have slightly larger chunky pieces of candy cane you may want to find another way. (Ps. if you have a good method for crushing candy canes please tell me in the comments below.)

Line a baking sheet with foil, set aside.

In a microwave safe glass bowl, melt the milk chocolate using 30 second intervals, stirring between each so that the chocolate melts evenly and doesn't burn (about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes all together). Spread the melted chocolate onto the foil lined baking sheet as thinly as possible. Place in the refrigerator to harden.

Once the milk chocolate has set, put the white chips into a glass bowl and microwave to melt in the same manner. When the white chips have melted, stir in the peppermint oil. Note that the white chocolate may begin to appear a wee bit curdled; do not try to melt it any further to smooth it. This does not work and will only overcook the chocolate. Spread the white chocolate over top of the milk chocolate at no greater than 1/4" thickness.

Gently press the bits of candy cane into the top of the chocolate. Put in the refrigerator to harden. It won't take long! Once set break the bark into pieces to enjoy.

Peppermint bark is a nice companion to hot cocoa! It also makes a lovely handmade gift when placed into a fun food-safe box and tied with pretty ribbon.

WHITE Magazine.

2011-12-03T10:42:00.001-05:00

I've added this magazine cover to my press space in the sidebar because one of my bunting necklaces was featured on its glossy pages! WHITE magazine is based in Australia so I won't get to actually see it in real life, but even seeing photos is exciting for me.

There I am on page 19. The photographer(s) who did the styling for the editorial blog over at White Wall Photography & Design and their work is dreamy. I'm sad I can't see the rest of this shoot because I'm sure it's stunning! (They posted a little peek here.)

Design*Sponge Ornament Round-up.

2011-11-30T07:39:00.001-05:00

I was beyond thrilled yesterday when I discovered that one of my ugly sweater polar bear ornaments was included in the Design*Sponge ornament + trimmings round-up! For this post Grace has collected close to 100 ornaments to share with her readers.

There is my polar bear above, settled in nicely with a couple of other arctic looking lovelies. To celebrate I'm offering 10% off in my store through today with coupon code "DESIGNSPONGE".

Be sure to pop on over to Design*Sponge to feast your eyes on all of the wonderful ornament collections- there's something for everyone!

One Last Ugly Sweater Polar Bear Ornament.

2011-11-29T13:36:00.001-05:00

I've added one (probably) last polar bear ornament to the shop for this season. This guy is sporting a zig zag and pine tree sweater. He's so nice and toasty warm.

You can find this bear and his one-of-a-kind sweater here.

DIY Christmas Yarn Tree Tutorial.

2011-11-26T16:04:00.001-05:00

The Christmas bug bit me a little bit harder this year, and I decided that I wanted to do just a wee bit more decorating than usual. My great-grandmother had beautiful dark green ceramic Christmas trees in her house when I was growing up. An electric candle went inside, and when lit the dark, richly colored bulbs would cast a dull, warm glow. I am blessed enough to have one of those trees now, but the candle is missing, and I'm always afraid to put it out for fear one of the wee ones will knock it over and break it. So this year I thought it would be fun to re-create the look of that tree with yarn and pom poms. One trip to the craft store later, and I had all the materials I needed to create a couple of fun yarn trees inspired by my great-grandmother's vintage tree decoration!

SUPPLIES.               styrofoam cones (mine are 6" and 9")
yarn
                  felt to match yarn color
                  small pom poms (I used 10mm)
hot glue gun
scissors

If making a star for the top you'll also need: felt, matching embroidery floss, sewing needle, a wee bit of polyester fiberfill, toothpick.

To start, cut two circular pieces of felt that will cover the very top and bottom of the styrofoam cone. Adhere them using hot glue.

*A note about using hot glue with styrofoam: exercise great care not to melt the styrofoam by touching it with the hot metal tip of the glue gun.

Run a bead of glue along the bottom of the cone to keep the yarn in place, and then proceed to wrap the rest of the cone with the yarn. Once at the top of the cone cut the yarn and use hot glue to keep the end in place.

To create the look of lights, put a dab of glue on the back of each pom pom and stick it in place. Then, starting at the uppermost pom pom, take a piece of yarn and run it from one "light" to another, wrapping it once around each pom pom in the tree as you pass it to create a "string of lights". Once you have the string arranged in a way that looks pleasing put a dab of hot glue at the beginning and the end to hold the string of yarn in place.

If you decide to add a star to one or more of your trees, you can use the template below. Be sure to click on the image and print it in original size so that the star will be the correct size.

Once you've printed the template cut two stars from the yellow felt, and stitch around the edges. Lightly stuff the star with fiberfill before stitching it shut to give it a bit of dimension. Slide the toothpick into the star, and then gently push the toothpick into the styrofoam on top of the tree.

I did the smaller tree first with my four-year-old daughter, and we went a little crazy with the pom poms. When I did the larger tree I placed the pom poms farther apart, and I believe I like that better. However you decide to do it, have fun, and I hope that these little trees add more merry to your holidays!

New Bow Clip Colors.

2011-11-26T09:27:00.001-05:00

These bow clips are perfect for the grown-up lover of bows. They clip easily to the hair (they look extra sweet tucked in next to a bun), and they can slip onto knit hats to jazz the hat up a bit. There are generally only one of two of any color available. I've listed a second marigold and oatmeal clip; new colors are thyme and lavender.

Don't forget coupon code "BLACKFRIDAY2011" gives free US shipping all weekend!

New Owl Couples.

2011-11-24T21:14:00.001-05:00

As promised there are some new owl couples in the shop in time for the weekend! This dapper couple is all dressed up and ready for a gay party or special event. They totally remind me of a couple in an old movie. I love the wee pearly buttons on the lady's lace dress. She is also wearing her single freshwater pearl necklace. The gent is decked out in his black tuxedo vest and bow tie.

The white bride owl now has a groom on her wing. He's also looking rather handsome in his tuxedo, while his bride has the traditional veil adorned with a garnet flower. Find them here.

Don't forget that all owls ship for free worldwide through Cyber Monday (11/28)! For free US shipping on the rest of your order use coupon code "BLACKFRIDAY2011".

Polar Bears in Sweaters (and free shipping)!

2011-11-23T13:00:00.001-05:00

I've been having a ball stitching up new ornaments for the shop. Today I introduced my new polar bears in ugly Christmas sweaters. Right now there are only two available, each with one-of-a-kind sweaters. Polar bears are so tough that no one sneers at them for wearing ugly sweaters; plus they really love their grandmas so they wear their handmade sweaters with pride.

There's a smaller guy in a green sweater available here.

And this fella with his snazzy red sweater is available here.

Now through Cyber Monday (11/28) these guys, along with owl ornaments, and seasonal holiday items ship for FREE! Use coupon code "BLACKFRIDAY2011" for free US shipping on all other items in the shop.

Also, be on the lookout for some NEW owl ornaments coming to the shop this weekend!

Brand New Ornaments (and more bow clips)!

2011-11-20T11:40:00.001-05:00

Making an angel owl ornament has been in the back of my mind all year. Well, I finally stitched one up! He's all white with frosty blue stitching, and shimmery aqua tulle is laid atop his wings for extra holiday cheer.

Every time a bell rings an owl gets his angel wings. At least around here they do! Get your angel owl here.

Another idea that had been festering in my mind since last holiday season was a swan ornament. I intend to keep plugging away at this design, and next year I'll probably offer some swans with snazzy embroidery on their wings and neck. The size of this ornament is perfect for that larger than life twelve foot Christmas tree. He'll probably be the only one in the shop this season, so snag him here.

There are also three new twisted bow clips in the shop in Midnight, Ginger, and Emerald!

DIY Shoe Box Storage.

2011-11-18T11:38:00.001-05:00

Storage is my best friend. Really. It seems we've always found ourselves in tight quarters with little or no closet space, and storage solutions are an absolute necessity. One thing I never throw away is a shoe box. There are so many ways to dress them up; why not take advantage of that instead of spending more money on plastic bins? And with three wee ones running around I find myself with new shoe boxes often, as their feet are always growing.

For my project I gathered a few shoe boxes, a roll of Kraft paper, some washi tape, scissors and scotch tape. You can also add ribbon, lace and fabric to your supplies if you want to get extra fancy!

Wrap both the lid and the main part of the shoe box like you were wrapping a present. If you want it to look extra-special nice go ahead and cover the inside of the box before you wrap the outside.

This time around I accented most of my boxes with washi tape, and I also had the kiddos draw pictures on some of the Kraft paper for me to wrap one of the boxes in.

see more of our book nook here.

I use covered shoe boxes to store anything from layering scarves, business supplies, USB cables, television remotes, stickers and pencils, toys and books, to those loose DVDs floating around in paper sleeves. Pretty much anything that needs to be contained.

They also make great gift boxes when prettied up with ribbon or lace. Just the thing to gift a handmade present in.

More Newness in the Shop!

2011-11-16T15:24:00.001-05:00

My new twisted bow clips seem to be a hit, so I'm going through my felt stash to find strips long enough to layer into sweet bows. When my alligator clip supplies arrive I'll probably add more colors to the shop. In the meantime, two more bow were added over the weekend. Remember that there is generally only one or two available in each color!

Layered bow clip in blueberry.

And marigold.

Also new is this lovely owl in oatmeal and vanilla.

His coloring is so mellow. I'm just loving him! I found some scraps from the lilac tree lying around in the yard, so I snagged a bit to use for a photo prop. When I'm not using it for photos, my own owl hangs out on the twig in my kitchen.

Ps. don't forget that my white and brown owl ornaments are 30% off until 11/28!

Current Packaging.

2011-11-16T13:29:00.001-05:00

It feels like I am forever tweaking my packaging. I simply can't seem to get it just right! It's especially tough for me because there is such a variety of size with my pieces; finding something that works with everything has been a challenge.

Since the holidays are going to be in full all-out swing next week, I thought it may be a good idea to give you a quick look at where my packaging is right now.

Each owl, necklace, or hair clip is attached to a kraft tag and is then slipped inside a glassine bag. Since the bags aren't entirely opaque I've affixed another kraft tag to the front so that one can't catch a peak of the item inside.

Of course my favorite part is playing with my mountain of washi tape!

Where do you go for packaging inspiration?

Guest Posting on GingiberSnap.

2011-11-15T11:15:00.001-05:00

I'm honored to be guest posting on the GingiberSnap blog while Stacie takes some time to enjoy her brand new little girl. Pop on by for a super-duper simple Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe. While you're there be sure to follow Stacie's blog if you don't already!

Lowe's Creative Ideas Magazine :: Holiday 2011

2011-11-14T16:19:00.001-05:00

The latest edition of Lowe's Creative Ideas Magazine found its way into my mailbox last week. Of course it's chock full of holiday season goodness! Below are my three favorite DIYs from the issue.

Use square dowels to create a wooden star of David. Leave it plain or snazz it up with fabric or wrap it in yarn!

Using peel and stick shelf liner create an optical Christmas tree on your steps! If we didn't have carpeting on our stairs I would totally be doing this. It's magical!

Ceiling medallions and PVC endcaps create sweet cake stands. Simple and sweet!

If you'd like to have Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine delivered to your mailbox, sign up here. It's FREE!

Owl Sale.

2011-11-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

I have a good amount of white and cinnamon felt, so I thought it would be fun to offer a sale on my snowy and brown owl ornaments! For a limited time only you can order them for 30% off. Sale price good through Cyber Monday (11/28).

These little guys are perfect for a woodland Christmas tree. They're especially great when there are little hands around (or even playful cats), as they won't break if knocked down. But the absolutely best part is they don't have to be put away with the rest of the Christmas decorations: they are equally as happy hanging from a door knob too. Go here for the white owl, and here for the brown owl.

French Onion Soup Recipe.

2011-11-09T07:49:00.000-05:00

French onion soup is a favorite around here with my husband, two-year-old, and myself (of course). The other kids don't even care to try it yet. It was so funny the other day watching the baby violently and with much love slurp her soup up while her sister sat next to her eating a lollipop. I really need to start making larger quantities of it. I'm certainly not a professional chef so I'm not sure about the "right" way to make french onion soup, but I know what I like and this tastes good to me. My original recipe is as follows.

French Onion Soup Recipe.

INGREDIENTS.

3 white cooking onions
32 oz. beef broth
1/4 cup red cooking wine
1/8 cup milk
bay leaf
1/2 Tbs parsley
1/4 tsp basil
salt and pepper to taste

Peel and cut onions in half and then make long slices along the grain. Sautee onion in 2 Tbs butter until soft. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot.

Cover and reduce heat to to medium. Once the soup begins to simmer reduce heat to low and cook for about 30 minutes, or until flavors fuse.

Toast bread of your choice and top with a slice of your favorite melty cheese. Put it in the bottom of your soup bowl and pour the french onion soup on top. Enjoy!

Recipe makes about 4 servings.

New Bow Clips.

2011-11-08T12:02:00.001-05:00

Three bow clips in a new design have found their way into the shop since last night! They are very sweet and simple at the perfect price. Each bow takes two long(ish) continuous strips of felt, so there will likely be only one or two of each color available as they show up in the shop. So if you see one you like, snap it up!

The layered oatmeal bow goes with everything.

The layered red bow is perfect for those holiday parties!

And the layered peony bow is just as sweet as a flower!

Wild Ponies and the Ocean.

2011-11-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

A couple of random things came together providentially for our little family to join the rest of my immediate family down in Berlin, Maryland last weekend. I shouldn't say "the rest of my immediate family", as my littlest sister had to work and couldn't be with us. (That was very sad.) It wasn't often that we were able to go on vacations when I still lived at home with my parents, and it's been about 10 years since I've been able to get away with any number of my family. My sister, Christen, and her husband (along with my nephew) hosted us; my parents, and sister Bethany and her husband were also with us. Needless to say, this was super nice!

We were about 15 minutes from Ocean City, Maryland, and also Assateague Island. Now, it's Maryland so it's not terribly warm this time of year. Saturday we had some freakish weather in this part of the country, but we were south of all the crazy snow and it simply rained for most of Saturday. We did manage to sneak in an hour or so of beach/boardwalk time in between the rain.

While it was cold and the there was a good "breeze" coming off the water I still rather enjoy the beach when it's nice and quiet like this, as opposed to when the sun is beating down on me and I'm being buffeted by strangers. It was the kids' first time seeing the ocean, and they loved it when we were able to actually get down on the sand on Sunday at Assateague!

They carried their buckets around collecting shells and other treasures brought in by the waves. The biggest find was a horseshoe crab shell! (Don't ask me why I haven't any pictures because I really don't know.)

My son spent quite a bit of time digging up sand and tossing it into the waves. It was also great fun to stand as close as possible to the incoming tide without getting your shoes wet.

Sean found a butterfly that kept getting caught in the surf. Every time the poor creature would try to flap its wings he would spiral back to the ground. He had sand all over his wee face. Sean found a little twig sticking up out of the ground that the butterfly could cling to and dry off.

Of course no trip to Assateague Island would be complete without finding some wild ponies! While I would love to see them running along the shoreline, these ponies seemed to prefer being near the warmth of the parking lot blacktop.

We found ourselves in the position of needing to move out of their way as they moseyed toward us nibbling on grass and other plants. It's hard to be close to such a beautiful animal and not be allowed to touch it! (They are wild after all.)

"Hi, horse! Hi, horse!"

It was a lovely trip even though we were in the car for four hours both Saturday and Sunday. The record-breaking weather we were having back home also distracted from it a little. There were stories of downed limbs every where, small trees split in half, and loads of people were without power. As we drove home on Sunday, we kept wondering if we would find any one of the tall trees on the side of our home leaning on the roof or plunged through a window, or if Sean's car would be crushed underneath the weight of a huge limb. 

As we got closer and closer there were areas of complete darkness on parts of the highway where the street lamps were dead, and the snow was getting deeper. When we turned onto our street we saw our home was standing there unharmed, and our porch light blazed out to welcome us. Thank God for that.

New Owls Flying in for Christmas!

2011-11-02T09:04:00.000-04:00

I'm sure it's no secret that I love making these owls. It's so much fun to watch their little personalities shine through as I add their face and wings. For the holiday season I've added a Special Edition Bronze Owl Ornament to the shop; he's extra snazzy and full of Christmas cheer.

When my Mom asked for an owl ornament for herself I was inspired to create one based on her living room wall color. My mom, as the matriarch of our family, has certainly continued to make all of her daughters and their families feel as much at home as ever (and my parents bought their house after I was married, so I never even lived there!). This wee owl is called "Little Miss Hospitality" in honor of my sweet Mama.

Just for the holiday season, I've also bundled owls together. You can choose five owls at a discount of 20%! Instant collection for decorating your home; this listing is also perfect for those who wish to give owl ornaments as gifts.

If five is too many, there is also the option for purchasing three at a time (also at a discounted rate). You can mix and match colors, or get all the same. So fun!

Not only are these guys an adorable accent to a bohemian home, they are also a great choice for homes with little ones (or even pets), as they won't break if knocked down.

I even had a little helper during my photo shoot. Note the sweet little fingers pointing out the different owls.

Finnish Pancake Recipe.

2011-11-01T07:22:00.001-04:00

This recipe has been in my family for years. I remember my mother making them for my sisters and I when we were little. They are a little bit tricky (the golden one in the above photo is overcooked), but they are a yummy change from plain old pancakes! Finnish pancakes are thin and buttery. I've never had a proper crepe, but I feel as though these pancakes are similar to crepes.

My great-grandmother was a first generation American. Her parents immigrated here from Finland. This recipe came over with them and has been passed down through the ladies of the family as we make them for our own families.

FINNISH PANCAKES.

INGREDIENTS.

3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
4 eggs

Put all of the ingredients into a blender and mix well. The sides of the blender will probably need to be scraped to ensure that there are no lumps left in the batter.

Pre-heat the griddle on medium heat. The batter is very thin, so it is best to pour it onto a hot pan so it begins to cook right away. Pour the batter slowly into rounds that are about palm-sized. Watch as the color darkens, starting at the outside of the pancake and moving toward the middle. Flip the pancakes as soon as only the middle still shows the soft yellow color of the uncooked batter. It will only be a few seconds before the edges start to lift ever so slightly from the pan. Remove from the griddle. Be sure to butter the griddle in between in batch.

You really want to catch the pancakes before they brown at all. I've been making these for years, and I still get distracted by the kids and let them cook too long! They cook pretty quickly.

This recipe makes about 30 palm-sized pancakes.

Serve warm with syrup and jam! These are extra-special fun because they don't require any silverware. Just roll them up and dip! Finnish pancakes are wonderfully kid friendly due to their mild taste and the whole eating-with-the-hands experience!

Happy dipping!

New Limited Edition Lace Medallion Necklaces.

2011-10-31T14:22:00.000-04:00

A close family friend was married last month on a lovely sunny Sunday. Two of my sisters were in the wedding, and as they walked down the grassy aisle toward the waiting white arch where the bride and groom would declare their intentions to love, honor and cherish, they held beautiful flowers whose stems were wrapped in sweet white lace. Being the one who receives all the bits and pieces of textiles in the family, some of that lace ended up with me. It can now be found in the shop, stitched to pretty autumnal colored felt.

All of my pieces are created with lots of love and care, but you can be sure that these necklaces have extra special love already in them from their previous life. The limited edition lace medallion necklaces are set up as you-choose-your-own. All necklaces come with an antiqued bronze chain, and there is a variety of colors to choose from. There is only one of each pendant though!

Color options available are oatmeal, marigold, midnight, emerald burgundy, nutmeg, and sage.

Picture Wall.

2011-10-27T07:55:00.000-04:00

The second coat of paint has still to make its appearance on this wall, but I just couldn't take it being empty any longer! Previously hanging there was a large canvas with a flower painted on it that I bought on clearance at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was pretty enough and the colors went nicely in the living room, but I needed a change. I also needed somewhere to hang pictures of the family and this was the largest free space I had! (Our chalkboard is now occupying the space in the dining room where our photos used to hang en masse, looking rather en mess.)

I really needed a photo wall that took up a bit of space, but was uniform and uncluttered due to the wall of storage and necessity that is opposite the couch (I'll share more about that soon). After searching high and low for an affordable gallery frame, I settled on creating my own since my budget couldn't accommodate the frames I found. I purchased simple 10 x 10 inch black frames from Michaels (about $60 for 10 of them), and matted each with plain white fabric that had been gifted to me.

Hanging them was a little tricky, trying to get them all lined up. They still look a bit crooked in the photo, but they don't look so in reality- probably because our house is built on a hill and when we look at the pictures we're just as crooked as the house, so it all works out. It is so nice to have pictures of the kids back on the walls though! Now I just need to get updated photos...

What Makes a Home on MoxieMandie.

2011-10-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

I'm over on MoxieMandie today sharing my heart about what makes a home. Thanks for having me, Mandie!

Sugared and Spiced Walnut Recipe.

2011-10-24T08:23:00.000-04:00

These walnuts are a perfect snack when you need something sweet! And because of the protein in the walnuts, you certainly make better use of your calories than you would eating cake. This recipe is very simple and very quick! Keep walnuts in the pantry for when you have unexpected guests pop in, especially during the holiday season, so you can whip up these sugary treats lickety split.

(This recipe has been adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.)

Sugared + Spiced Walnuts.

INGREDIENTS.

1 pound of shelled walnuts

1 egg white
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 325. Grease the bottom of a 15x10x1 baking pan; set aside. Be sure to grease it well to discourage the sugar from sticking as the walnuts bake.

In a large bowl whisk the egg white and 1 tsp of water together. Add the walnuts and toss to coat.

In a small bowl stir the sugar, spices, and salt together. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the walnuts and mix to coat.

Spread the walnuts in the prepared baking pan and bake in a 325 oven for 20 minutes.

When the walnuts come out of the oven, spread them on wax paper to cool. They only take a couple of minutes to cool enough to eat them! Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Keep this recipe in mind at Christmas for those to whom you give baked goods; it's a nice change of pace from cookies. These walnuts also make a nice hostess gift when packaged in a pretty container!

Happy snacking!

New Embroidered Necklaces in the Shop.

2011-10-21T08:44:00.000-04:00

I've been getting into the whole chevron trend lately, and I couldn't help but notice that tribal is trending too (who could?). The other day I decided that I wanted a new necklace. I have my eye on a couple on Etsy, but I've been kind of wishy-washy about which I like best. So in the meantime I just made one for myself (not pictured).

I enjoyed my new necklace so much that I decided to add two of the same design to the shop!

In gray with bright embroidery.

And bronze with darker strands.

I hope you love them as much as I do! Happy Friday, friends!

Book Nook.

2011-10-20T13:31:00.001-04:00

We finally managed to put our book ledges together and get them up on the wall! And by we, I mean my husband. I needed some more space on our regular book shelves for school supplies for the kids, and since we also use the bookshelves for toy storage we decided to move some of their books onto ledges.

There was this odd bit of wall space between the grandfather clock and the steps in the dining room (really it's more of a school room at this point), and I adore the idea of books under the stairs. We can't build bookshelves into the steps because the stairs to the basement run under there. But this is the next best thing! I want to add a comfy pillow to the floor as well.

I found this metal wire basket in our yard right after we bought the house four years ago. It's been sitting in the basement ever since. I spray painted it gray, and I think it is perfect for our book nook!

One of the great things about the ledges is that it is much easier for the kids to see what books are there. I want to paint them white eventually, but we're still painting our living room and kitchen, and I don't think I can take any more painting projects right now!

There is a window to the left by the stairs, so the kids also like to sit there and look out the window while reading. I'm so glad our kids love books! The ledges are packed two to three books deep, plus there are still plenty more books on the big bookshelves, not to mention the books in their rooms. Yup. We love books, and book nooks, in this book house.

D.I.Y. Pine Cone Place Card Holder Tutorial.

2011-10-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

If you have access to a lot of wee little pinecones either in your yard or a nearby park or wooded area, then this tutorial is just for you! These sweet little place card holders are a perfect accent to your holiday table, either to mark seats or to identify all that fancy food you are serving. I actually only made one, and I plan to stick scraps of paper with bible verses or inspirational words into it and keep it near my desk.

SUPPLIES.

small or mini pine cones
jar lid (I used a Smuckers jam lid)
hot glue gun
metallic spray paint

Begin by gluing the pine cones into the lid. Start on the outside and work your way in, filling the lid. I found it easier to put the glue on the lid and then stick the pine cone in. Endeavor to keep them as upright as possible.

Go out of doors, and spray paint your card holder. Spray the bottom first, allow it to dry according to the directions on the can, and then spray the top. It's a good idea to apply two coats of paint. I didn't prime mine, but if you want it to be extra durable, or you plan to keep it in storage after the holidays, you may want to prime it first.

Once dry gently work your card between the tops of the pine cones. It's okay if it doesn't fit down very far, it should still hold the card.

I found this fun little guy sitting next to me in the yard while I was painting the card holder. So of course I had to paint him too!

Enjoy!

Marshmallow Men.

2011-10-17T07:38:00.000-04:00

These sweet little treats take only a moment to make, but they sure do taste good! We don't actually celebrate Halloween at our house, but if you do these can make fun little ghosties (just squeeze the marshmallows a bit to elongate them)! My kids have taken to calling them marshmallow men.

To make these fun little guys simply spread peanut butter (Nutella would probably be good too!) on the top of a large marshmallow, and make two eyes and a nose with mini chocolate chips.

Don't forget to share them with the kids!

D.I.Y. Little Trinket Dishes.

2011-10-14T08:57:00.000-04:00

I'm all about storage. Can I repurpose this (insert random thing here) into storage? Can it be pretty?! I had a bit of an ah-ha moment with some jar lids. They make perfect wee little trinket dishes!

SUPPLIES. jar lid
          spray paint
          bit of fabric
          glue (I used an Elmer's glue stick)

Spray paint the jar lid with at least two coats of paint. When it dries completely use it as a guide to cut the fabric circle by placing it on top of the fabric and drawing a light line with a pencil around the perimeter of the lid. Cut the marked circle out of the fabric and glue it into the inside of the lid.

Fill it with pretty trinkets!

Butternut Squash + Bartlett Pear Soup Recipe.

2011-10-12T08:24:00.000-04:00

I love comfort food. When the days cool down and the nights are crisp, there's just something about a mug of hot soup. Following is my original recipe for Butternut Squash and Bartlett Pear Soup.

INGREDIENTS.

large butternut squash (mine was about 6 pounds)
1-2 bartlett pears
2 onions
clove of garlic
1/2 cup of milk or cream (plus extra for pureeing squash)
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbs. parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 375. Wash and cut the squash into quarters. Remove the seeds. Place on a baking sheet or bar pan skin side up and bake for 30 minutes. Flip squash, cover with foil, and bake for another 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool until it is cool enough to be handled.

Meanwhile, wash and peel the pear(s) and the onions, and then chop. Mince the garlic. In a large soup pot, saute the pear, onion, and garlic in 1 Tbs. of butter until soft. Turn off the heat. Remove from pot and place in a blender. Blend until pureed. (It may need more fluid to be able to blend smoothly; if so add a bit of milk.) Return to pot.

When the squash is cool enough to be handled, cut away the skin. Chop the squash and put it in the blender to be pureed. Due to the size of the squash it will likely need to be pureed in batches and not all at once. Add a little bit of milk as needed to the blender to help it process the squash.

Add the pureed squash to the pot with the pear and onion. Also add the stock, milk, seasoning, and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.

Cook over medium heat until warmed through and the flavors meld. Serve hot! I'm not sure, but my best guess is that this recipe should serve 6-8.

This soup pairs well with crusty bread and apple cider. Happy Autumn!

Beza Threads.

2011-10-11T12:14:00.000-04:00

Beza Threads is an organization whose website reads: "Beza Threads wants redemption for the 1.8 million children in sex slavery today. We help fund an Ethiopian nonprofit that rescues girls from forced prostitution by selling the scarves they’ve created during recovery. Every scarf sold is a night off the street for a child. Buy a scarf and spread the word."  

I came across Beza Threads through Beauty for Ashes Photography. Pranee recently did a shoot with their scarves, and they are gorgeous! Each one costs $20, and can be ordered via the Beza Threads Shop. 

Be beautiful inside by helping a girl in need; be beautiful outside wearing one of the pretty Beza Threads scarves. 

Crafting with the Kids :: Paper Leaf Garland Tutorial.

2011-10-10T08:49:00.000-04:00

The leaves are just starting to turn colors here, and when outside there are a few leaves here and there that can be picked up. So exciting! As our arts + crafts project last week for our home school, the kids and I made a fun paper leaf garland. This exercise is also a great way for young children to learn about and identify the different trees that all of the leaves come from.

SUPPLIES.   variety of fallen leaves
                     card stock
            pencil
scissors
            cotton twine or yarn
ruler
sewing needle
            plastic yarn needle (not pictured)
colored pencils

Start by tracing the shape of your leaves onto card stock. Trace as many as you like! Cut them out. If your child is old enough, you can have them help you.

Let the kiddos color them! I added quick vein lines with the pencil.

Score each leaf along the center using a ruler. This adds just a bit of dimension to the leaf as opposed to leaving it flat.

Using the needle, poke holes about one inch apart down the center of the leaf.

Thread the yarn needle with the twine or yarn and "sew" the leaves together using the pre-punched holes. (My kids had a blast doing this part! Even the two-year-old baby got in on it.)

Find a fun place to hang your new creation!

The Daily Galette.

2011-10-07T17:02:00.000-04:00

polenta with sauteed mushrooms and onions.

Well, it's Friday again! It is promising to be absolutely lovely here in Pennsylvania this weekend. We'll be having some of those wonderful Autumn days where the sun is hot, but there is a slight nip in the breeze and the sun reflects off of the leaves as they begin to turn orange, yellow, and red.

I wanted to take a minute to introduce you to my sister, Bethany's, brand new food blog, The Daily Galette! She loves to cook (and grocery shop), and if her dog stays out of mischief long enough, she seems to find plenty of time to have fun in the kitchen. So stop by and take a peek. That photo up above is from her last post, and it makes my mouth water every time I see those perfectly browned mushrooms.

Also, as per the random number generator, the winner of the flower hair clip is Jeanine of The Crafting Fiend! Thanks to everyone who stopped by.

Have a happy weekend!

I Make Pretty Things All Day.

2011-10-06T14:37:00.000-04:00

print by yellow heart art.

Isn't this print fantastic? I first saw it a few days ago while my bunting necklace and said print were hanging out on the Etsy front page together. It's definitely calling to me, "buy me, buy me!" Be sure to stop by Yellow Heart Art for other fun prints!

A Little Bit of Sewing for the House.

2011-10-05T19:16:00.000-04:00

The last couple of years have found me busily sewing for my business, and that resulted in a serious lack of creating for our home. No more! We were finally in a place where we could begin to paint our living space, and that really inspired me to make our home as much of a cozy nest as I could. It's very slow going with three kids, the business, and homeschooling, but we're getting there. A couple of weeks ago I dusted off my sewing machine and stitched up a couple of pillow covers and some new curtains for our bedroom! I did the work over the course of a couple of days. It didn't take long, but the impact seems huge to me. 

I had enough fabric left from the curtains to make a cover for one of our blah-brown couch pillows. Using a nice coordinating houndstooth fabric I covered another of the pillows. I think the pop of black and white is a nice contrast for my quilt (seen in the background)! There are two more throw pillows left uncovered at this point, but I think I may fancy them up for a reading nook I'm working on.

I also dig the mix and match patterns in the bedroom.

Black and white is a great neutral, and it's so easy to add some pattern into a space using them. I'm really looking to do some sort of DIY wooden headboard eventually. I'm hoping a rustic headboard will bring some masculinity to the space. In the meantime that floral garland is taking up some of the ginormous white space above our bed. 

What home improvement or decorating projects are you working on? 

DIY :: Felt Flower Hair Clip Tutorial and a GIVEAWAY

2011-10-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

I've been asked to do a couple of different felt tutorials for some upcoming projects, so I thought it was about time that I shared an easy hair clip tutorial with all of my lovely blog friends!

SUPPLIES.   approximately 7.5" x 2.5" of felt for flower
about 1.25" x 1.25" of coordinating felt for center
            2.25" x 2" of green felt for leaf
2" snap clip
                 embroidery floss to match felt color(s)

            embroidery needle

sharp scissors
flower clip templates (below)

(Click on the templates above to view and print them at original size. If it brings up a slideshow simply right click on the templates and select "view image".)

1. From the main felt color cut out two circles with the large circle template, and one circle with the medium circle template.

2. Cut a small circle for the center of the flower using the coordinating felt color.

3. Cut the leaf shape from the green felt.

4. Stack one of the large circles, a medium, and a small circle, and stitch around the perimeter of the small circle to hold them together.

5. Take the remaining large circle and put a slit in it just large enough to slip the center piece of the snap clip through. Stitch either end of the clip to the felt to hold it in place.

6. Positioning the leaf in between the layers, put the front and back piece of the flower together. (I embroidered my leaf to make it a little bit more fancy.)

7. Sew the flower together by stitching around the outside perimeter.

8. Stick the flower in your hair!

For something a little extra special to go along with this tutorial, I'm giving away the clip pictured! For your chance to win visit my tutorials page and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite tutorial has been so far, or what type of tutorials you'd like to see!

For an extra entry tweet about this tutorial and giveaway. Include "@OrdinaryMommy" and a link to this post in your tweet, and be sure to leave a separate comment on this post telling me you did so.

Giveaway is open through Thursday, October 6th, and the winner will be announced on Friday!

* This tutorial was created using my original pattern; feel free to make as many of these as you like for your own use or to give as gifts, but please be kind and do not reproduce for sale.

In the Fridge :: Tropical Pepper Co. Hot Sauce

2011-09-30T11:29:00.000-04:00

I love food. Since we started having children six years ago, Sean and I don't get out to nice restaurants. More so than the children, I think that has to do with the fact that I'd rather buy something for the house, than spend $100 on dinner. However, there are some creature comforts that I must have in the fridge or on the pantry shelf because they give me that warm and fuzzy feeling I can only get from good food. Largely that feeling is elicited by an extra sharp cheddar, or a buttery smooth variety of yummy, cheesy goodness, but there is one hot sauce in particular that I must have on hand at all times.

Tropical Pepper Co.'s xxxxtra hot habenero pepper sauce has that sharpness to it that marks a good hot sauce, but it also contains delicious fruit notes courtesy of juicy pineapples. I suppose it's a bit on the hot side, but it's not so hot that the flavor is lost. On the contrary, it's full of flavor!

What's your favorite hot sauce?

Etsy Favorite Things :: 9.28.2011

2011-09-28T12:57:00.001-04:00

Here are the latest Etsy finds that I'm loving this week! Sweet woodland creatures and colorful beads with a wee little zig zag thrown into the mix.

rivette necklace.

baby bunny rabbit brooch.

embroidered fabric cuff bracelet.

il cervo.

hand screen printed fox.

Hope your week so far has been relaxing and productive, all at the same time!

DIY :: Washi Tape Magnet Tutorial

2011-09-26T13:47:00.000-04:00

I recently started using washi tape to pretty up the packaging for my orders. This stuff is so versatile, and I really have to control myself when it comes to buying it. Thankfully I'm not terribly compulsive.I was going to wait to shoot this tutorial until my new and more colorful tape arrives, but I became too impatient. Compulsive, no; impatient, yes.

SUPPLIES.   washi tape
    magnets (I used 3/4")
            scissors

Wrap a length of washi tape around the magnet, leaving the loose ends in the back. Press down on the corners to flatten them.

Going in the opposite direction, wrap a piece of different coordinating washi tape around the magnet to cover up any visible parts of the magnet.

Have fun mixing and matching the tape on your magnets! These make great gifts for bridal showers, housewarming parties, or stocking stuffers! Please be sure to keep them out of reach of small children, as they could pose a serious choking hazard.

PS. isn't that bear drawing in the top photo precious? My daughter drew that back in the Spring before she turned four. It's my favorite.

Kid Art.

2011-09-19T14:19:00.000-04:00

For quite some time now, I've wanted to find a place to display our kids' artwork. With our previous (and lousy) wall space usage there just wasn't a good spot, but now that we're totally redoing our walls I'm so excited to have these frames up! I lucked out big time when I stopped at Michael's to buy these frames; they're pretty cheap to begin with, but they happened to be on sale for $5 a piece. Score! I opted for white frames so that the colors would really pop. This wall makes me smile. A lot.

I also snagged this small storage box at Walmart to store the rest of their doodles and paintings. It was under $5, and it fits construction paper perfectly.

How do you display your kiddo artwork?

Sweet Paul Magazine :: Fall 2011

2011-09-16T10:15:00.001-04:00

Just in case you haven't heard yet, the Fall issue of Sweet Paul Magazine is now available for viewing online! As always, it is full of pictures and recipes that make your mouth get all watery. Definitely a drool alert! Perhaps for the first look-through you should be sure to find a quiet corner where no one will see you staring with your mouth open. My favorites are John's Pretzel recipe and the Maple Syrup Baked Pears. Both of these recipes are super simple, and that's important around here! There's plenty of other goodness too; more recipes, stories, and tutorials, so be sure to check it out!

Fun with Math :: Adding to Ten Scaverger Hunt

2011-09-15T07:38:00.003-04:00

Math. It can be confusing when you're first learning it, and terribly complicated when you get older. We home school at our house, so finding fun ways to reinforce what the kids are learning is super important! Truth be told, my husband is actually better at this than I am, but I'm learning a thing or two as well.

Yesterday I hastily cut out two of each number from one to nine, and scattered them around our living room and dining room for my six-year-old to find. 

His instructions were to find two numbers that added up to ten. So if he found the number seven, he would have to determine which other number he needed to make ten, and then go and find it. If he came across any other numbers he was to leave them where they were. That way he was also (hopefully) building observation and memory skills so that he would remember where he had seen a particular number when he needed it. 

I cut out two of each number for two reasons: one, to make the game last longer, and two, so that he would have to find the numbers for each equation twice (more reinforcing).

To finish, we did some addition on the chalkboard!(Isn't it snazzy? My mom bought that chalkboard when she was home schooling us.)

In the Fridge :: Butterkase Cheese

2011-09-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

This cheese is in my fridge right now. SO delicious, buttery, and smooth. I'm a cheddar girl at heart, so this was my first time trying Butterkase cheese. Wow. If you'll excuse me I think I need to go spend some quality time with my refrigerator. What? Cheese doesn't do that to you?

Etsy Favorite Things :: 9.13.11

2011-09-13T08:31:00.000-04:00

kallisto bag. 

Today's finds are all about Autumnal colors. I'm so excited for fall! I love the crisp feeling in the air, being able to wear my cardigans again, and the fact that it's cool enough to bake cookies with the kiddos! The holiday season especially, is what I look forward to. We are big lovers of the old Christmas songs and classic Christmas movies; so much so that come August we start to watch and listen again on cooler overcast days.

autumn fern print.

natural linen pumpkin.

ty wallet.

vintage white standing letters.

DIY :: Fabric Wrapped Candle Tutorial

2011-09-12T11:11:00.001-04:00

Hello, lovelies! Now that there's a bit of a chill in the air in early morning and late evening, it's the perfect time to start burning candles again. We're (still) in the middle of painting and doing some redecorating, and when I put my Yankee candle on the newly hung kitchen shelf it just felt wrong. It needed some sprucing up! So here's what I did:

SUPPLIES: jar candle 

          fabric 

          pinking shears

          twine

          glue gun

          cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler - optional

1. Start by cutting the fabric into two strips of different widths that are long enough to cover the jar candle and overlap about an inch on the end. 

2. Lay your larger piece of fabric wrong side up, place the candle in the middle, and wrap the fabric around, gluing it in place. Continue to roll the rest of the fabric around the jar and glue the loose end in place.

3. Repeat with the smaller fabric piece.

4. Wrap several lengths of twine around the center of the candle and finish with a bow.

Ta-da! Your candle is now pretty enough to blend seamlessly into your cozy space. 

NOTE: the next time I have a candle to wrap, I plan to cut the bottom piece of fabric a wee bit shorter and not have it quite up to the neck of the jar.

Ten Years Have Passed.

2011-09-11T11:25:00.002-04:00

 :: source ::

During the school year of 2001, I stayed at my Grandparent's home a couple days a week because they lived closer to the community college I was attending. On the morning of September 11th, I awoke to the radio alarm. The newscaster was saying that a a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center; at the time they believe it to be a small two-seater. It wasn't long after that my husband (my fiance at the time) called to tell me to turn on the news.

At that point the second tower was still standing. I watched live as it came crashing down. The memory of watching those poor souls jumping from windows to their death is still so fresh in my memory. I cried and cried until it hurt. I still can't think about it without great grief. Such a horrible thing.

 It suddenly became very important to know where each of my family members were. With all of the jammed lines, it was a challenge to get a call to go through. My Dad was at work, my mother at the dentist, my younger sister was already in class at the college we attended together, and my two little sisters were at home. Once my sister's classes at the college were canceled, she joined me and my Grandmother. Our parents told us to stay where we were. Do not try to come home. The feeling of being vulnerable made everything, even driving on the roads, feel unsafe. After all, we live in Pennsylvania only about one hour south of New York City.

We were glued to the news all day. The third plane crashed into the pentagon; another into a field in Pennsylvania. No one knew what to expect; were there going to be more? Things finally began to settle as the day wore on. The images of the ash covered streets were just unbelievable. We're not used to seeing the atrocities of war on our on own soil. All of those lives lost.

I will never forget. 

Lowe's Creative Ideas Magazines.

2011-09-08T13:23:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Lowe's puts out three different creative ideas magazines a couple of times throughout the year? I've been having them delivered to my mailbox for a while now, and they are always full of storage inspiration and awesome projects! The last issue of "Creative Ideas for Home and Garden" was one of my favorites yet. I mean, 23 easy project for under $55?! What's not to love about that?

Super cute "mumpkins" on page 8 are created by using an awl to poke holes approximately 1/2" apart around the entire pumpkin, cutting individual flower stems to about 2.5" and sticking them in the holes. The moisture in the pumpkin will keep the mumpkin looking good for 3 to 4 days.

The woven headboard made from birch plywood on page 40 is a stunner.

Looking for some mod and minimalist woodland inspired wall art? Make it yourself out of wooden dowels and a mounting board!

But hold on to your britches, I haven't mentioned the best part yet. Subscription to these magazines is FREE at the Lowes Creative Ideas website. Head on over and sign up!

Happy Birthday to my Big Boy!

2011-09-07T16:08:00.000-04:00

We have another birthday in our house this week! My "little" boy is turning 6 today! His birth was very traumatic, but, boy, was it worth it. Rowan is a very smart and sensitive chap with a love for learning about animals and science. Plus he's pretty darn cute too.

Happy birthday, sweet boy! Mommy loves you SO much!

New in the Shop :: Pinwheels

2011-09-06T18:00:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I've had pinwheels in the shop, but after I made some for my sister's wedding I remembered how much fun they are! That would be me on the left in the above picture; the bride and the two girl sitting on the other side of her are my three sisters. (I love them!) The lovely lady in the back is my sister's dear friend.

canary and vanilla pinwheel hair clip.

spruce and ginger pinwheel hair clip.

emerald and gray pinwheel clip set.

Be on the lookout for more fun pinwheels coming soon!