All Grown Up

I know you've seen these guys before, but I like to think I'm expanding my repertoire a little.

My nephew is 7! *sniff*  He's become such a smart, funny, energetic, sweet guy!  Since he was learning tick marks in school recently, I thought this would be appropriate.

 

And while adults seldom broadcast their age, my sister-in-law expressed some interest in displaying her name on a shirt, and, well.... I jumped on that!  Thirty-one is her lucky number and this happens to be her golden year!  Happy (SUPER BELATED) birthday, Jess!  And so I made her a birthday shirt too, but little more subtle...

Ready for Fall

We've been having such lovely, warm weather here in Oakland (did I mention we moved to Oakland?? More on that later...), that I haven't felt right about decorating for Fall.  Nevermind that these decorations have been up since early September :)  But now that it's cooling off and the leaves on the sycamore out front are changing colors and dropping to the ground, I feel justified. 

Bring on the Trick-or-Treaters!! 

How are you decorating for Fall?

Easter Un-Candy

Who says an Easter basket has to be filled with candy? Growing up, my favorite non-candy treats OUR Easter Bunny put in our baskets was Aveda Shampure. Such a luxury back then! I think I once found an artichoke in my Easter basket, which I also thought was the greatest.

[Ok, but Cadbury Mini-Eggs and peanut M&Ms are also compulsory...]

Anyhow... say you want to give an Easter gift to a little friend who doesn't eat much candy? How about these Springy reminiscent-of-Easter-eggs bean bags? Great for juggling (or pelting). Also, they can be heated for a few seconds in the microwave and serve a little hand-warmers! So cute & so easy!



I made these using 5x5 squares and filled them with flax seeds. I tried making them egg-shaped, but it didn't work so well. If you want to be really awesome, you could make 12 of them and present them in an egg carton.

I'm pleased as punch. I feel like juggling.

Lip Balm Factory

I have been busy this afternoon making peppermint lip balms! In truth, it really only took about an hour. I got the recipe here and I am in LOVE with it! It might even rival my favorite lip balm of all time (from this company). I used peppermint oil, but perhaps next time I'll try lemon - I think that will be delicious and amazing. If you're feeling economical (and maybe a little bit lazy) I have been dying to try the lip balm kits found here. If you do, let me know how they turn out.

And why so many lip balms, you ask? I'm in charge of making holiday baskets for the doctors at work again. So there will be no MDs in our unit with chapped lips... :) There was even a little left over for D and I to have our own little pots too!

So, if you're looking for a largeish-quantity, fairly economical, home-made but not-from-the-oven (read: fattening), quick holiday gift (or if Santa is looking for stocking-stuffer ideas), this is for you!

Project Facts (ish):

* I don't know how much volume the pots hold, but it's a generous "serving." I bought them, and all the other ingredients, at Rainbow Grocery (aka Heaven on Earth) for $.79 each (you can totally find them cheaper online, but I was pressed for time).

* The labels are wedding leftovers from Paper Source. The 1.5" labels fit perfectly!

* I melted all ingredients together in a tin can over a pot of simmering water (to keep our pots nice and mess-free).

* I one-and-a-halved the recipe and made 17 pots (with some leftover, maybe could make about 3 more?).

* Supplies and ingredients came to around $23 (and like I said, you could do this much cheaper).

Enjoy!

Stripey Stockings

I was kinda over these stockings from a few years back. It was time for a new set.

I mixed my favorite white cotton/linen with a red kona cotton (sorry, forgot the name), and a little pinkier-red woven (don't know the name of that one either). But I bought all the fabrics at Peapod, of course.


D has been working a lot lately, which is why there's so much crafting going on. Poor guy, every time he comes home from a long day at work, he has to endure another decorative surprise. At least I haven't painted any walls (though I've certainly thought about it!).

I hope he likes our new stockings! Santa promises to fill it with good things.

Advent Calendar Revamp

It was really bugging me that my Advent calendar had one too many days. As I learned, December 1st through 24th mark the days of Advent (duh). And December 25th marks the start of the 12 days of Christmas, which end on January 6th, Epiphany.

Plus, D didn't think it looked particularly "Christmassy." Bah Humbug! So anyhow, I had to do something about it.


It's crooked, isn't it? Ok, I'll redo it again...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Love,
Sara

In the Works

I've got my Christmas music going already and am working on a holiday project - made 100% of materials from my scrap bin - including Fray Check & the batting! This kind of project makes me want to high kick!! And I just might.

Here's a preview:

Hint: It needs to be completed by 12/1

Final project posted soon (hopefully).

I Love It, I Love It, I Love It

This was probably the greatest gift of the season (and of all time). A big box of pomegranates, persimmons, and jars!!! Oh, and the best part was a written open invitation to pick fruits and vegetables from the Palmers' garden. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!

This one gets 10 high kicks. Thank you, Palmers!

photo credits: DMF, while I was shelling pomegranates and creatively directing from the kitchen.

Doctor Baskets

Every year, I organize holiday baskets for our doctors and social support staff at the hospital. This year my contribution was screen printed tote bags.

This was the state of our kitchen the other day (D, please look away) - bags everywhere!


The doctors got anatomical heart totes. Non-medical staff got bicycles.

Here they are bundled, and ready to go. I hope they liked them!

Water Go, Spaghetti Stay

When my parents were first married, my dad was still learning English. He loved to cook even back then, but when making spaghetti, he needed a colander but didn't know the word.

"Do you have a, you know, water-go-spaghetti-stay?"

To this day, we still call it that. I commemorated with these tea towels:

They were a hit! ...I shouldda made one for myself!

Is It Too Much?

Well, here it is. I'm basically all done shopping and wrapping. Of course, I will probably come up with a brilliant (involved) gift idea tonight or tomorrow and bust my tail until Christmas morning. But for now, I think I'm done. Tomorrow I schlep them all to San Luis Obispo!


Is it too much?

This years package theme: brown postal wrap, red & white bakers twine, and Avery tags stamped with recipient's initials. Ooh, how I love those Avery tags!

(Monica, this one's for you!)

And could it be Christmas without the high-kicking skeleton angel? Don't think so...



After Christmas, I'll reveal a couple of the projects I had going on this year. Until then, and if I don't post again, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In the Spirit

(Pun totally intended)


We're having a holiday craft/bake sale at my work next week. I made these little Halloween-themed pennant cards. But this time, I was not too lazy to put them through the printer (pat on the back). I swear, these are so easy to make!




The back (though centered):


I hope they sell like hotcakes!

Not Unexpectedly...

I finished the quilt!! And it's not Christmas 2008 yet, so I fulfilled my promise only 11.5 months late. Excuse the quality of the photos...it's dark out.

The top is the Denyse Schmidt Ice Pops quilt from her book. I used only Kona Cottons, with one exception (the gratuitous polka-dot representation).


The back - which I love so much that I might just make more like this! So much faster. Inspired by these, of course

The binding I did in a solid blue.

*High Kick* I'm so excited to have finished this. Well, yes, not only excited that it's done, but also because it was my biggest/longest-taking project yet, and also because I can't wait to give it to D (not like he hasn't seen it 100 times already, but whatever). He can actually, officially use it. A nice light-weight quilt, just in time for winter. Awesome.

Merry Christmas 2007, D!