Generation Picture

Brian and I worked on a fun gift for my Nana for Christmas while we were visiting family last December. I'm just now finally sharing it. I think this would also be an amazing Mother's Day gift.

Ok so it started with a picture of baby girl.

Then we printed it out and took a picture of me holding her.....

Then we printed that one out and took a picture of my mom holding us...

Isn't she pretty, she's an amazing woman! Ok then we printed that one out and had my Nana hold all of us............

She's pretty amazing too. Nana was the only one who didn't know what she was holding. She just thought we were being weird, but she loved it! One of the Photo people at CVS asked us....why don't you just take one photo with all 4 of you in it........Brian and I just looked at each other thinking.....uh, because this is way cooler!

You can see baby girl better in the 8x10 but next time I would suggest starting with the youngest being a 10x13 and then switching to 8x10s.

Advent Calendar with Print out

 So, the advent season is quickly closing in on us and our house is fully decorated! Yeah! We scaled back a little this year, but the lights are on outside, the tree is up and the stockings are hung. 

With Elise now here some of our traditions are changing to be more baby friendly and there have been a few added. This year, after begging Brian he made me an advent calendar. There was a debate on whether it should be quilted or made of wood. Each wanting the other to make it....guess I won. :).

 

The concept is very simple, each day we flip over a block and it reveals another word to our Christmas verse. Luke 2:11. After turning the block we have a coordinating verse to read out of the bible, thus preparing our hearts for the season. 

Brian made it so it can either hang on the wall or sit on a table. This year, we just took off a picture from the wall and replaced it, so no extra whole in the wall. 

 

After Brian made the shelf and blocks....i.e a lot of sanding, I introduced him to the world of mod podge. Love that stuff. So we created the labels and mod podged them on.

 If you have your own advent calendar already or were hoping to make one, you still have a little time. Here's our daily reading we'll be using. You can also do this with candles or just getting together as a family for a short time each night before bed just to read works just as well.

I think it's important to take a little time to slow down during this busy season and just refocus on what's really important.

Are you adding any new traditions this year?

Black Walnut Pendant

We are finishing up a few gifts for our early Christmas this weekend with Brian's family.

I am so excited about these little gifts. They are made from reclaimed wood from the family farm. Some of the wood is spalted and just adds to the uniqueness to the piece. 

 

These two pieces above are spalted...see that cool black line running through it. That's the spalting from what I've learned. It's a fungus or something that the wood gets and you can't tell until you've cut the tree down or it dies and the tree falls. I think it's pretty cool and adds depth to the natural wood grain. 

Brian even made a few extra. I might have one fall into my stocking in a few weeks.....wink wink. 

 

See it already looks good hanging in my jewelry case.

Scrappy Pouch

So, I've been on a kick with Christmas gifts lately. I've finished a couple of gifts over the weekend but not sure if I want to make another one for my oldest sister (who will hurt me if I don't), so I can't show them in fear of my safety. I can show you this little guy though. I love making pouches......I love having pouches. 

 

I used the tutorial from Noodlehead for her Wide Open Pouch. This tutorial is officially my FAVORITE pouch tutorial. I had a little fun and made it scrappy. Her instructions and pictures were so clear....like crystal clear. I really like her zipper method and how the pouch is lined. It looks so polished.

And, if you've never tried a zipper before this is the perfect little project to try.  You'll be most pleased.

The middle focus fabric, I ripped out of a antique quilt.....I actually prefer the word saved. The quilt was patchwork and hideous with this apricot solid all over. So, I seam ripped the squares that I liked and scrapped the rest. The other solids are various Konas, I already had in my stash. 

 

I'm hoping to make a few more......ok, truth be told, Elise and I went fabric shopping today and I picked up a fat quarter of Field Study that I am super stoked about. That will be my pouch for sure. I'll share my loot tomorrow. 

Christmas Stocking

 I realized this week I haven't made a single Autumn or Halloween inspired quilt/craft/anything. I've had Christmas on my mind for the past at least month......maybe two. I'll be ready for December though:).

I finished last week's project and Elise's stocking so makes me want to make a new one for myself. The main fabric is by Riley Blake who I love all things Riley Blake for Elise. She already had a few dresses from various pattern lines and at least 2 quilts.

I trimmed the cuff of the stocking with little pink pom poms and think it finishes off the stocking perfectly with a little bit of whimsy. When I showed Elise she squealed and tried to grab it....which made me feel appreciated. (ok really she just wanted to eat it. We're at the stage where everything gets chewed on)

And yes, I was totally snuggling up to the fire yesterday, it was a little chilly and the perfect day to start one when lounging at home.

Not sure which project is going to be tackled this week. Hopefully I have my wonky quilt to show you! Who knows maybe I'll dine into my stash and pull out something more seasonally appropriate.