{ break time }

I need to take a break from blogging/flickr/reading others' blogs for a few days. I have a bit of Christmas sewing that I need to do, and then I plan on enjoying some cookies, hanging out with my family, and relaxing. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Less Than a Week?!?

I can't believe that there is less than a week until Christmas! I have a to-do list a mile long, and Ava has chosen this week to change her sleeping habits (like, NOT sleeping at night). Thankfully, this is the last morning of tutoring before the break. I have to finish three custom orders today before I can concentrate on my own Christmas crafting. I have a feeling I will be seeing some pretty late nights over the next few days. At least our tree is up...

.... I really need to get a tree skirt on there...

I had a great time at Community Arts Market last Saturday. There was a pretty good crowd even though the building was unheated and the forecast was bad. I actually sold a pretty good number of things and met some great people. I learned a ton of stuff, too. I'm looking forward to some more shows soon.... when it gets warmer, of course.

Update!

I've just updated my Etsy shop. More items to come over the next few days as I clean up and organize my sewing room. Community Arts Market was a success- more on that later! There are a few photos here.

Almost Ready

Community Arts Market is coming up fast! (Since when is it mid-December, anyway?!) This is my first big show, and I have lots to do between now and Saturday. I need to finish up a few more goodies for my table and get my tags and prices ready. I'll post after the weekend with a full report and pictures. Wish me luck! If you're local, stop by.

Christmas Meme

... as seen on Artsy Momma...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Definitely wrapping paper. I usually buy it on sale after Christmas and then find something else I love the next Christmas so I end up with tons and tons of Christmas paper.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real. I've never had an artificial tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Around my birthday (December 9).

4. When do you take the tree down?
Around the first week of January.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Ew. No.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Well, I wasn't a child, but last year on Christmas Eve was when I found out I was pregnant.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, two of them.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Probably my grandad.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom and my girlfriends and sisters-in-law.

10. Mail or E-Mail Christmas Cards?
Mail-- and handmade!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
It's the thought that counts.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Beginning of December

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cookies!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
This year we have a mix-- one strand of white, a strand of pink (I have no idea where they came from!), a strand of colored, and a strand of blinking colored. All of our white lights are outside this year, and I don't want to buy more until they are on sale after Christmas! Ava likes our wild lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Little Drummer Boy

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
I think so.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Early in the morning!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Crowds

23. Favorite ornament theme or Color?
Ornaments that have been gifts or that have been handmade. We have some ornaments on our tree that I made in first grade.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Mashed potatoes

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Hmmmm... anything crafting/sewing related. And books.

Feel free to play along on your blog if you like! Merry Christmas! Oh, and I've been mentioned at Sew, Mama, Sew! Very cool.

Free Rice?

So, my friend Nicole sent me this link this morning, and I've been playing ever since. (And I really should be getting my projects ready for school for tonight. But this IS making me smarter, right?) For every word you know the meaning of, this site donates rice through the U.N. I've always been fascinated by books and words, so really speaks to my nerdy side. Warning: this is addictive! Go play! FreeRice.com

giving thanks (a few weeks late)

I came across this post a couple of days ago, and I decided that I needed to make one of these Grateful Journals for myself. This was super easy. I cut two pieces of chipboard for the front and back covers (my covers are 8" x 8"). Then I gathered all kinds of papers: envelopes, old postcards, tags, scraps, tablet pages, etc. I put them all through my 3-hole punch and arranged them in a way I liked. I used 52 pages-- one for each week of the year.


Each evening, I will record something I'm grateful for that day. I plan on adding little bits of ephemera to the covers or to the pages as I go about my days. I may whip a few of these up for gifts. See another one of these here.

So Much.....

... for posting every day. We pulled out all of our Christmas decorations over the weekend, and they haven't made it any further than the laundry room. Rob did put up some outside lights last night, but that is all we've done so far. I don't have any crafty pictures this morning. Hopefully tonight I'll have something to show.

Meme, Part Two: Traditions

Outtakes from last year's Christmas card photo shoot:

• What is your favorite family holiday tradition?

I love the day when we go cut our tree and drag out all of the decorations. It is so much fun going through the boxes, reading old cards, pulling out ornaments, an finding new homes for everything. Oh, and watching the Christmas specials on TV.

• Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up?

Our traditions are a nice blend of what we both did with our families.

• What do you love most about the holiday season?

I can't pick just one thing... I love so much: music, lights, decorations, making gifts...

• What do you like least about the holiday season?

I don't like when people allow themselves to get stressed out over Christmas.

• What is your favorite holiday food?

COOKIES!!

• Do you have a great recipe to share?

I'll have to think about this one.

Wow. Two posts in two days. A record for me! I'd like to try to post something every day for the month of December. So far, so good!

Handcrafters' Holidays Blog Meme- Gifts

Sew, Mama, Sew! has started a holiday blog meme. I'm taking a break from my grad school projects (ugh) to get started on it.

• Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?

I love to give anything handmade as a gift, whether I make it myself or purchase it from an independent artist. I also give lots of books.

• If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making?
  

I'm making lots of things, but in case more people than my hubby and mom read this, I don't want to reveal anything!

• Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?

No good stories, really, but handcrafted gifts are the very best kind to give and to get.

• Name one thing on your personal wish list.

Just one? Well, I really could use a thread organizer.

• Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts?
  

Why, yes I do! WaldeckDryGoods

Lucky Me!

I was lucky enough to participate in a swap with Heather (winemakerssister). Look what she sent me:

• felted bag
• two cards (she has some like this for sale in her Etsy shop)
• ribbon
• fabric
• beaded necklace/bracelet
• a lovely vintage teapot

Our theme was (obviously) brown and turquoise.

I'm busy getting ready for Community Arts Market on December 15th. Check out the site. I went to this last week to scope things out, and I am so excited to be a part of this cool event. Now, back to my sewing machine!

Sewing for Ava

I finally got around to sewing something for Ava. I made these pants last night with some fabric I picked up at Joann's 99 cents a yard sale. They are a little big for her. She was already asleep, and I didn't want to wake her up just to measure her waist!

Now that winter has arrived in Waldeck, Ava bundles up in her pink suit (not made by me!).

Shop Update!

Stack of ZIppered Pouches
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

I have a few things ready for my shop, including these zippered pouches.

Major Cuteness

Christmas Orders

I've been busy, busy, busy with custom Christmas orders! Waldeck Dry Goods is now an *official* business, and I've been getting more and more orders. I'm also trying to get ready for an upcoming craft show, and I need to do a shop update soon. For now, some photos of what I've been working on.


Zippy pouches made from a vintage tea towel of Pennsylvania Dutch sayings:


More zippy pouches:

A simple tote bag for a little guy:A cafe apron in a cute diner print:

Buying Handmade and Etsy

I saw this post on Sew Mo' this morning, and I wanted to share it on my blog as well. I'm going to be trying to buy (and make) all handmade gifts this Christmas, and I hope you'll consider doing the same. Etsy is a great place to get started. Etsy is a place to buy and sell handmade things. If you are a buyer, it is totally free to create an account and start shopping. Mo says it all in her post... check it out!

PS- I plan on updating my Etsy site VERY soon. Stay tuned. Also, here is my Esty wish list (*wink).

Community Arts Market

Check it out. Waldeck Dry Goods will be participating in the December show! By the way, have you taken the Handmade Pledge yet? I have.

Fall Swap!

Fall Swap from Sam
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

My fall swap from Sam arrived this weekend! Everything is perfect... I love it! She also sent me a little bonus-- a hat and booties for Ava.

Hodge Podge Haus!

Waldeck Dry Goods now has items available at the Hodge Podge Haus in Downtown Clay! If you're local, stop in and take a look. They sell lots of antiques and collectibles, as well as works done by local craftspeople.

burp cloth or diaper?

My hubby was having a hard time remembering which diapers we actually use on Ava's bottom and which ones are burp cloths, so I made a few of these during one of Ava's naps today.

Bad picture-- rain is on the way! I used some of the burp cloth diapers and some fabric scraps. I just cut the fabric to size and zigzagged it to the diaper, but if you're looking for more complete instructions, they can be found on this site.

And, here's Ava at six weeks!

Break the Bottled Water Habit

Bottled water is often marketed as being purer than other water. In the U.S.,
however, tap water is more closely regulated than bottled water, while as much
as 40% of commercially available water starts out as tap water. While bottled
water can cost as much as $10 a gallon, when you consider that only about 12% of
the plastic is recycled, the environmental expenses associated with a momentary
convenience are far greater and long-lasting.

I've pledged to use a reusable water bottle for one month (or longer!), and I'm inviting you to do the same. To sign yourself up, click on the button on the right side of the page, or visit C3. To learn more about what you can do for the earth, visit the C3 blog.

Help break the bottled water habit and sign up today!

Go to:
http://c3.newdream.org/campaigns/c3/register/db247dced9a77a41f98eb9a22765cfcf/
to join the campaign and learn more about becoming a Carbon Conscious Consumer.

Fall Swap!

Chara Michele is hosting a Fall Swap. For more information and to sign up, look here

Sounds like fun!

:: what we've been up to ::

Not much crafting is going on these days, but here's how we've been spending our time:

: walking :

: eating :

: playing with cousins :

: resting :

Amazing

Finally....

After a (very) long labor and a c-section, Baby Ava was born on Friday, September 7th. We have tons of pictures-- I'll post as soon as I get a free minute again!

Onesies for Baby Bird

Onesies for Baby Bird
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

Since I'm still waiting for baby (my due date technically isn't until tomorrow), I decided to try my new book. Embroidery is really fun and addicting! These onesies were kind of tricky to work with because the fabric is so thin and stretchy. I used stabilizer, but I think I need something stronger. The thin fabric kind of limited my choice of stitches, too. There are a few more photos on my Flickr site.

Three Days of Hand Sewing

I just finished washing and drying the quilt I made for Baby Bird. I spent three days hand sewing the binding on, so I was very nervous that the whole thing was going to fall apart. Miraculously, it didn't, and here is the finished project:


This is the first quilt I've made that will actually be used. I followed the instructions in Bend-the-Rules Sewing, and for the most part they were very easy to understand. I had the most problems with the corners of the binding. This quilt has two corners that look pretty good and two that look pretty horrible. Oh well. Next time I will also add more lines of quilting, and I won't use that horrible orange.

Up next, some embroidery from Sublime Stitching.

Waiting

Favorites Aug 07
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

Still waiting for baby... I am keeping busy with lots of chores, naps, crafts, and reading. Here are a few things that I've found on Flickr recently that I like.

1. Vintage bedding, 2. baby quilt, 3. P1120121, 4. embroidery bird, 5. Patchwork towels, 6. vintage feedsack :: quilt cards, 7. DSC02662, 8. Five Things Sent, 9. VW Bus Colored Pencil Roll, 10. DSC02694, 11. Turquoise: mine at last!, 12. Bebe' Bird Bib

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Watermelon on a Hot Day

Hank discovered that overripe watermelons are as much fun to play with as any of his other toys.
In between weddings and birthday parties, I did some sewing this weekend:

A tote bag for a two-year-old

A clutch for me to take to a wedding-- made using Bend-the-Rules Sewing


Another tote bag, this one for someone older. (Not the greatest photo- it's been rainy for the past two days.) These fabric flowers that I'm putting on everything are so much fun to make. They only take about 10 minutes to put together, and they look really cute. Try one!

And, my new labels came on Saturday:

Milk, Eggs, Vodka

Not my grocery list, but something funny I found online this morning. It's a short story based on lost and found grocery lists. I think there is a whole book, too. Check it out here.

Weddings + Planner Cover + Wood

I've been to so many weddings; it's hard to believe that we still have friends who aren't married. Instead of giving the usual gift card or cash, I've been making these:
I still need to think of something to add to the gift. More photos here.

Last night I also whipped up this:

A cover for my planner. This was easy and fun to make. I'd like to try to make more in bigger sizes to cover composition books or spiral notebooks. I used this tutorial.

One more thing-- My dad has been busy doing some woodworking this summer, so I'm opening a new section of my Etsy shop to sell some of his items for him. Check them out!

Happy Birthday, Clint!

Yesterday was my brother Clint's birthday. He's not really a lounge singer; this is him at my wedding singing "Ring of Fire." Ha!

Cute Shops

Check out these cute shops I read about on Rare Bird Finds:

day-lab.com

SATees

Perpetual Kid

I want these.
and these.
and one of these.

I better stop now....

Etsy Update

I have a few things from last month's craft show that I didn't sell, so I'm putting them on Etsy. Take a look!

The True Test of a Marriage...

I'm happy to report that after two days of assembling various baby furniture, we are still married and are still speaking to each other.

I Need More Bookshelves!

I love to read. A lot. And I have a ton of books. I outgrew my bookshelves long ago, and now there are piles of books all over our house. So when my friend Micha told me about this site, I thought I'd give it a try. You can swap your used paperbacks for new (to you) books for free. This really doesn't solve my storage problem, but at least I'll get some new books to read!
Check it out:
PaperBackSwap.com

New Zippered Pouches

I got about 100 zippers on Ebay the other day, so I've been busy making these little zippered pouches. A girl can only have so many of these, so I'm putting these three in my Etsy shop.

Baby Shower Goodness

On Sunday night, my friends and family had a baby shower for me. I got loads of nice things, including bunches of handmade goodies. I didn't know that I knew so many crafty people!

Prayer shawl/nursing cover by Aunt Nancy:

Bug mug by Kathryn:

Tons of knitted stuff by Annie (two sweaters, two hats, booties, burp cloths, AND bibs):

Detail of the sweater, hat, and booties:
Onesies by Nana Bird:
Two burp cloths and a "cootie catcher" (in the sack-- one of those things that goes in the grocery cart so baby doesn't have to sit right on the metal seat) by Julie:

AND I did an swap last week with Julie of sewitsforyou, and she made me this little bib and onesie: (Check out her etsy shop here.)