two straight lines

Mini-Swap

The Loot

I thought I'd post photos of what we sent Magni's family, our Mini-Swap partners from Norway, and I hope to re-create their package to us in the next few days to post as well.  We had a ball with this swap, and it was particularly fun that our family had a boy the exact same age as Elliot, and that they are from Norway, where my husband's family is from.

For Iver, age 3 an apron and oven mitt, Your Big Backyard magazine, and the Russian folktale- The Mitten along with little laminated animals that you place in the mitten as you tell the story.

For Ingebjorg, age 5, a little denim tote, butterfly pins, a Martha Stewart Kids (I had an extra) and some fimo dough to make a bead project in the book.

For Magni, a tea towel tote, some Green & Black's Chocolate and some hair pins from Abby Trys Again.  I also included one of my mitten garland's for the whole family.

 

Nesting

Photo courtesy of Laura Normandin

I know we were all inspired by the Kim Family Auction which was held over a month ago- organized by Lisa Congdon, Geri Congdon, and Stephanie (Congdon) Barnes- and raising over $16,000 to benefit the family of James Kim, but I was also inspired by the artistry of many of the contributors.  I particularly loved the doll donated by Laura Normandin, owner of Wren Handmade, who I have admired for quite a while. 

There is so much inspiration to be found on blogs and websites...I am amazed every day at the talented people I find around the world...but it is rare when someone's aesthetic appeals to me so completely.  I usually admire the things that others make, and take my favorite parts, altering them to fit my life.  But I find the work of Laura Normandin *just perfect*-- from the folk-art quality of her dolls to the tiny outfits she crafts-- I wouldn't change a thing.

I was so inspired by the doll that Laura donated to the auction that I decided to redecorate my nursery.  Luckily, the paint doesn't need to be changed, and the only thing that I had really done in there was to make some simple blinds a year and a half ago.  I ordered the Liberty prints that Laura used in her doll's clothes, and now I just need to make some new curtains-- I am thinking simple white curtains with some sort of redwork at the bottom.  I think the red against the pale blue walls is sweet but unusual for a little girl's room.  I will use the Liberty prints as accents around the room.  I am thinking of making some little doll's clothes to hang from tiny hangers a la Alicia, or maybe even putting in a little clothesline like Martha did.  I want the room to have the spartan look of a typical nursery from Martha Stewart Baby. (oh how I miss that magazine)

This is the way I usually decorate a room, with one little snippet of inspiration, maybe a fabric or rug, and go from there.  Elliot's nursery (at our former house) was a similar soft blue with white dotted swiss curtains and blue gingham bedding.  It was inspired by a vintage table cloth that I have dragged with me since my college years with little farmers on it.  That bedding will match the Liberty prints- which I had completely forgotten about at first.  To be honest, I don't plan on pulling out the crib just yet.  I found that the only way I got any sleep with Elliot was to lay with him, so I am going to put a queen mattress on the floor for the baby and me, which later will replace our guest room mattress.  I am trying to think of ways to make this bed look put together, and not like some mattress thrown in the corner on the floor, so if you have any great suggestions let me know.

So, I've got five weeks to get this done.  I am also hoping to commission a doll from Laura, or even make one myself using her patterns (sorry- link has been broken) which are available on the the MSL website.  Yeah, I pretty much did backflips when I found those.  That way, if I buy the doll from Laura, I can continue making little outfits on my own.  Check back for progress...

Update: One of the MSL links is broken, the other has been updated.

Sweet Treats

Real and felt.  No time for icing when baking with three year olds, but that's OK, because someone likes to dust "snow" on everything these days.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Weird

(pretty sad that the only photo I have of myself on this computer was taken by my then 2 year old last september- oh, and don't forget I'm pregnant)

That was an unintended break, but I really have been busy and productive lately, just can't post most of it yet.  My house has turned into a disaster zone, and I am actually looking forward to doing some housecleaning and stitching up some things for my Valentines this weekend.  Oh, and finishing Elliot's valentines too.  Never enough time, I swear.

As I shipped off my belated mini-swap package, I realized why swaps can seem like so much work...when you have a child who really isn't able to contribute yet, and really does everything he can to prevent you from getting that little package out the door, it can be a little overwhelming (although fun, I swear Magni!)  As I was trying to get all of it in the box and out the door, I had someone wearing the box as a firetruck, smearing labels, and running around waving tissue paper in the air.  It is hard to decide whether to laugh or cry.  Lighten up, Mama, he'll only be three once.  All in good fun, right?

Anyway, I have been tagged for six weird things about me by Frizz (really cute illustrations by the way, and local too), and as you can tell from the rant above, I really am totally normal...:)

1) When people meet me they think I am conservative and from a family with money, but I am extremely liberal, and my parents were hippies who liked their Rolling Stones loud.  I wonder why I come off a little uptight...hmmmm, something to think about.

2) I would wear a uniform if I could, I really have very little interest in dressing myself (although I am dressed, I assure you)  But my uniform would be designed by Martha (not Martha Stewart, silly)

3) I am not at all a girly-girl.  My husband and I did pre-marital counseling, and the counselor said I was more like the man in the relationship, and that my husband was more like the woman.  Just in terms of dynamics, that is.  My husband wants to talk it out, and I want to walk around the block.

4) The thought of "walking down the aisle" is my worst nightmare.  My husband and I eloped to Geneva, Switzerland so that we could honeymoon in Paris (you can't marry in France without a period of residency)  I shopped for fabric and ribbons on my wedding night:)

5) If I could snap my fingers and be anywhere today, I would raise Merino sheep on a small farm just outside of a really cool city (maybe Minneapolis, but tending to those sheep would get a little chilly there, wouldn't it?).  I would design and produce some sort of houseware from my modern eco-farmhouse and would be surrounded by all sorts of artsy neighbors.  That's my utopia, what's yours?

6) I have never once hired a babysitter for my son, and the thought of it pretty much freaks me out.

It's late, as if you couldn't tell that from this post.

Late Winter Crafts

Paper Garland- cardstock or laminated Paper (mine is laminated paper) with construction paper hearts.

Potato Stamped Hearts on Paper- getting ready to make Elliot's valentines