Category: Winter

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Happy January

Seasons in life ebb & flow with the seasons of the year.  Every month the Earth shares with us gifts that are unique to it’s location as it makes it’s way around our sun.   In the past, I lived my life in a way that allowed me to notice , treasure, and share these gifts with others.  However, in more recent years, I’ve been busier, and often distracted with worry.  I have longed to experience again the joy that is found in the everyday gifts of the seasons.January2014

In 2014, I am determined to live slower,  to celebrate the beauty that surrounds me, and to to experience the wonders of each month.
To honor this choice, and to make my goal more tangible, I want to begin each month with a round up of my favorite things for the month.  I hope that these posts will also inspire you to live each day to the fullest, and to taking advantage of all the gifts our seasons have to offer.

Hot chocolate recipeThings I’m looking forward to . . .

January 1: a visit from a very special friend

January 8: my favorite boy turns 9!

January 11:  sledding & snowball fights

 

What is your favorite thing about January?

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Silent December

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I’ve been in a slump – I’m sure you’ve noticed.

It started after I finished painting a “hope” mural for the Oncology unit at a local hospital.  That was such an amazing experience for me.  I loved seeing how people interacted with my artwork, and hearing the comments that people made.  Most of all, I enjoyed seeing how the painting touch the patients.  The whole experience was very fulfilling to me.

Then came November. I spent several weeks trying to put together a collection of holiday themed paintings to display in a local coffee shop.  The more I worked at it, the more pressure I felt to get the pieces completed.  The whole process had become stressful.  I wasn’t enjoying myself, and the work I was creating was crap.  It was frustrating – so I stopped, and I put the whole idea aside.  I didn’t even finish making my Christmas cards.  Truth be told, I haven’t worked in the studio all December.

I could say that I spent the time choosing to focus on family & friends during the holiday season, but the truth is, I simply had no desire to create, and I’ve had nothing of real interest to share here. Consequently, it’s been very quite on this blog, and that is ok.  You see, I had decided awhile back that I wanted this space to be genuine and current.  I want to share what’s on my heart today.  If my heart is feeling quite, chances are, this blog will also be quiet.  I am ok with that.

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Advent Capsules

adventWe have one of those advent calendars where you open a different door for each day of advent, so every year, I am trying to find creative ways to fill each space in a way that won’t matter if my children open all the doors on the first day of advent. One method I have come up with is to seal each days activity in it’s own decorative capsule.  Here is how I make the capsules.

Advent materials copy:: Materials ::

* Advent notes * Washi Tape * Plastic straws * Pliers * Lighter *

Advent collage

1.  The first step is to seal one end of the plastic drinking straw. To do this, hold the tip of the straw shut using the pliers.  There should be a small of amount of straw sticking out of the pliers.  This is the section that is going to be melted.  Hold the straw tip to a flame until the end is melted down to the pliers and sealed shut.

2. Write out the messages and activities that you want to open each day of advent onto strips of paper.  Roll these up tightly and secure them with washi tape.  Cut the sealed drinking straw so that it is slightly larger than the note. *You can find a few of my favorite advent activities below.

3.  Insert the note, and seal the other end of the drinking straw in the same way that the first end was sealed.

4.  Cover each end of the straw with washi tape.  Then continue to cover the rest of the straw until it is completely covered.  You may want to use the pliers again to press down on the sealed ends to ensure that the washi tape is stuck down well and the ends are properly sealed.

To open each note, carefully cut off one of the sealed ends of the straw and pull out the message.

advent 2My favorite advent activities:

* Drive around & look at Christmas lights on the “Minivan Express”

* Make a snow globe

* Unwrap & read a Christmas book each night.  Here is a list of books with crafts!

* Make a sugar cube house

* Make garland and ornaments out of gumdrops, popcorn, Cinnamon sticks, orange slices and/or cranberries

Share with us your favorite Advent activities in the comments!

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Winter Weaving

Winter WeavingI did a little winter weaving on my portable loom. It felt good to sit down on a cold, snowy day & play with some of my stash yarns.  This little weaving was inspired by the fresh fallen snow & the Magnolia tree in our backyard.

Winter Pussy Willow

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This weaving loom can be found in my Etsy shop

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Snowy Days

pussy willows

We received a large amount of snow this week, & yesterday, the schools were closed.  The kids & I took advantage of the day to go out & play.  The sledding hills were perfect & the weather was great, but there were also hints of spring!

lilac budsAs I looked around, I noticed that our trees are beginning to bud, & the birds have been returning to the area.  I can hear their songs throughout the day bringing cheer to these last days of winter.

This weekend the temperature is suppose to be 20 degrees warmer, so I know the snow won’t stay for long.  I am ok with that.  We got our last romp in the snow, so now Spring may come

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“poor old winter is knocking at my door”

I’m not usually one for talking about the weather (I have a thing with small talk – which is why I am such a wall flower), but this morning’s weather came straight from a storybook. Owl At Home, by Arnold Lobel to be exact.

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As I sat here looking over my emails & drink my tea, the front door burst open, & there in my living room was poor old winter!  He had let himself in with a gust of wind.

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Sick Days

I just love it when the kids at school are so willing to share . . .

This week my children brought home with them strep throat & have been ever so generous in sharing it with dad & I.  My day Wednesday was cut short by a teeth grinding migraine. Thursday found me with a lingering headache & a flaming sore throat.  My daughter was up the entire night crying with an earache.  You know it’s bad when your 9 yr old is waking you up every hr with crying all night long.  Friday morning we went to the doctor first thing when the office opened.  The poor thing has an ear infection & strep throat. She finally did sleep – most of the day, which was great because then I too could catch up on knitting, sleep.

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I have found that I have a love-hate relationship with illness. On one hand it isn’t any fun to feel crummy, but on the other hand, I love the slower pace that it allows for. I don’t one bit, mind laying in bed for a day knitting & drinking chai tea. I don’t mind how my children find it within themselves to “get along” in order to help mom. And, I certainly don’t mind being left alone in my quiet room to knit I mean rest in order to get well again. Today, I am feeling much better.

Since this is the time of year when people seem to feel under the weather, I though I would share a recipe for my favorite chia tea concentrate.

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IMG_0096What is your comfort food for days when you are feeling under the weather?

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Winter knitting

With snow covering the ground, I have been spending more time with my needles in hand. I’ve enjoyed creating a collection of patterns & designs that have inspired my winter knitting. What has inspired your knitting this season?
Winter Knitting Collage copy

1. Heliconian by Pam Powers

2.  Tiny White Daisies

3.  Thrummed Mittens by Helene Driesen

4.  Montera Embroidered Button Jacket by Pam Allen

5.  Seed Stitch Tall Cowl by Diana at Knit & Bake

6.  Shades of Winter by Ewa K. Andinsson & Ingalill Johansson

7. Ondori Winter Knitting Goods

8.  Small & Clever by Pickles

9.  Cottage Sock Slippers by Lion Brand Yarns

10.  Bird House by Marie Claire *french pattern

11. Malabrigo Loafers by Julie Weisenberger

12.  Bulky Hat by Eveli Kaur

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A New Year

As I look to the dawning new year, I find that I am  full of hope and excitement over the possibilities the year has to offer.  One of my new years resolutions for 2013 is to spend more time working with my blog.  I’ve kept a blog off & on for some time now, but I’ve never taken what I was doing very seriously.  I was just having fun figuring out the ins & outs of the blogosphere while my children were young.  Now that they are older & require less from their Momma, I’m finding that I have the time & energy to pursue blogging a bit more aggressively. For years I have been collecting inspiration & project ideas for a time when I can devote more time to my creative spirit.  Now is that time & I am excited to be sharing this with you.

A Happy New Year Postcard

I hope the coming year finds you full of inspiration and bravery

as you move forward in your own personal endeavors.

Cheers!

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Santa baby . . .

. . . slip some needles under the tree, for me
I’ve been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

This year for the holidays I am introducing these fabulous Santa Knitting Needles to the shop. They are fantastic.  Each set has been masterfully crafted using Blood wood & Maple to create a striped effect. Each set includes 1 needle with a Blood Wood cap & 1 needle with a Maple cap.

There are only 8 of these special edition knitting needle left. So place your orders now!

Also, on Monday, Honey over at Mondorfment is hosting a give away for one of my portable weaving looms.  If you would like to have a chance at winning one of these, make sure to remember to hop on over & sign up!