Christmas is coming~

Its that time of year when we pull out our sweaters, coats and start thinging about fall and Christmas.  YAY! I love this time of year.  So re-energizing.  Its almost Nov.  and I cant believe how warm its been for this time of year.  I am sitting here in a tank-top for pete sake.

So since its our favorite time of year, I thought I would share some crafty ideas for Christmas gifts!

For Sewing;
Nice Childrens gift
Piggy Bank Purse
Table Runner
Easy Tag Toy
Much more tutorials can be found on;
Sew Mama Sew

 

If you knit/crochet;
Rivalry is always the best place to look for great patterns.  However if your just starting out and want some quick, simple ideas here are a few;
Easy Knitted Dishcloth
A crocheted Scrubbie
Knitted scarf

Another idea is the whole Mason Jar Goodies.  YOu can find all sorts of recipe for the mason jars.  Even SOUPS!
An all time favorite is of course the snowman soup; you can find a recipe here;
Snowman soup Gift Jar

 

For those that like to do online gift shopping I have included a few favorite websites that are from my family and friends alike. 

Author- Chautona havig, Christian Fiction and a new Child series coming NOV.
Mainly Grains- Healthy alternative for food baskets!
Daddy’s Little Princess- Modest clothing for girls at affordable prices.
Sweet Marmalade- Crafty items all handcrafted, wood and more!
Little Sassy Cowgirl and Buckaroo- Horse clothes, prairie dresses and more
Laura’s Lathers and more~ Soap and Lotions, ah every girls dream
Suthern Sundries~ Wonderful handmade soap, Bath and Body and more. 
Mary Kay Consultant~ Cari Shepherd is a friend and a consultant.  Great stocking stuffer ideas.
UnOrdinary Photography-  Lisa is also a friend and if you live nearby maybe she can help out with your Christmas photos.

These are just a few that I can think of.  Etsy is FILLEd with handmade goodies and always help the crafty workers like us.  I will add more as I find them.    There is always too my own store-
CottagePrimrose

Thank you for stopping by today!  Please leave a comment as I always enjoy hearing from my readers.  

Gluten Free Pantry

 

 Most of you know that for the most part we are gluten-free/wheat-free.  I havent been as consistent or as picky about it.  Until about a month ago when I found out that my son is very sensitive to wheat and possibly dairy.  Therefore I did more of a strict diet and it has seemed to help the problems we were facing (nasty runny diapers, rashy area and unsoothing crankiness).   However, I do not like experimenting with recipes so much.   I want what is put in front of me and I want to get out of the kitchen as quickly as possible.   I know, great homemaker attitude there huh? For the most part when I started out doing GF with David I didnt find many recipes that appealed to us.  Rice bread was always dry and substituting a certain flour just made it edible.  But in the past couple weeks I have made:

Shoofly pie with GF crust- Got an A from Hubby
Bread 2 weekly (A+ from hubby and I’ll actually eat this)
Tonight I found a nice moist cornbread recipe  (pst, worked really well in the cast iron skillet)

Who knows what else lies out there?  I found 2 blogs:

http://glutenfreemamafriends.blogspot.com/

http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/

So, what else is going on in our little corner of the city?   Well, yesterday my husband made a chest/box/window seat for our livingroom.  I havent taken pictures because the lid isnt made and I already filled it with um, stuff.   But he did a good job.   I have been sewing and learning to make pretty cards;

 I have also been trying to create a winter nightgown like the one I have on my Etsy store-

This is what I have so far.  It may look dull and uncreative but I hope it will be a cute nightgown soon.

 Still looking forward to start plowing the ground for fall.  I need to get a move on it yesterday.   Its so blazing hot again.  103 today.  75 last week.  This is definetly the desert.

 

Blogging Journal~

 Outside my window…  the crickets are singing my babies a lullabye… the town is hushed.

I am thinking… that I really should be sewing instead of doing this.

From the learning rooms… I have learned that I dont like to teach and I am not a consistent person.

I am thankful for… Chiropractic care.

From the kitchen… I made yogurt per Chas’ tutorial

I am wearing … My favorite denim skirt from the thrift store and a white GAP tank, also from the thrift store (gotta share that frugality in me. )

I am reading… Beverly Lewis’ The Covenant… I have such a hard time reading her. But I still enjoy her. Weird.

I am hoping… That my fingers will be swift to finish all these orders soon.

I am creating… tons of aprons, nightgowns and dresses galore from my etsy store.

I am praying… Wisdom beyond measure, patience for every moment, and peace that only God can bring.

Around the house… I just finished picking up all the children’s toys. (hey shouldnt they have done that?) and I am cleaning up my sewing mess.

One of my favorite things… A flower given with a smile. A baby’s giggle.  A son that takes his first steps and claps at himself.

A few plans for the rest of the week… I get to take care of M this whole week. I also hope to finish up a couple orders.

A picture to share…  Our little sodbuster on the Prairie

Blog Journal for July 7, 2009

 Outside my window…  I hear the wind rustling through the Oleander bushes.

I am thinking… I really should invest more time with my children.   Enjoy life with them. 

From the learning rooms… I am teaching a daughter of mine to sit on the pot.

I am thankful for… A wonderful husband that through thick and thin,  he provides, without complaint, for the family.

From the kitchen… I am thinking of chicken and noodle pasta.

I am wearing … A crisp white tank top and a pink and coral striped skirt. 

I am reading… A Gathering of Finches by Jane Kirkpatrick and Argosy Junction by Chautona Havig

I am hoping… for a productive day.

I am creating… Skirts and jumpers and unmentionables for a client. 

I am praying… For peace and complete trust in our Heavenly Father.

Around the house… I see children’s toys being used.  I see laundry that I need to fold and put away, and a large tote of fabric I need to use up.

One of my favorite things… Butterflies dancing among the flower garden.

A few plans for the rest of the week… An out of town trip, a trip to the local bookstore for some new shoes for my daughter (they carry a few baby things), a bit of organizing in the shed, some time out to just sit and read with a cup of coffee.

A picture to share… Some of the unmentionables I was talking about.   My daughter and her Aunt Lorna.

 

Snapshot Wednesday~

  My friend sent me these LOVELY napkins.  I’m in heaven.  I love them.  How refreshing to sit with a cuppa tea and know that you’ll love your napkin beside it.   Quality fabric, and quality sewing.  Ahh yes.  The good life.

 

  But I have a daughter that needs more than a napkin, She also sent me a bib that has been used well for the day.   The bib she is wearing now was a baby gift from our crazy packer fan.  It always makes me think of her when we use it.  Such a smile we all wear while she wears her bib.  Oh yes, Stephen uses it too.

And we harvested our first very puny strawberry today.  Unfortunetly if we didnt pick it soon the birds would have feasted on it.   It might be the only strawberry of the season.   I so long for the days when you could just grow a field of them and enjoy them all summer long. 

And lastly,  My gorgeous and wonderful Sister Braelyn took family photos a couple weeks ago.  Here is a sample of what we have!

May God richly bless you all!  Thank you for reading this blog.  I very much enjoy comments so drop one by!

Quilt memories~

 On a board I am on, someone asked to see our quilts, I thought I would add them to here so I could pull them up at anytime and give other people idea’s. 

I made these when I was approx. 16yr.   The Large Log Cabin was made for my hubby the first year of our courtin’ days.   It took me approx. 4 months to make but more consistently it would have been maybe 2 weeks.

I did not quilt it however.  It was done by a friend in town and boy were we happy with her work! She has done most of our quilting now.  I can quilt more small type things but my machine wouldnt do a California King size quilt.  Despite my bragging on the excellent Bernina 1230-40 it does have a limit.

I was four red-center squares short and my hubby LOVES horses so we used the backing and cut out the horse heads to make these four center blocks.   It is one of my hubby’s favorite gifts ever.  If I ever make him a pair of knitted socks, it will probably be the only thing that tops this quilt.  LOL

 

My other quilt was more baby size. 

 Just a basic nine-patch.   It was quilted by my mom on our machine and it has been Emma’s blanket for about a month now.  I need to make Stephen one but I haven’t decided what to do yet….

Just basic quilting anyone can do on a simple machine.

The border is my favorite. The nice rich tones.  It kind of reminds me of the amish colors. 

Anyway, there you go! Enjoy and get motivated! You can do it!   I made a basic nine-patch when I was 5.  Anyone can!

On the 10th and 11th Day of Dec.

 Yesterday I was a good mom.  I took my children out into the 30F weather.   No, no, they wanted to be out.  Emma was excited not to be cooped up in the one room playroom and Stephen looked forward for the fresh air.  At least, I think he did, for he was giggling along with Emma.  One of those rare moments to be treasured.

Euphemia was all bundled up.  The mittens she actually kept on and her hat was for the most part left alone. 

Stephen was bundled up too.  Along with the cozy hat knitted by a friend of mine,  the sweater he wore was also knitted by another dear friend of mine.  It was actually Emma’s but he has been able to wear it too.  So I had a homemade little boy yesterday.  It was a sweet reminder of all those near and dear that fill our homes with love and care. 

Yesterday I spent the day making Emma’s Christmas gift.  It wasn’t as easy as I thought but it was fun.  I learned a little more crocheting (thanks to my trusty youtube tutorials) and I learned that Walmart doesn’t have double-point needles.  Sigh.  I made do.  What you see is a thrift shop wooden bowl, and 3 knitted strawberries,  1 crocheted apple, and one crocheted orange.  I’m working on carrots now.  I also bought some felt to do fried eggs.  (Eggs are one of her favorite food).  It has been very fun and I know taht she will enjoy it,  I let her play with them as I got done.  I know bad me not keeping it a surprise but I just had to know if there was a remote possibility she would enjoy them.

Today is the 12th and 13th of December projects (please dont remind me how far behind I am).   Today I will be making more pajama pants for my twin nephews, and I will be cutting out a shirt pattern for David.  I also want to write a few more letters for his stocking. 

We are quickly approaching Christmas.  I wish I could make it last longer….

7th – 9th day of Dec.

 Seventh was a day of rest.  I took the day to catch my breath and reflect on celebrating on preparing my heart for this season.  I have been listening to a series done in 2007 by Charles Swindoll.  They have been very insightful and I believe I can somewhat like Mary, ponder these things within my heart.    On the seventh day, we reflected the reason for Advent. 

On the 8th day, I made my neice a skirt, somewhat like teh one pictured below.  Since that was a better picture, I used that one.

On the ninth day, I caught up on orders, knitted some more on my BIL’s scarf, and started cross-stitching bookmarks.  The days are very busy.   I’m still constantly rushing here and there.   I have 2 parties to attend to this weekend.  One is a cookie exchange, and the other is a dedication of a farm and a birthday celebration.  Needless to say, the oven will be keeping us warm,  holiday music shall be heard in every corner of the house,  wrapping paper is strewn everywhere…and I love it all.

On the 5th and 6th days of DEC.

 I made two of these bird ornaments for day 5.  One went to a friend of mine out of state and the other I made in rememberance of my friend J’s bird that died this past year.

I found the tutorial here.

I also put together these baskets for our neighbors.   My one neighbow has everything she wants so I put together a basket of the things we mainly buy for her (we do her shopping as she cant get around much) with an extra treat or two.

homemade pumpkin bread, and whoppers being the treat.  

This one isn’t for my actual neighbor but my mother’s neighbor…but she is very dear and I wanted to do one for her. There is even a treat for the dog.  They got homemade bread too, but I used my cranberry- orange nut bread recipe.

Recipe’s to follow….

On the 3 and 4th day of December

 I actually don’t have 4th Dec. picture.  It’ll take a bad one because of the night light and the skirt’s colors so I’ll be adding that one later.

3rd day of december.  This is a head-covering/scarf I made for my pen-friend in Scotland.   I used the pattern here.

Emma was kind enough to model it for me-

  Like I said, I’ll add the skirt here tomorrow when I write 5th and 6th of Dec. 

 Added!

How i made the skirt was,
1) 44″w  x 10″ long for 1 tier
2) 36″w  x  10″ long for 2nd tier
3) 44″w  x 10″ long for third tier. 
Sew the fabrics for each tier together to make three tubes.  Put gathering threads in 2nd and third tiers.  Gather up so that 2nd tier can be sewn at the bottom of the first and the 3rd tier gathered up so that it fits the second.  Hem the bottom and fold the top of the first tier down about 1″ for your elastic casing.  Clear as mud?

THis morning I was late in getting around and decided to Dress-Up Emma (which means do her hair).  I get her all primmed up and she’s ready for bed.  So like her.  But later I took this sweet picture and it made me smile.  Aren’t children the most cuddable, adorable, sweet little things… Well, Emma is little anyways.

Merry Christmas!