handmade holidays, at last

i realize that we are now far past the holidays and looking toward spring, but i thought i'd share a quick run down of the very few things i made as gifts this past yule season. i usually try to make at least one thing for each member of my immediate family. the projects were pretty small this year. there simply was no time with a busy work-life schedule, so much sewing for the holiday market, and christmas sneaking up on us as it did! 

for tashi i made a fabric garland. she moved into the downstairs room this past fall and many of her gifts were geared toward updating her teen space and finding some decor for the walls. her room is still in flux so the garland hasn't quite found its permanent home yet, but for now she has it draped across a corner.

for dan i made a didgeridoo case. this was pretty exciting. i found directions here. 

my fabric wasn't quite long enough, so i added on fabric pieces to both ends, to give it a symmetry. i sewed the pieces on so that the selvage fringe would show. i like the way it turned out.

and i think dan is pleased to be able to sling his didgeridoo over his shoulder.

for tristan i made an apron. i made several for the holiday market and each time i made one, he would ask where his was. and so it was thus. the body of the apron is from a vintage fabric scrap my sister-in-law mailed me.

right now he prefers to wear it as a cape!

i offered to make my mom a curtain to cover the open space under her kitchen sink. 

it's cheerful!

i handed out lots of mug mandalas to family as well. i didn't sell a single set of them at the holiday market, but no matter, i think they made nifty little gifts and it was fun to see them used here and there. my mom's match some place mats i made her one year, and they look nice as part of the table setting.

simple, minimal, handmade.

grateful spark

i have had some very generous contributions to my sewing stash from friends, family, acquaintances, and freecyclers. recently my sister in law sent me a beautiful collection of treasures that had been passed down to her: vintage bias tape, ric rac, laces, and fabric. doors of creativity are opened as i figure out how to best use these lovely relics.

one day there was a topsy turvy craft session unfolding between siblings. first a hot pad loom project gone sour, and after a few wrong turns, hand prints on old paper bags came to be. we weren't necessarily thinking hand turkeys. but clearly this is what we have!

fun with friends in a blue ridge nature preserve. i love where we live!

a walk with my family. this is our neighborhood!

i am grateful for so many warm knits from my mom. hats, sweaters, ponchos, shawls, fingerless gloves, socks, we've got it all and she made it! i'm grateful for my beautiful family and how they always make me smile even when i am feeling overwhelmed by inner gloom. i'm grateful for an abundance of good food, good friends, and good times! i'm grateful for creative outlets, and all the people that encourage me to keep at it. i'm grateful for vintage fabrics passed from woman to woman to woman, for kids' creations that fill my house, for walks in the virginia countryside with friends and family. i'm grateful for babies: mine, my clients', and all the babies of the earth. they are the true expanding light of future days that we must tenderly encourage. i'm grateful for planet earth.

may your holidays be warm and full of gratitude!

where we are

it's been one of those weeks where my mind reached a peak of mama madness and then climbed back down quickly. wasn't sure i was going to make it to level ground without falling, but i did. yes i did. and now i'm back on the path, one foot after another. breathe. breathe. 

here are some scenes from around the ranch.



happily, the antique singer is humming again. i'm very pleased, but wish my machine with fancy stitches worked as i've been inspired and want a little more stitching freedom. ah well. i'm beginning to prepare for the holiday market (oh i am so very behind on production) and am adding in these new reversible mug mandalas. many more to come, and what a great way to use up all those fabric scraps! i plan to add in cloth napkin rings as well.  hoping to expand the offerings for those who are not seeking baby gifts!





the blankets are off to a slow start. but there will be blankets. and bibs. yes indeed.

meet buck nekked. 

yea, that's how we roll some days. 
he harvested potatoes. just a few. 

they were delicious.

he washed off in the wading pool afterwards. wow was it hot this week.

but today it has dropped like 20 degrees. lovely autumn is approaching. the small garden is drying out. there is one tiny pumpkin turning orange. green tomatoes dangle among dying leaves, slowly turning red. small zucchinis and cucumbers continue.

and the acorns are beginning to rain down. i think we may need hard hats!

autumn light invigorates us before the darkness of winter settles in.

and this is our cat loki, who lives up to his name. he is a very, very naughty 11 year old cat. but isn't he ever so handsome? his sister luna is hiding somewhere.

the corgi is our neighbor dog, dorothy, who likes to visit us sometimes and clean our floor by snuffling around for crumbs. she and loki recently met. i was proud of my boy cat who is generally terrified of dogs. he hung out for a while, staring her down. she looks a little nervous. 

and now i am dreaming of having a dog!

thanks for visiting!