Enchanted Mama

It's Official::

Yes.  It's official.  

I've figured out that by simplifying my life I might in fact be making it harder.  

I mean I'm sitting here sewing felt eggs...enough said.  Of course, they are felt eggs that have a secret little pouch inside for treasures so....

The intention was to move away from the plastic egg idea into something warmer and potentially more beneficial for mother earth.  Something we could use again and again.  Something fun and easy.  Easy.

Anyone going to step in here?  What I may need is an intervention.  Someone to pounce on my sewing machine and tell me to "slowly back away from the machine".  Alas, that has yet to happen.

 

And then, to make matters worse I decided on new bags.  

This seemingly innocent bag has been time consuming.  Yet, I continued.  I wanted something smaller to make the smaller gifts and treats seem bigger in the bag, you know.  Sitting next to the machine as we speak are three more bags cut out and ready to sew.  

Simple right?  Next year, it will seem easier/simpler.  At least that is what I say now....

So unless someone makes a move here I'm headed back to the studio to finish those other three bags.  

Yup...I am...I'm going now....I'm walking...I'm walking...  

Well, if you change your mind and have a moment in your day you know where to find me.  

I asked a friend of mine recently (A friend that I will NOT tell you is in the process of making the very same felt eggs) whether she ever felt that her life was harder because she was attempting to make it "more simplified"?  

Her response was...EVERYDAY.  

Anyone else out there? 

 

Her Project::

Her project on Ecuador required a creative handwork piece.  

This is what she chose.  

Love it.  

 

 

Handmade Holiday 2011::

Our Handmade Holiday, which we began in earnest last year, was quite lovely.    

We drew names for one another so we could focus on creating a gift for each member of the family.  Last year this is where it started and this was along the way here and here and this is where it ended here and here.  

When I asked my children this year how they had wanted the holidays to be they enthusiastically said, "We want to draw names like last year and have a special date with you and Daddy."  

So that is what we did.

Our Holiday was full of secret projects, closed doors with signs that read, "Elves working...DO NOT OPEN!!!" and whispers about "how to" without telling who someone had drawn.  

There were loud noises coming from the garage as well as sewing machines whirring in the back round.  My knitting needles click clacking furiously in the end.  

Full and fun.  

 

The Big Daddy drew my name this year.  Lucky me.  

I love to have candles on the dining room table for all the seasons.  Big tall drippy candles and short fat handmade candles in a variety of holders.  Though I love all candles these holders may still be my favorite.    

What I don't love is "chipping off" wax from every surface.  The wax that gets stuck on the table, plates, and goodness knows the tablecloth.  So my request in October, I started early, was a slab of wood with feet to put in the middle of the table that would allow for the rolling, dripping wax.  Something that would make chipping the wax off optional.  

Do you know what?  The Big Daddy created this fantastic gift.  He even listened when I said, "I would love to have bark on it as well".  I have a fondness for bark on pretty much anything.  So he did it.  

The love that he put into this project is what makes me smile and the fact that this is so much better than I could have even imagined.  

 

One thing for sure is I felt like the luckiest mama on the block when I opened this.  We have used it every night since.  And I suspect, will continue to for years to come!  

 

My oldest girl took to the sewing machine for her brother.  She made a book cover for the guy who loves to carry around books at this point.  A pencil case to hold well pencils and various treasures.  He was quite proud of his presents.  There was even a bookmark tucked inside.  How simple.   

I loved seeing my girl do this project completely on her own.  All she wanted was the velcro for the pouch and she was off and running without any help from me.  Even I was surprised on Christmas morning to see what she had created.   

Oh, also in her spare time she decided to make gifts for ALL of us, ahem.  

There were hand-knit washcloths.  Stitch markers for this knitter.  And an assortment of other treasures she whipped up.  No wonder she had all those bags of things squirreled away in her room.

She has big plans this girl of mine.  Big plans and a big heart.   

 

My oldest boy, my woodworker, thought of this idea for his littlest sister.  

A wooden stacking ring from some of the candle holders he had in his workshop.  With a little help from the Big Daddy they spent a few days on this creation.  

Sounds of saws and sanders emanating from the garage.  We knew they were out there but had no idea what creation was being made.  

That is what I find so fun.  As the children get older there is less involvement and more surprise and wonder at what their little creative selves come up with.  

Once he cut the pieces he rubbed them all down with beeswax.  So, not only do they look so cool with the rings from the inside of the wood but they smell delicious. 

 

My girl loves it.  

She's taken to carrying it around the house with her for things to stack at a moments notice.  

 

My four year old LOVES to watercolor.  So for his gift that seemed a natural choice.  Plus, he drew his big sister who LOVES to write letters.  It seemed for this year to be the perfect match.  

He set right to work and created a unique set of cards and postcards.  What I enjoyed most was sitting with him after he had spent a few days painting and asking him to tell me about the paintings. 

He knew, of course, what every one of them was.  An angel on horseback.  A fire breathing dragon.  A swan.  A dragon's tail.  A smiling Turtle.  A woodpecker.  A person pushing a wheelbarrow.  And, the one that made me laugh the most was, A vacuum.  

I believe I had as much fun labeling them as he did painting.  They were bundled up with bakers twine and tucked in a bag to await Christmas morning.  

His excitement in giving this gift to his sister was the most beautiful part about it.  

 

The creative aftermath...

 

The next gift was for my sweet four year old from his littlest sister.  Who, no matter how much I pondered, I realized was a bit young to make anything herself.  So with some help from this mama we created a bag for her brother.  

He loves elephants after seeing them at the zoo last year.  He is even referred to, in our house, as the "elephant washer".  We being the elephants and him doing the washing.  When I found this fabric I knew it had to be used.  

He had been wanting a bag of his own to carry more books and toys around like his older brother and sister.

I also tucked a hand-sewn fish inside, as he loves to grill things up in the play kitchen, that I found at the local handmade holiday market.  Think rainbow trout with ribbons along the sides.  

He has since been seen loading the bag to capacity.  Which makes me glad I did the extra strong seams!  

 

The final gift was for the Big Daddy.  

I drew his name this year and of course I had to knit something.  Something Big.  Something scary and thrilling all at the same time.  Unfortunately, the light has been non-existent and with a few sick children we have yet to do a photo shoot but its on its way.  Hopefully this week.  

I hope your holidays were all that you wished them to be and that the New Year is off to a great start.

I myself feel a bit behind the ball already.  But, I'm hopeful that all the lingering pieces of 2011 can be finalized and let go so that we can focus on the Beautiful Year of 2012.     

I'll be checking in here more often I promise.  It's just been well, full.  You know?  

 

Let's chat soon, 

Kellen

 

So She did..::

"She Believed She Could So She Did".

My girlie had her first handmade market debut two weekends ago.  The annual holiday fair at school.  She's been determined to do this for over a year.  Absolutely set on pursuing this dream.  

It happened a few summers ago when we sat side by side in front of my mother's Elna sewing machine teaching her the basics and letting her press the pedal and send the machine whirling through the fabric she had chosen.

Freedom.  

The smile on her face and the learning she did in that first summer were immeasurable.  I, the teacher, wanted her to know the basics, the stitches, the way the machine worked.  How to thread the machine and how to finish it off when done.  She bore this beautifully, in fact she seemed to absorb everything I had to teach her about sewing on a machine.  

Then, she was on her own.  My fabric stash at her fingertips.  Yet another opportunity for me to let go.  To appreciate the thoughts running through my head. "Oh, I was going to use that fabric" or "That one is supposed to be a...." or "No.  That I'm saving for..".  To hear those thoughts and struggle to breathe and say, "Yes, you may use whatever you wish".  

To recognize the girl in me that loved when my own mother had said those same words to me.  To be less concerned about what all the fabric WAS going to be and more interested in what the fabric COULD BE now.  

 

She started slow, tentative.  Reluctant to push the machine very fast more comfortable to amble along stitch by stitch.  Today?  Well, that girl can fly is all I'm saying.  

So with the Winter Faire approaching she and another friend spent days together side by side sewing for their stand.  One sewing bracelets.  One sewing bags.  Both happy to be doing something on their own yet willing to ask questions when they were stuck.  

For me it was delightful. Freeing. Beautiful.  My girl sailing through the fabric stash, ever respectful and helping me breathe and let go...breathe and let go.  

My child as my teacher, again.  

 

And so she did.  She made 86 bracelets to be exact.  There may have been a few days at the end that required some reinforcements.  A late night "ribbon stitcher" along with the big daddy as head "button guy". 

There were looks across the room at one another with this daughter of ours, head down, sewing in the middle.  Smiles were passed and looks of awe.  Her tenacity.  Her drive to create something and follow through.

Her label---completely her design and idea.  Of course, this enchanted mama deemed it just the right name for her.   

 

Then, the big weekend happened.  She rose to the occasion.  She smiled.  She answered questions.  She stood on her feet for hours at a time experiencing "retail".  A challenge at best.  

The weekend flew by and then she packed up her bracelets.  Tired but excited about her first foray into the handmade world.  

She sold quite a few.  She still has some left.  She wants to do it again.    

I know as her mama that more than anything it was a success. She set the goal, pursued the goal and learned a few things in the process.  As much as I would have loved to tell her all about "my retail experience" I tried to let her learn in her own way. Knowing it's better that way.  

 

So I learn to let go of the very children I want to protect and hold so tight.  Recognizing that every time I do they are able to fly more freely.  

I believe that in the end I will have learned more from my children than I ever could have taught them myself.

For now I will smile at my own bracelet, that was made "just for me", from my girlie and love her even more than I did yesterday.  

 

 

A Fall Bag::

I love to send care packages.  Love it.  

There's something about anticipating the smile of the one you love, tearing open a box and discovering treasure, that warms my heart.

My mom used to send them to me in college or when I traveled to camp.  I clearly remember the excitement just before I opened the box wondering what lay inside.  The hand written notes tucked inside with some little lovelies she thought I would need.      

I have a friend who LOVES Fall.  A friend who lives in a place where Fall doesn't really happen.  

A few years back she and her daughter visited our home in October, the height of Fall.  Orange and Red leaves burst from all the trees as if to put on a show just for them.  The mornings were misty and the afternoons cool.  We ate soup, talked, and she learned how to knit.  

A Lovely time for all. 

 

So back in October, when I put together the ever so fast and fabulous bag that I spoke of before it seemed so "Fall-ish" that I knew it needed to be sent to this dear friend.  

I filled it with "all things orange" and sent it on its way.  I smiled thinking of her smile upon opening it.  

Don't we all cherish receiving a bit of love in the mail?  I know I do.

Sometimes in our high-tech world I really love to buck the system and send it "old school".  You know?  

 

Anyway, I'm off to work on some long standing projects today.  Hoping to get clarity in some and just plain "something done" in the others.  

What are you up to today?

 

Rainbows::

"Rainbows, that is what I want for my birthday.  Oh, and a rainbow cake."  

My three, almost four year old informed the family at dinner the other night of his birthday wishes.

 

Rainbows and cake, huh?  Sounds pretty easy to me.  And, really what else is there?

So that is where I'll be today, in the studio sewing and crafting.  

Simultaneously I will, more than likely, be pulling string out of my girlies mouth and detaching her from a ball of yarn but rain or shine that is where I'll be.  

 

While my little guy is off on an adventure with the big daddy I'm hoping to start/maybe finish the few ideas I have for him. 

I'm off to get started latte in hand, of course.  

Where will you be today?  

 

 

 

They said::

They said it could be done in twenty minutes.  

They said it was easy and a great idea for using as a gift bag.  

They said, you can make them by the dozens.  Well, maybe I said that last one, but it's true!

This project has had me pondering for a few days.  I thought to myself, I have fabric.  I have webbing.  I have, well not always, but today I have twenty minutes.  

I'll admit there was a bit of, "Yeah right this takes twenty minutes.  Sure!"  But, I tried it anyway.  

To be fair I had the fabric picked out and put on the sewing table but nothing else was done.  I started the timer and was off.  Cut. Pin. Stitch. Turn. Pin. Stitch.  Marvel.  

The timer went off and I was literally, without even hurrying, ten seconds from finishing.  That time even included picking out thread and re-threading the sewing machine.  

Amazed?  I was.  

I used their pattern sorta as they wrote it except for picking my own size bag.  And, it was done.   

 

Impressed that it came together so quickly, I decided that I would line the bag because I just like the look and durability of lined bags.  I cut the lining fabric the same size as the bag with enough to fold over on the top.  Then...

 

What I discovered was that lining it and using this type of construction created an entirely reversible bag.  hello.  The possibilities here are endless.  

My mind is thinking different sizes.  Different fabrics.  Longer straps.  No straps.  You see what I mean here?  

It really comes down to this....

 

It won't be "will I" make more of these but rather, who do I know that needs one and what will we put in it?!?!!

What would you put in your bag on this lovely Wednesday?

 

Simple::

This simple, yet totally brilliant solution has changed our lives, or at least our thread stash.  

It's one of those things that you wonder, "why didn't I think of this sooner".    

I know this idea is out there.  In fact, I happened to see it on Pinterest yesterday.  

Though I suspect that this lovely lady, whom I discovered it from, was one of the first.  She just seems innovative enough to come up with this all on her own.  

As "friendship bracelet love" is still going strong around these parts we needed this simple solution to what had become quite a problem.  

 

Anyone who has worked at all with embroidery floss knows that its favorite thing to do other than look beautiful is to tie itself into teeny-tiny knots and become a mass of colorful frustration. 

So here's what you need:

---One pile of floss that no one can pull a single solitary thread from because they are knotted so incredibly and would require a magnifying glass and a good, or rather, great light to untangle.  

---Clothespins.  As many as you have the floss and patience for.  Hopefully, most of you would do this before you have said "mess of floss" and it would be a much calmer experience.  

We live on the edge here most of the time and wanted our floss to be good and knotted before I found this solution.  

---Time to wind them up or un-knot them as the case may be.  

That is all.  

 

You end up with this.  

Isn't it cute?  

I love these so much that I'm now wondering what else I can wrap around clothespins.  There has to be something...suggestions? 

 

Hope your Wednesday is treating you well and not tying you into little intricate knots.

If so, try a clothespin you never know what might happen.  

 

 

 

A Dress::

For her birthday I made a dress.  Well to be more correct I altered a t-shirt.  Either way she ended up with something to wear which she loves.  

We thought about gifts for her birthday and really, what does a one year old need?  

Food, check.  

Love, check.  

Attention, check times five.  

She really doesn't care much for toys if there's a cardboard box or our sunglasses to be found.  So, in leu of anything else we gave her a swim suit for the beach some handmade cards and a dress. 

 

This is what it became.  

Nothing fancy by any means.  In fact just down right simple.  Which of course I love most.  

 

This is where is started.  

My oldest has a t-shirt that she loves.  She thought her sister should have one to match.  Unfortunately, they don't make these shirts for babies.  Oversight on their part I think.  But anyway, I decided that I would take a woman's t-shirt and make it into a dress.  

I used, for the first time ever, elastic thread which you put into the sewing machine.  Oh my goodness was that fun!!!  This sewing job was no where near perfect but I enjoyed every moment while making it. 

First I cut off the sleeves.  

Then, I sewed with the elastic thread around the armholes twice, the neck three times, and the middle of the shirt just under the logo three times.  

The magic happened when I took it to the iron, sprayed on some water and steamed it.  It puckered up and shrunk right before my eyes.

You have got to try it.  

 

 

This was the result.  

It's soft and comfy and something I will definitely try again.  In fact, the big daddy has volunteered some of his old shirts that will be great to use since they have lots of interesting places on them that he has traveled to.   

 

The best part is that the girls have something that matches.  

I think when you have two brothers in between having a sister a little matching is necessary.   Required even.   

Our little one may not know she's matching, but we do and later we can show her and smile together.  RIght now we just get to witness these sisters loving one another so much.  

That is lovely to see. 

 

Turquoise, please::

My daughter loves turquoise.  Have I mentioned that?  Really any color that resembles a mermaid.  Purple, and green work too. 

So, for her birthday I wanted to give her some of her favorite colors for her room.  

 

A pillow to lean on, read on, and throw on the floor for times when that is required.

I used a Euro pillow form that I already had and did a rough pattern off of that.  The strips on the front are 3" wide and sewn together randomly.  The back folded over like an envelope and then tied.  I ran out of long strips for the back toward the end...so, I pieced it together and alternated the stripe.  It  almost looks like I meant to have it happen.  

It went together quickly and was fun to make.  The best part was that it was done days before the birthday not at midnight the night before which seems to be my normal pattern in years past.  

 

The banner for her bed modeled after this one and this one only smaller, easier and done in a flash.  

Overall, she loved it.  Luckily she's easy to please and with the small stack of new books to read she is quite happy hanging out in her room.

 

***tomorrow the project from the boys....