vintage hip christmas

Do you know Margie Romney-Aslett?

You should.

She and her two daughters, Megan and Brooke, are the brains and brawn behind The Girls Loft. If you are into scrapbooking or crafting in general, you must check out the site and also take a look at the new e-book they just released with Ella Publishing.

I got a sneak peek at the book a little bit ago and let me tell ya, it's chock full of really great ideas for the holidays. If you need a little decoration inspiration it's just the ticket.

AND it's only $5.99.

AND you can get 25% off this week if you enter this code: CRAFTY09.

Go here and get your copy!



Seriously.

Just get it.

thanks lizzy

I wanted a really fun sweater from Anthro to wear to Thanksgiving dinner, but I didn't want to spend a hundred and fifty bucks.


This was a problem.


Until I clicked over to my good friend Lizzy's blog and found a little inspiration.


I went to Target and bought this sweater for nine dollars. Yes, nine dollars. It was on sale.


Then I came home and cut up and old t-shirt.


I created little rosettes and ruffles and voilà!


Birdie liked it so much she barfed all over it, but not until I gathered up all the compliments on how cute it is.


I love it when I am able to save money by being creative. It makes me feel like a real pioneer woman.


A well dressed pioneer woman.

nesting and other such endeavours

I can't quite believe that in one week I will have a daughter. The thought is so overwhelming to me I can't think about it for too long or I start to feel like I can't catch my breath.

It is amazing how similar it feels to my last week of pregnancy with the boy. I am officially nesting. And because I have already decorated the nursery, washed every stitch of clothing, assembled the bassinet next to our bed, sterilized the bottles and binkies, packed the suitcases, bought diapers and wipes and all things in the derriere department, I am left with art.

I have channeled all my energy into carving rubber stamps. Strange? I know. But I have to be doing something. My DIY ADD won't allow for idleness.

Here are the stamps I have made over the last few days.

Stamp carving is completely relaxing. I am trying to get Sugar Daddy to give it a go. If you can doodle a drawing, you can make your own stamp. Simple as that. Maybe someday I'll get the crafty chicks together for a lesson.

But for now, I'll continue to carve and wait.

i really can't sew but...

Yesterday while the boy was at school I made this little pilots cap for Amelie. I had a cap from Hanna Anderson that I used as a rough pattern. I cut up an old t-shirt of mine and sewed it all together in about an hour.

I must say, for a girl who stinks at sewing, I think it turned out pretty dang cute.

Please excuse the weird little potpourri ball I used to model the cap. It was the only thing in my house, except for a rotting grapefruit I found in the bottom of the fridge, that was about the size of a baby's head.

Now for a baby to put it on. . .

this ain't your grandma's embroidery

I'm ready. The nursery is done. The stroller is sitting by the front door. The clothes are all washed and put into her drawers. Diapers- check. Lotion- check. Bum balm- check. The bags are packed. Check, check, check.


And yet. . .


I can't be done. I must be doing. . . something.


So there is this little embroidery project I started. A custom lampshade for the nursery.

If you know me at all you know that I must, MUST be doing something creative or my leg starts to shake and my fingers fumble. And it get irritable in the most inconvenient way.

Have you seen these books? Are you aware that embroidery has made a huge comeback thanks in part to Jenny Hart. All the cool people (a.k.a. stay-at-home wanna be crafters) are doing it.

My next challenge. Crewel.

I used to facilitate several book groups but I find that book groups breed contention and so I've given them up. I can't listen to one more person complain because the book had a swear word or touched on a politically charged topic.

I'm going to start an embroidery group. Who wants to join? We will meet at my house once a month. I will serve rich chocolate desserts and we will give out free therapy to each other. This will be our first project to set the tone for the group.

If you can't fly with this, you best stay home.

P.S. I'm up four runs and down three pounds!

karma schmarma?

I wish I had a mud room that looked like this. But I don't. However, I am buying some fun shaped pumpkins for our front porch.

I'm not a superstitious person. I don't cross my fingers, knock on wood or throw salt. I just don't think life works that way. And I don't like the word karma. I truly believe that what goes around comes around. What you put out, you get back. But I don't like to label it karma. Simply because to me, it makes one of my fundamental beliefs sound like superstition. I mean no disrespect to Buddhism, I'm just not buddhist.

Call it what you like, I've had a little of it going on. I recently won two, count them, two, really great give aways on other people's blogs!

I won an apron ( you all know how much I love aprons) from Apron Strings Aflutter and I won this fabulous little stash from French Poppy. Take a minute and click on over to these blogs. They are great.

Don't forget, you still have today to leave a comment on the previous post to win the Audrey Eclectic print! Also, make sure you stop by on Friday. I am bursting at the seems to feature Friday's giveaway!