Our Yellow House

Advent Calendar

A few days before the first of the month I came across a few posts about advent calendars and though I wasn't originally planning to make one I found myself cutting fabric during a Fran nap. My first inspiration came from Uncommon Grace, the second from Monkey Lobster, and the third, which really brought it clear in my mind, was a tutorial to make this calendar from A Little Wonky (via Crafty Crow).

Here is what I made.

I used what I had on hand -- green flannel, muslin, wool felt, and ribbon (plus I dug into Victoria's ribbon stash. I owe you one!) I used MayaMade's felt circle tutorial to make the circles even and with my free motion embroidery foot on my machine I sewed the numbers. This was my favorite part!

 

Now I have to say that this project wasn't completely thought out from the beginning and, as I have never filled one before, I am learning and I think in future years I will be a bit more prepared. I want the calendar to be a celebration of the season with craft projects and special family events. This year, however, it is a hodge podge of gifty items, coupons (game night, cookie baking, Chinese take-out for Dad's late night at work, etc.), handmade goodies, and chocolate and I still have eight empty days.

Many of the purchased items are things that the girls would have received throughout the month anyway like new polarfleece mittens and winter picture books (which they usually get at Thanksgiving). Also included are a couple of things to add to our winter scene. I made a couple of these felt trees and a peg person Santa. They are really enjoying each morning getting a gift but I guess I want it to mean more than just an extension of their stockings. 

This year I am just going with it. It's fun. They like it. Today they received bubble bath and had an hour long tubbie!

 

 

Do your children have an advent calendar like this? What is your favorite thing to put in it?

Oooooh So Sweet.

I made this pair of overalls last month and posted them in my shop. Well they sold pretty quickly and went to the most adorable little boy! And his mama is a photographer and sent me these beautiful photos. So sweet.

Stephenie has quite the knack for photographing children and families. Please go check out her blog. 

I have to say these overalls may be my very favorite pair that I have ever made. I used Ultra Alpaca and Blue Sky Alpaca and they are so luxurious. They made me want another baby just so I could keep them. Silly I know. But seeing these photos I know that they always belonged to this little one. I made them for him.

Thank you Stephenie for sharing.

A Visit From Rex

Today when I picked up Eleanor from school she wasn't alone. Rex, her class "pet", was with her. I have been hearing about Rex for well over a week and I finally got to meet him. He is a shiny green chameleon puppet who arrived in a special canvas bag containing a picture book about himself and a journal.

When we got home we gave him a snack

we read his book

and just like in the book Eleanor wrote in his journal.

 

Eleanor kept Rex very busy this afternoon and documented almost her every move. Right now Rex is snuggled up next to her wearing a tie-dyed shirt and striped leggings for pajamas. Don't worry he is taking it like a...lizard.

 

This is the best homework ever! We are all wondering when he can come back?

It's hard to believe that a week has passed since the last time I posted. What a week it has been. Here are a few fun highlights...

*   We finally made it to an alpaca farm! We visited the Zen Alpaca at Gossamer Farm. I think these two look like teenage boys with their shaggy bangs. Dude. (By the way have you seen Spidey's alpaca?!) And of course I couldn't leave without purchasing a little skein of hand dyed goodness made from the fiber from these fellas.

*    I went on a date with my dad. We went to see Phish and it totally rocked. I have never been a huge fan but have been to a number of their concerts (all with my dad) and always have a blast.

*    While visiting Matt's family for the weekend, all of us kids got to go out together. Lots of laughs.

*    Matt has started a blog. It is called Babies Bikes and Beers. Check it out. 

*    I am love love loving this Muppets video.

*    I have been working on an advent calendar for the girls which I should be able to share in a few days.

I have a napping baby right now and I need to take advantage of the time remaining. I hope that you all had a wonderful, fun, and healthy holiday. I will be back before next Monday. I promise!

Oatmeal Stout Bread

Matt brewed up his first batch of Oatmeal Stout this weekend. At the end of his project he had a big bowl of oats that had been steeped with the barley. Waste not want not...let's make bread!

I used the recipe for Oatmeal-Raisin Bread in The Vegetarian Epicure Book Two by Anna Thomas. I have my mom's copy from way back and this recipe has become a favorite this fall. It makes four loaves of delicious bread. Two loaves I rolled up with cinnamon and sugar so they have a wonderful swirled center and the other two I kept plain and played with their shapes. This is the kind of bread that you can't walk by without slicing another sliver of and shmearing it with butter or almond butter and strawberry jam.

I don't detect any flavor difference making it this way with the recycled oats but I am no John Lee Supertaster.

New Hat

Quilt Progress

If you haven't figured it out yet...I bounce around from project to project. It all depends on my mood, how much time I have, the time of day, my energy level, the girls' moods, and on and on. There are many days when I would rather start a new project than complete one. I don't quite understand that one. Anyway, that means I always have many things in progress that sometimes get left by the wayside for months. I revisited one of these projects this weekend and it felt very good. Remember the quilt I began over the summer?

I sewed all of the nine patch squares together and have decided it will (eventually) be living on our couch. I am still very much in love with these fabrics (then she goes ahead and comes out with another line!).

I think I may try hand quilting this puppy but will not be beginning that process until after the holidays. There is just too much to do before then. But come January...look out!

Bathroom Chair Makeover

We have a chair in our bathroom that was rescued from the garbage and was painted white ages ago in hopes of eventually getting painted with something a bit more fun. My dad and stepmother started a family tradition of doing this when I was a kid. I have such fond memories of painting chairs with them. There are still a couple of those chairs being used at their house today.

Eleanor had the day off from school yesterday and when the littler one went down for her nap she said that she wanted to paint on wood. I immediately thought about the chair upstairs and Eleanor was happy at the news of getting to paint actual furniture. We worked on it together by agreeing on a theme and color choices and sharing brushes.

We chose rainbow.

Here it is in our bathroom. It fits right in don't you think? Now if I could just keep my pile of not-dirty-not-clean clothes off of it so we can enjoy "the person in a boat under a rainbow."

Slow Toys

While working on my contributions for the Stocking Stuffer Swap I have been thinking about the idea of "Slow Toys."

The slow food movement encourages people to take joy in the growing, preparing, and eating of food. I say the same principles can be applied to the making of toys. No, toys are not a life necessity but they are certainly a part of my daily life and something that I care a great deal about. Slow toys are made with the earth and children in mind. Time is spent to create something from natural materials that inspires hours of open-ended and focused play. It is important to me to be able to explain to children how a toy is made, where its parts have come from and who made it. Specially made toys reinforce how special and individual children are. Perhaps we can't make everything for our children but we can purchase gifts with this in mind and support small businesses with similar insights. I like to think of future grandbabies when I make and buy toys. I always vote for quality over quantity (you know like chocolate).

I have been working on these dolls with help from this book. (Thanks Karin!)

There may come a time when my girls are asking for the latest toy craze and I suppose we'll have to cross that bridge later but for now...bring on the slow toys!

Best. Cider. Ever.

 

Hundreds of pounds of apples had been collected by a handful of households and on Saturday were brought to the site of...

the Improv'd Buckeye, a beautiful, restored cider press. This machine was a sight to behold.

Labor was shared by all. Someone was cranking. Another pressing. A few were cutting the larger apples to size. The wheelbarrow full of the slop was emptied to the compost pile. Children were supervised. Cider was drunk. And this was no ordinary cider. The tastiest. The sweetest. The yummiest. Best. Cider. Ever.

Matt made a yeast starter and brought it to inoculate the cider on the spot. We should have hard cider in about five weeks.

About thirty five gallons were pressed.

This was such an incredible experience for me and I am so thankful my kids could be there to see it all. Thank you to everyone who made this happen.