Making Traditions

Christmas...
December in general has a different feel...
It warms your nose and brings the edges of your smile up a little further. I remember before I was even pregnant with Max- I was excited for my future "kid" -I couldn't wait for holidays and traditions....some old- some new.
Wanting your child to feel the same happiness you experienced in childhood. You think you will remember all you want to do- and the years go by faster than they feel.
The Holidays, especially go by in a blink. Still wondering where November went...

Nana always got all the grandkids advent calendars for Christmas- like clockwork Dec. 1st we had a flap to peel back and if we were lucky...there was chocolate.
Such a simple thing that meant so much when you are so young. It was a moment to look forward to... those carefree,sugarplum moments that lasted a whole month before a fresh New Year!

Georgie Girl NYC was a blog that I followed years ago and she did a post on a book advent .
I LOVED the idea and made note to remind myself in a couple years to do the same thing.
This year is the 4th year and has been the most fun because I feel like Max really looks forward to the book before bed- it's kind of "our thing". I have replaced a few books each year with more "age appropriate" books and i hope its a tradition that sticks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PEG BOARD ,SHMEG BOARD

The Craft Room- My Sanctuary. 
When we first moved to this house the 3rd floor was a mystery [David thought maybe a golf simulator] and then it slowly developed in to the craft room...

David,bless him was very patient and "created" whatever I thought up....one of the first things being a wrapping paper hanger....truth is- I HAVE A LOT of wrapping paper and it takes up space and honestly it's not that neat on a roll. As I worked in the space and moved things around and organized, it was evident it had to be modified. I loved my peg board and it's cheap, so why not do the rest of the wall? So we did.
I love the large bike hooks- they contain several rolls without making it look disheveled. I reconfigured a lot of the hooks and shelves and just cleaned up and organized.

It's a common joke that I spend more time organizing the craft room than actually crafting....but I don't care. I still get an overwhelming feeling of joy and creativeness in this space. I have surrounded myself with pictures and memories of people and places. Little reminders of Nana peak through all nooks and crannies..., it's a space I can be messy, a space to escape and best of all a place

to show Max that it's okay to color outside the lines-get paint under his nails-use his  imagination and most of all, a space to remember...

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Cake season

Stay tuned...

Word!

I'm Bringin' Hexy Back....I'm Too Hexy for this shirt ....Let's talk about Hex Bab-y!

I am sure you are dancing around like Justin Timberlake, while humming some Salt N Peppa probably tearing your house up searching for your Right Said Fred CD right about now to relive the 90's.

I tend to have that affect on people.

To say I am a bit obsessed with hexagons and all these popular geometric patterns everywhere is an understatement! I have been a kid in a candy store at work with so many new great shapes, sizes and colors being introduced from some of our popular lines like Pratt & Larson and Oceanside Glass and the Vihara EHex from Sonoma Tilemakers. Let's not even get started on my addiction to fabric- I should not even be allowed in to a fabric store anymore, you have seen my craft room and the fabric obsession...

I decided to try out the Elongated Hex Shape in a burp cloth instead of my normal kidney shape pattern.

First... I traced out the E- Hex on drawing paper and the hubby was gracious enough to cut the pattern out of 1/4" plywood for me so I had a good solid pattern to work with.

These burp cloths were being made for a boy. I chose two fabrics that had navy blue and white. I typically either use cotton chenille or terry cloth for the backing. The cotton chenille definitely is softer and heavier but it is hard to find at local fabric stores so I typically wait until I get a coupon from fabric.com and buy several yards. I do have to say that terry cloth is easier on my machine-I think... that could also just be user error...because let's be honest here...my only sewing  "classes" were in 6th grade. The one thing I remember above all is to always back stitch once I start sewing, everything I else I am probably doing wrong...

FAKE IT TIL' YOU MAKE IT, RIGHT?

I used cotton chenille for these burp cloths.

Once cut, I pinned the outer sides together and sewed the perimeter, leaving about a 2 inch opening to flip inside out and sew Emma Pye Ribbon in 

            When I started sewing more burp cloths for friends and for people through word of mouth from friends I bought a  roll of twill fabric labels from an Etsy shop called Inked Papers  she was great to work with as I just wanted a simple "Emma Pye" to put on the burp cloths, next time I will probably order for a larger seam allowance...but for the first go,  I'm happy with how they look when sewn in. 

Not only am I obsessed with hexagons right now, I am LOVING some orange and POPS  of color so I used an orange thread to border all these bad boys and I love the way they came out!

And VOILA! the first ever E HEX Burp cloth 6 pack.

I hope you a.) feel a little smarter after reading this post or b.) at least feel like it was time better spent than reading something on the lastest Kardashian drama

Meaghan

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today you would have been 86. This picture was taken 2 years ago- it makes me laugh every time I look at it. All through dinner that evening you kept asking, "who's birthday is it?" And we kept telling you but it never sunk in... even as you were blowing out the candles you were asking... we were all in stitches and Aunt Bonnie's face says it all! It is these memories and so many more that bring a smile to my face. Even when you had no clue what was going on you managed to light up the room with your smile and laughter.

 Love you and Miss you

-Meags