Snippets of Christmas

Is it too late to talk about Christmas? 

Not in this house it isn't. (After all we JUST took down our Christmas decorations last week)

We celebrate all year around here. 

The crafts and decorations

and food...

it's all such a wonderful way to bring those we love together. 

While not all of our celebrating is focused only on Christ's birth,

I do like to think it makes His eyes twinkle when His flock are together laughing and enjoying each others company. 

Certainly the kindness of Mr. Claus is not lost on our Lord.

I'll never forget how sincerely he told us when we visited in his Auburn Chalet that Christmas is for the children and he does what he does for them.

Surely the heart of St. Nicholas was full of love for the Christ child. 

Having a wee one of our own brings a new kind of truth to the reality of Mary's selflessness.

The story of Jesus' birth just hit me differently this year.

Father Dave even mentioned to us once, "Jesus was a little baby just like Leonardo!" 

So I guess we weren't the only one's that were thinking it.

This year we had much to celebrate, and our favorite gift came two months early. 

Best.

Christmas.

Ever. 

(Well maybe not ever, the birth of Jesus you can't really beat; 

how about best Christmas yet in our lifetime?)

Stuffing Stockings

Leonardo's stocking WAS knitted in time for Christmas,

Eric wasn't sure it would be big enough to fit all the goodies inside,

but it's about four times as large as what I grew up with,

and I was on my last skein of yarn from that lot, so I decided it was.

Many other projects were completed in warp speed this year...more to follow soon.

The Craft Monster

It's a blessing and a curse to love crafting...it can give you an addiction to creating a "product" or create a sewing monster who is consumed with completion and MUST get it done-dishes and dinner and house cleaning be darned!  Well that little monster has been put to bed lately. 

With my latest and greatest product being that beautiful baby Leo,

and can you imagine a greater product?! 

But, last night a couple of my closest crafting buddies came over 

(they even brought dinner-yeah for mama!) and I got the bug again. 

Now my mind is full of all kinds of ideas I'd put on the back burner for the last month, and I can't wait to find the time to make some of these things happen. 

this is the pattern, Leo's will be ivory

So I've started knitting Leo's Christmas stocking (to quite that craft monster)

while Leo sleeps on my chest (really the best of both worlds!) and keep soaking in this time that is so precious, so sacred this time with my rapidly growing newborn. 

Because I know my little boy will not be little for long and the crafting...well, the list will always be there.

Jammies for the Kiddos

Do you find pajamas as relaxing, as comfy as I do? 

If you answered no, then it's either time to go shopping or get sewing because in my world, just the word jammies should make your shoulders relax (or giggle like my sister's kids in these camping pjs).  

This is one of the many reasons that I like to make them so much.  This past Christmas (I know Christmas, in September?!) I crafted these lovelies for two deserving kiddos.  

Ryder, like his Uncle Eric, is a big fan of anything mustache...

so I just couldn't resist adding this applique to the original knit pattern.  

For Breckyn,

the cat was a no-brainer

since she refers to the family cats as her siblings. 

And the paw prints on the backside may be my favorite part.

They were both excited about the PJs,

and I must say, so was I.

Wooden Family

Now here's a story, of a lovely lady, 

who was bringing up three very lovely girls,

all of them had hair of gold, like their mother, the youngest one in curls....But, in THIS story the lovely lady has a wonderful husband

who is father to the three lovely girls and all of them (even the father) have that lovely golden hair.

So what better subjects to turn into wooden dolls? 

The Bigelow Family is one of my very favorites!  Mama Bigelow and I have been close friends for years and I've loved watching her family grow

and grow 

and GROW!  

Baby Bigelow #2 is extra special to me...

she is one of my Godchildren!  So, I made these wooden look-alikes for her new doll house. 

I can't wait to see how well they fit into their new home! If you'd like to see the REAL family,

check out the Bigelow Family Blog. 

Such a loving bunch, I'm so glad you're in my life!

Mermaid Tail

Mermaid Tail for Breckyn

A gumball machine and a mermaid tail...that's what our niece Breckyn really wanted for Christmas.

Well, I couldn't be more excited...it's always my goal to have at least one homemade gift for the Godchildren.  With a little help from pinterest, I came up with this.... 

I found this great tutorial

and I followed it pretty closely.  It was so much fun to have an excuse to buy such sparkly pink fabric!

And large shiny gems...

The project came together so quickly. 

Bonus: I still have enough supplies to create another tail.

It can be tricky to create a fitted item without your little one on hand, but my sister-in-law is always so willing to take measurements and send them to me...

Thank you Chelsie!

I am so pleased; it ended up it fitting Breckyn so well...

 

The little flare at the ankle...

The gathering at the waist...

 She is the little mermaid.  She told me so.

She had the dinglehopper to prove it.

And she also said the purple gem is probably her favorite part 

(and definitely her favorite color).

Oh Breckyn, you are so spunky and always keeping things interesting. We love you so very much.