I was over @ Oh My! Handmade Goodness, reading random posts when I stumbled upon the posts in August. August over @ Jessika's sight was Handmade Heritage. Where your creativity/handmadedness comes from.
So, I started thinking.
I know that my heritage is Romanian/Norwegian/English, but other than my immediate family and up to my grandparents, I don't know much else. I'd love to do a "Who Do You Think You Are" type of search, but I digress.
Obviously, whatever your ancestry, there is going to be creativity/handmade goodness to be seen. It WAS a way of life not so super long ago.
Since I can only go up to my grandparents I do know that my paternal grandma was an amazing painter. I know this because before she died (several years before) she made a point of painting a picture for each and every one of her grandchildren. It is the only thing I have of her and a most treasured possession. I just found out that she didn't start painting until her 60's when my grandpa retired.
It seems that other than it being a necessity for my grandparents, the creative bug didn't start, really, until my momma. I remember going to the local craft store and picking up things to make everything under the sun. Throughout middle school and high school my mom and I, specifically, went through so many stages. They were all hers, but I joined in.
I was the one that wanted to read, paint, draw, and write. She was the one that opened my eyes to making wreaths with fabrics and flowers and ribbons. Making ribbon outfits for stuffed cats and dogs and bears, etc. You probably remember the kind I'm talking about.
It's funny to me when I think about it, but she crocheted even back then, but I wasn't interested in learning until I had a little one of my own. And now it's a most beloved creative time for me. So, thanks Ma.
And now, my business.
I still like doing all of the above things. I love reading, writing, painting, drawing, using a hot glue gun with fabrics and yarns. I am even going to get more into sewing. It's just been a little crazy around here at the moment.
It's nice to see that there is a bit of heritage behind my craftiness. It's nice to feel a kind of kinship with my lineage.
On the business side of things. Projects are coming along swimmingly. The blanket is close to being complete, and I have about 7 hats to make, label, and send out. I think that's a nice, steady start. Not too overwhelming.
Back to it then.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Out of the Mouths of Babes...
Peanut has always had fairly clear pronunciation. I'm not bragging (ha) just an observation.
that being said, lately she has been swapping the first letter of some words with her precious "b". I don't get it.
It just happens that way, and for me there is no rhyme or reason to the words she has chosen.
bu-fleece...police
bu-tention...attention
bu-fries...surprise
bu-ten...pretend
bu-squito...mosquito
bu-futer...computer
bu-got...forgot
There are a few more that are escaping me at the moment, but I suppose those are the most common ones.
She is very much into Batgirl,Batman, Robin, Spiderman and his friends Firestar and Iceman. The Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. All of this thanks to her daddy. Where it's not my favourite thing for her to have watched she is obsessed. OB-sessed.
For two weeks she has been Batgirl, Pistachio and I share the role of Robin (sometimes she is baby Robin) and daddy is Batman.
It is slightly exhausting.
But I love her creativity and using her imagination.
Her memory is pretty astounding too.
Pistachio has started saying momma, and just these last 3 days or so she will randomly say dada, which is just so amazing to hear. Yet is heartbreaking when said while huge crocodile tears stream down her face because she's woken up alone in her crib.
She loves to play "boo" or peekaboo, and is in the midst of three of her front teeth finally breaking skin.
Therefore, nap schedule is in the midst of a change. I'm seeing what 5 and 6 am look like again.
She is pulling up on absolutely everything and anything she can see that is higher than her, and wants to run completely all over the house after sister.
My girls are too, too big.
Please make it stop.
that being said, lately she has been swapping the first letter of some words with her precious "b". I don't get it.
It just happens that way, and for me there is no rhyme or reason to the words she has chosen.
bu-fleece...police
bu-tention...attention
bu-fries...surprise
bu-ten...pretend
bu-squito...mosquito
bu-futer...computer
bu-got...forgot
There are a few more that are escaping me at the moment, but I suppose those are the most common ones.
She is very much into Batgirl,Batman, Robin, Spiderman and his friends Firestar and Iceman. The Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. All of this thanks to her daddy. Where it's not my favourite thing for her to have watched she is obsessed. OB-sessed.
For two weeks she has been Batgirl, Pistachio and I share the role of Robin (sometimes she is baby Robin) and daddy is Batman.
It is slightly exhausting.
But I love her creativity and using her imagination.
Her memory is pretty astounding too.
Pistachio has started saying momma, and just these last 3 days or so she will randomly say dada, which is just so amazing to hear. Yet is heartbreaking when said while huge crocodile tears stream down her face because she's woken up alone in her crib.
She loves to play "boo" or peekaboo, and is in the midst of three of her front teeth finally breaking skin.
Therefore, nap schedule is in the midst of a change. I'm seeing what 5 and 6 am look like again.
She is pulling up on absolutely everything and anything she can see that is higher than her, and wants to run completely all over the house after sister.
My girls are too, too big.
Please make it stop.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Randomness of Me...
These are just a few of the places I've been to in my head, online, etc...
Hybrid Rasta Mama's info on Childhood Fevers. She rocks my world with her wealth of knowledge.
Modern Alternative Mama's post on Fevers as well. You can never know too much.
I totally and completely have an actual storyboard going through my head that was started by this song, (it's been on repeat) and have actually and truly been thinking of getting back on NaNoWriMo this month to flesh it out. Because I don't have enough things going on in my head/life right now.
The afghan that I'm currently working on is coming along well. The inspiration came from Dottie Angel. Love her.
I wish I had a cool name. My name is sooooooo common, and meh. That's why my hubby (who also has a common name, they both have been in the top ten for several, several years, not now. But at some point) and I wanted to name our girls names that weren't common but also not weird. We almost named #1 Jasper, even though she is a girl, which I'm sooooo glad we did not since Twilight has become ridiculous. And we so very badly wanted to name #2 Astrid. But it would have been an alliteration,
al·lit·er·a·tion/əˌlitəˈrāSHən/
Example:
Dewdrops Dancing Down Daisies
By Paul Mc Can
Don't delay dawns disarming display .
Dusk demands daylight .
Dewdrops dwell delicately
drawing dazzling delight .
Dewdrops dilute daisies domain.
Distinguished debutantes . Diamonds defray delivered
daylights distilled daisy dance .
Hybrid Rasta Mama's info on Childhood Fevers. She rocks my world with her wealth of knowledge.
Modern Alternative Mama's post on Fevers as well. You can never know too much.
I totally and completely have an actual storyboard going through my head that was started by this song, (it's been on repeat) and have actually and truly been thinking of getting back on NaNoWriMo this month to flesh it out. Because I don't have enough things going on in my head/life right now.
The afghan that I'm currently working on is coming along well. The inspiration came from Dottie Angel. Love her.
I wish I had a cool name. My name is sooooooo common, and meh. That's why my hubby (who also has a common name, they both have been in the top ten for several, several years, not now. But at some point) and I wanted to name our girls names that weren't common but also not weird. We almost named #1 Jasper, even though she is a girl, which I'm sooooo glad we did not since Twilight has become ridiculous. And we so very badly wanted to name #2 Astrid. But it would have been an alliteration,
al·lit·er·a·tion/əˌlitəˈrāSHən/
| Noun: |
|
Example:
Dewdrops Dancing Down Daisies
By Paul Mc Can
Don't delay dawns disarming display .
Dusk demands daylight .
Dewdrops dwell delicately
drawing dazzling delight .
Dewdrops dilute daisies domain.
Distinguished debutantes . Diamonds defray delivered
daylights distilled daisy dance .
Except for her it wouldn't have just been the very first letter but the very first two letters and it was just...sad...that it couldn't happen. Because we both adored Astrid.
Anywho, I'd like to be Ingrid, or Isla or Ichabod...I digress.
And lastly, I really admire and <3 Lex, I think her ability and vision for up-cycling or just creating clothing is amazing, and she seems to have a freedom with her fashion that I admire. A confidence that I lack. I especially love what she did here and here. The former because those are the types of clothes I aspire to make for my girls and the latter because I pinned it as well, but she actually recreated it.
p.s. the afghan is coming along swimmingly, I'm excited to show you the end result.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Afghan is Pants....
Like how I snuck that in there?
Anyhow. I'm having to frog (rip it, ribbit, get it? A little crochet lingo for ya) the six squares I have finished for this afghan because my creative self did not pay attention. That is the kind of creative person I am. I do and then when it's not right I have to start over.
You know how when you are in school the teacher always reminds you to read the directions carefully before you begin a new section of a test?
I was/am the girl that never did.
Then when the test came back and I missed 15 out of 25, THEN and only then did I read the directions and say to myself, "Well, of course that was the answer."
As I begin to rip this blanket apart, I say to myself, "Of course the squares aren't lining up perfectly, the yarns are slightly different in size. Why didn't you think of that?!"
So, this blanket, that needs to be finished by the end of the month....yeah...I'm ripping it apart and starting from scratch.
Wish me luck...
Is anyone else out there like this when you create? What's it called? It's not procrastination...inattention to detail? Perpetual state of disarray? (That was a name I wanted for my blog not too long ago. Totally captured who I am.)
Anyhow. I'm having to frog (rip it, ribbit, get it? A little crochet lingo for ya) the six squares I have finished for this afghan because my creative self did not pay attention. That is the kind of creative person I am. I do and then when it's not right I have to start over.
You know how when you are in school the teacher always reminds you to read the directions carefully before you begin a new section of a test?
I was/am the girl that never did.
Then when the test came back and I missed 15 out of 25, THEN and only then did I read the directions and say to myself, "Well, of course that was the answer."
As I begin to rip this blanket apart, I say to myself, "Of course the squares aren't lining up perfectly, the yarns are slightly different in size. Why didn't you think of that?!"
So, this blanket, that needs to be finished by the end of the month....yeah...I'm ripping it apart and starting from scratch.
Wish me luck...
Is anyone else out there like this when you create? What's it called? It's not procrastination...inattention to detail? Perpetual state of disarray? (That was a name I wanted for my blog not too long ago. Totally captured who I am.)
Oh!! And Christmas just got better...
Monday, October 10, 2011
Work in Progress...
I've been working on an afghan for a couple that is getting married at the end of the month. I've never tried to complete a blanket in less than 30 days, but that is what is happening in my home at the moment. The wedding invite was given to my hubby, and as some of you may know, when you give something like an invite to the hubs the wifey doesn't find out about it until much later.
And, because I have ALWAYS been a procrastinator, and I find that I do better work when it's the night before an essay is due, I decided to make a blanket. A full, proper sized blanket.
With a toddler, an infant, and a bunny.
Yes, I am a little nuts.
On a completely unrelated note, I love it when someone says something is "pants" or when something I say is "pants".
I reread that and that sounds very confusing.
Let me explain. I've told you on my about page that I'm married to an Aussie. Therefore, you find me saying/spelling things the British/Australian way.
When someone says something is "pants" it means, well here, this is a quote, in Stephanie Perkins' first book, Anna and the French Kiss...
A moment of reserve. "That was it? The whole story?"
"Yes. God, you're right. That was pants."
I sidestep another aggressive couscous vendor. "Pants?"
"Rubbish. Crap. Shite."
Pants. Oh heavens, that's cute.
Tif from Dottie Angel also used it in her latest post..."i on the other hand, was complete pants and did not take any photos after a failed attempt at capturing the window display and so have relied upon others to allow me to share...
And, because I have ALWAYS been a procrastinator, and I find that I do better work when it's the night before an essay is due, I decided to make a blanket. A full, proper sized blanket.
With a toddler, an infant, and a bunny.
Yes, I am a little nuts.
On a completely unrelated note, I love it when someone says something is "pants" or when something I say is "pants".
I reread that and that sounds very confusing.
Let me explain. I've told you on my about page that I'm married to an Aussie. Therefore, you find me saying/spelling things the British/Australian way.
When someone says something is "pants" it means, well here, this is a quote, in Stephanie Perkins' first book, Anna and the French Kiss...
A moment of reserve. "That was it? The whole story?"
"Yes. God, you're right. That was pants."
I sidestep another aggressive couscous vendor. "Pants?"
"Rubbish. Crap. Shite."
Pants. Oh heavens, that's cute.
Tif from Dottie Angel also used it in her latest post..."i on the other hand, was complete pants and did not take any photos after a failed attempt at capturing the window display and so have relied upon others to allow me to share...
so thank you kindly Lola and Melanie, cheers my dears for your fabby sharing selves"
The way my brain works is that it has shown itself 2 x's in the last month so therefore it's calling to me and I may have to incorporate it into my everyday vocab.
The End.
Well, that was pants. ;)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Stay @ Home Momma - Aurie...
I got the idea for this series from Carly @ All This Grace and Charm. She had
finished her series and was lovely enough to allow me to use her idea.
1. Have you always wanted to be a stay @ home momma?
Believe it or not, no. For a long time my hubby and I weren't sure we wanted to be parents! After struggling with infertility & miscarriage I am happy to spend as much time as possible with my girls!
2. What was the process in which you and your hubby came to the decision you did? Was he completely for it or a little reluctant?
Ken is the most awesome husband. We really didn't talk about it. I was a youth director, and around the time my maternity leave was ending we moved to a new church, so it just happened. I do help out in the office every now and then, which is nice!
3. What has been the hardest part?
Not having adult conversation all day!
The least expected part?
That I would actually enjoy cleaning and cooking and ironing. Seriously. I {heart} my iron.
The thing you love most about it?
Watching my girls grow!
4. What does a typical day look like for you and your girls?
Total routine! The girls are up between 7:30-8:00am. We get dressed, have breakfast, and then they are allowed to watch 1 Elmo or Thomas DVD {which allows us to get ready for the day}. Then the TV is off. The girls and I do school in the morning. Lunch is at 11:30, and both girls have naps/quiet time from 12-3pm. Playtime from 3pm-4:30pm. Dinner is at 4:30pm. More playtime, then bathtime and bedtime at 6:30pm. We stick to this every day {except for Sunday, when we are at church}. And yes, our girls really do sleep from 6:30pm-7:30am.
5. How has your faith played into staying home?
It really hasn’t. I mean, I am a pastor’s wife – but we try very hard to live intentionally real. I don’t want to live a fake life because “that’s what we are supposed to do”. Right now this works for us, so we enjoy it while we can!
2. What was the process in which you and your hubby came to the decision you did? Was he completely for it or a little reluctant?
Ken is the most awesome husband. We really didn't talk about it. I was a youth director, and around the time my maternity leave was ending we moved to a new church, so it just happened. I do help out in the office every now and then, which is nice!
3. What has been the hardest part?
Not having adult conversation all day!
The least expected part?
That I would actually enjoy cleaning and cooking and ironing. Seriously. I {heart} my iron.
The thing you love most about it?
Watching my girls grow!
4. What does a typical day look like for you and your girls?
Total routine! The girls are up between 7:30-8:00am. We get dressed, have breakfast, and then they are allowed to watch 1 Elmo or Thomas DVD {which allows us to get ready for the day}. Then the TV is off. The girls and I do school in the morning. Lunch is at 11:30, and both girls have naps/quiet time from 12-3pm. Playtime from 3pm-4:30pm. Dinner is at 4:30pm. More playtime, then bathtime and bedtime at 6:30pm. We stick to this every day {except for Sunday, when we are at church}. And yes, our girls really do sleep from 6:30pm-7:30am.
5. How has your faith played into staying home?
It really hasn’t. I mean, I am a pastor’s wife – but we try very hard to live intentionally real. I don’t want to live a fake life because “that’s what we are supposed to do”. Right now this works for us, so we enjoy it while we can!
6. How do you stay true to who you were before the pregnancy?
I scrapbook, knit and sew. Ken makes sure that I get a little time each week so I can complete a crafty project. Seriously, he is awesome!
7. What would you say to someone that is looking into staying home?
Do it because it is the right choice for you, not because you think you should be doing it. There are many amazing moms and dads who work.
8. Do you homeschool?
Yes. This year will be the official start of our homeschool {preschool} but we have been teaching the girls since they were little. You can read more about it here: http://www.ourgoodfamily.org/2011/06/we-started-i-didnt-know-it.html
9. You have a site where you talk homeschooling. How is it important to you?
It’s very important! I’m in a group of 7 women who have been homeschooling less than 4 years – so we are all newbies sharing what works and what doesn’t. Joining into a huge network can be intimidating for some people who are new {waving my hand!!} so this has been a huge blessing for me! Lots of encouragement and learning every day! I’d invite you to come visit us and join in the conversation: http://growingyourhomeschool.blogspot.com/
10. This is a small "Getting to Know YOU Better" section.
Favourite:
Book: The Message, The Bailey Flannigan series by Karen Kingsbury; the Pritchett series by Kathryn Springer; The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella; and the Blossom Street series by Debbie Macomber.
Colour: Green
Christian Band: I listen to compilation CDs so I have no idea {blush}
Christian Song: Here I Am to Worship; Amazed: As the Deer; Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven
Secular: Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
Movie: While You Were Sleeping {All time fav!!}
Magazine: MOMsense {Mag from MOPS}
Ice Cream Flavour: Mint Chocolate Chip
Blog: Besides yours?
Jamie who blogs at http://www.walkinginhighcotton.net/
Dorie who blogs at: http://thesegracefilleddays.blogspot.com
Jessica who blogs at: http://ourfamilyforhisglory.blogspot.com
Larri who blogs at: http://www.seamsinspired.com
Go to Snack: frozen OREOS and milk. Bliss
Season: Fall. Something about crunchy leaves and bonfires.
Time of Day: Naptime. Snuggles
Article of Clothing: Skirts. Hands down.
If you could live anywhere, where do you think it'd be? I’d love to say Ireland, but if I need to be realistic, I’d stay right here in Jersey, close to family
If you had unending amounts of money, what Charity(Charities) would you support?
Compassion; World Vision; Bethany Christian Services; any adoption service.
Season: Fall. Something about crunchy leaves and bonfires.
Time of Day: Naptime. Snuggles
Article of Clothing: Skirts. Hands down.
If you could live anywhere, where do you think it'd be? I’d love to say Ireland, but if I need to be realistic, I’d stay right here in Jersey, close to family
If you had unending amounts of money, what Charity(Charities) would you support?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Just a Little, "Holla?"...
It's weird because I get on my blog to go to the blogs I check up on almost every day, but I've been slightly neglectful of my own blog.
I think I'm just focusing more on being creative right now. I have a few orders in from family and friends for some hats and so at night I've been crocheting.
Don't feel badly.
I've been neglectful of pretty much everything else in my life right now except my children, and the rabbit.
and just because, this is what my clever girl did when we were @ one of her favourite places.
I think I'm just focusing more on being creative right now. I have a few orders in from family and friends for some hats and so at night I've been crocheting.
Don't feel badly.
I've been neglectful of pretty much everything else in my life right now except my children, and the rabbit.
and just because, this is what my clever girl did when we were @ one of her favourite places.
So proud of her work.
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