Little Man goes Handmade Holiday

Max has been asking why every year we try to make gifts for people. We talked about all the obvious reasons and he told me how much he likes to make things for people. He asked if I made things when I was his age and I explained to him that from time to time I had made things, but the idea for our family making gifts really was the from Grandpa Bob and he started to make us things the year before he died. I pulled out the sports memory box and stuff Dad had made me his last Christmas. I explained how having such a special gift makes you feel connected to the maker and also when you make something like that you can be sharing your love with the person you are making it for. He quickly chose to make something for his cousin Zella, who we don't get to see that much. He is very excited to see her in a few days and is hoping to do all sorts of fun things while in Seattle with her and the rest of our family. He finished the tote bag he made for her and we are packing it up for the trip.

Some Eye Candy and a Fun Holiday Event with Friends

I have been fortunate to be a part of a fun holiday girls activity hosted by a very clever friend. Everything she does is so lovely and fun. It is a treat just to spend time in her home, especially when it is decorated for the holidays. She puts together gingerbread houses that she of course whips up from scratch and has them ready for us to decorate. We each bring a few cans of icing and lots of candy. Over the years we have found wonderful little combinations to highlight various features of the houses. I have said this after each house, but really I think this year the houses were AMAZING! Here is a little eye candy from our day. You can also read more of the details and the how to here on Stacey's blog. I told you she was clever and the house . . . pure bliss to spend time in! I just realized the photos of the house I decorated came out too dark, so I will have to take some and post them so I can remember for next year!

Secret Santa Recieved

I love the Munki Madness Swap group. We did a Secret Santa Swap and this is what I received. How wonderful! The wreath has my two favorite fabrics Flea Market Fancy and Heather Ross loveliness! Lesley did a wonderful job - thanks so much! Here is what I just sent off to my partner, I hope she likes it. I started with all of the munki munki Holiday flannels, but where she lives the weather is warm and summery, so a snow scene just didn't seem right. Thinking this can be a fun summer bag!

First Step Photo Vinyl Wall Art $50 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY

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Thanksgiving Hands

Meant to post this before we headed out on Thanksgiving Day . . . better late than never. Some artwork the little kids made at pre-school (i think this is actually Ellie's hands and Sam decorated it) Will finish this post later with some pictures from our Thanksgiving later today . . .

Flea Market Fancy Giveaway - Check it out!

Wonderful giveaway on the Flea Market Fancy Blog, check it out! Oh how I wish that this line could get reprinted . . . and if you do to, please sign the petition to Bring it Back! The hope is that enough of us will sign to show Free Spirit that there is a market for this wonderful fabric! Hope Valley has just been launched by Denyse and it is lovely, but to me it will be hard to replace FMF. So enter the giveaway, sign the petition and lets bring it back!

Scrapbook Designs make great holiday fabrics

Have my string block/pillow making mojo going still and thought, how about a holiday pillow. Thinking it will make a fun holiday gift and the pillow without the form will be easy to send to Seattle and then I can buy a form when I get there. I think I am going to try and make a few more for various family members. I have had this fabric for a month or so, but didn't want to cut into it it is so cute! Then I found out my local fabric store and second home, KC Custom Fabrics was getting it in and decided I could get out the rotary cutter since more would be available soon!

Max had a fun day today with a readers' celebration at school. He has really taken off this year with his reading and we are thrilled. They got to take a stuffed animal and their favorite book to school for the party. He took Finn the Webkiz pug and Diary of A Whimpy Kid, Dogdays. He snagged the pillow as soon as I finished for a dogbed. So it looks as if I will be making a dog bed for his stuffed dogs for the holidays. He requested some guy colors so his dogs would feel proud of their bed. Too funny! I do think I will have to tone down the sewing for Ellie, both boys are starting to get jealous. I also sew more for my three nieces than for the boys. I have found some fun boyish fabrics lately, so maybe in the new year. I am as bad as Ellie is with the sparkle shoes with pink and girly fabrics!

Batman was a wildman today and I really didn't get a lot of needed sewing or glazing done. All these craft shows are starting to freak me out! Lots to do in the next couple days!

Ellie somehow snapped the photo of herself when I was trying to get her to stand still . . .it captured what I was trying to get, the shiny pink shoes. She has been sporting them everyday since Halloween and they really do go with everything! Today I did get her to put boots on when we went out, but as soon as she crosses the threshold, she is back in the sparkle shoes as she refers to them.

Too good to be true

I received the most amazing parcel in the mail today.  It moved me to tears.  Yes I opened it in the driveway and then I sat and cried.  Every have one of those days?  Life has been a little scary and a little crazy lately.  I was just coming home from an appointment where I actually got great news, I was realizing how much I have to be thankful for and then I stopped at the mailbox.  When I saw the Shinzo Katoh Little Red Riding Hood Tape on the box and then saw my friend Amy's name . . . I started to cry.

I knew what was inside the box.  I knew the time, love and effort she put into this.  The friends and care people in this online community have for one another is moving.  I have felt a connection to Amy since the first photo of hers I commented on.  She is generous, funny, talented, energetic, inspirational and just one of those people I wish I had in my life each day.  This swap touched me.  Amy stitched this amazing piece when she was fighting the H1N1 and also nursing her children back to health.  She sketched the piece and created the whole thing.  It is so beautiful I could look all day.  It is so wonderful to be in the company of people whose creativity inspires me.  To receive a gift where someone takes the time to learn what you like and then creates something just for you.  Anyone who has made something by hand for another and then perhaps gets a quick thanks, knows how awful it feels to pour your heart into something and then have it not be appreciated.  I think this is one of the reasons I love some of the swap groups and friends I have made online - we all appreciate a hand-crafted gift and the process of making something for a like minded soul.

Amy, I can't thank-you enough.  It is lovely.  Amazing.  Breath-taking.  You get me and I LOVE her.  

Sunday Naptime Sewing

Finished the pillow for the pillow swap I joined. Can't wait to send it on its way in the morning. I hope my partner likes it. She loves warm colors, natural linen and geometric shapes . . . hope this fits! I am thrilled I joined this swap. It pushed my comfort level and now I feel ready to tackle another pillow and also a more paper piecing and strip quilts!

I love how the simple quilting turned out and will be quilting this way again for sure. It is a lot of stopping and starting, but I think the top stitched organic look is worth it!

Ellie requested a "cooking glove" and is always stealing ours when she gets busy cooking dinner in the playroom. Will have to make a manly version for Sam, the poor guy is always stuck with pink and often these days sparkles too! Then a few crayon rolls maybe for holiday gifts?

String Blocks

Possible pillow for swap . . ., originally uploaded by threedancingmagpies.

I had more fun making these blocks than a person should have at their sewing machine. Used Ashley's fabulous tutorial, you can find it here. Today I ended up making them a little wonky so the ivory linen didn't match up exactly since it will be a pillow, wanted it a little unexpected. The quilting was fun, I did organic lines in a ivory thread. The effect is simple, warm and fun . . . I am loving how it is coming out and hope my swap partner will love it as well. Pictures soon!

Happy Birthday Grandma Sue

Grandma and Max, originally uploaded by threedancingmagpies.

Happy Birthday to my mom and best friend. We are all so lucky to have such a wonderful mother and grandmother. As I type this I hear you laughing and loving your grandchildren as they start their day. I have always felt that your special day gets a little lost in the Halloween shuffle and this year is like any other . . . sorry!

We have had a wonderful visit with you and wish it could last a few more weeks! So enjoy the crazy weekend and know that we all love you very much!