Happy Holidays

Jess and I hope your last few days of 2012 have been good. We have gone quiet here, choosing like a lot of you out there, to really be present in the moment. 

The main reason I am breaking my silence is to show you one of my favorite things that made it's way into my holiday decor this year. Compliments of my husband. 

See,I went a bit crazy and turned one entire wall in our house into a chalkboard wall.

 I had very definite plans about what I wanted on the wall. 

Life happened. My plans didn't.

I let go of my expectations and got this gift in return.

I came home from work one day to find he'd begun an amazing drawing. Now that it's finished, I am unsure as to whether I can ever change it....

It is a drawing one of our most favorite places on earth.

It is the view we had, most years, from the window of our Gasthaus.

We miss it.

This year we have enjoyed decorating.

Lighting things up.

Hanging out together.

Sometimes doing our own thing.

Pondering over a puzzle. 

(Holy cow Mom, this one's hard)

And grabbing hugs under the mistletoe.

I also managed a bit of sewing. Pulling out some of my hoarded and doing no one any good, Little Folks Voile, now I, and a few other people have fun scarves to help keep them warm. 

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday. 

These Boots Weren't Made For Walking.....

Baby girl needed something to keep her feet warm. 

Jess and I found some lovely wool fabric at the Jacksonville Quilt Fest. Then she found a shoe pattern she liked here. 

We had to make some modifications to the pattern. The calf was not quite wide enough and Jess asked me to leave the lining out of the foot area and attach it in the shaft area. It made a huge difference on how they fit on Bella Boo.

That black leather tab is hiding the elastic I added at the top.

Matt even got in on the design by requesting leather soles for this pair. This is recycled leather from an old jacket of his. I love recycling!

The pair below was the first set we made and we were working out the kinks.

They are usable but a bit more clunky.

I almost wore the wool out trying to get them right....

This girl seems to be growing so quickly. Before I know it, she will need boots for walking!

My girls, I love them so.

Yes, I got this girl some jeggings. It just seemed right with the boots. 

Now I need to get a couple more light-weight boots done and an all leather pair done, and a fur lined pair, oh and a fur on the outside pair and......

Quilt Collaberation

So, started a quilt for my guest room. As I was making the top, Jess started making a baby sized quilt with my extra, just because. Mostly because, this rail fence style quilt had been calling to her.

I think it's out of her system now.... ha ha.

I love it but I already have a big quilt in these fabrics that, no, is not yet finished.

The fabrics are mostly Michael Miller with  touches of Denyse Schmit, Riley Blake and Kaufman Kona.

I got distracted from finishing my big quilt, by making the quilt back for this one. Well, I got distracted by that and a few hundred other things. Simple straight line quilting finished it up.

It's always fun to work with Jessica. I am thankful for her energy Every. Single. Day.

We are putting this one up in our shop, hoping someone else will love it too.

Jess is not the only fantastic helper around my house.
P.S. Apologies for the blurry photos. I think I need a new lens. Or new eyes. Or both.

Lauren's Bridal Shower Invite

I (not so recently) helped host a bridal shower and I was in charge of the invitations. 

I was (who am I kidding- still am) severely lacking in time when I made these- Bella was 3 months.  So I relied very heavily on my Pinterest boards for inspiration... I wish this design was my own....just trying to keep it real here. 

 I ended up using a Minted invite that had been featured on a greenweddingshoes.com inspiration board. With a few change ups it really fit the brides style to a T... Her wedding color was Purple and she would be carrying Mums. 

I had them printed at Office Max... because it's the closest printer. And then used vellum envelopes and washi tape as a seal

I really love doing graphic work and even though I do wish I would have had more time to be original I really love the way that these turned out. I guess that is the nice thing about doing things for friends... 

I do have another invite if I can get it photographed... which could mean you will see it a year from now!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!