Tradition Tuesday - Share A Tradition, Win a Pair of Clippies and ANOTHER Giveaway Announcement!

 

Today over at my sister's blog, there is a giveaway going on!  All you have to do is leave a comment telling about your favorite Christmas Tradition/Memory.  

You could win two pairs of any of the clippies she has available in her shop!  So head on over!

Also! There is a Giveaway going on today at Steph's Blog Somewhat Simple as part of her 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways.  You could win TWO of my PDF Patterns!  So head on over there as well!

Camille, The Beehive Bazaar and a Christmas Song just for YOU

 For those of you in or around the Provo, Utah area, there is a little somthin' somthin' happening RIGHT NOW through tomorrow night.  I am giddy to get there and see all of it for myself.

My very talented sister (in law but more in heart) Camille (founder of Beal's School):

Jonathan Canlas took this

 

is sharing a booth with another friend Ashley Mackay (who happens to be a very talented graphic artist, if you order any patterns after January you'll see what I mean).   You can check out their introduction page here .

They will have all kinds of goodies. Including Tiger Fire's (Camille and my brother Micah) latest Christmas album.  This is them looking all cool (they were literally freezing cool up in Park City posing for this:

Jonathan Canlas took this one too

Would you like a taste?  Here's your little gift of MUSIC (if you likey, likey you can thank them here and here).

Tradition Tuesday - It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!

The World Wide Web is FULL of ideas for what to do around the Holidays.  I have compiled some of my favorites.  I unfortunately don't have any for those of you who celebrate Hanukkah.  I'd love to hear some of your ideas.  So please enjoy these ideas and share a few of your own favorites!

 

Handmade Christmas:    

Cut out a small piece of paper and write the name of each family member.  Put these in a bowl or hat and have each member draw a name.  The name that is drawn is the person for whom a gift will be handmade.  (It is best to do this early so that everyone has enough time to create their special handmade gift).

Reindeer Mix:

Make a special “Reindeer Mix” for Santa’s reindeer.  A good recipe is oats with gold and silver glitter.  On Christmas Eve, tell your children to leave the mix on the driveway, front lawn, or any other spot where the reindeer might want to rest and enjoy a snack.  After the kids have gone to bed, clear most of the mix away, leaving just a few oats as evidence that the reindeer have made their visit.

Santa’s Little Helpers:

This is a great time for children to learn to give.  Set aside a box that can be filled with toys that your children choose to give.  Help them clean the toys and put them in a special box labeled “For Santa”.  Have them write a note to Santa explaining how they loved each toy or what their favorite memory was with each toy.  Then help them explain that they would like them to be given to another girl or boy. They will be so excited to see the box empty Christmas morning with a special thank you note and treat form Santa.  Save their letters and enjoy them years later.

Christmas Music Program:

Have a musical program in your home for elderly or single people living around you.  Have refreshments and send each guest home with a little gift (i.e. bread, jam, cookies, etc.) or take a little program to cheer those confined in a hospital or rest home.

Four Gifts:

It’s easy to get carried away with gift giving.  Help to keep the true spirit of Christmas by limiting your family to four gifts: Something to play with, eat, read and wear. 

A Gift for Christ:

Have a special stocking or box that can be used for your gift to Christ.  Give Jesus a gift of a goal for the coming year.  Each person writes down their goal or gift to Christ and puts it in the stocking/box.  Next Christmas each person evaluates their progress on their goal. (You can also do this at the beginning of December and evaluate progress on Christmas Day.)

What are some of YOUR favorite December Traditions?

In The Spirit of Thanksgiving - A Special Message for You

Just wanted to share this today.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tradition Tuesday and Meet My Cousin's Newest Creation

Doesn't he just make you want to snuggle?  This little guy is my cousin Jessica's newest creation and is available in her shop.  Every little stitch on his incredibly soft, mohair little body is hand-stitched.  There is only one in her shop so if you want him, you'd better go and get him soon!

Speaking of Warm and Snuggly, let's talk about traditions!

I'm devouring reading a wonderful book right now called

Mrs. Sharp's Traditions - Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort and Joy. 

It is written by the author of Simple Abundance - Sarah Ban Breathnach and is nothing less than a treasure.

If you are interested in reviving old traditions or starting new ones in your family and you enjoy beautiful Victorian art (which can be found on every page) I can guarantee that this book will be a treasure for you too.

I wanted to share a little excerpt with you.  Sarah writes as if she were a

Victorian woman named Mrs. Sharp:

     "May Mrs. Sharp share with you some of the principles of her old-fashioned petticoat philosophy of parenting, which for many years have guided and been a source of comfort to her?

     First of all, obligations already existing in your family life can become perfect opportunities for family tradition making and togetherness.

      Special family times must be scheduled into modern lives; they do not occur spontaneously.

      Strong, emotionally healthy, and loving families spend time together - working and playing.

     Third, never forget the three P's of perfect family life: setting priorities, planning, and prayer.  These three elements are essential for parental peace of mind.

     Fourth, by incorporating routine, rhythm, and ritual into your life, many happy moments and memories will flower.

Mrs. Sharp's Traditions - Sarah Ban Breathnach page 25

Wise words! Hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday.  Remember that the Etsy sale is still going on but not for long! Go and get your deals while you still can!

There is Beauty All Around

The last of the leaves and Maisy's little feet

 

A beautiful site - yarn just begging to become something cozy

 

The last of the apples - just for eating

 

 The last of this year's canning - White Grape Jelly

 

 The sweetest little cherub basking in the warm, fall day

 

Look at that face!

 

 This year's first snowflakes (with breakfast still on her face).

 

What is she thinking? Oh those blue, blue eyes.

I'm Thankful for Maternity Pants Skirt Tutorial

The other day I was desperate for something new for the twins to wear to church.  I wanted something that looked like fall.  I went through my stash and found the perfect pair of Maternity pants...and this tutorial was born!

Three Reasons to Love This Tutorial:

1. You have a pair of Maternity pants that you swear if you have to wear one more time you will (fill in the blank), BUT they are in good condition.  NOW you have an excuse to cut them up!

2. This is SO stinkin' fast and easy it may make you cry (tears of joy of course).

3. The finished product on your favorite little girl may also make you cry (tears of pride and joy of course).

Let's get started shall we?! 

Supplies:

Aforementioned Maternity Pants (size depends on size of your child.  I used a pair of size 12 for two 2T skirts)

Sewing machine

Thread to Match

Pins

Step 1:  Lay your pants out and find the widest part of the leg (these pants are size 12...and no I never wore them...hence the tag.  My sister gave them to me after her husband gave them to her when she was NOT pregnant...OOPS! She was a good sport about it.  Too short for me but I've always loved the fabric).

OK moving on, now find a skirt that fits your child that will be a pattern of sorts and cut out your skirt(s).

Now you should have two pieces of fabric that look a lot like skirts (or one if that's all you choose to do).

Now go to the top of your pants and cut out the waist leaving about two inches of fabric on the bottom like so (these pants happened to be flat in the front with elastic on the back...yours may be different):

If your pants have an elastic on the back or all around, make sure to stitch it in place so that when you cut into it, you will not lose your elastic:

So as this sideways picture shows (darn blogger) you will need to do two seams so you can just cut right down the middle and you won't lose your gather or your elastic:

OK so now you have two skirts with two tops to sew on:

Decide where you want your front, back and sides to be and pin RIGHT SIDES together at the top of your skirt pieces (again sorry about the sideways picture):

 

It may be a little bit tricky with your elastic part just stretch and pin and remember that when you sew you will need to be stretching your elastic so it will all fit nicely:

 

Now first sew your front and back top part together at the side.  Next sew all the way around getting as close as you can to the base of the original seam:

If you have a serger or over-lock machine, go around again and finish everything off:

Hem the bottom of your skirts and YOU ARE DONE! Here's a view of the front and back:

I got a little excited and did a quick little matching onesie with some of the extra material and some buttons I had lying around.  You can also see the crocheted flower clippie.  I'll be posting about these little jewels soon!

                     One of our beautiful little models showing us the front:

and the back:

 

Here's a view of the shirt front:

 

This is the first of three tutorials based on re-purposing Maternity Pants...so stay tuned! There will be some exciting Tutes ahead!

And the Winner Is!

Courtesy of the Graphics Fairy

Well I feel like the winner with all of the great tradition ideas shared by all of you!  If you have a minute you should read some of your fellow readers' traditions.  So many warm and wonderful ideas.  Thanks so much for sharing!

On to the winner of the patterns. The winner is:

Comment #5

Domestic Princess said...

I posted about your wonderful giveaway! =)


http://domesticprncs.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaway-alert.html

November 17, 2009 6:11 PM

It paid to post it on your blog Domestic Princess!  Congrats!

For those of you who didn't win, don't you worry!  There will be many giveaways in the next month that I'll be making you aware of. 

 The first of which is TOMORROW (Friday)! 

Head on over to meet Chris at Pickup Some Creativity.  You won't regret it.  She has all kinds of great tutorials and ideas.  She also is debuting her new PDF pattern(an adorable little girl's purse) and giving away both a pattern and a ready made purse! I can't wait to enter and hopefully win.  I can think of two little girls who would love one of these to go with their Christmas dresses this year!

Tradition Tuesday and a GIVEAWAY!

Courtesy of Graphics Fairy

I thought that since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, it might be fun to learn about some of your traditions.  What do you do with your family or friends to celebrate this time of Thanksgiving?

And because I know there are some lurkers out there, I thought I'd give you a bit of incentive.  

So here it is:

I'm giving away TWO free patterns from the shop to the winner!

TO ENTER:

1. Leave me a comment telling me about one tradition you do or have done in the past and loved at Thanksgiving time.

2. For a second chance to win, post about this giveaway on your blog.  Come back and leave me another comment saying you have done so.

This is a one day giveaway so I will be choosing the winner on Wednesday evening and posting the results here.

That's it!  

I can't wait to read all of your comments!

Note: For more tradition ideas, click here

And don't forget, there's a HUGE sale going on RIGHT NOW in the SHOP!

HUGE SALE IN THE ETSY SHOP

THIS WEEK ONLY we will be having a BIG sale in the Etsy shop.

 

Two patterns for 10 dollars. 

Also, if you have been thinking about getting a license to make and sell Pod Swaddlers  

NOW IS THE TIME.

 

I am offering Licensing Agreements at HALF PRICE this week for all of those who'd like to add the Pod Swaddler to their craft shows, Etsy shops, Bazaar's ect. and make a little extra Christmas/Holiday money.

So head on over and get your DEALS!