Quiet

We had a lovely, quiet Christmas this year.  My parents and brother came up to our house {since I'm not supposed to be traveling anymore!} and we all enjoyed each other's company for a few days.  We talked, opened gifts, looked at magazines, cooked, and talked some more.  While it lacked the hustle and bustle of many homes at Christmas, we certainly enjoyed peace.  For a while there it looked like we may not be able to see my family...but it sure made my Christmas to get to have them here!

Now I'm wrapping up a few things in preparation for baby's arrival...just a few weeks to go.  I've made a couple cute things too, I just need a sunny day to take a few photos.  Any suggestions for baby things I should make in the next few days, something I'll wish I'd have done?

A Merry Little Christmas

Christmas decorations are small at our house.  We live in a little house and sometimes spend Christmas away, so we haven't put much into decorating it.  My denial about Christmas being eleven days away isn't really helping.  But this weekend I put up our mini tree, Josiah strung some lights around the windows, and today I finally decorated the hutch.

I cut out those paper snowflakes when I was in college.  I put them up every year and take them down and save them.

My extra ornaments from the tree and the snowman my mom gave me for my first Christmas at this house.

My friendship bag from Italy and a Westie card {I love Westies - in case you didn't notice!}.

Maybe I'll have a few more Christmas touches in the next couple of days...I just need to get some cleaning done too!

Snowflakes

For the first time since moving to upstate New York, we made it all the way to December without any snow to speak of.  The next few days should make up for the unseasonably mild weather we have been {so fortunate to be} having.  Although I may not {yet?} be a big fan of snow {I mind it less if I don't have to drive in it}, I heart snowflakes! Oh, and have I mentioned I have a thing for earrings too?

Sterling Silver Snowflake and Crystal Earrings by ShySiren

Snowflakes by PolishedTwo

Silver Snowflake Earrings by Spotted Octopus Jewelry

Let it Snow...in Teal by Sweet Bird

Snowflake Earrings by AmandaMackay

Earrings are probably my favorite piece of jewelry {and the only thing I seem to wear regularly}, but finding pretty earrings that make a statement on their own can be a bit difficult.  How fun to have Etsy to search through.  These are a few of my favorites {I think it may be time to hang up my Maple and Brown Sugar Earrings until next fall}.  The real dilemma?  Picking just one {or two?} pair.

Baby Project: Lattice Blanket

I've had the yarn and pattern to make this blanket for quite a while.  I bought the kit sometime last year, and intended to make this blanket for a friend who was expecting.  Well, the baby was born and I wasn't anywhere near finishing the project {especially after a few mistakes that caused me to start over more than once}.  Instead of finishing, I decided just to take it out and store the yarn, and make it some other time.  A couple months later I found out that I was expecting, so I decided to try again.  I was making great progress, but also growing tired of working on the same project {I'm a quick project kind of person}.  Instead of finishing it as described in the pattern {Mac & Me has some great ones, including this one, and Leslie is so sweet and helpful too!}, I decided to just knit the lattice portion a little larger and leave off the borders.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out {and I have a little bit of the lovely Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton left - can you believe that color isn't dyed?}.  Although I think the borders would really look nice, I don't think I would have gotten around to finishing it with them.  Of all the projects I've knit, this one was by far the biggest {and the only blanket}, now I think I need to work on some tiny hats and mittens!

Shopaholic: Avie Designs

Boxed Stationery

I love stationery {and honestly, most other paper products too}.  I wish I was still as avid of a letter writer as I've been in the past {sadly, e-mail and cell phones have made instant contact so convenient!}.  Regardless of the frequency of my letter writing, I always keep a nice stash of stationery on hand, and try to send off beautiful notes, when I do happen to send them.  I think I've spent hours browsing stationery on Etsy, and came across Avie Designs early on {but finally got around to placing an order not that long ago}.

Avie's designs are unique and have a clean and fresh quality to them {and the paper she prints on is great quality too}.  I also appreciate the fact that her stationery sets are printed on recycled paper as well, so I am reusing paper.  In addition to stationery, you can find bookplates, calling cards, website cards, and invitations and announcements too.

Now, I just have to bring myself to actually using them, and not just admiring the lovely stash I've accumulated.  {I think Josiah cringes every time I go into a paper store, little does he know I have one at my fingertips every day.}

P.S. There is still time to place an order from Avie Designs and get it by Christmas, if you don't know what to get that paper lover on your list.

D.I.Y.: Take-Along-Quilt

I made this super easy quilt last week, and thought I'd share the almost-pattern.  Really, it's just a simple Four Patch, but it is sized to use a few fat quarters {which I always buy and then am not quite sure what to make with!}.  It is the perfect size for a picnic blanket or for a little one to cuddle up in {this specific one is for my adorable nephew}.

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Sew little time!

Would you believe I've been a little absent from this blog because I've actually been working?  {I know, I'm in a little bit of shock myself.}  It dawned on me {as I finished of the pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving} that Christmas is a little over three weeks away...and I haven't finished any of my handmade gifts yet.  Yep, not a single one...

So, in true holiday {and procrastinator} spirit, I have been sewing furiously by day, and knitting by night {instead of watching TV}.  Here is a sneak peek of what I've been working on, I think there's a cute little boy in Florida who just might learn to surf some day...

Okay, enough time used up online...back to work!

Baby Project: Car Seat Quilt

Having a baby in January in a cold climate definitely presents a challenge: keeping the little one warm while we are out in the cold.  After doing a little research, I decided that an infant car seat was a must.  Between the snow and the single digit cold weather, being able to bring a bundled baby out to the car without having to remove layers before strapping him in the seat was a must {since little babies aren't supposed to wear snow suits while in their car seats}.  My next thought, then, was how to keep him warm without the extra bulk of clothes.  I saw these in a magazine and they looked like the perfect solution:

That is, until I discovered that for the safest fit {which is obviously the most important factor}, nothing is supposed to be between the baby and the car seat.  The next option, which seemed more practical, but less cute {and if my current idea doesn't work, will be our standby choice} was an over-the-seat pouch like this:

But, in the meantime, here is my current idea:

A quilt that attaches to the car seat.  I made it a little big, so it should keep out drafts, and figure I'll put a couple smaller blankets underneath, all tucked in {I will have to make those next week}.  I just see so many parents with these huge blankets falling out of their car seats {did I mention I woke up to snow this morning?}, that I figured there has to be a better way.

Oh, and if this doesn't work, I can just remove the ribbons and have a cute mini quilt...  I {heart} Bunny Hill fabric too!