Our House in the Middle of Our Street

view of Bellingham Bay from Boulevard Park Last week the kids and I spent an entire day in  Bellingham, WA, and mostly, we spent it at the beach near Boulevard Park . The sun was shining and there was blue blue blue everywhere! It was a warm day, but not horribly hot that you had to stay in the water. A cool breeze was blowing through and after we got our three or four errands done, I parked myself with a book on a bench, a picnic table, and then in the grass on my blanket while the kids played at the park, in the sand, and rested quietly while listening to me read aloud.  new sunnies! It was one of the best days we've had in awhile. I took them to Chipotle for lunch (a rare treat for us now that we don't live by one!), we had plenty of food and water for the entire afternoon, and aside from a bit of grumbling about sunscreen application, these kids had an absolute ball playing on the rocks, in the sand, and just enjoying the gorgeous view of the bay nearby. I...

Just need the right size of dowels, and to attach a few poms, and the Christmas gifts are truly done for this year! 

packaged up with gifts  Last week I mentioned I had gift-bags to sell for Christmas, and I've been busy sewing the past seven days. I love spending time doing crafts and making practical, useful, and beautiful gifts. I get a blissful buzz from it. In the top photo you can see what a few of the Christmas bag patterns are and what they might look like full of presents for friends and family. Although our Christmas tree will probably be locally sourced (ahem, from our property's uncleared forest), we don't have it cut down yet and displayed in our home. From past years, though, take my word for it--these fabric gift bags look beautiful under the tree and add a warmth and a coziness to the decorative atmosphere.  two sets complete with enough twine to tie up each bag, and a necessary pom-pom The two packages above are a pair of 6 bags each, with enough candy-cane striped twine for closing and a fun pompom to add a bit of spirit and bounce. Each package co...

A stuffed Christmas bag waiting to be opened!  This year I'm really excited to start selling a few things I've been making and perfecting over the years for my own family and friends. The first of these items are sets of Christmas bags. What's a Christmas bag, you say? A Christmas bag is a fabric bag that will last forever, long after paper bags, wrapping paper, and tissue paper. There is no clean-up after the gifts have been given, just gather them up, fold them and put them away for next year...and every year after that. They keep vintage fabrics out of the landfill and are a great option both financially and environmentally. They come with a nice folded inside seam, and are double stitched up each side for strength. They're a part of the holiday traditions. Two patterns of bags; S, M, L size, all folded up (bonus minis, too!) I had never heard nor seen Christmas bags before marrying into the Mast family. Stefan's Oma always made them for her fa...

This year we aren't headed back to Nebraska for Christmas. It's a sad thing, something that will hit us come late December, that this is the first year we won't be spending with our families during the holidays. I've tried not to think about it. Instead, focus on others, right? I found the original teddy sleeping bag idea on pinterest over a year ago and plugged it into the back of my mind for Christmas gifts for littles back in Nebraska. Although I didn't stick to the exact design, nor buy the pattern, it did give me the inspiration I needed to create my own for my nieces and nephew. Instead of putting cotton batting in between the layers to give it that puffy feel, I used some extra bits of fleece I had on hand. Although I changed the design from the largest to the next two, I really like how each turned out. The two girls' sleepers have a permanently folded bit in front, embellished by a vintage button. I thought the fold-over helped it look more...

Every year I make a list of fun/silly/simple/complex/random things I want to do, learn, or try in the upcoming year. Usually most get done, not always . I do this because there are crafts, foods, and activities I want to do, but if I don't plan intentionally, they just won't happen. Life will get in the way and I will regret not spending my time more wisely.  These lists help inspire me when I'm bored (I can't remember the last time I was) or just restless for a new activity and help us plan our weekends as a family, too. I don't put any pressure on myself to complete all of these in a year, but of the ones I do finish, I have great memories and I'm glad I had the experience and learned something new! 29 Before 30 *Knit a Katniss Cowl *Read a Malcolm Gladwell book *organize my cooking binder (um, more of a chore that's been put off for YEARS!) * visit the Bellingham Farmer's Market * Go Strawberry picking *Try snowshoeing wit...

 I had a deadline to sew and send this little tank top. I love making gifts for others--especially kids--because they're quick and not usually big critics. I have a niece who just turned one a few days after Ani's birthday, and I made her this DOLI racerback tank top for the upcoming summer. Hence the blinding neon colors.  I saw this adorable   LouBeeClothing  pattern on pinterest about a year ago, and quickly pinned it to my  Make Do and Mend pin board,  where all my future craft projects (a bit unrealistic, I know, but I'm a dreamer) go until I can get to them. Awhile back, I had won an  Ottobre giveaway , and gained a ton of beautiful jersey knit prints, this fruit pattern included. The ribbing, too, was a gift in their package, and I really enjoyed working with it. I don't think I've ever seen ribbing in the fabric store, or at least I had never been on the lookout for it. I've made just a few pieces of children's clothing, ...

photocredit For the first time in years... years ....I'm going to be participating in a sewing week in April. I've wanted to join this very same seasonal group of sewers for a long time, but things would come up, I'd be too committed, or my kids were just too little and I was simply too tired.  This time around, I've got no excuse. I'm going to be brave and start sewing again. I'm going to spend the next month picking out patterns, choosing fabrics from my stash, and cutting them all out. If I take the time to create the scenario (cutting is my defeatist step), I will enjoy spending an hour or two sewing everything up during nap times, photographing everything, and posting it here on the blog and within the group online.  I have tons of ideas already from my pinterest boards , and I even bought a few patterns months ago in anticipation of when I'd start sewing again. Now...to make sure that darned machine is up to snuff... * Will...

Source: lilluna.com via Lora Joy on Pinterest I'm game for round 3 of Get the Craft Outta' Yo House ! Miss B has done it again and schemed and planned a way to gather a bunch of awesome ladies, food, wine, and their craft (whatever that is!) at Roger's Bed & Breakfast this Saturday. If you're local and you're interested, there are a few spots left, if you're on facebook let me know and I'll invite you to the shindig. Should be an awesome time...it always is! There is a cost, around 10$-12 per person, but let me tell you, it is worth every penny. Some of us go out for dinner, others ask for 'pretty please' take out, and still others just munch on the food brought and wait for the fantastic breakfast in the morning. Will we see you there? $10 people...I'd pay MUCH more for uninterrupted sewing time. Believe me.

I wound up doing a lot more sewing for Anikka this past week because not only are there a lot more patterns for girls' clothes, I really needed to add some bloomers to her wardrobe. Currently she has one pair that she wears over her diaper at bedtime...and that's it. She is such a heat-box, just like me, that if we dress her in regular pajamas she winds up sweating and uncomfortable. Not only that but they are handy for under dresses, too, and a lot of the dresses we have don't come with them. I love these cute little things. I love the prints, and I love how they fit her--perfectly. Again, another Lotta pattern, these weren't as simple as the book made them out to be. Jansdotter doesn't have many diagrams in her book and I work and learn visually, so that was a bit of a problem with the homemade bias that is supposed to be hidden inside...er...what?! The pair underneath, if you look closely, has it on the outside, and it crinkles a bit more. By the second try, I h...

The past week since my kids were at VBS Monday through Friday mornings, I had plenty of time to run errands, do some baking, and to learn to sew kids' clothes. I have made a number of things for my kids before, but I've never sat down to actually think about formation of clothes are put together. Kind of a big goal, I suppose, but I had the drive, and I had the free time to sit down, without distraction, and try it out. I was able to make about 7 items to completion and 2 more almost finished, which you'll see tomorrow. I used Lotta Jansdotter Simp le Sewing for Babies book and tweaked her pattern a bit by adding a ton of length for my 4 year old. The first pants, although they are adorable and are the most 'nicely done' of the three pair, turned out fairly short. These make excellent 'beach' pants, especially with the sailboat print, and would look adorable with a nice cream or blue sweater. (Another Lotta project here .) These, although long enough, were...

Source: scrapstudio.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest It's been a fun week so far as my children have been at a VBS each morning from about 8:30-12:30. I've gotten a lot of sewing done, some new skills learned, and so many inspiring things on the brain to make...no thanks to Pinterest . I had planned on having a full week of blogging but not only did the time get away from me, but my chosen topics just aren't as cool as the ones I'm brainstorming in my head. I'll be back tomorrow with a {This Moment} photo, and lots of fun sewing related things next week! Have a good weekend.

Source: jendotlu.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest I wish I knew the artist of this print because I love it. Link on! *** I know I link up to this all.the.time but I really don't want anyone to miss the thoughtful posts, the simple recipes, and the great ideas for play. Rhythm of the Home has it all, seasonally. Loved this bloomer-to-romper DIY. Looks easy and adorable. Do you need an invite to Pinterest? It's amazing, and...addictive. Maybe I shouldn't tell you it's like a visual inspiration board you can categorize? Let's just say following me will give you amazing inspiration that will melt.your.face. Hair wraps, craft ideas, and recipes included. reading this post about motherhood might have made me tear up. might. As a personal reward after doing a lot of work this summer for a ministry I volunteer for, I gave myself this , this , and this . Happy mail coming Friday! I am so excited for a couple movies this summer including The Help , HP #7 , Forks over ...

This week I have sewing on the brain. A big portion of my sewing time is spent washing, drying, ironing, and cutting. The actual machine use is really only about 20% of the actual time it takes to make something. I recently decided to cut out a bunch of patterns and projects all at once and then iron, that of which took me 3 hours total! Once I get around to finding the day and time to put all the pieces together with the machine I imagine I could get all 15 projects done in one day. As for now, they're atop the computer desk in my studio (re: office that is the size of a pin head), waiting patiently. I love all these 'sewing' ideas, color palettes, and the final result. Oh yeah, and I totally need an armoire-studio. Stat. photocredits

I know a. lot. of babies coming in the next 6 months or so, 1 whom just had her birthday last week, another who will be coming anytime (today?), another in a few weeks, and on and on they go. And most of them are girls! That means I get to knit these fabulous bonnets, which tagged along with a package of diapers, is my favorite frugal (and simple) baby shower gift. I whipped up three of these puppies in three days, and whoops , one was too big for any baby. Best give that one to Ani for this winter. :) This is another fun project I'd had in my head, and although it's not finished quite yet, it was inspired by this one by one of my favorite bloggers. I think I'm going to braid strips of fabric and put them up and down (as shown in the picture, instead of horizontal, vertically 'stacked') and place them in Lukka's room. He loves playing with them and I love the vintage wool, colors and design. I was able to receive a bunch of this fabric from a friend's mo...