Dying Eggs

Well. We have chickens so...we have lots of eggs. And we eat lots of eggs. And come Easter, we dye lots of eggs. Eggs eggs eggs.

These photos are actually from last year. Our eggs are green and brown so they made sort of interesting hues when dyed with the standard 6-colored 99-cent Paas egg dying kit.



Kind of softer more interesting shades I think. Which is fun. So if you are looking to mix it up a bit this year...try dying brown eggs instead.

I am thinking we might try some home-made dyes this year... Red cabbage? Onions?



And I am thinking we might even skip candy altogether this year. Is that horrible? Not that I'm opposed to sugar or anything...it just doesn't hold any meaning for me on Easter and we always buy too much. I am starting to think more about why we do the things we do on Holidays and how much of it is just because that is the way we did things growing up and how much is because it actually holds meaning for us. I love family traditions, especially ones that enrich the feelings and meanings surrounding special Holidays but I am realizing that as a mom, that can sometimes mean a lot of stress and busying about instead of focusing on what really matters to us. So I guess that's what I am trying to figure out.

What matters to us?

Chocolate bunnies? Maybe. Easter egg hunt? So fun for the kids. But one in our back yard (as opposed to many over several days) will probably suffice. Ham and cheesy potatoes and bunny cake? Could we celebrate without those? Would we want to? Jelly beans...I can live without them. Unless they are pear and Jelly Bellies.

What about you? What do you do to make Easter special for your family?

Feeling Lucky?

Happy March you guys! I am excited about this month and all the newness that the first of anything brings. I completely dropped the ball decoration-wise for Valentine's Day so I thought I better up my game a tad this month so my children won't be able to hold it against me when they are older. Heaven knows they'll have enough to blame me for already...

Before Project Run and Play I hopped on Spoonflower thinking I'd design something for one of my looks, but came across this beautiful print and figured I wouldn't be able to make anything more perfect. I LOVED it. So I bought some in a cotton linen blend. But when it arrived, it was much too heavy to use for the dress I was thinking of, so I saved it aside. It is perfect for dishcloths! So I made a few for St. Patrick's Day decor(I had a lot of fabric). I feel like these will work for lots of seasons too. Or just because.

St. Patrick's Day....check! Christmas...check! Springtime...check! Just cause I like green...check!

Anyway...do you want one too? I wish I could send you all one, but if you leave a comment I'll pick one or two and send them your way (US only please). Let's say by Sat. morning ish? I'm no good with deadlines.

Thanks for being here. And Happy March. I hope life feels fresh and bright for you.

Danielle

Felt Ball Garland for Christmas

I meant to make a felt ball garland last Christmas but it seems lots of other folks had the same idea, because by the time I got around to ordering my supplies, they were super back-ordered so they ended up coming after Christmas. Which is perfect because I often buy things for Holidays and don't get around to making them until the next year anyway.

So here it is next year... and since I already had all the supplies, I've made it! And though I haven't actually started decorating yet (though I have picked up a few festive things from Ikea already), I thought I'd share it in case you'd like to make one too, you'll have time to do it this year!

Making a garland is easy as pie (can you thread a needle?).

What you'll want to know is where to get the felted balls.

You can either buy them (I got some here I used the 2 cm size, spectrum and retro).

Or make them. I did a bit of both.

To make your own felted balls:

Pull off a handful of wool roving and ball it loosely in your palm

Run it under warm water and form a loose ball

Add soap...enough to get a good lather (any kind will work as long as it lathers).

Start to roll the wool between both hands in a ball like you are rolling dough into a ball (Sorry I didn't have anyone around to take a picture of that). Roll gently at first. You can roll a little more vigorously once the ball starts to firm up.

The fibers will start to "felt" as you continue to roll while running wool under warm water and add more soap as it washes away.

Keep rolling and rinsing. You can alternate between hot and cold water to shock the fibers if you want...I have found it works with or without doing this.

Your felt ball will look like a ball and be firm-ish.

Sometimes you will get little cracks where the ball didn't quite come together. Don't worry.

Just wrap another thin layer of roving around the whole ball,

Add more soap, and roll between your hands again until the outer layer has felted to the under layer.

Perfect.

And perfect for little hands to help with too.

Now just thread that needle and string up your beads (I used embroidery floss). You could tie a knot in between each ball but I didn't bother because I kind of like the haphazard spacing. The felt grabs the string well enough that it stays mostly where you place it. I used about 70 balls for a 10 ft. garland spaced like I did.



What I love about these garlands is that they are really just festive for any occasion... I think mine is going in the nursery after Christmas and it might get hung for birthdays too. Why not.

Need some new Christmas music to listen to while crafting? I can recommend this. My favorite song is, "Baby its Cold Outside." Its so cute...she is singing it to him. Clever. (And are you watching "New Girl"? I love it. I hope it doesn't get canceled. Oh boy its funny.)

Anyway...

Happy Felting!

4th of July

better 1 month late than never...



6:30 am Provo Freedom Festival Hot Air Balloon Launch.

Balloons were not actually launched due to high winds. Thankfully my children are too young to know the difference.



9:00am Parade.

These people take their patriotism seriously.
Fun had by all thanks to overcast skies and giant sno-cones.



11am- 9pm ate flag cake + watermelon, napped, did yard work.



9pm watched fireworks from the trunk of our car.

Best seat in the house. Plenty of skittles and twix to go around.

Bonus that we had quite a fireworks show driving to the fireworks show courtesy of the good folks of Alpine who zealously participated thanks to the newly lifted ban on aerial fireworks in these parts.

Windfall

With lots of our dollars going towards our house remodel these days, its hard to splurge on maybe-less-than-practical purchases, without feeling guilty. But that is what is so fun about my little Etsy shop! Though it doesn't make very much money, its my little guilt-free internet shopping fun-fund.

Here are a few things I have gotten lately that I am really excited about:

Christmas Stockings for our family.
I have to say, I am so excited about these! I really wanted some white cable knit stockings but didn't know if I'd find any that were exactly like I was imagining. I did though...and when they arrived (on a snowy fall day) they were even better than they looked online. They are big and snuggly soft. I love them!



The Lower Lights
We got the album, which Avery LOVES (we do too...you will too). She dances around in circles while it plays and cleverly figured out by pushing random buttons how to get it back to her favorite song.

And
tickets to their upcoming concert, which were a steal and we get to bring the little one for free! Can't wait.

Also:

Bulk Vanilla Beans

Clover Bias Tape Maker

Double Welt Cording Foot

I have big project plans for all these little treasures. I can't wait to show you!

Well except for the stockings...no projects planned for those. Although I have to admit, since we have a baby due a few days before Christmas, there is a pretty good chance we'll end up curling him up in one for a photo. I know its cheesy but I am afraid I won't be able to resist!


What would you buy with a little Paypal fun money?

Spooky Silhouette

While beginning to clean my craftroom/office, which is in serious need of cleaning, I came across the supplies I bought last year to make a Halloween decoration I never got around to doing. Since Avery was fast asleep, and since its almost October, I ditched cleaning and made this instead.

It was super easy to make, but I can't take credit for the idea. I saw something similar last year at a craft fair. At $35 though, I figured I could just make it myself. I found this raven image on the internet, printed (I printed it at %150), cut, and traced it, onto a 10"x 10" paint canvas, and then painted the bird using black acrylic paint. It takes a few coats, but its simple. Once it dried I sprayed a clear coat over to seal it. Then I glued black feathers around the edge, and attached a black ribbon to hang, and viola...done before Avery woke up, and for under $10 in supplies.

The only downside is that the craftroom is still a big mess. Oh well...

It's spookier that way.

4th of July

1. Provo Freedom festival Parade 2. Trav and Avery watching Parade 3. Avery in her swimsuit pre swim afternoon swim. 4. The traditional flag cake. 5. BBQ. 6. Doug working the grill. 7. Fireworks at Sugarhouse park. 8. Avery and doug...awwwe!


Cjane is having a photo contest here. check it out.

Love

When Trav and I were first married, he tried to convince me that he didn't know how to cook. In fact, he led me to believe that cutting a tomato was far beyond his capabilities.

But the truth is...I think he just likes me to make things for him. It makes him feel loved.

But then--well... then pregnancy happened and the jig was up. He soon discovered that if he didn't do some cooking, then no cooking was going to be done. Plus I'd like to think that he liked taking care of me. It sure made me feel loved.

One day ago he prepared one of the best meals I have ever had. Roasted pork chops with a (secret) blend of herbs and spices (and very tender I might add), caramelized onion and garlic red potatoes, spinach salad with a home-made lemon olive oil dressing, and dessert.

This dessert was really one of the best things I have ever eaten. Seriously. Is was called Creme Brule French Toast and and had home-made apple cranberry filling, and whipped cream. It had a touch of fresh orange, a dash of cinnamon, and kind of a caramel crust. It was good.

And the best part...I didn't life a finger. And he did it all for me, because he still loves me--

after being married for six years and one day.

Happy Anniversary Love.

Easter

So we haven't had the internet for a week or two (we broke down and finally had our own installed...so were back now...sorry if you've been trying to email me!). Its been a nice break. Many things were accomplished. Home was made more homey, lists were made and checked off, teeth were grown, swings were swung on, and lots and lots of pictures were taken. But more on all that later. For now I present Easter:

The traditional new Easter dresses donned for church (mine is actually not new, but its been a while since it fit, what with the pregnancy and all). For Avery I chose a white Swiss dot romper to more fully show off her darling leggies.

Look close...there is a tooth in there!

The Easter Bunny paid a visit to our house. New Stacking Rings!

Enjoying her book from Grandma and Grandpa Wilson

We took LOTS of pictures (post wardrobe change)

Why I seldom wear earrings these days

Ness made Bunny Cake!

We ate and ate and ate.
(and then Ryan did lots of handy man jobs...you'll be sad to know the palm tree toilet seat is dead...no photos of that...darn)

Enjoyed the twinkle of our new patio lights--
making the best of this home, bringing a bit of our someday home to life,
and dreaming of tomorrows adventures.