Chloe is now three.

(Yes, I realize there are four candles on the cake.

We add an extra one to grow on.)

I made her cute little cupcake shirt from and old purple t shirt she grew out of

and followed this tutorial from Grace Violet.

It was super easy.

I made a matching skirt

using the tutorial over at

The Polka Dot Chair

Melissa really has the cutest ideas

and a very lovely etsy store.

Her sweet little birthday crown

tutorial was found here.

This one is super cute, too.

And now for the sad news.

My fantastic sewing machine broke.

Don't ever sew sticky back velcro even if the box says you can sew it.

THE BOX IS LYING!

I started this little doll quilt for Chloe a few weeks ago.

It is now put together and patiently waiting to be quilted.

But I live on an island.

In the middle of the ocean.

With a very rude sewing repairman who has no

sense of urgency in the matter.

I am contemplating two courses of action:

1. I could bribe him.

Probably the most effective route but will cost me something.

On top of the arm and leg he's going to charge me to fix the machine.

2. I could call him every half hour until it's finished.

Definitely the cheaper route.

And more fulfilling (in a vindictive sort of way)

But then if he refuses to fix it...oh, let's not go there.

Until then Dana has lent me her machine.

(She is on a knitting kick)

Thank God for good friends!

Decorating the Doll House

Yesterday for our advent activity we decorated the doll house.

We made a Christmas blanket for the bed.

I was going to whip up a blanket on the sewing machine

but Bailey wanted to stitch it by hand.

She worked diligently

and said (more than once)

"I can tell my friends I made it myself!"

Oh, she is so my daughter.

Now Cinderella Barbie is Warm.

We also made a pipe cleaner tree.

Martha told me how.

It was a simple project but

it did take quite a while just to do the tree

Which of course then needed to be decorated.

We made candy canes and garland and

little teeny tiny ornaments from beads.

Bailey made the star all by herself

(I tried. She rocked.)

We added a few other things-

a little wreath, garland, and a few other odd decorations.

Bailey is using the presents

from her birthday

and having fun with the new theme.

Dana's Christmas Gift

Dana-don't look!

I've finished a bag for my girlfriend Dana.

Her son Ivan has undone at least two of her knitting projects in the last year.

Completely pulled them apart.

(Can't you see the look of amazement on his face as he unravels it row by row?)

So when I found this tutorial

and spied the tied top

I knew it would be a perfect place to stash her knitting.

I hope she likes it!

Welcoming

One of the things we try to instill in our children is the true meaning of Christmas.

The story of Jesus' birth and why He came to earth and what it means to them.

We also don't want them to drive us bonkers.

I had seen the Elf on the Shelf and I never really got excited by it.

So we found a project that ties nicely in to Christmas while rewarding our children for good behavior.

We made cradles for baby Jesus. We set the cradles in a very visible location in our homes. We let the children know that each time we catch them doing something caring, loving, unselfish, etc they will get to add straw to Jesus' cradle. The goal is to have a cradle full of straw to welcome Jesus on Christmas.

The kids have really loved this. One of our rules is that you don't get straw if you ask for it. We made our cradles from little picket fences Dana had found in our local craft store but I've seen them made from paper towel rolls, too.

We started this craft discussing what a King's bed would look like. It was a great opportunity to talk about the significance of Jesus being born in a manger. We also went over the fruits of the spirit (something we had discussed in length over summer) and the positive attributes that we should display. This was a great lesson for the 6 year old crowd but could definitely be shortened or skipped for the younger crowd.

I don't know if we'll keep the cradle or make another next year (I hate to waste but putting the craft together gave a great basis for discussion). Either way I think this is a great addition to our holiday traditions!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

1. Clean dishes when I go to bed on the 25th.

2. An audible squeal of excitement from each of my daughters over one of her Christmas gifts (not necessarily the ones we bought her).

3. No H1N1. Or Influenza. Or anything that makes you sneeze.

4. Free shipping for all the gifts I send out.

5. A rich dude to give me money and to tell me I can only spend it on crafting and sewing supplies.
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

A picture my daughter drew. And in close second, the Christmas stocking Dana made me.
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

Handmade Christmas cards. I can't figure out how to do them cute and inexpensive.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

A huge teddy bear (well, I thought it was huge at the time)
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

A nativity set and a guitar (among 100 other things!)
6. What is your favorite holiday food?

Dessert (don't make me choose)
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

I can't tell that! It will ruin the surprise!
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

That's like choosing a favorite child. (Okay, maybe not. But I do like them all-even the cheesy ones)
9. Favorite holiday song?

Silent Night
10. Favorite holiday pastime?

Baking with my kids.

Christmas Crafting

I've been finishing up my Christmas crafting

which is why I haven't been posting.

Not because I've been super busy

(which I have but I always have time to blog

especially if I have other things

I'm supposed to be doing....)

No posts because

I'm a firm believer in surprises.

So I've been crafting

and I love to listen to music while I'm crafting

(because then I can't hear if the children are fighting).

Do you read Nie?

She's a lovely mother

with a wonderful perspective.

Today she introduced my to Pandora.

I am in love.

I can listen to Frank

while I do this

Taking Names and Spending Money

I am finishing up my Preliminary Christmas Shopping this weekend.

What, you ask, is Preliminary Christmas Shopping?

Well, it's the shopping that has to get done so that the

In-Season Christmas Shopping is less stressful

(because just finding a parking space is hard enough!)

and shopping that must be done

so we're not worried if our gifts have made their

Pacific Ocean flight safely and in time.

Basically it's everything

except stocking stuffers.

Now don't go and think I'm all prepared.

I have set this deadline because

I have hit my limit of

brain-cell loss due to Christmas stress.

And like many deadlines, this one

snuck up behind me and yelled

"Boo!"

To which I promptly jumped up and went internet shopping.

These are some of the goodies I've found:

RobotCandy on Etsy.

I instantly fell in love with their tile coasters.

Kitsch and Kaboodle

She has the most darling necklaces!

Jenny's Bake Shop

Wonderful vintage feel with a cute twist.

I love this one:

Wooden Toy Junction

Sarah and Abraham

I got Dana some Mommy Calling Cards here last year.

I think I may have to get the girls olliegraphic name prints this year.

Unicef

Great educational toys

Southern Brand

Such cute kids shirts.

I've done my part for economy recovery. Have you?