Wanna Win a Cowl??

If you want to win one of the lovely cowls you just saw in the last post...then go visit this lady's blog...and find out how you can:)

Happy Thanksgiving Adam (not eve...but adam...he did come first;))

The Blog...of an amazing woman who you really should want to read about day to day besides!!

http://thankfullythinking.blogspot.com/

Handmade Holiday Sale Coming!!!

Tuesday, December 1st is the new black Friday!!!


So one night I thought to myself....I love selling my things on Etsy...so why not give it a go in real life? I mean, who says we cannot dream big right? Well a few conversations later it is here and it is happening! I talked my sweet big sister Emily into doing the sale with me and she is now hosting it at her own beautiful home in Naperville, Illinois. We will be selling the stuff we are busily making (emily is extremely creative and talented!!) and about 15 more lovely people's goods as well. Now-if you want to come to a house full of one of a kind, beautiful, handmade items rather than stressing out under florescent lights in a panicked line of shoppers, then this is the sale for you!! Leave comments below if you want to know more. Also, check out the below link on facebook to see some of the other vendors involved and some of their work as well! Enjoy all and get plotting for Thanksgiving!! I know I am.








Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_2305272732#/event.php?eid=210587075319&ref=nf
don't forget to stop and smell the roses today:)

Currently I am Happy Because.....

I have pretty napkins in my kitchen (one of the cutie things my sister Emily gave me)



Isabelle and Judah-yes Isabelle is wearing a strange hat and reading to Judah from my day planner:) which she refers to as a Bible, since all the other books that look like that are Bibles


Starbucks now has Gingerbread Lattes (and we got amazing starbucks gift cards for our birthday!!)
Nate made our first fire-and it was soooo wonderful! I adore, adore, adore fires.
I got to hang out with the women I love the most in the world!! (my sister ruth, emily, sister-in-law karen, me and my mom) blessed am I indeed!

What is currently making you happy?

A Gift for Nate

Today is Nate's birthday....and my birthday:) Yes, we have the same birthday-which is amazing!! But for his birthday Isabelle decided to paint him some masterpieces. Here is a view of the master at work.

A Process......

I desire so much for my home to be a place that cultivates creativity. I feel like the gift of creation is one of the most amazing presents giving to us by God-our Creator. I long for my house to be constantly busting with projects of beauty and art. I love watching Isabelle color and select which pencil will be perfect for the unique squiggles she will be drawing. (red is currently her favorite pencil to use...hence all the red pencils being worn down to a nub) I want my home to be a place where people come and then leave inspired to awaken the creator in themselves. There is something so amazing and freeing and childlike about the process of creation-and I never want to lose that in my life. Soooooo I have started a few projects that will aid me in this endeavor. A reading corner...full of blankets, pillows and a trunk full of books. A creative display string, showing all the wonderful things we are doing. A closet stuffed full of tools to help us make our imaginations grow and develop. I have been reading this book, The Creative Family, and I know it has been a welcomed catalyst to the ideas and efforts I have been making towards this end. I suggest reading this book... or at least reading those portions that interest you the most:) If anyone has suggestions on how they peak creativity PLEASE share those ideas in the comments. I know I love to learn from others! So keep your eyes open as I am hoping to expand on my rather pathetic start (but hey it is a start) of all these things! Have a lovely day-and stare out a window for at least one minute...God is the most inspiring Creator of all!!



the creative display string

a close up on Isabelle's most recent work
the closet of creation tools:) this makes me giddy to look at
the rack of cowls I have been working away at

the felt roll of pens I finally completed yesterday while the kids were napping (this project was from the book and super easy...especially if you are actually a friend with the sewing machine...I am not!)
the roll
The End. Go and create!

What Have I Been Doing Lately

I have been happily sitting at my little desk-here is just a corner of it. A rack for my sketchbook and other items to inspire me. (anthro magazines, martha stewart magazines, my bible study) a coffee cup that I drink my coffee out of every morning. It is ugly...I know-but my mom drank out of it when I was little and I have such a treasured memory of it (and so want to be a mother like her) that I love sipping from it. My planner and address book....my pens for drawing...my sweet lamp that offers the perfect light when it starts to get dark out. The cards below are some of my brainstorming for an upcoming sale my sister and I are going to have for Christmas.
A raw view of my sketchbook....clearly I cannot stop thinking about Nate...(my husband) even when I am trying to be creative. I love him so much!
Another view of a brainstorming page from the book....Isabelle helped add some color to it-I love it more this way.



This last one was a drawing I did for my little Isabelle....I hope it comes to be a treasure to her someday when she is older. I love drawing for people...there is a different connection to a project when you are doing it for someone you love.
An older drawing I did last year-that I love for some strange reason. Odd, odd, odd-it suits me.
My favorite little art partner helping me out.

Sibling Love

So much love here.....! I especially love the one where Judah is just staring at Isabelle....he has no idea just what a playmate he will find in her-oh man!

Socks and Cowls.....

So today Isabelle found a pair of Judah's socks and then without a beat she put them on her hands like it was the most normal thing in the world to do. I love that already she is displaying creativity and fashion independence-what fun!!!




I have been busily crocheting away to make a few extra cowls for some sales coming up. If you like them check out my etsy shop! I can always do custom orders for you as well.

My little budding artist at work-sketching away........ahhh the joy of creation. Isn't it wonderful that we have a Heavenly Father who gave us the ability to create? Yes! The answer is yes!

happy thoughts

(isabelle and me on the train at sonny acres)
There are many, many things that make me happy. But whenever I think of any of the things shown here-I have a happy thought indeed! Hope they make your day a bit brighter too.


( judah my little teddy bear)

(isabelle, my little zebra-who LOVES candy)



(a hubby who would find the idea of being the American Gothic for Halloween as entertaining as I do)
(isabelle wearing the sweater and leg warmers her talented aunt (my sister) emily made her)
(the goofy faces she makes and humor she shows at such a young age)

(my little music maker....she always is playing something...harmonica, drum, triangle, maracas, bells...you get the idea)