Happy Halloween!

For those of you who know my family you will understand why these photos are so hilarious!  For those of you whom we have never had the pleasure of meeting in person...  They look JUST like the members of our family (well, in personality anyway)! 


Top row: Drew and Rachel
Bottom Row: Gretchen and Alexandra

 Boo!

So Pretty!

Some new dresses I just finished and posted to my ETSY shop!  You lucky blog followers get a first peek!  I just HAD to share...  They both turned out SO fantastic!

I'm thinking of calling this style the 'In the Stacks' dress.  Aren't the colors amazing??  The main body fabric is a lightweight corduroy. 

 The super cute peacock inspired fabric is perfect for a tailored bib complete with handmade coordinating fabric ruffle and vintage inspired buttons!

 This dress is over the top adorable.  It's a size 2t-3t and has two layers of serged hem ruffles for detail.  It's modern, European, twirly, ruffly, bright and festive.  Both of my girls went nuts for it.  Too bad it's too small for both of them! 

 The Matryoshka doll applique...

 and...from another angle...  Please forgive my shadow clouding the lower portion of the photo.

 I just love it when a project comes together!

"Hooked" on Hats

In a previous post I mentioned that I've been crocheting hats in the evenings...  My goal has been a hat an evening and so far I've been pretty good about meeting this goal, which, I must say, I'm very proud of.  Crocheting is not new to me.  Over the years I've gifted many a blanket or hat to friends and family but lately I've gone a little hat crazy. 

My inspiration to start crocheting in earnest, again, was sparked by a cute pattern on ETSY by Kandice O. of SweetKiwiCrochet (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetKiwiCrochet) for Sock Monkey and Owl hats.  I made the owl and it turned out super cute!

Lately, I've been into to some more traditional, Nordic styled, 100% super soft (and washable) wool hats for Glacier Ski Shop (on Hwy 542 in Glacier, WA). 

Cute, huh?  I'm SO inspired by this super bright and fun wool yarn I've been working with.  I haven't listed any of these on ETSY...yet but I will have some of them at my craft fair on Saturday, 11/12 from 10-4 at the Willows on Squalicum Parkway (3115 Squalicum Parkway Bellingham, WA 98225) and you can pick them up at Glacier Ski Shop!  All of the hats you see are for children (sizes 1-2 years and 2-4 years). 
Be on the lookout, friends and family, with the holidays right around the corner I don't think you've seen the last of my crocheted gifts!  I'm sure you won't mind :)

Ready for the Holidays?

I've got big plans for the fast approaching holidays!  Matching Mother/Daughter kitchy aprons, some snazzy little ties and bow ties in modern and whimsical prints, some twirly long sleeve peasant style dresses,  Apron dresses, coordinating outfits, and creative holiday gift wrapping (ie reusable fabric bags for holiday wrapping). 

I'm so excited about getting these projects completed, and posted in my ETSY site!  I'll be dropping new inventory by Bumblebees (in Lynden on 3rd st) pretty regularly so if you want to check out some of these fun things head on by there.  They are mostly carrying items in smaller sizes (up to 2t).

If you are interested in larger sizes then head on by my ETSY shop (http://www.ourfox.etsy.com/).  I've been busy posting things there.  Please don't limit yourselves to what I've got in stock!  I welcome custom orders! 

I'll also be doing an American Cancer Society/Relay for life fundraiser craft fair at The Willows in Bellingham, WA on 11/12 from 10am-4pm.  I hope to have a ton of new fall and winter items in various sizes!  Spread the word!  Invite your friends! 

So, am I ready?  Not quite...but I've got BIG plans!

Daydream Believer

I've been cutting patterns like a mad woman.  Sewing like a fiend in the evening hours.  Drafting new patterns, jotting down new ideas, crocheting hats for a local ski shop, and sewing some coordinating clothing to consign at a local children's boutique.  Did I mention I also work full time at my "day" job? 

Oh, make so mistake, I'm not complaining.  I live a blessed life.  A full life but blessed none the less. 

Lately, I've been daydreaming about getting away for a crafting retreat.  A retreat full of wide open spaces to cut patterns, rooms full of creative people with a similar focus, endless cups of hot tea, my iPod blasting my favorite tunes.  A weekend all to myself to sew, sew, sew with no housework, hungry children, conference calls, set bet times, alarm clocks....  This is my daydream.  I used to dream of spa retreats, days shopping in the city or at the local farmers market, a tropical vacation.  Funny how daydreams shift as our priorities in life change.  I don't miss those exotic, spa filled, daydreams at all. 

Creativity Explosion!

I think today will be just that.  It's raining here in the my small Northwest home.  It's grey.  It's dark.  It's dreary.  The kids are climbing the walls already (and it's only 8am).  Maybe I'll even have time to sew some...write some blog posts....do some social networking...check my etsy site...probably not. 

So here we are...a rainy October Saturday.  Nothing makes time fly by, and the whining disappear faster, at our house then finger paints or play dough.  Today, when given the option, the kids chose finger painting. 

This activity always starts the same way...we get out the rolls of paper and tape them to the floor in the kitchen.  Then we get out the finger paints and go crazy.  There are only a couple of rules 1) you cannot leave the kitchen with finger paint on you (hey, I have to draw the line somewhere) and 2) you can paint yourself and the paper but you can't paint the appliances, floor, or walls.  It's a pretty common occurrence that at the end of our finger painting adventure I end up giving one or both kids a bath in the kitchen sink.  As the kids have gotten older we've started experimenting in other mediums like glue, fabric scraps, beads and feathers. 

We use our creations for wrapping paper and to wall paper our playroom.  I'm serious.  Here's a shot of one of the walls in our playroom...

For some reason we never finger paint in the Summer; when it seems ideal to get out the paints (outside of course) make a huge mess then get out the hose for an easy clean up.  Note to self...we must try finger painting next Summer. 

  

You say it's your birthday.....

Today is my birthday.  I'm excited about my birthday every year.  I don't dread it. I don't deny it.  I don't personally make a big deal out of it but, if someone else does make a big deal out of it I do love to celebrate it!

For those of you squeamish about raw shellfish please skip to the next paragraph...  My fave way to celebrate?  A dozen Kumomoto raw oysters and a glass of wine!  This may sound strange, odd, unappealing, and for some even revolting but, for me, it's a delicious tradition.  A handmade cake loaded with lemon butter cream frosting doesn't hurt either. 

In honor of said birthday I have created my ETSY wish list courtesy of some lovely ETSY artisans!
Click here to go to 'My October Birthday Wish' Treasury!