{ giveaway } W O R D winner!

Our family's elf-on-the-shelf, Sandy, has been busy presiding over the house since Thanksgiving, taking note of good and bad behaviors and reporting back to Santa every night.  I honestly wish we could have Sandy come stay with us all year long, as the mere mention of his name quickly turns otherwise normal children into little angels.  I have never heard the words, "sure, mommy" and "oops, I mean, please..."  and "that's ok" quite so readily spoken in these parts.

Sandy, I do believe I have a crush on you.  (Even if you are only a 9-inch felt doll that makes me feel inadequate sometimes.)

At any rate, since he is held in such high regard around our house and this is a special time of year, I asked Sandy this morning if he would care to reveal the name of our giveaway winner. 

And the random integer internet gods have spoken!

 
Congratulations, Kirsten (December 15, 2010 at 10:20 AM), you have won a copy of W O R D!  I'll contact you directly for additional info later today.

It was fun to read how many of you had specific memories of polaroids as children.  I do remember the thrill of the Instant Photo and the Waving of the Picture and the Awe as we watched those images slowly appear.  It was so very very cool.  I'm so excited to see Jen's book for myself and hold it in my hands!

Here's hoping your holiday countdown isn't too crazy this week.  I have family coming into town to stay with us starting on Wednesday, so we are scurrying about getting last minute things together.  I'm going to remember to stop and sit and enjoy it all.  Breathe it in.  The people, the rush, the food, the laughter, the excitement, the twinkly lights, the celebration itself.  It's all good stuff and it fills my heart. 

happy monday, friends!
miss chris

{ sewing } teacher apron gift

As soon as I said 'this year I'm not going to commit to making any gifts', Fidget reminded me that I always make aprons for her teachers.  Always.  And the thing is, the teachers at her school know this.  Miss Jane might already be expecting one.  I don't know.  (She might be dreading it.)

At any rate, Christmas Teacher Apron 2010, is done and ready to wrap. I added a bit of tif's dottie angel styling to the pocket and used some vintage crochet trim on the bottom.  The pocket itself is made from a piece of an old eyelet bedskirt.  It is one of my favorite items in my stash.  So many, many uses.

I have also been finagled into making crocheted hair clips for Fidgie's friends.  That girl.  She can be awfully convincing, especially when she is talking about giving handmade... Fortunately those little crochet flowers whip up quickly whilst snuggling in front of a movie under a giant patchwork afghan. ;)

Happy weekending, friends!
miss chris

ps: and also... if you haven't yet seen this delightful little movie featuring tif, her mossy shed, and the chickens, treat yourself to 3 minutes of happy.  You'll be glad you did.  xoxo

pps: there is also still time to sign up for the W O R D giveaway -- midnight tonight (12/17)!

{ gifting } for the littles

I've put on my elf hat and pointy shoes.

Thought I would share what our little friends will be unwrapping this year:  A little paperback book selected  just for them, topped with sweets: an oversized lollipop ($1, Target) and ringpop ($1 for 3, Target).  Fidge has given them the once-over and approved.  Phew. 

I've been putting that curcle cutter to good use, too... and the glitter.  Life is simply more festive with glitter, don't you think?  And it's lovely how the glitter likes to spread itself around the house once it has been invited to the party.  :)

 psst: one more day to enter the giveaway!

{ giveaway } W O R D | a polaroid collaboration

I am so very happy for my dear friend, Jen of scissorspaperglue!  She is a newlywed. She is delightful. She is sweet and kind and creative.  She is crazy good with a polaroid camera. 

And now ... she's in print! 

(photo: jen shaffer)

AND I have one of her gorgeous books, W O R D, to give away!

about W O R D:
a polaroid collaboration, 2 years in the making...

each month, the 2 jens would alternate picking a word, which was then interpreted with a polaroid image. at the end of the month, they would post the images online on their blogs, and marvel at the uncanny similarities.

now their collaboration is available in print form.

only 500 copies will be printed.

about jen s
jen lives in saint paul, minnesota. you can find her most evenings in her dining room, creating handmade books and goods while enjoying a bottle of wine. she blogs 5 days a week at paintedfishstudio.com.

about jen v
jen lives in portland, oregon. she enjoys spending time creating in her new studio and dreaming about when polaroid film will once again be available to the masses. she blogs when she can at scissorspaperglue.typepad.com.

Just leave a comment here (about your love of the polaroid of course, who doesn't?!)  by midnight Friday, December 17, and I will use the random.org number generator to select a winner and announce it sometime next Monday, the 20th.

Easy peasy!  xoxo
miss chris

W O R D is published by painted fish studio press.  { Click here to purchase. }

{ december } staying warm

Saturday night ushered in some crazy cold weather in these parts.  Kansas City is not used to extended periods of blustery winds and temps in the single digits.  (-20F windchill!  Oh MY!)  Hubs decided it was time for our first fire and threw on a log.  We made hot chocolate and switched into our jammies, found Frosty the Snowman Comes to Town on the tv, and snuggled up for a night of staying in. 

Thank you for all of the well wishes!  Things will be slowing down here around the blog for a bit while I spend every minute soaking up the goodness of the season.  I have limited myself to one crafty gift and that is already completed.  What a relief!  I'm going to focus my energy and spirits on making things merry and bright around the house with my girls.  Food and crafts included.

Two easy tree crafts caught my eye this morning:

1) These little pom pom trees for the little fingers to decorate,

and

2) these little stuffed trees for the mama to make and decorate.  (In white felt!  oooh!)

Perhaps I should add some gingerbread men to the mix??  We have already planned to make our gingerbread houses this weekend.  I can't wait.  :)

Also in my head today, Tif's lovely hearth.  Amazingly peachy perfect in every way!

xoxo
miss chris

{ making do } thrifted skirt holiday pillow

December always comes flying at us -- like everyone -- with a list of things to do and places to be and rehearsals and functions and wishlists and hopes and anxieties.  It's all with the very best of intentions, too.  We've started our week here with a reminder to slow down, check our priorities and take care of each other.  Everyone at the house is at various stages of some ailment, and today the littlest one is getting is the worst.  I say that, but hubs is at the doc for the flu, so maybe it's a toss up.

Anyway, I'm keeping my spirits up (take that, bronchitis!) and am thankful that it is all hitting us now and not in a few weeks when we have family in town and lots to celebrate.  We may be miserable, but we are all in this together and we'll be better before long.

The ick certainly brings holiday prep to a screaching halt, though, doesn't it?  It's really ok.  Those priorities I mentioned earlier?  I have them fully engaged and my heart is full. 

However, with a few minutes to spare this afternoon (courtesy of a schedule conflict and priority shift), I have a few minutes to sneak in and share a little holiday pillow I made last week from a thrifted skirt and shirt.  It was quick and dirty -- I didn't even make it as a cover, as I usually do.  Just sewed it together and stuffed it closed.  And then I realized it needed something, so I added a little stitchery.

Last night we went to the Christmas Cantata at our church.  (I have three talented friends who sing!  I so wish I could join them.)  Before the performance, there were some slides shown up front. 

Joy is... Dancing. Joy is... Singing.  Joy is..Love. 
Peace is... Joy at Rest. 

I loved that.  Peace is joy at rest.  So true!

Anyway, I'm not 100% sure I love the pillow (could be the ruffles that are throwing me off), but I do love that when I pass through the living room, I have a subtle reminder to exhale and savor it all.  Even the icky stuff.  Extra snuggles, you know.  Soup.  And popsicles for breakfast. 

I'm hoping you and yours are doing well or making it through whatever ick has thwarted your to-do lists... snuggles and all. 

Take care, friends.  I'm wishing you some Peace this holiday season. 
xoxo
miss chris

ps:  I also finished the afghan I started in September on my dottie angel weekend in Seattle.  She's already in full use and I do love that I completed something our family can use.. perhaps she is worthy of her own post though.  Soon, perhaps.  xo

 

{ holiday } anthropologie inspired crochet garland

When I was in Austin, Jade and I made a stop downtown at Anthropologie before heading on to the airport.  The window dressing is always something to ooh and aah over, and this time was no exception. 

And what to my wondering eyes did appear, but crochet in the form of garland!  Garland itself!  Brilliant.

Without haste (and certainly without any know-how) I took my seat on the aisle, whipped out my hook and started making some mantel garland of my own.  I'm quite sure the girl next to me thought I was about to start the widest blanket ever.  I kept her guessing.

I never got any fancier than a simple loose chain on a 5.5mm hook, but I like them all the same.  I think they'd be lovely in all sorts of colors, draping a tree.