n o d d y b o o m

making things

::  I am so inspired by so many people in my life and so many people that surround my life to make things and to do things for others.  So, thank you, all of you, for all that you do and for being who you are and for inspiring me as you do every day.  My god, we are lucky to be able to do all the wonderful things we can do.  Are we not?

Today I made apple cake.

Again (it's just so darn good).

This time in jars.

I filled the jars 3/4 full.  The cakes erupted over the tops of the jars (was too...??? to grab my camera - ahem) and then settled back down, once  they came out of the oven.  Three of them are going to teachers tomorrow (last day of school before the break - we are all very ready for the break) one of them is going into our stomachs for breakfast.  Mmmmmmm.

I also made play-dough.

In many colors.

For many littles.

I think this would make another great party favor/gift.  It took about an hour to make four of these.  I probably could have doubled or tripled my batches and made more in the same amount of time (relatively).

And finally...

...snow globes!

I found the skiers at a cake shop (just didn't have any luck finding vintage ones and really wanted skiers).  The angels and trees are from the 50's or so (we think).  I found them at the flea market along with some of my deer.  Love, love them, I do.  Hope the kids will too.  I think they will.  There's a tutorial here. 

I think this would be another fun project to do with kids, although the glue is tricky.  And, of course, you have to wait for the glue to dry (I used epoxy, which takes 8 hours, really, before you can plunge everything into water and glitter).  But imagine piling small plastic toys in the middle of the table and letting the littles pick what they want and where to put it and then you glue it on there, let it dry overnight and voila.  The next day, they get a glitter globe!  New life for old plastic piddly little toys and jam jars.  Love it.

Off to bed.

Ho ho ho.  ::

just a few things to share...

::  My cheerful collection of vintage gnome cake decor sitting on a plate. 

Had to make the tinker toy tree.

Stringing up more cards!  We just love looking at all of them.  They make the house so cheerful.  So many beautiful words and faces.

And look at this!  Look what Griffin brought home today!  A gnome hat and beard that he and the other kids made themselves at school (oh I love Waldorf).  The beard is wet-felted from a piece of wool and the hat is wool felt that has been blanket stitched around the edge.  Oh my.

And one more thing before I run off to finish the snow globes (nearly there, I swear... just trying to get the water/glycerin/glitter mixture just right), look at this cute game!  It's a gnome/dwarf game.  One person is the dwarf who owns the "treasure" and the other person is the gnome.  The dwarf dumps all the treasure out of the bag and closes his eyes.  The gnome steals one of the pieces of treasure.  Then the dwarf opens his eyes and tries to guess which piece the gnome has taken!  Then all the pieces get put back in the bag and we play again.  Brilliant, isn't it?! (did I mention I love Waldorf?).  Yes.  Griff and I had a real hoot playing this by the fire this evening.  This might have to become a gift I put together for party favors for someone's birthday in the not-terribly-far-away-future.  Mmmhmmm.   

Ok.  Back to the globes.  Photos tomorrow, I promise!  ::

yet another w.i.p.

::  There are a lot of works in progress around here. 

I'm nearly done with my homemade snow globes for the kids (see spray painted lids above).  The cookie dough is in the freezer and I have one more batch to make (also dying to make the cakes in jars).  Mulling spices have been individually wrapped and jarred (still need to make labels and cut out cloth circles to cover the lids).  An embroidery for Marley's wall is half finished and sitting next to the mulling spices.  I have not completed the homemade paper pads.  They will probably have to wait.  And I still need to make something for my uncle (was attempting a hat, but for some reason it's not working;  thus he might be getting cookies), nieces (I'm thinking playdough), and Griff needs a couple more things for his stocking (really, really wishing I could whip out a hobby horse).  The countdown has begun.

Chris's folks arrive on Thursday.  My office is a sty.  As you can imagine with all the w.i.p.'s lying around.

And for whatever Godforsaken reason, I have my annual tomorrow morning at 7am.  Yes, tomorrow morning at 7am.  I totally forgot that I need to fast for twelve hours before the blood tests and accidentally skipped dinner because I was busy tending the kids, knitting (I mean, trying to knit), making sure the alarm system works (our neighbor's house got broken into today, so sad), checking emails, bathing kids, putting kids to bed.  Realized at 8:30 that I was starving but now couldn't eat because I am now inside of the twelve hours in which I am not allowed to touch food.  I am thus going to bed so I won't be tempted to dig into the guacamole and chips or Straus mint chip ice cream that are far too readily available and calling to me from the kitchen.

Sleep tight.  ::

busy * busy

::  Some gifts have been wrapped and shipped.

Others are still lying in piles.  I've been hitting my old Martha Stewart (Kids) magazines pretty hard for ideas, as some of you who are familiar can see (ie:  button decor and leaf tags).

The cards have been sent out.  Phew.  We've decided next year to do an email-card and lower our carbon footprint and save on postage, which continues to increase at an alarming rate, necessarily, I'm sure, but still.

Today is the school's annual Winter Faire.

We've been decorating the "SnowFairy Market" for three days (this is the market that the children enter alone with fairy guides to do their holiday shopping for others).

It takes a long time to hang all that fabric and set up those lights!

The children were sneaking peeks while we were setting up (stinkers).  We had to drape fabric over the door to keep the room a surprise for them.

There's the table piled with gifts (all donated by the parents of the school) where the children will do their "gift buying for others".  So nice for them to get to have that experience.

Have a wonderful day and enjoy the fair, Waldorf Parents! ::

w.i.p.

::  I am attempting pads of paper a la Bumblebee.  I love the idea of recycling odd bits of paper into something usable.

There are some lovely Christmas-y ideas here and here.  I love the one for the advent calendar and the reindeer food on the lawn.  Those are gooood. 

Our little toothless wonder.  Such bliss.  ::

self portrait

::  The 2008 letterpress calendar from Port2Port, a set of vintage skeleton keys and my shadow in the bottom right corner.  ::

cheating

Just a little.

We used frosting too, but the glue gun is sooo much easier to work with.  Just... don't let them eat the parts with the glue on it.  I had plenty of glue-free snacks on hand to keep their mouths busy, so they weren't tempted.  Worked like a charm.

It's St. Nicholas Day.  We forgot to put our shoes out last night, so we're putting them out tonight in the hopes that he might come back.  I think he will. 

Happy St. Nicholas' Day everyone.

before

And then she yanked it out in the car on the way to school.

sewing kit

::  I've finally put together my own sewing kit.  For months, I was using Marley's beautiful wooden sewing case that her Grandma bought for her for her birthday.  I finally relinquished that to her and had my stuff sitting in a pile in my office, waiting for the perfect receptacle to plant itself in.  At last it's here.

I believe it's an old minor's lunch tin, or something.  I'm quite happy to have at least one thing off the couch.

The holidaze are definitely upon us and I am feeling all that comes with that.  The seasonal ice rink has been a rather welcome experience for all of us amidst the rest of what comes along this time of year.  The kids can't get enough.   It's marvelous.  Sorry, no photos.  I'll have to bring the camera one of these days.  ::

happy * saturday

::  coffee.  aahhh. 

fun with chalkboard paint.  ::