Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A New Leaf...

When Kelly and I first had the idea for this blog, it was with the intent to have a monthly theme that would challenge our creative sensibilities. We wanted to see what each of us could come up with given a loose idea and carte blanche. We were temporarily side tracked by cancer, but we are grateful to be back on task and ready to go. So, our theme for this first month of the new year is A New Leaf. This can be interpreted as literal or as figurative as one chooses. We aren't big on rules :) For instance, my first post on theme is this...

Now you are probably wondering what do these lowly, albeit, lovely pine cones have to do with A New Leaf. Well, just look here...

(pic above taken by KT)

This was made this weekend by KT. She saw a picture of one online and has been formulating a plan for weeks. She finally got up the courage to deconstruct a pine cone and start at it. I especially love the progression. This flower was her first attempt. I thought it was beautiful. I thought it was amazing. I thought it couldn't be topped, until...

And they kept getting better...

She has only made three so far, but there are plans.




So you see, to me these qualify as A New Leaf.
A loose interpretation, perhaps, but a valid interpretation no less. So please join us and share with us if you do. We'd love to hear about it.

Here's to new beginnings!

P.S. If you comment on this post you will be entered in a drawing for our first giveaway!
The winner will receive one of KT's beautiful pine cone rose hair clips.
Pass it on!

P.P.S. If you came directly to this post via a link, be sure to click on the "notions & threads" in the header and check out our latest projects!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The stockings were hung...



The night before Christmas Eve, I realized Ari didn't have a stocking! Mine is the Leopard print boot above (made by my mom) next to Matt's blue felt stocking. I quickly ran to a craft store to find a similar, simple felt stocking, but I felt sad as soon as I looked at the selection. My mom always handmade special holiday decorations like our stockings and I want to do the same for Ari. Living with cancer makes me even more driven to make holidays memorable for my family.
So, I headed to one of my favorite vintage/consignment stores in town and picked up some very inexpensive scraps of red fabric and the some green material that makes me think of the '50s and the Jetsons all at the same time. Ari loved his new stocking and I loved making it for him.

On a health note, the chemo has made me lose quite a bit of weight but, I'm happy to report, chemo is no match for Christmas cookies! I have gained a pound just in the last week alone. I can't give all of the credit to butter, my scan last week showed that my tumors have been reduced significantly. My husbands sums up the visuals like this: in September, we saw about 80% tumors and 20% healthy liver. This week, we saw about 70% healthy and 20% tumors. All of that healthy liver is giving me more and more energy and we're really enjoying life around here. I hope you all are too.


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

under someone's tree will be...



story time games



gingerbread dolls



memory games




doll slings




wooden spool snakes




bleach pen art pillows



wooden cars



tea cup pincushions





fishing games




Horse and fences




fairy crowns


freezer paper stenciled t-shirts


chocolate covered candied orange peels


Wow! Seeing all of that in one place even impresses me and that isn't even everything! I am so happy and proud of my crew. They have worked so hard and feel so much better about giving these gifts than any previous year. Hand made is definately the way to go.

Now I just need a nap!

Have a very, very blessed Christmas!