crafty (and a finished yarn along project)

These days I'm constantly vacuuming up glitter, sweeping up fabric scraps and delighting in all the goodies coming from the kitchen. Also this week:

1. I ordered these simple (and inexpensive) wooden toys for West on etsy and yesterday the girls and I painted the rainbow stacker and all the little houses and trees. That's all he's getting for Christmas but I know he's going to love them.

2. We've been baking lots of goodies for Christmas baskets. Mustard, granola and mini pumpkin breads are just a few of the goods. And I LOVE these Cath Kidston labels. I want to make more stuff just so I can use these labels.

3. Recently a friend used my oven mitts when bringing us a meal after Silas was born and she was shocked that I only owned two pot holders. This week I finally used a pattern from Handmade Home by Amanda Soule to make these sweet little pot holders.  Think anyone will know that two of them are made from our old duvet cover? Shane refuses to use those; he thinks it's sort of weird that our bed sheets are now pot holders in the kitchen.

4. The Sculpey clay is being used up faster than I can afford to buy it, but who can resist such darling little figures as these babies Mira made?

5. Snowflakes are now adorning our front windows.... and threatening to take over our house. I'm trying not to express my frustration at the constant stream of paper scraps littering the floor from this never ending project.

6.  I vaguely remember nodding my head a few weeks ago when Mira asked if she could throw a winter party at our house. Then a few days ago we started getting RSVP's and I guess a party was in the works. She planned, set up and prepared for it all her self including the ornament craft, the gift exchange, winter themed games and a lunch complete with "snow" dip for the fruit. I just sat back and enjoyed the party and marveled at how big my girl is getting.

7. The little toadstool and the other forest critters are being set up in countless little winter scenes (with the Playmobil of course).

8. My latest knitting project, a Tuesday Night cowl for my mom, was finished last night. Hopefully she isn't checking this blog before Christmas. It's super warm and cozy and I'm happy with how it turned out.