Christmas

Christmas holidays in pictures. The ones I actually remembered to take that is.

51 days

Christmas projects are on the go. 

We're making a play kitchen for the girls and what's a play kitchen without play food?

I'm loving ending my days with a needle and thread and with any luck the cupboards in the play kitchen will be bursting by the time December 25 rolls around. 

51 days to go!

the christmas costumes :: Pan

I don't want to leave this little series hanging on any longer but supper is calling so we'll let the pictures speak for themselves today. 

the christmas costumes :: Luke Skywalker

If it wasn't apparent to us before, the affection in Ephram's heart for all things Star Wars, has confirmed that we are firmly in the land of 'boy'. 

We knew he was being gifted a light sabre from one the doting Aunts we spent Christmas with so there was no question when I decided to make costumes that Luke's tunic, belt, and boots needed to make an appearance as well. 

This one was SUPER simple to put together thanks to one of Rob's closet purges the week before. I removed the pocket (this was easily the most time consuming part of this costume - stitch ripping with a dull stitch ripper is painful!), shortened and hemmed the sleeves, cut off the collar and buttons and then hemmed up the front and around the back. Voila! Super simple. The belt was fashioned out of some old flannel and the leftover velcro from Wren's diapers. I had some loose ideas about how to make the boots so I went for it and, will wonders never cease, they worked! Slightly wonky and not totally what I was hoping for, but still, they worked! 

Luke isn't really Luke without his dad, Darth Vader, so I'm thinking maybe now a Rob-sized Vader cape is necessary. I'll keep you posted on that! 


*Until I saw how miserable my children look in these posts I was quite sure the costumes were hits. Now I'm not so sure. HA! 

the christmas costumes :: Wendy Moira Angela Darling

A theme emerges! We are big Peter Pan fans around here, obviously. It's rare that we get away with simply referring to the eldest Darling as 'Wendy', nope, this little stickler insists on Wendy Moira Angela Darling. Of course. She's serious about her Pan. 

I wasn't sure how Elin would react to this one. Blue is strictly for boys in her book, but she got it right away and has worn it consistently since Christmas morning. 

There is something impossibly cute about seeing her play in this floor length 'nightgown' (which is just from a super simple dress pattern that I lengthened). There's a hair bow too but I couldn't get a decent picture of it and truthfully, it's a little too big and too floppy and if it weren't for my self imposed rules for these projects I would have redone it right away. She hasn't noticed and I'm actually finding it quite peaceful to just let it go. 

the christmas costumes :: tink

With my fabric closet overflowing and our bank account not this Christmas I decided to make some new costumes for the dress up bin as this years stocking gifts. 

My rules were simple:

1. I had to use only what was on hand.

and

2. I couldn't let myself be stressed about any part of it; the prep, the construction, the 'accuracy' of the costume compared to the 'real' thing... nothing. 

And to my surprise, it worked! The costumes came together simply. Sure, the seams are unfinished and some of the stitches crooked, but they were fun to make and the kids love them. Success on all fronts I'd say. 

I'm going to spread these out over a few posts because the light is so dreadfully bad in here this morning. I apologize for the less than stellar pics, but for today's costume it'll do. 

This Tinkerbell costume is by far my favorite and I was sure it would be hers too, but she prefers tomorrow's feature so this photoshoot was short lived. I couldn't even get her to put the wings on, so this fairy is wingless... you get the idea though and I'm hoping that even if she doesn't warm to it, her sister will in the years to come. 

I used this tutorial and it came together in an evening. Instead of using grommets I sewed button holes into the back for the straps to be laced through. It came out smaller than I was expecting even using measurements adjusted to Elin's body so if you attempt it yourself you may want to consider that. This was a seriously fun little project to sew, so if your little girlies believe in fairies I highly recommend adding this to your dress up bucket. Happy sewing! 

christmas decorating

...it's begun.

To keep things interesting (and cost-effective) I've decided the only new decorations that go up this year need to be crafted out of a single pack of white cardstock or be fashioned from what I already have. Thankfully, I have a good stash of craft supplies, fabric, candles, twinkly lights and the such to supplement with. 


I would love to have a house filled to the brim with trees and lights and sparkly baubles. 


I would love to have the means to chose new decorations every year. 


I would love to never have to reuse last years tired looking (to me) things.


I would LOVE it. But with three kids, rent due, gifts to buy, groceries to get, trips to make and life to live, all on (less than) a pastor's (already meagre) salary, decorations take a back seat. 


And rightly so. Here's to the holidays with a little less store bought sparkle and a little more handcrafted warmth. I hope. 

jolly old st nicholas

This is quickly emerging as my go to christmas song. Ephram needs to learn the words for his kindergarten christmas concert so we went searching for a mommy-friendly version and here it is. Ahh, lovely lovely. Thrown in with some Sufjan and afew other old christmas favorites and the holiday playlist is set.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

... from about 3ft high and lower.

making like christmas.2

simple headbands + feathers + linen flowers (or leaves) = christmas gifts for everyone

Christmas

The gifts have been opened and the rice pudding has all been eaten (not nearly enough of it by me, however) and once again the whole shebang is done. 


check that off the list. 


I hate that this year Christmas felt like a thing to get done. That advent got lost in the all the painting and packing. That the decorations felt more in the way than beautiful. That sewing was forgotten and replaced with a whole lot of bought things. That baking was hurried. That wrapping was tedious. 


That it all came and went the way in the flurry of a big move. 




Thank God for his grace. 


That my family will share life with me tomorrow and not just on Christmas. 


That we have the means to eat well and give good gifts everyday.




That the thrill of hope isn't just for today and that in my weary world there is still much to rejoice over tomorrow.

advent

Longing for a saviour. 
How sweet that in this season of longing we find ourselves in such desperate need of rescue in such a tangible way. (that is a good thing, right Robbie?) 


I am choosing to trust today. 


That my kids are safe and warm and happy.
That the house we thought had already sold, will sell.
That the apartment we assume is ours, will be.
That the holiday gifts will be made, wrapped, and shipped in time for little hands to enjoy them.
That the painting, organizing, and packing will get done.


That choosing to rest in this time of chaos is, if nothing else, good.


Never before has this season felt so meaningful. 
To relate to Israel's longing for a messiah, to know the feeling of anticipation, and to need His coming so desperately.  


In all the pain, and confusion, and hardship that this month has brought, I'm beginning to see the miracle in it all. 


A baby that came, a Saviour that died, and a gospel that I'm beginning to believe may actually be sufficient. 

making like christmas

with the move buzzing around our brains and our hands diligently working on getting our house ready, the christmas making has taken a back seat. 


BUT...

I have managed to eek these little aprons out. 
Now they just need paired up with little craft books, play dough, and cookbooks and we are on to wrapping! 


i love holiday wrapping. even more than holiday making.

made: smock and bloomers

this little number is heading to sweet little elise, just in time for christmas. 

the smock is from this book (with minor modifications, namely a snap instead of ties to close) and the little bloomers are from an old simplicity pattern or something. easily made without a pattern though. The smock is sized for a new little wrinkly bundle, but the bloomers are a smidge larger to accommodate a cloth-clad bottom.

little baby things are definitely the most fun to make.

christmas!

oh dear, this old blog seems to have gotten away from me again.


things have been hectic. company and christmas prep. time off with husband and lots of work. soccer and preschool. a two year old.


anyway. christmas is in the air, even if snow isn't, and we are getting ready! boxes of decorations are waiting to be unpacked and new things are being sewn, folded, and dreamt up. i love christmas.


spread sheets for gifts and projects that will become gifts are being made and filled and changed everyday.


inspiration photos are cluttering up the computer desktop. (there are way too many options for especially appealing christmas trees)


lists of christmas baking are forming in my head and I am chomping at the bit to pull out sufjan's christmas album (even though #3 may never have been retired from last christmas).


truth be told, I could easily get caught up in all the unimportant bits, and forget about the REALLY important ones. so this year I hope to focus on the celebration more than the details. to take part in the party instead of hosting the party. 


it's my struggle year-round. being mary and not martha (this one and this one). i am never very good at letting go, but this year with two sets of fresh little eyes to see Christmas through, I hope I can.