Followers

Click to Learn More

I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org
kirtsy!

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Map

Blog Archive

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Project 365

11/24/08

11/25/08
Taking a break at Golden Gate Park.

11/26/08

Caleb and Eva both loved playing with all of the toys at grandma's house. They especially liked Carl's old California Raisins.

11/27/08
We had a great Thanksgiving and after dinner we drove to see Theo, Carl's grandma.

11/28/08

This is one of the pictures I took at the Sacramento Zoo. Eva was hanging from the rope spider web.

11/29/08Here's the crew just before we headed out to the airport.

11/30/08


This picture is a little deceptive since Eva's been in a bad mood all day. It could have something to do with the fact that she got little sleep and then smashed her lip open at church.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Holiday Gift Guide Day 4 Gifts for the Home

Holiday Gift Guide Logo

1. Blue Sky Road 8X10 Glossy Print from PaintingPrints on Etsy.



I've been searching for some artwork to inspire a bedroom makeover and fell in love with a bunch of prints from PaintingPrints on Etsy. Prints are an excellent way to have artwork in your home when you are on a budget.

Price: $22


2. Digital Coin Counting Money Jar

I don't know what it is about this product that makes me want it so desperately. Every time I see one I wish I had one. Am I silly for really wanting one of these? Even sillier for recommending it as a gift for others? I just think that if I could see exactly how much change I'm accumulating over the year, it will motivate me to put the change in there instead of spend it. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Price: $19.99

3. Wool Felt Christmas Owl Ornaments


I was browsing Etsy the other day and came across a listing for these super cute ornaments. I knew I wanted to feature them on my holiday gift guide. I don't know exactly what it is about them but I can't help but think that they would look great in anyone's home or on anyone's Christmas tree. I had originally picked a listing with just two ornaments but they sold quickly. If you're interested in these, I'd suggest acting now!

Price: $20

4. KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer

If you don't have a stand mixer yet in your home and you do any sort of baking. GET ONE NOW! This is one of my favorite kitchen products. I have the Classic mixer but this Artisan series is on sale for just $10 more so it is certainly a better bargain right now. This is a real work horse of a mixer and comes in so many great colors.

Price: $209.99

5. Le Creuset Stoneware Petite Blueberry Casserole
This is an individual sized casserole dish that measures approximately 5" X 5". It looked too cute not to include. I don't like blueberries much but I sure love the look of this stoneware. They also make a petite pear and a petite artichoke. Even if you can't think of a use for these in your cooking, they would make fun storage containers.

Price: $22.45

Friday, November 28, 2008

Holiday Gift Guide Day 3 Gifts for Baby

Holiday Gift Guide Logo


Today's Holiday Gift Guide is all about gifts for babies. I've included things that can be for newborn up to about 18 months. Of course, some of these things can be used beyond that age but it was my self imposed guideline for this category.

1. Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug
I saw this product in person last weekend at a craft show I attended. It caught my attention immediately and I was intrigued. Still, I didn't think how this could be any better than the plastic ride-on toys that my kids used. That was until I saw a 5 year old get on it and zoom around. It is on casters so it turns on a dime. It goes where you want it to. It is sturdy. Not only did it keep a 5 year old occupied, it is a great product for a pre-walker/walker to zoom around on. The handle makes it easy to use as a push toy as well. You might feel a little zing when you see the price but when you think about the quality and how your child can use this for years, the price seems a little more reasonable.

Price: $59.99

2. Stackable Wooden Sheep by Tactile Baby.
These cute stackable wooden animals come in a variety of shapes but this sheep was my personal favorite. Each piece is held together with industrial strength velcro. You can mix and match animals or just stack them in a wild array of configurations for fun.

Price: $22 (on sale now at Happy Chickadee)

3. Three Long Sleeve Onesie Wooden Gift Box Set from handmadejig on Etsy.


This set makes a fabulous customized gift--with no gift wrapping required! It is all ready to go in a wooden box that can later be used as a keepsake box or used for some other purpose. The onesies are 100% interlock cotton and the image is an iron-on.

Price: $40

4. Link-a-doos from Fisher Price.


This classic toy was a must-have for my babies. Link-a-doos are one of the first things that the little ones love to grasp onto and chew on. These will link to each other, on the car seat, on the stroller, on other toys, etc... You can keep a couple in your diaper bag or purse to have something handy in case of a fussy baby emergency. This is one of those things that I always recommend to new moms. Get some link-a-doos!

Price: $14.99 (for the 20 link pack)

5. Funky Striped Legwarmers by Knotty Baby
Knotty Baby legwarmers are made by a work at home mom and are a great addition to a young baby's wardrobe. If you live in a colder climate, this is an easy way to add a layer without having to fight with a pair tights. They come in a variety of styles and fit sizes 0-4 so they are economical and will grow with your baby!

Price: $9

Bonus product: Baby Games eBook

Angela England is a writer and blogger that has written a great little eBook called Baby Games for You to Play. You can find some sneak peeks of the content on her blog. But, at $.99 (if purchased before December 1st), this eBook is a great value to anyone that might have a little one in their home. It is full of great ideas and would make a great stocking stuffer or shower gift.

Price: $0.99 (before Dec. 1st)- $2.50 (regular price)

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Stampin' UP Holiday Extravaganza Sale


Stampin' Up is having a huge sale on certain product bundles and some are priced up to 50% off! You can click on the banner above to check out the promotions or here for online shopping. This sale is while supplies last and ends on December 1st.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Happy Thanksgiving Turkeys, originally uploaded by sra_nelson.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Holiday Gift Guide Day 2 Gifts for Boys and Girls

Holiday Gift Guide Logo

In honor of me becoming one of the Indie experts over at Wishpot, today's picks are all handmade!

Because some of these items are made custom and made by hand, if you see something you like---act on it! They might not be available for long.

1. Superhero Capes on Etsy.

This is a great example of something that is not available for long. This particular cape is (sometimes) available at superflykidz on etsy. Here is a link to another shop with capes.

Price: $8 (plain) and higher

2. Four Little Girl dolls from toocute on Etsy.


I fell in love with these little dolls. They are just 2 inches tall, made of wood, and come with a little pouch. What little girl wouldn't love to have some of these to play with? Bonus: They don't use batteries and they are quiet! Also available are family doll sets and even sets with pets.

Price: $26

3. Euro Wrap Tunic by Refibered on Etsy.

Another full disclosure here. This is made by Kelly, a friend from our local Lincoln Handmade team on Etsy. I've seen this top in person and on a little girl and I'm absolutely in love with it. It is a wrap top that is totally reversible and with four different coordinating fabrics, it can be worn four different ways! Four tops in one! It is great because it can be worn over alone or over a shirt so it is truly a year round top. She has dresses available, too that can become tunics as the child grows. She does custom orders.

Price: $29

4. Black Dots and Yellow Coloring Tote from cuddlebuddies4kids at Etsy.

Have you seen all those crayon rolls around? They are really cute and a good idea. This takes it to the next level. You can tote around your crayons and a coloring book at the same time! This tote is made with great colors for a boy or a girl. This particular etsy seller has a lot of different fabrics to choose from.

Price: $10

5. Bookplate Variety Pack Set of 12 from ModernClassicKids on Etsy.

This is a great gift for any book-loving kid. This particular seller has a great variety. They are printed and have an adhesive backing so they are ready to peel and stick! I'm planning on ordering some of these for my book-loving brothers.

Price: $6

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Find me Here! Right Now!

Holiday Gift Guide Day 1 Gifts for Men

Holiday Gift Guide Logo



Day one of my Holiday Gift Guide features five gifts for men. Each day this week I'll feature five new items for different types of people. Next Monday it will culminate in a giveaway that you won't want to miss!
This wall clock is made from recycled computer and bike parts. It is not only eco-friendly...it's really neat. My husband is a professor of mechanical engineering and I'm sure this clock would look great on his office wall.

Price: $35.75

2. Gray Wool and Cotton Ribbed Sweater Sleeve Scarf from kundhicreative.





Full disclosure on this one. Julie is a friend. However, she did not ask me to include this item on my gift guide. I'm including it because I think this would make a great gift for anyone! This scarf is made from the felted sleeves of a recycled sweater and then hand sewn to some cotton fabric. It was designed to keep in mind those that enjoy the warmth of wool but aren't able to wear it against their skin. Another eco-friendly option for the holidays.

Price: $18.00

3. iPod Retro Mini Speakers from Delight.Com.

One of the best things about this little speaker is that it doesn't need batteries! It uses the power from your iPod and is just the right size to set on your desk. The Lego brick shape and variety of colors make this a gift that will please just about anyone with an iPod. And, for under $20, the price is right.

Price: $19.75

4. Steampunk Cufflinks from edmdesigns.
I found these cufflinks on etsy when I was just browsing around. These are made from vintage watch pieces and would truly make a unique gift. These make me wish my husband wears cufflinks. This particular etsy seller also has a variety of other items made from vintage watch pieces if this particular one isn't your style.

Price: $65.00



5. TomTom ONE Portable GPS Navigation System.





No need to stop and ask for directions (or drive around for hours denying that you're lost) with this handy gadget. I seem to remember that these were the "it" gift last season but if you held off (like we did), you might find that the prices have dropped and some of the models have been improved since then. This one is affordable and the reviews have been consistent.

Price: $133.88






Monday, November 24, 2008

I Made it Myself--Final Week!


This is going to be the last week for I Made it Myself. Don't cry. I'm planning something even more awesome.

I'm going retro this week and showing something I made when I was first married. This was pre-knitting and I was all about crochet. This is a filet crochet table runner. I put it on top of the piano.

While I was cleaning the piano last week, I took the opportunity to take some pictures of this masterpiece without any stuff on it. I graphed out the pattern on my own using an alphabet from a book and the edging was from a book also.

I can't remember how long it took me to make. But, I was glad when it was finished. In that same time period I made my mom a wall hanging that says, "Families are Forever". She has that hanging up over an wide entryway in her home.

This is one of those things that I will keep forever. Do you have something you made that you will never throw out or give away?

If you have something to share for I Made it Myself this week, use the Mr. Linky below!




Sunday, November 23, 2008

Project 365

11/17/08


You can't really tell from this picture but Eva has a healthy "glow" from having put almost a whole jar of petroleum jelly all over her body. She's still a little greasy even a week later.

11/18/08
Caleb and Eva have been sleeping in the same bed all week. It is kind of nice because they don't give me any trouble about going to bed!

11/19/08
The picture that started my cleaning frenzy!

11/20/08

Caleb was keeping me company while I cleaned my craft room. I wore him out.

11/21/08


Craft room clean. Check.

11/22/08


My booth at the Local Artisan's Bazaar on Saturday.

11/23/08

One of my favorite movies. Do you know what it is?

Houston, Here I Come!

I'm attending the Mom 2.0 Summit


I really am one of the luckiest people I know! There are more contests to win a ticket to the event so get those badges on your blogs.

Good luck, Deb!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Local Artisans Bazaar

The Local Artisans Bazaar will be held today from 1pm-5pm at Yoga Body & Balance 2300 South 48th Street (on the NE corner of 48th and Normal, just behind and north of the bank).

I'll be there with a sampling of my wares. It is free admission and there will be food. Did I mention that there will be food? Come by, have a snack, and shop!

You'll be home in plenty of time to watch the OU/TX Tech game.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Why Didn't I Do This Years Ago?

Taking pictures of my messed up rooms sure is motivating me to clean them! My craft room is in tip top shape again.

BEFORE

AFTER:






Full disclosure:

These boxes are moved into my living room until I can give them away. Anyone want some fabric and yarn? I have two more boxes full of yarn to give away, too.