hockey and hats and songs

Well, I just went through and organized my pictures and downloaded everything that was in my camera. I normally sort through my pictures about once a week, put them in folders, etc. But, I have not done any picture organization since November. November! Can you say a little behind?

Well, I am caught up now. Which means I can hopefully get back into a regular blogging groove. Yay! Here are a few pictures to catch up on some things we have been doing lately.

Anabel is loving her new kitties. Here she is reading one of them a story.Too sweet.

We took the kids to see their first hockey game. A good friend of Don's was in town playing, so we went.
Enrique was totally captivated like this. Until the game started. Then he was done.

E has been stealing my camera alot lately. There were over 100 pictures on there that he took! Everything is fascinating to him. Here is one that I really liked...

A little art making..
But I am so out of the habit of capturing our days with the thought of sharing stuff here that I never took a picture of the finished product. Bummer. It was a fun painting for Don's mom that both Don and the kids did using some pictures I took.

Me thinks we need to be making more art around here, don't you?

We have been loving getting to play outside after way too many days cooped up with colds and freezing temperatures.
See that cute sweater she is wearing, my sis made it for her and I love it!


This is what pirates would look like if they could sail their ships into Colorado...
Gotta keep that head warm, which the pirate hat alone doesn't really do.

I never did show and tell of all the goodies we made for everyone for Christmas. So, here is one picture I managed to take of a couple of hats I made for the kiddos. E's is too big, I need to fix it, but I think they are pretty dang cute!


And lastly, a song for you from my goofballs...

A song for you from Lisa Delzer on Vimeo.

cloth diaper contest

I am SOOO excited! I am hosting my first ever contest on my website, Cloth Diapers Made Easy...

I have been working on this like a crazy looney person and somehow managed to get the contest live and ready to go 4 days ahead of schedule! Of course, my house is a mess and there are a million other things trying to get my attention.. But, what the heck, when I get going on something I have tunnel vision, baby!

Anyway, I have some great prizes lined up, including a $150 gift certificate from our local diaper shop, Baby Cotton Bottoms! That is a super duper prize! (thank you Dani!)

So what is the contest??

Making Cloth Diapers on a Budget


Besides the environment, using cloth diapers also saves TONS of money as is, but these days we are all trying to figure out how to save even more.

I know I have made some diapers on my own and lots of you out there have too. So, why not give you all a chance to strut your stuff and show us your clever ideas for making diapers without breaking the bank.

There are 2 aspects to the contest, a tutorial contest (where the big prizes are because that takes some work!) and a photo contest. You can make something new or show off something you've already made.

I think this is going to be so much fun to see what everyone comes up with! Go check it out!

craft hope

If you pay attention to what goes on around here, it won't surprise you when I say that I have been in a craft slump. Just.Not.Motivated to make stuff. I try, but then feel blah and walk out of my craft room feeling defeated. Well, not anymore!

I came across this AMAZING project, called Craft Hope. And it has truly inspired me, on an incredibly deep level. After reading about it, I found myself rising out of my chair and walking directly into my craft room and getting started.

On what? Making a little baby doll for a child in Nicaragua. While I was working on it, Anabel kept wanting to take it from me. Mind you it is only an unfinished head at this point. But she just loves to cuddle with her babies. So I gave it to her. And promptly started a second doll for her to keep.

This way I can work on the doll to send to the orphanage while she plays with the other one. Then "trade" her and work on the second doll for a bit.

I think it is kind of cool, and super sweet to be able to tell her that there is another baby in Nicaragua just like the one she has! That is something special.

The deadline to send the doll is fast approaching, so I'm hoping to get the dolls done in the next week and will for sure post pictures then.

In the meantime, go check out Craft Hope:



Even if you are not a doll maker, I'm sure there are other projects down the road that will inspire you to get your craft on AND make a difference at the same time!

i need a maid..

Seriously.. Even if all they did was clean my craft room, which, I am not exaggerating, looks like a bomb exploded in there!!! I have not really cleaned it up since before Christmas... it is awful!!

I am hoping to at least get started on it tomorrow...

Because I have LOTS of stuff I want to make and do in there and it really is out of control!!

Somehow, I did manage to fight my way over the madness to make a few gifts during the past few weeks. One was the shoes and shirt I shared about on Thursday and then I just have to share with all of you ...THESE:


Aren't they awesome?!! They were for one of E's best little buddies, who had a birthday last weekend. "I'm turning FIVE!" he kept saying...

I'd noticed that whenever he comes over, he goes for the super hero capes and will put little leg warmers or something on his arms for super hero bands. For awhile now, I've had the idea to make him some "real" super hero bands. I used his birthday as an excuse to finally get them done!
A big gigantic thank you to my son for being such a fabulous model for me!

And, I have to say that I tried them on and I think they really do make you invincible..

(maybe I should make some to help me get my craft room cleaned up? hmmmm....)

my go to baby shower gift

I love making these little shoes!! They are the first little crafty project I ever did with my sewing machine just over a year ago. I had really wanted some for my daughter, but we had no money so I decided to get my sewing machine out and make some myself.

My mom had bought me my sewing machine a couple of years earlier, but I was kind of intimidated to get started. I really did not know how to sew, completed maybe 2 very easy projects when I was a kid (which really means my aunt "helped" me aka did it for me!). But as a mom, I just really wanted to be able to make things for my kiddos. So I asked for a sewing machine and it collected dust for a couple of years.

Something about being pregnant with a little girl gave me the nudge I needed to just TRY. So I did and a pair of these little shoes were what I made.

Now, when someone I know is having a baby, I find that this is the thing I want to make and give them for the little babe. They are just so dang cute!

And, the little baby boy who will be wearing these after he is born, gets to be super matchy cute! Cuz, super cuteness should not be a girls only exclusive, don't ya think?

For my friend's little bugger (Oliver, LOVE this name!) I decided to applique a baby elephant to a onesie in the same fabric I made the shoes with.


This is a super easy, totally personal gift that I know I will make time and time again.

another doll

I totally get why people get into making dolls. It is so much fun watching this little character emerge.

I made this little sweet thing for my nephew, who just got into town (with his parents, of course!).
I also finally figured out why all the Waldorf dolls out there come with a name already. I kind of thought that was a little strange, shouldn't the child receiving the doll get to name him or her?

Well, while I was making this, a name kept coming into my mind. My little nephew may end up calling something else as they become friends, but for now, I'd like for you to meet Jacob.


Ain't he cute?!

kool-aid dying playsilks

This has been on my "to-do" list for awhile, dying some playsilks with kool-aid for the kiddos. And it was super duper easy and really fun!! I want to make LOTS more. And, I think I could seriously get into fabric dying, it is really cool to see the fabric transform with so much color!

Here is the method we used:

1. Order silk scarves from Dharma Trading Company. Whatever size you want. I ordered 3 of 21.5 x 21.5 ones and 2 of the 35 x 35 ones.

2. Wet the scarves and shake out a little, then put in a zip lock bag.

3. Add some water to the bag, not too much, just enough to cover the scarf and get the kool-aid moving around.

4. Pour a little white vinegar into the bag, just a glug or two.

5. Add whatever color kool aid you want. I used 2 packets per scarf. I don't remember the name of the colors. From memory: cherry, lime, grape, berry blue, and orange?

6. Seal the bag and squish it around so the kool-aid dissolves and is all over the scarf.

7. Put in the microwave on high for one minute.

8. Squish it around a little more and then open the bag a little to let the steam out.

9. Microwave on high for 2 more minutes. Watch it to make sure it doesn't catch on fire, I guess it can happen... yikes!

10. Take out and let it sit until it is cool enough to touch.

11. Rinse the scarf in cool water until the water runs clear. This was quick and easy for all of them except the red. That one took a LONG time to run clear!

12. Hang somewhere to dry.

Done!!!


I think they are soooooo pretty!


And the kiddos LOVE them. A is adorable playing peek a boo with them and E has turned the big ones into capes, of course.

sleep hat

One of the things Chubbas has been asking for is a sleep hat. I think he saw it in a movie or something. So, one of his Christmas presents was some pajama bottoms and a sleep hat.


He totally loves them, has to put it on before going to sleep every night!

And, really, what is cuter than a little dude in a sleep hat?

presents from E's art

I wanted to do something fun with the awesome little drawings that E has been doing. I saw this idea in The Creative Family book.. (by far my favorite book for great craft ideas).

What I did was take a few of E's drawings and put them in the window. I taped the fabric on top and traced the drawing with a pencil. I then embroidered the drawing with whatever color Chubbas picked to use.

For my mom and my aunt, I made some pillows...

This one was for Grandma and is a "picture of me and grandma!"

Don's mom wanted a couple of shopping bags, so I thought I would use one of the pictures on the bag pocket.

So cute!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea for preserving kid's art and making a special gift that can be treasured for a long time.

catching up.. some crafting

So while I had no camera, we had a birthday around here. I did take a couple of pictures with a disposable camera, but we'll see when (if ever) I get those developed!

But, I made a few things I wanted to show off! I am so loving sewing and making stuff these days!

First off is A's birthday crown, which she so cutely modeled for me this morning.





Here is the little dolly that I made for her. I think she came out really sweet! It was fun making and I look forward to making other dolls that become apart of our family in the future.


I also made our birthday girl some banner flags to decorate her celebration dinner. We'll bring these out every year so she knows it is her special day. I'll make some for E's next birthday as well.

Our little birthday princess shares a birthday with her cousin, who turned 3 this year. And I know that all 3 year olds need their own super hero cape, so that's what I made for him.



I have officially started out Christmas goodies for everyone this year. We are making everything so that what people get they know is made with love! Probably won't share alot of that until after Dec 25th!

my new craft room

I finally got my craft room put back together after our big room rearrange! It is SO much smaller, but it feels nice and cozy in here and I am happy that I miraculously found a home for everything! E has been spending lots of time making stuff and I am about to get cracking on our Christmas presents.

So a little tour for you...


An art wall with a mounted easel and a place for paintings to dry:Other side of the art wall:

E's "making stuff" desk:

All of our craft making supplies:
My sewing area and a nice little window to give us some light.

We anticipated this room change when we first moved in, that's part of why both rooms were painted orange. We just didn't know we were going to do it so soon. This is what we do, though! Seems we are always rearranging the furniture in our house. Both Don and I do it, so good thing we married each other! Never boring...

homemade babylegs

I saw somewhere how someone made those cute little babylegs out of a pair of knee-high socks, instead of paying a ton of money for them. So very clever and super easy.

Loving the idea, I bought these socks at the beginning of the summer for $1, but never got around to making the babylegs out of them. But with Boop crawling around and it getting a little more chilly, I decided to whip them up. Only took about 15 minutes.
E ended up using them to make super hero arm things that I guess help him fly. So I made some for him also.
These are so great, they keep her legs warm but make it super easy to change her diaper. So now I am keeping my eyes out for really cute socks so I can make a bunch more for her!

makin stuff for my girl

We've had some much cooler weather lately and that hit the panic button for me...Boop has no shoes and very few winter clothes that fit her!

Summer is easy to dress a growing baby.. naked baby feet and a diaper pretty much does the trick. But, fall weather means my little girl needed a new pair of shoes right away. She needs a little more than just shoes to warm her little chubby cuteness, but these are a start...

And then with a 1st year birthday celebration right around the corner, I decided I wanted to make a little baby doll for her. But, it turns out to be a bit more tricky than I thought. I went to start making it yesterday and actually managed to finish it, but it's not quite what I'm wanting. Kind of a goofy shaped head and the simple body seems sort of wonky and not as cute as I had hoped. So A gets a little baby to tide her over and I got to practice some before making the "real" doll I plan to give her. Good news is, little boop loves it! So all is not lost, and this little baby doll is kinda cute, isn't she??

shopping sacks & on the mend

Oh boy! These past 2 weeks have been something else. I do not think I have ever had the flu, that is up until this past weekend! The real flu, the one your hear about. OO-vay! Now I know why everyone makes a fuss about it, complains about, etc. It is truly one of the most awfullest (is that a word?) experiences ever. Ever! And everyone in our household has had it.I thought I was being spared, but no go. All weekend I spent in bed. Today, I am feeling better, and that means we are all FINALLY on the mend. Hooray! I didn't know I could feel so happy about just feeling normal.

Somehow, in the midst of all our feeling yuck, I managed to finish these shopping sacks.

I've been wanting to make some for us for awhile. Way to long really, given how easy they were. I am feeling pretty happy how they turned out. They are so cute!

I will give them a go this week when I make my first weekly solo shopping trip with the kids. Don and I usually go together on the weekend, but I'm going to start going mid-week to free up a little sacred family time. Seems we've been spending all day every Saturday running around doing errands. I'd rather us home hanging together, playing in the yard, making stuff, etc. So mid-week errands are my new thing. Wish me luck!

show and tell

Ta Da!!



I finished my very first ever knitting project! An adorable little wool soaker for Boop. I (kindof) used the Ottobre free pattern, but made adjustments along the way to make sure it would fit my chunky baby. I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. It took me awhile, only because I didn't work on it everyday. If I would have, I'm sure I would have finished it a month ago.


It is still a little big on her, but we are good in the diaper department for now, thanks to E's hand-me-downs. But, she is so much bigger than he was as a baby. We never made it to the large sizes with him, so I am working on our large stash - we will be there very soon.



I am so in love with the colors of this yarn.



The whole time I was making it, I was super worried that I would not have enough yarn. I did, but just barely...

And here she is modelling it for us...

A little more show and tell...

I finally got my craft room all set up and unpacked! We moved into this house in March and this was the one thing that kept getting bumped to "tomorrow." Well, I dug in and got it done this weekend. I am so happy to finally have some "me" space. A place to create and chill. A place entirely devoted to the creative spirit. I am excited to see the things that get made in this room. More importantly, I am excited to see who I become out of spending time in here.