Category Archives: Handmades

Handmade Christmas

I finally did. I have been wanting to have a handmade Christmas for a long time, but didn’t think it would really work for the children. The adults in my family have enjoyed it for several years now with each of us trying to come up with something special to make for the others. For example this year I made salted caramel sauce and truffles for my sister and she made us homemade root beer and birch beer. I should say that I am so blessed that I come from a family where handmade is normal. My grandfather loved working with wood and my grandmother started a line of women who sew, knit, crochet, embroider, can, cook from scratch and bake and really anything else they decide to try.

So I was getting a little fed up with the story of Santa Claus. My children were becoming completely focused on what they were getting and as you can imagine the requests were getting more elaborate including this year a pony and an Xbox. I had been telling the children “don’t ask Santa for that because I will tell him no you can’t have it.” Finally we watched a VeggieTales about Saint Nicholas together and I explained the truth. I also told they children I wanted them to focus on giving rather then getting so I looked for projects we could work on together for the children. I found so many options out there that with the exception of legos (one toy I don’t mind splurging on) and a video game we could play together the majority of our Christmas presents were handmade. And the children loved it. They were even excited to see their siblings open their gifts. That is what I want to see. Here are some of our favorites from this year.

I saw these blocks on pinterest and thought they were so cute. I followed the instructions and had them printed on sticker paper about our local print shop. I think these were definitely a favorite for Mavis and Avril to make. I also made the carrying bag.

I saw this dinosaur tail pattern and thought of my little paleontologist. She loves rocks and dinosaurs and her favorite toy is her “Mommy t-rexy.” Obviously it was a hit.
 

 
I saw instructions for making magnetic paper dolls and put my own spin on them. I used these dolls but they were not colored so I had lots of fun coloring them with my husband’s art set. I did have difficulty finding the right size tin so I ended up order a tin CD case from etsy. I then had to print the dolls a bit smaller to fit the tin. I think I printed at 65%. I used mode modge to attach a colorful backing paper and then glued the doll parts directly to the tin. I used a roll of magnet I got at Michaels for the clothes. The magnetic canvas had a sticky side so  I put the clothes on the sticky side and cut them out. Now I need to make another set so they can play together.
 

For my littlest man I finally made the “quick change trousers” from Handmade Beginnings. So much fun I made 2.

Other projects were cutting down Cambodian sarongs to fit the girls and a pair of pants for Two.

We also wanted gifts to spark creativity. So Avril got a face painting set and book. She painted Mavis’ face then Proeun did the rest of them. What a fun evening.

For extended family we asked for clothes, books or games. My sister is the queen of games so she helped extend our family game night by giving the kids some of her favorites. So all in all it went pretty well. We still were able to give fun gifts, we didn’t fill our house with things that will break easily and the children were actually excited about their gifts and what was even better for me, they were excited to give each other gifts. Yes we had a very blessed Christmas.

Celebrating Christmas with Significance

Maybe it is just where I am at in my personal journey but Christmas just seems so much more significant this year then I ever experienced before. I had wonderful Christmases as a child, so much so that there would be a huge letdown after Christmas. Then as a young bride it was a bit hard to recreate, seems like I was always too busy to pause much. But this year is amazing. We are on our dream farm, literally living our dream all year round. And this time of the year is our “off-season” where we are very protective of our family time since we are so busy the rest of the year. But what makes it so wonderful, I think it is the pausing. 

We did our Christmas shopping early, often opting for on-line versions so I didn’t have to navigate crowds. And we kept it minimal. Proeun and I were noticing a case of the “galloping gimmes” (from the Berenstein Bears) and were trying to figure ways to give the children a joy of giving, so we decided to do mostly homemade gifts and get the children involved. They are not as involved as I would like but it is definitely a step in the right direction. 
This spring we bought a piano but I haven’t had much chance to play. Now that the Christmas season is here we are focusing on learning Christmas carols. 
We started with 2 carols for the girls to sing in the choir at church. Since Mavis doesn’t read yet and Avril is not proficient enough to read and sing (though once she knows the song the words help her remember) they had to memorize all the verses for “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Once is Royal David’s City.” It was a fun exercise for all of us. And they loved singing in the choir.
I didn’t do as much crafting this year, other than the presents. I wanted to spend the month working on it but instead am focusing on Christmas stories and music to make the time significant, though Avril did make a lovely table runner with her aunt that really dresses up the table.
The children have been asking for a gingerbread house though, so when I saw a kit for a gingerbread barn I thought it would be perfect. However 4 adults and five children couldn’t figure out how to make it stay erect so it became a cookie decorating party.
The younger ones thought this was a much better idea anyway.
And so did grandpa. I had to remind myself that Christmas memories don’t need to be perfect.
I will post after Christmas about some of our projects but here are some resources for making the season more significant.
The Nativity Story, we kicked off the season with this and loved it, I hadn’t seen it before but it was perfect for setting the mood.
Advent and Christmas is Family Worship, our first year using this. I love it though it took some getting used to, also incorporates songs, better for older children but younger ones love the songs and repeating the verses.
Truth in Tinsel, we used this more last year and it is wonderful. Takes a bit more prep because there are crafts involved, but the younger ones get it more. Also has prompts to add to an advent calendar (I really want to do that next year and make an advent wreath).
And don’t forget to sing, sing all day long. We have Christmas CDs going all day long. And bake, and talk and love and just be. Merry Christmas!

New Year: DIY Hard Lotion Bars

As you probably remember most of my goals this year revolve around better health. While most people think about eating right and exercising as keys to good health (and they are definitely a priority for me) I am realizing what I put on my body by way of personal care products have a huge effect on health. There are some great companies out there run out of homes and producing excellent products for health, Blue Vervain is one of my favorites, but I am a Do It Yourself (DIY) kind of gal.

Luckily Erin at Blue Vervain totally gets that and offers great classes locally on how to make some wonderful products and keep your family healthy with herbs. She is also the one who introduced me to Brambleberry for supplies–another great company.

So this Christmas Proeun and I decided to get serious about our personal care products as well as other areas of our health. I have had a great time researching recipes and essential oils and best of all trying stuff out.

This weekend was our first foray into soap making, but that will have to wait for another post since the soap isn’t yet ready to come out of the molds. Anyway while I was prepping the oil and lye solution the girls were gazing whistfully at the kithen wanting oh so bad to be a part of the making. However soap is definitely not child’s play. So we started a different project that I hope was just as fun–Hard Lotion Bars. I found this simple recipe here. I made it of equal parts coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter. The measuring and using the kitchen scale were the fun part for the girls.

Then into my makeshift double boiler to melt together. Once melted we picked out the scent. The instructions didn’t recommend citrus scents for outdoor wear–something about amplifying the suns effects. So I let the girls pick from my non-citrus scents. They picked Rosemary, who would have thought, wish I could get them to eat it.

Anyway then they picked out the molds and we poured the melted mixture in to harden.

They are so proud of their work. Proeun complimented me on my soft hands last night, they are super fun to use and smell and feel great but it does take a little getting used to after using liquid lotions my whole life. It is great for hands but I need to get better at moisturizing legs and arms and such.

New Year: Back to Cloth

It all started when Proeun and I were just married. We were at the insurance office getting me added to Proeun’s policies. It just so happened that it was right next door to Peapods. I was killing time and went in to look around and saw an amazing selection of cloth diapers. I remembered my mom and grandma talking about using cloth diapers on their babies and how much cheaper it was. I had a new sister-in-law expecting and told Proeun we should buy some for her. That was my first cloth diaper purchase. When we had our first baby a year latter we got those cloth diapers back. I loved using cloth and while I occasionally used disposables (like when my son was born premature and those cloth diapers simply didn’t fit and for heavy wetters at night) I preferred cloth for the next 3 babies.

Then baby #4 came along. We were farming and oh so busy. I was on bedrest for the end of the pregnancy and then had a difficult birth and recovery period. Also our washer and dryer were not working. With the previous baby I had had to hang the diapers on the line, I was no longer willing to do that and so baby number 4 was almost always in disposables. I loved the convenience of it but not the expense or full trash cans.

I knew I wanted baby #5 back in cloth and so started inventorying and adding to my supply. Once he was born I realized the additions I needed to add to my stash. I looked at prices on the internet and planned. Then I came across some great patterns on etsy and Diaper Sewing Supplies and started my journey to making my own diapers. 

Effie is in the Trimsies trainer pattern and Pray is in the this diaper pattern.

Here are some of my handmades and favorites–prefolds from Peapods and Contour diapers from Kissaluvs, some more trainers and the Rocket Bottoms Cover Pattern.

 

Pray sleeping on my lap in his new diaper.

All these patterns were pretty easy to make and they turned out oh so cute with the personalized fabric from diaper sewing.

Here is more information about cloth diapers from one my favorite blogs.

Making Home–Studio

I always thought of studios as something for “serious” artists, but after reading Soule Mama for going on 2 years now I see a studio as a place to create beauty in all forms, and a place to include children. That’s why in our wonderful new home the studio and homeschooling room are one in the same. I will give more details on the room soon.

After a little break in the unpacking to work on Hmong Times stories, plan a couple presentations I have coming up and prep for the chicks today I was in the mood to beautify the home a bit. Yes the major unpacking is done and now the organizing and beautifying is taking place.

My studio is one area where it is mostly set up but definitely not organized. In our previous home my sewing area was in the basement and occasionally the dining room table. So the storage of all my supplies was a bit haphazard to say the least. Now it is in an area of the house where I want it to look beautiful.

A few years ago I was given all sorts of beautiful linens and a wooden trunk. They seemed to go together ala hope chest type stuff and then went into the basement at my previous home. Here I have closet space and so can take out those pieces ready for use.
 

That frees up so much space in my trunk that it has now become my stash. The previous owners of this house gave me some beautiful tins

so now I have one for buttons and one for bits of lace and ribbon and beauty to add to pieces.

And just like that another little spot is ready. Of course there are still things to be put away and organize all around it but a little bit of functional beauty that also looks out on our bird feeder is quite a nice little break. I am looking forward to putting together more or this little spots.

My Knitting Bag

Have I mentioned I love knitting. Well probably not because I haven’t been making time to do it. My love began for very practical reasons, when I was working as a “living history interpreter” at Historic Fort Snelling. We were provided the basics of our “costumes” but things like hats, mittens and scarves we had to make. So I learned in a jiffy because I was cold while working in unheated buildings in Minnesota in October. I still love wool and wooden knitting needles, leftovers from my experience there.

Over the years I have made a lot of things. Lately it has been mostly diaper covers. Last year I made Mavis a sweater which she doesn’t wear, sigh. It was very disheartening and I still haven’t finished Avril’s matching sweater. A recent post from Soule Mama really inspired me though. Apparently this momma of 4, soon to be 5 had time last year to knit 14 sweaters not to mention hats and other things.

Now last week we had a long car trip planned and then a farm conference so I got busy setting up my

Knitting bag. My aunt Janice made me this great bag for Christmas, I loved the print and it definitely needed a great use, so knitting bag it is.

Currently it houses 3 projects. A purchased pattern called, “Bo Ho Bandana” in baby alpaca. I have one nearly complete but need to make on a little bit bigger for me. I am also making the Shalom sweater Soule Mama is wearing in gray Cascade Eco Wool. The pattern, baby alpaca yarn and eco wool are all from a great local shop called Knit’n from the Heart.

The pink is from Peace Fleece my all time favorite yarn and is going to be a hat, Felicity from knitology. So I am up to my ears in projects not to mention the sleeves for Avril’s sweater.

She has been wearing her socks every day since I finished them. Now Two is asking for gray socks. So I am starting my Christmas knitting now. Socks or mittens for the children and a hat for Effie. Can’t say what Proeun is getting because he might read it and a few diaper covers thrown in. Lots of fun.

Knit Socks

Years ago when I was the mother of just one boy I met Jess at a local Attachment Parenting playgroup. Jess like many of the other moms knit constantly while their children played. But what I remember about Jess is her knit socks (follow her knitting adventures here). I never considered doing that before but it sounded fun so I bought yarn and knit a pair for myself. Then I lost a sock and nearly cried. Seriously.

Luckily I found it again and once again thought I would like to try knitting socks. Noticing a dearth of quality socks in children’s sizes I decided to use my extra sock yarn and make a pair for Avril. It started with her picking the color. she was so excited.

Then came the knitting.

She kept wanting to try them on. Now one of them is finished

and a good start on the 2nd. Hopefully she won’t loose one. Next on the list of socks is Effie, then Mavis and finally Two, going in order of most need. If I work a little bit consistently every day I can finish a pair in 1-2 weeks. Enthusiasm helps. I got the pattern from Ravelry a free site. The pattern is “basic kids socks.”

Granola and gifts

Soule Mama has once again inspired me. She is one of the few blogs that I check almost daily. I am long on enthusiasm for handcrafts but short on time to develop my own patterns and recipes or even wade through all the myriad of stuff on the internet. That’s where Soule Mama comes in. She gives such great ideas and suggestions for patterns it helps me maximize my time. In fact the sock pattern I am using for Avril came from one of her posts.

This week is all about “elving” according to Ms. Soule. So yesterday being kitchen day in my new family schedule I made bread and Granola (scroll down you’ll find it near the end of the post).

Notice the half eaten jar. It’s good, real good believe me. I’ll have to make another batch tomorrow.

All of a sudden I am in the Christmas mood and I have all these projects I want to make–playsilks, soap, more dolls, knitted hats for all my children, and socks would be great to. But alas if I am going to accomplish all that Christmas will be in March. It hit home yesterday when I ordered some soap making supplies from Brambleberry. I had been planning on it for months but something else always came up that needed our money and time, so now with a deadline like Christmas looming I thought I better get a move on. And I missed the deadline by one day for Christmas delivery. Reality strikes again. So I guess I can relax and plan for next year. In the meantime food makes great gifts too and can be accomplished in a day.

Handmades: Mavis’ Sweater

It’s finally finished, a sweater for my sweet girl! Once I got creative in finding time to knit, i.e. knitting in the car on the way to the farm it actually knit up pretty quick. This is my first non diaper cover project completed in a long time. It feels great to create something. I really have the bug now. I started a sweater for Avril using the same pattern but different color. I am really pleased with how this turned out but I will have to do some adjusting on the button holes.

Yesterday when I was trying the completed sweater on her I got real worried when she started crying to take it off. Luckily turns out she was just hot and once we got outside everything was fine. The original pattern has handmade knotted buttons after a few attempts it was off to the yarn store.

One the way home we saw a boy about 7 years old walking on the side of the road. Two was all concern saying, “why is he by himself, doesn’t he have a family?” Obviously our family loves going places together. Apparently I didn’t give the right answer, something like, he probably has a family he’s just by himself now. Two says, “Maybe he could be our brother. Let’s ask him if he wants to be in our family.” I told Two he was a good boy but that doesn’t cover the half of it.

I would really like to make something for Two but what? He is so hot blooded I don’t know what he would wear. Proeun suggested a hat, but I honestly haven’t seen him keep one on. My dad is the same way so once I made him a vest but I have only seen him wear it a couple times. We’ll see what ideas I can come up with.

Soule Bags

                                            

A few weeks ago I got a couple books by Amanda Soule from the library–The Creative Family and Handmade Home. I had found them on Amazon while doing a search for homeschooling books. I got the books and was immediately inspired. I was on fire to go create things. Then I tried and human nature kicked in. It seemed like I was having a hard time finding time or energy to create and when I did I felt I was neglecting the children. When I tried to create with them someone ended up in tears or bored and asking to watch TV. Pretty soon I was disillusioned. Why couldn’t I be like Amanda Soule? Why wouldn’t my children sit and draw or make up their own games? I was reminded that we are not to compare ourselves to others. I can not look into the Soule family home. All I can do is the best I can with what the Lord has given me. Furthermore my children do play and make up their own games, I just have to work harder to give them the opportunity. So I decided not to stress out about it.

On Saturday things started to turn around. Proeun gave me a little time to myself to read and journal and I even had time to cut out this bag, a pattern from Handmade Home. On Sunday I got a repeat and was able to finish it. I had the fabric on hand. The outside was part of a smaller piece I got as a wedding present. I wasn’t really sure was it was intended for since the fabric was not suited for a towel. In any case I loved it but didn’t know what to do with it. Now it is intensely useable as a “Soule Bag” as I call it. The inside is left over from the first dress I ever made all by myself. How appropriate it was for my first daughter.  She doesn’t wear it but that is another story.

Anyway you really can’t have enough of these fun, unique bags. My aunt Patty gave each child each a handmade bag with their Christmas gifts inside. So I got a trio of them for Christmas.

          

Avril is housing her shell collection in one. My knitting is in the other and the 3rd has become the “sock bag.” It is great to have fun, unique, handmade and beautiful things around the house especially to be used for really practical things. But honestly the sewing didn’t go so well for me, I spent just as much time fixing as sewing. One thing I learned from the experience is there are many ways to be creative. For me I think writing is it, plus cooking and knitting first–sewing occasionally.