Appalachian Chic

Setting the Table

 I made these placemats this past fall and somehow forgot to put them on our table. Cleaning my studio can bring many things to surface. Wonder what is in store for my next finding?

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Making

 The little elves are working in their workshop making last minute gifts.

 

       Wooly birds

 

 

               Viper Scarf

 

 

       Painting Paper Ornaments

 

  Mitten Making

 

  

    Knitted Hats

 

  Cookie Making ( click on link for our favorite ginger bread recipe)

 

       Visiting Family

 

 

    Decorating

                     Oranment Making

 Visiting Santa

 

          

              Skating

 

  Wishing all of you a beautiful season!

Holiday Cheer

  Our little family have been busy as elves these days creating holiday gifts,and decorations for our home. This is such a magical time, a time of sharing, love,and teaching.

     

 

                      Our new Christmas Tree Star, St Nicholas.

                         Cutting out Christmas Snowflakes

 

                          The Making of our wool felted Advent Calendar

 

                          Our Completed Calendar

 

  Share with us, some of your favorite Holiday traditions and family crafting time.

Summer Dyeing

  Getting into natural dyeing on cellulose fabrics. Jack and I found a Black Walnut tree in the park this past week and crushed the walnuts and prepared them for dyeing. I had a piece of cotton that was previously dyed with Madder Root and decided to have my try at Shibori. Its a tedious stitching/dye technique but worth the results!

Spring into Summer

  Watching and listening to all of the changes going on in nature. Our garden is growing and we have eaten many salads and shared them with friends. Seeing a few green tomatoes pop up, the Moon and Stars melon seedlings are starting to spread their leaves out. The sunflowers along our fence and really getting big, up to Jack's knees now! I wish all of you a beautiful transformation into the summer season!

 

      Pretending to be a bumblee bee. That is why he is so serious.

   

   First harvest of our Peonies. Makes the house smell delightful!

     Our first trip to the Super Park!

 

   Made many pints of strawberry jam to share and eat!

 

   Tree Climbing!

 

   

   Creating super bubbles!

 

   Summer Shoes!

Three

 My son Jack turned three last weekend.

 

 Such beautiful weather and perfect for a party of celebration outdoors. My friend Victoria Velting from Recycled + Revamped made him a green birthday crown, a guitar strap for his guitar, along with two birthday garlands.

 

    Thank You for your kindness and beautiful work Victoria!

 

  Jack received many other thoughtful gifts such as a small swing set, a outdoor play water sprinkler, a funny book called the Wonky Donkey, a play shaving kit and a Vtech Kidizoom camera. 

  He loved taking pictures with my IPhone but this camera is just his, and he definitely has a visual and creative eye.

 

                  
  Pretty impressive photos from a little kid's toy camera. Can't wait to see what other photos he takes. Will share more, promise!

This Moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.- Amanda Blake Soule www.soulemomma.com

      Worm Hunting in our Garden...

Spring is Here! Spring is Here!

 We are starting to see crocuses peep out along with a few daffodils. Inspired by the season of spring, we made a daffodil bunting.

 

Only a few supplies are needed.

• Paper
• paint/crayons 
• scissors
• glue 
• paper egg cartons or orange/dark yellow styrofoam egg cartons
• tape to adhere flowers to string
• string for hanging       

 

First trace your flowers from a pattern. You can make a star shaped petal pattern. Or you can use this one provided. Then get our your paints/crayons and color the petals. Cut, adult supervision/adults only.

Then cut out egg shape cartons for inside of petals. Paint them orange.

 

Let your flower parts dry. Then frolick in the sun!

After some playtime we decided to add some few details, fun mark makings.

Glue flower parts together. We liked using a new glue by Elmer's called Glue All. It's a sturdier more powerful glue. Let them dry, and play in the sunshine! Yeah, more playtime!

After all this playtime. Jack needed a nap. While he napped Momma attached the flowers to some left over green wool yarn. I used masking tape, you can use any type as long as your flowers stick.

Now hang your spring project up for everyone to see! We hung ours in Jack's playroom, to spice it up a bit!

Kitchen Inspirations...

            BEGIN-Whole Foods/Whole Life photo from Heather Brugeman

 

        Curry Veggie Chowder

 

       Artisan Bread in 5 minutes- needs a little bit more experimentation

 

       Apples from Eastern Market,D.C.

      Fresh Fish at Eastern Market

                    
           Chopping Veggies for Hearty Vegtable Soup

                             

          The Beauty of Beets

Whole Body, Whole Mind, Whole Health

 I finally feel like I am getting my life in balance again.

There are a few things that I have mentioned in my past few blogging momments that have helped me through this. One of my big links in getting myself into balance is Heather's workshop: Whole Food.

        

 

 For the past few weeks I have been cooking up yummy and healthy meals for my family.

        Pizza's made with Peter Reinheart's recipe.

 

        Green Smoothie's from the Whole Food Workshop. I call them Green Monster shakes to get my 2 1/2 year old son on board. And yes despite the color they are really good!

          Granola with whole milk yogurt for breakfast/snacks.

 

           Chicken and Spinach Stir-Fry over bean noodles.

       By creating this new whole foods approach in our family. We have started to work out again. Making sure that Momma and Jack get outside for an afternoon walks again. I have stripped our kichen of man-made foods, and organized our kitchen with jars filled with lentils, nuts, dried fruits, and wonderful spices! We are seeing starting to see new healthy selves mind, body and soul!

        I would like to thank Heather Bruggeman,Kathy Stowell,Goddess Leonie,

and Tsh Oxenreider.

 

Also check out Kathy's Stowell's ebook giveaway on Bliss Filled Momma.I will be giving away one free ebook and MP3 of her book the morning of Wednesday 22nd! Just post a comment here.