Friday, November 30, 2012

Made For A Change In Plans

This is not the long winded post I had intended. Dear hubby arrived home this evening before the clock struck 12 (or 1, or 2, or 3.....don't ask, it's been a very long week!) Anyhow, he just showed up with tea, cookies, and an invitation to watch a movie. Not sure he'll still be awake 15 minutes into it but we'll give it a shot. Off now before my tea chills.....
HAPPY WEEKEND!
 


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Made An Announcement

One of my very favorite days is right around the corner. Can you guess what it is?
St. Nicholas Day!!!
 
In honor of this jolly old gift giver's special day we indulge ourselves in a few fun traditions. First of all we gather up some boxwood clippings to decorate the table with and bring this little fellow out of the china cupboard as our welcome guest for the month of December. After a meal by candle lite we share a pot of tea, slice into some Dundee cake, and help the kids set out their shoes by the door in hopes of finding a few trinkets dropped in by morning. Great Fun!
 
This year I'm going to add something else to the day. I had planned to participate in the whole Cyber Monday extravaganza by hosting a sale in the shop. Somewhere along the way, however, I got sidetracked and missed the event. I felt terrible but not for long because I realized I could still host a sale on another day of MY choice. And so I will come December 6th!!! I'll actually let it run for several days so everyone has a chance to peek through and perchance have a go at playing like St. Nick and stock up for some gift giving (even if it's to yourself!)
 


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Made Me Laugh Out Loud!

 Over the years my heroines have included the likes of Queen Elizabeth I, Abigail Adams, and Tasha Tudor. Each of  these women demonstrated (at least in my mind) amazing strength and courage while traveling the often difficult paths of their lives. The inspiration I find from these women is paramount and as such it is not often I consider adding another name to the list. Today I did just that.
 
Jessica Stilwell.
 
For those of you unfamiliar with the name (as I confess I was up until yesterday) please do check out her blog but be sure to read it from the very beginning. And get ready to laugh. She may not currently rule a nation, assist a revolution, or use her creative talents to foster a world of her own but she certainly speaks to the trials and tribulations of motherhood.

The long days of driving, homework, endless meal preparation, dirty dishes, pre-teens, teens, messy rooms, sibling rivalry, and laundry. Oh the dirty laundry.....she airs it all and in doing so relieves so many of us mothers out there that we are not alone in this. And as if the public admission of her family's faux pas in the housekeeping department weren't enough to earn her an award of bravery, her willingness to go on strike within the walls of her home certainly should.

It's a fantasy I'm sure more than a few mothers have contemplated. I know I have. To actually follow through on such a stunt however would take nerves of steel. The backlash from family members would be tremendous no doubt but far worse would be having to wallow in the rising filth for who knows how long.

Case in point.....

Child # 3 missed the bus this morning. Upon returning home from his barely on time delivery to the school I entered into this. 
 
 
 A pile of laundry on the table why? Well the size 0 pair of jeggings and the "PINK" sweatshirt co-mingled in the dryer tell me that teen #2 did it.

A brown stained napkin held firmly in place by the kitchen stool? Look no further than the ground spattered coffee pot across the way to surmise teen #1 had a hand in spilling it.

The pink hairdryer on the counter? Left I know for a fact by child #3 when his daily hair manipulation made him late for that bus.

Remnants from breakfast and midnight snacks, scrapings from the bottom of back backs, a chewed piece of gum? Your guess is as good as mine!

Having read Stilwell's blog from beginning to end last night my first thought was to go on strike myself. I even went so far as to put the kettle on for a cuppa and select a magazine to cozy up with. I'd sit down and relax a bit before I headed up to work in the nook. But Stilwell is a far stronger woman than I apparently, for before the water had even come to a boil I caved. Who was I kidding? I could not function in this. The gloves came out and I had at those dishes.
 
By the time I headed out to pick up my sweet little darlings all was set right, at least as far as appearances go. I do so hope Jennifer Stilwell continues on with her blog as I've got a lot to learn and she just might be the one to inspire that process.
 


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Made Use Of The Mitre Box

 Cutting.
 
 Counting.
 
Caressing with sandpaper!
 
 


Monday, November 26, 2012

Made Six to Start

 So here's the results of all the hoopla I had up my sleeve yesterday. They don't look like much but they were just the inspiration I needed.
 
 For how could I make up a batch of mini pipe cleaner trees and not paint up some glitter houses to go with them?!!!
 
Hmmm.....I think I know what Lily Red wants for Christmas!
 
 


Sunday, November 25, 2012

Made Me Jump To

I'm giving only a tiny window into the workshop today because I've got something new up my sleeve. I was futzing around with some of the holiday ornaments when the light bulb went off in my head. Decorating screeched to a halt and collecting up supplies became my main priority. A tiny tray was enough for all the goodies I needed for even though my idea was big its manifestation will be small.....very small!!!!
 
 
 


Saturday, November 24, 2012

Made Merry

Had myself a workout in the workshop and oh was it merry and bright!!!
 


Friday, November 23, 2012

Made a Proclamation

 Goodbye Thanksgiving, Hello Christmas Countdown!
In preparation for the upcoming holiday hoopla I thought a workshop might come in handy. 
 
 The perfect location was no further away than our southern facing sun room.
 
 My co-Christmas elf extraordinaire even gets his own spot known from this point on as "Dear Hubby's Cubby!" While he may be lacking the instinct to feather his nest with seasonal bric-a-brac.....
 
.....his artistic talent was certainly out in full force!

 I on the other hand frittered away the afternoon with some serious doll play!
 
 And once I did finally settle down to work.....
 
.....it was only with an eye to clipping snippets.
 
 


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Made My Picks of the Day

Not too fancy but definitely filling!
 
My favorite.....smoked oysters!!!
 

Deja vu in the form of marinated mushrooms....a tradition from years past which mom recalled and reinstated.
 

My plate.....YUM!!!
 

Poor pitiful pup hoping for some spillage.
 

Perhaps the most appreciated dish was the gluten free stuffing.
 

The most surprising on the other hand was this sausage and leek stuffing made mind you entirely by teen # 1. A tradition in the making!
 

 And the grand finale.....pie, pie, and cake!??
 
You bet! For today also happens to be teen #2's birthday.
Happy Day to our Sweet Pea
and
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!
 


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Made Me Take Note

After a good stint in the kitchen stirring, stuffing, mashing and mixing it up in preparation of tomorrow's feast I finally plopped myself down on the couch to find this cardboard flag waving at me. The wonderful work of child #3.....ever optimistic, hopeful, and smiling he truly is "awesome!"

(And considering I didn't burn one thing tonight I'm kind of thinking the apple doesn't fall far from the tree......knock on wood!)
 


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Made Me Wonder?

Ever have one of those days?
Well I just did!!!
 
Fingers crossed my cooking skills improve dramatically before turkey day!
 
 


Monday, November 19, 2012

Made Enough

All 30 were completed, photographed, listed and sold.
Tomorrow morning they will be shipped.
Being that they were the very last order on my list I am now free to focus on
CHRISTMAS STUFF!!!
 
Look for the first  holiday themed goodness to start arriving in the shop soon after the Thanksgiving dishes are washed up and I've had myself a good night's sleep.....
 


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Made the Rest of These

I was awaiting a shipment of felt to finish up that order of name tags I was fiddling around with last week. The felt arrived yesterday which meant today I had the perfect excuse to do nothing more than attach posy fodder to backings! Can't complain about that now can I?
 
 


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Made for a Lovely Day

It truly was the loveliest of days. Annabelle was well received, the Dundee cake was devoured along with the most delicious gingerbread cookies, and the presentation given by John Hare was amazing. Eventually other attendees began to share stories of  programs they had attended at which Tasha Tudor herself gave the talk. Their tales made me drool!
 
The most surprising part of the day, however, concerned the sales table. I was shocked to realize I already had my own copies of almost everything on display! At first I was embarrassed of such excess but then decided an air of gratitude would be a much more positive response. And in this better frame of mind an unexpected discovery was made.....
 
Teeny, Tiny Tasha Tomes!
 
 What luck to have The Doll's Christmas included in the collection!
 
Now Lily Red and I can both turn our attention to the holiday season ahead!
 


Friday, November 16, 2012

Made Much Ado About Tasha

It has definitely been a Tasha Tudor week around here! Reading, baking Dundee Cake, and playing with Annabelle were, however, just the appetizers. Tomorrow is the real feast for John Hare is scheduled to be the guest speaker at our Nellie Perkins Doll and Miniature Society meeting. John and his wife Priscilla are not only the authors of the amazing bibliography Tasha Tudor: The Direction of Her Dreams but are also the proprietors of Cellar Door Books. Tomorrow's agenda includes a program on Tasha and her work, the opportunity to shop a bit from the sale tables John Hare will have set up, and refreshments of the Dundee and gingersnap variety. Now if I could just fall asleep so tomorrow would hurry up and get here!
 
 


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Made By Grandma

 Sadly, it's been far to long since this latch has been opened.
 
 For inside this trunk is a delightful treasure.
 
 Using Tasha Tudor's book A is for Annabelle as her guide, my mom found a sweet china doll and proceeded to created each and every accessory described in the book to go along with her. The entire ensemble was then gifted to my Dear Daughter (AKA-teen #2) on her forth birthday.
 
Isn't the cloak adorable and cozy?
 
 I'd forgotten about the ribbons for her hair. I want some ribbons for my hair now too!
 
 My very favorite of all, however, is the wee little locket.....
 
.....for tucked inside is a remembrance of  Teen #2 when she was still our Baby Girl.
 
 


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Made It

 The Dundee Cake is.......
 
ALL DONE!!!
 
Click here for for a link the receipt I followed (minus the almonds!) 
 
 


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Made More

I decided to postpone making the Dundee Cake until tomorrow when the temp is expected to drop. We were near 70 yesterday so I imagine low 40's will feel a bit nippy and make having the oven fired most appreciated. Thus today my attention went to happy busyness in the form of packing up more clothespin goodie bags. Seems to be quite a bit of dolly making going on out there.....
HAVE FUN EVERYONE!!!
 
 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Made Good On My Word

I love checking off  little boxes!!!
Now if only I had a gold sticky star to give myself!
 


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Made Sense

I awoke this morning with steadfast determination to keep to my weekend list.
Here it is in case you missed it...
 
Turn off the alarm clock
Keep a basket of handwork nearby at all times
Cozy up with a bichon
Read about Tasha Tudor
Ponder Christmas
Have a mug up
Sleep  
 
And it was, I want you to know, to the rising sun and not the ringing alarm to which I awoke. As I rolled out of bed, the bichon was scooped up in one arm leaving the other free to snag my handwork basket as I tiptoed through the sewing nook and headed downstairs to put the kettle on. By the time puppy and I had attended to business out of doors the water had boiled for my first mug up of the day! Within minutes I was sipping away in the company of Harry Davis's book The Art of Tasha Tudor.
 
Or at least I was until page 7 on which I read that, "She is notoriously slow-paced and something of a procrastinator, at least with commissioned or contractual art." Hmmm...I had my own share of such so called "commissioned" work awaiting me. Should I be attending to it instead of hanging out in the cozy chair? Was I procrastinating? It wouldn't be the first time that's for sure! The one thing I did know is that I would not be able to enjoy my weekend until I evaluated the situation and got some answers.
 
 First things first, I gathered up all the goodies pertaining to outstanding orders, arranged them on a tray, made a list of each and every one, and then.....I went back to stealing!
 
 Thank goodness for my new favorite guru, Austin Kleon! This post by him and its tips for achieving guiltless free time is amazing. I wasn't shy about stealing his concept and by doing so assured myself that all the "commissions" could be completed in a timely manner without practicing a nose to the grindstone approach. I'm so happy.....and so is my nose because it's so much more pleasant to have it in a book!