Picnic

A simple scarf

I often start the year strong, fulfilling my expectations for myself like many of us tend to do with the fresh start of a new year.  For the past couple of years, I have resolved to give only handmade gifts for the various birthday parties we attend throughout the year.  Inevitably, those with birthdays in the early months get something handmade and by the time the fall rolls around, I'm browsing the aisles of Target.  So.... staying true to tradition, Bijou's friend Edith received a handmade cowl scarf made from striped jersey knit.  It's soft, comfy and stylish and when I had B try it on for size, she insisted I make a second one for her.  She wore it to school every day last week and even declared, "I'm going to wear this everyday!"  Happy Birthday Edie!  And Happy VERY Early Birthday Bijou!

Screen Printing Class

If I wasn't a stay-at-home mom, I'd love to be a textile designer.  I had my opportunity to make my first textile this past fall when I took my first screen printing class at the Richmond Art Center.  It was fun to learn the process and develop a deep appreciation for all those hand printed tea towels, handbags and scarves I have purchased over the years on Etsy.  It proved to be a bit more challenging than I had anticipated, but more fun too!  In addition to screen-printing some t-shirts for my husband and kids, I made this feather motif textile on stretch cotton knit that I plan to turn into a couple of cowl-neck scarves.  Hopefully, many more creations will be shared in the coming months.  I plan to take the class again in the spring.

Advent Calendar

Each year I like to come up with a new advent calendar.  And last year I was so busy with colicky babies, reflux, breast pumps and night nurses that I skipped my annual tradition and bought a fair-trade chocolate one from Bittersweet instead.  Fortunately, times are much easier this year so with some muslin pouches from this shop and some red embroidery thread, I went to town making this year's calendar myself.  Now the true test... can Bijou tolerate having this thing hang above her bed without peeking in on what the next day's treatmay be?  I think not.

A baby-proofed Christmas.

As soon as Thanksgiving is wrapped up, I love to quickly indulge in the Christmas spirit and start decorating for the holiday.  This year, I had to get a bit creative since our two little ones would certainly love to get their curious hands on the lower branches of a Christmas tree and pull off the fragile ornaments.  And since "no" means "yes" in their world, I decided to avoid the traditional tree altogether this year.  The lights and gold tinsel puffs (99 cents for a strand that I just cut into small pieces) are from IKEA. 

Kiddies @ Heath Ceramics

My friend Sarah and I took our girls to Heath Ceramics in Sausalito this past weekend for  a holiday kids event.  The girls got to get their hands dirty in clay, sip hot cocoa, and hit up the Modern Kids photo booth and Asher Bakehouse bake sale.  

Bijou told me she made a nest with eggs.

It was a gloomy day but we indulged in the gelato they were passing out anyway.

I do love a good bakesale, yum!

Franny & Bijou makin' stuff.

Blowing off the dust

It has really made me sad that I have only managed to post on my blog 4 times in the last year.  It has come to the point that I think about getting back to it daily, I miss it SO much!  Well, today is hopefully the start of some more regular posting.  Fortunately, I have been able to get my hands dirty with some craft projects recently.  I love nothing more than some paint dried up under my fingernails.  (okay, seriously, there are a lot of things I love more than that, but you get the point.)

Today's project is simple and useful and can in fact be completed while one boy waddles around with a remote control pointing at things and making that button turn red and another boy chews on a wicker basket in attempt to relieve some teething pain.  

Supplies-

Japanese masking tape

brown craft tags 

* both items can be purchased in abundance from Etsy.

Directions-

Lay the tape in whatever design you'd like and trim the excess with scissors. I choose the classic and currentlytrendy chevron design.

voila!

I'm sure the recipient of your gifts this holiday will appreciate this handmade touch.

 

Driftwood Decor

 I scavenged the beach this summer for driftwood after seeing these driftwood fish on Made By Joel.  I knew it would make for perfect handmade decor for my beach-pirate themed nursery for the twins.  Seriously... decorating a nursery is SO MUCH FUN!  I had a little hay-day yesterday shopping for pillows for the "reading nook" on Etsy.  Here's what I bought...

 Black Cross Organic Pillow, $30 

Petit French Industrial Pillows, $32 

Hand-painted Octopus Pillow, $36

ok...I realize this has nothing to do with the beach or pirates but I just love Skinny Laminx's shop so much I couldn't resist.

Herds Pillow Cover, $30 

Stenciled Onesies

I recently picked up this stencil book at a shop so I could decorate the drawer full of plain onesies before the boys arrive.

 

Stencil 101 by Ed Roth

This is a simple craft project anyone can tackle and could make for a cute handmade shower gift.  One thing to note (which is also mentioned in the book), is that it is best to use a dry brush with just a little bit of paint, painting in layers until you reach a dark image.  If you use too much paint, you will not have a crisp image.  Here are the new outfits for the babies...

 

   

 

Stenciled Toy Bins

We recently made a family outing to The Container Store, a favorite in this household.  It was Bijou's first time to The Container Store and we were pleased to find that she shared our enthusiasm for the place.  Between twirling the tops in the trash can aisle, to spinning around on the office chairs, she was easily entertained.  According to Doug, she was especially enthusiastic about the collapsible cup she discovered in aisle 5.  When we left she said, "can we go back to that toy store some time?"  I said, "it's not a toy store, it's called The Container Store."  She said, "but it's like a toy store!"

We were on a hunt for some simple toy storage to hide the toy clutter I've been hoarding over the years.  We decided on these simple canvas bins which I spruced up with some number stencils using a freezer paper technique.

 
 

Things I Love- Craft Books

I might be a bit crazy, thinking I might actually be able to accomplish a few projects with 3 little ones running around but Rubyellen from Cakies does it, so I plan to give it a shot.  Here are my newest additions to my craft book family....

 

Simple Sewing For Baby by Lotta Jansdotter

 

Linen, Wool, Cotton by Akiko Mano

Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner