natalie maed: 2009

dawn of a new year

Counting down the hours now to the end of 2009,

and looking ahead to 2010.

Here's to all the other childcare less moms

that will also be celebrating tonight from the comforts of home :)

So cute was Bennette's dino, that I just had to make more.
Since this little wool turquoise guy didn't catch a new home at the craft faire, (as I promised) he will now enjoy his new home with us, amongst all of Evan's many other cuddly friends.
So..
this guy

is all by his lonesome and available just for you..

love Organic

I just can't stop knitting up these Organic cotton beanies. Really, I've tried to..
you know with Christmas around the corner and some very hush hush
projects under way, I just really don't have spare time to knit
these little cuties...and yet, they just keep turning up.

Oh, I just love these colors. Well, no time to talk there's crafting to be done!

presents

for Liora

now 7

Our first little girl is now 7

..and as always she requested "the doll cake".. again.
Every year since she was two, Liora has loved the whole doll in the cake deal.
Actually, it has been almost every year, here let me show you..
-a look back at birthdays past-

1st birthday

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

4th birthday

5th birthday
..um, I think we bought her cake this year ;)
(welcome Lillyanna)

some things are better than cake

6th birthday

7th birthday

Happy Birthday Liora
I love you

Make-and-Take Craft Faire

Our original plan was to

..arrive early.. help set up tables and chairs...make our introductions..

Well, that was earlier this week before

Nia and Lil got a nose sniffle with a low level fever.

Luckily they have an awesome Daddy who was up for the added challenge, filling in for mama,wiping noses,cooking meals and running to the store for last minute items. So less time was spent on preparations(and blogging)

and and lots more time spent holding and cuddling two sick girls.

That said, we arrived later than anticipated and just got busy setting up.

Did I mention Tylor and his awesomeness before?

Well that's not even the half of it, oh no it gets much better. What about how he stayed up til the wee hours or the morning working on this incredible felt banner sporting the new natalie mae logo? He cut the recycled sweater felt, applied the letters, cut the banner fabric, AND machine stitched the edge

(he even remembered to include a pocket for a dowel!)

...the man rocks..I am a lucky girl

At home I keep all of my creations neatly stored away in several plastic storage containers. To see everything out and together was a real trip. Though, watching the joyful expressions on peoples faces as they caught a glimpse of a smiling carrot or mushroom was the greatest gift of all.

Notice anything new on the table? There are a few additions that I will be blogging and posting about next week...can you say di-no-saur?

I was asked at he end of the fair, how did it go?

Well, I met allot of great people, made some new friends,

and made a few sales.

Putting yourself out there on display for others

can be scary, and a bit overwhelming. Facing those feelings and moving

forward anyway is what has brought me the most joyful experiences in my life.

With my first craft fair behind me now, I feel just a little bit more confident,

and allot more motivated to continue creating things that make me smile

and passing them along to you.

What a warm and delightful group of people

to have shared this experience with.

Thank you all

thriftyness

An evening spent finishing up my newest thrifty project;

cloth diapers made with reclaimed fabrics and left over burp cloths.

Lately, our little family has been feeling the financial squeeze

that is quite common these days.

In the spirit of eco-friendliness and with a new tighter budget

on hand we are trying to make the most with the things we already have.

Which is somethingI secretly love doing anyway

..wait...recycled felted sweater.. ::everything::

...oh, I guess not so very secretive ..after all,huh?

So, anyway for these cushy cuties I used a modified version of a pattern

that has since mysteriously vanished from the web. But don't despair,

if you are just jumpin' to make some of your very own awesome diapers,

I have found that there are allot of great sites out there

with free diaper patterns, like here :

the Diaper Jungle

Crusin' around this site and seeing all the different versions

and styles has got me thinking I might just need to make a few more!

presents

I love to give gifts that last and can be multi use or used through the years.

Just like this little purse that was recently gifted to a most fabulous

little six year old friend of ours on her birthday.

Of course I didn't rush out to my nearest fabric store,

this pure is entirely made with re purposed materials.

The outer black quilted fabric and the hot pink lining

are both reclaimed fabric. With the remnants from cutting the lining I made the flower hair clip: complete with vintage button, and the strapping and piping I've had laying around for quite some time and are left over from making this super fun purse-

It turned out just so darn cute I'm wishing I had

just a bit more fabric so I could make another one..for me.

for Bennett

Husbands are great,

like when you wake up early Saturday morning to " hey babe, could you put something together for that get together this afternoon?" Uh..what? What time is it anyway..who now?

..I'm so not a morning person..

Well okay, I say and begin cutting felt and fabric I'm picturing a wee little farm ..portable..with bitty animals..maybe a pond ..some grass. All my fabulous scheming is interrupted by sounds of my thoughtful husband on the phone in the other room getting some much needed detail info ... age of precious new little one, color/animal preferences..you know all the crucial info I usually get preferably a week or two in advance. Then I hear ..dinosaur.. so I just push all the wool and fabric to the side, gather some new colors and begin to bring this little guy out of my imagination..

Of course I just had to throw in some extras, organic wipes, flowers hairpins for mama, gratitude rabbit, felt mushroom rattle, all in a handmade gift bag . So I'm thinkin' ::whew:: so glad that this dino is coming out the way I pictured it.. and on the first try, in about an hour and a half too.In walks husband.. "see I knew you worked good under pressure, that's why I waited until the last minute. "WOW...thanks honey, and since you are a paying customer your total is three hundred for everything. "...F u n n y guy, gotta love him.

Just between you and me...