a wrap up

I dropped the posting ball at the close of ADVENTure 2011...sorry to all of you creating along with me last year. my final project was finished just in time to mail off to my mother-in-law.

here are a few pictures of traveling woman:

I'll be continuing my ADVENTure in 2012 and invite you to create along with me. this is how I described my idea back in 2010 when I started:

advent: from the latin meaning "coming"; a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas.
adventure: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

so this year in anticipation of Christmas, I'm starting an ADVENTure. I'm going to be preparing, making, and adventuring through new crafts. crafts to display at home, some to give as gifts, some just to try a new skill.

how many of us want to give of ourselves and our talents at Christmas by making gifts? I know I do! but without preparation and diligence this goal could become an overwhelming task that steals your joy at the most wonderful time of the year! while I was in the quilt store last week, a customer was telling the shop owner that her purchase was for her first Christmas gift of 2010...it was her "new year's resolution" to create all year long. the shop owner said she tried to help her customers last year with a monthly class on creating for the holidays...it lasted only three months.

after a traveling woman blocking mishap, I vowed not to pick up lace again. Ha! my next intended project is this lace hat. never say never. hello ADVENTure 2012!!

a new routine

finding a new routine to my days,

includes a dilatory project to keep my mind and hands busy...

traveling woman.

stitch by stitch, row by row, she's now ready for the lace.

I hope you're finding peace and joy in the rhythm of your days.

summer finishing

as our summer comes to a close, so do my summer ADVENTure projects. tomorrow the boys start school, and I begin a few weeks of adjusting. it happens to me every year. I can remember putting spencer on the bus for the first day of first grade, and the struggles that followed. ever since then, the first few weeks of school are quiet and somewhat lonely for me. so I've compiled quite a list of "to-do" ideas for those moments when the silence gets to be too much.

last week we visited the park for some sunny project photos and a bit of fun. the bit of fun starts it off...

and here's what I'll be adding to my ADVENTure collection:

*a few dishcloth additions using this pattern...

* cabled boot toppers for a boot lover on my list...

Pattern: Cabled Boot Toppers from Gifted by Mags Kandis

Size: One size

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light, Color #4294- Turquoise Mix

Needles: US 6 dpn

I love these boot toppers! the pattern was easy to follow, but intricate enough to hold my attention. and those bobbles at the top....they're really fun to make!

* and Christmas pillowcases (by request) using Lisa's pattern...

tip of the month:

start thinking about December birthdays!

if you're like me, you probably have a few special people in your life who celebrate a birthday in December. and maybe (like me) the holidays end up grabbing all of your attention, and you end up behind in purchasing and delivering thoughtful birthday gifts. one of my goals this year is to have those gifts purchased and wrapped before December rolls around. this month you see a part of my niece's gift- a Happy Birthday pillowcase!

I hope september brings you scented candles, falling leaves, and creative projects that bless others as they bless you!

link up your ADVENTure posts here:

almost Christmas in july!

I can't believe it's time for a (late) ADVENTure post! it seems like our summer days are passing by so quickly.

check, check in july:

* three additional dish cloths for the collection

* updated gift list with new ideas

* assembled a 2011 holiday album

* knitting still in progress

* Christmas card photo of boys

each year the "December Daily" scrapbook theme always draws me in. but considering that I finished my 2009 December Daily album just a few short months ago, I haven't been very successful at completing them. this year I chose a simpler route.

I had all the supplies on hand and spent a few hours on a saturday bringing the elements together:

1. K&Company red cloth album from Target

2. favorite holiday scrapbook papers and stickers from my stash

I'm trying to simplify all aspects of my life right now... so I kept this album very simple and uncluttered. I used a 4x6 photo as a guide to cut a matting template for each page. the same size photo mat was attached to each page adding additional papers and stickers where I could.

when the holiday photos start flying in, I'll adhere them to the pages, add the story, and call it done. I'm learning that capturing single moments and telling individual stories is more valuable to me (and hopefully to my family) than showcasing multiple pictures of one event.

and this project is still on the needles, new needles I should say. after finishing and frogging one, because I didn't check gauge before starting...I'm back on track and will share soon!

tips of the month:

you may want to visit monika's blog for some awesome Christmas In July ideas! this post was one of my favorites.

if you enjoy sending out photo Christmas cards, think about taking your photo during the summer! a picture of the kids or the entire family at your weekend cottage, vacation destination, beautiful garden, or favorite family summer spot can easily check one additional holiday stress of your list! we already have ours!!

just a note of thanks:

I continue to be so thankful for those of you taking this year-long journey with me and leaving such wonderfully nice comments! I hope you're celebrating your successes and wish you a productive and fun month of august! now don't forget to link up your ADVENTure posts here:

back on track

it's been good to get back on track with my ADVENTure this month. here's what I've been working on:

sewing more santas

framing wool

you can buy the pattern here.

a few more dishcloths

adding to the "year of cards" collection

and in progress...something to share next month!

this year mark and I have a good balance between crafted and purchased gifts on our list. and these are one of my favorites that I can't wait to gift. our family uses and loves them! go grab a set!!

tip of the month:

back in march, I encouraged you to think about and plan your holiday sweet treats! it's always a good time to think sweet! don't 'ya think?

one of my goals for the summer was to find beautiful glass items I could use to gift my oreo truffles. I was thinking garage sales, thrift shops, etc. little did I know I would find all I needed at one garage sale and pay $less$ than seven dollars for these ten pieces:

it is so possible to give your delicious treats in beautiful pieces and not spend a fortune! I hope you find a few treasures this summer!

don't forget to link up your own ADVENTure posts!

six more months

today marks the half way point in ADVENTure 2011! we only have six. more. months. until celebration day! I hope your travels have been light and productive the past few months, and you look forward to completing more handmade gifts before Christmas.

it's an ADVENTure weekend here, so look for me on Monday with a few completed items.

happy ADVENTure my friends!!

paper crazy

during last year's ADVENTure, I created this for two special young girls in my life. this year, I decided to make a version of ali's december daily for each of them- a place to record their Christmas memories as well as a few photos.

I love mini-scrapbooks!! I think the size takes the intimidation out of the whole "scrapbook" process. I used pre-made kits for the structure then embellished with papers, ribbon, and stickers.

an added benefit to making these two mini scraps is that I was also able to take the time to complete my December Daily from 2008! I created this scrap from re-purposed cardboard (some cereal boxes and some paper dividers) before the Christmas season started, but stalled when I couldn't keep up with the "daily" part of the project. so it sat. and sat. and sat. when I looked through the amount still left to do to finish, I jumped in!

oh the freedom finishing brings. now, instead of thinking "I really need to finish that," I smile and enjoy the glance it receives.

for my april ADVENTure projects, I'll be venturing back into punch needle and knitting. see you then! and don't forget to link up your most recent ADVENTure post with the rest of us!

tip of the month: think about how you will record the moments of your holiday. will you use photos? a journal? videos? a combination? I believe the moments of our lives are meant to be lived, recorded, and remembered. I hope you'll try something new this year to record your moments.

the weekend was

:: work ::

:: handmade pop tarts ::

:: more snow ::

:: unstructured ::

~imagine a picture of a family in pjs here~

:: full of ADVENTure creating ::

whatever your weekend included, I trust you were safe, happy, and healthy. this week will be full of research and creating a travel journal for our upcoming trip to Germany!!

paper ADVENTure

the month off from knitting and stitching has been good. really good. the days have taken me in all different directions from mothering sick ones to rediscovering creative loves to celebrating a new year of living. and while I started stitching again last night, I'm desiring a little more balance in my creative life going forward (more on this in another post).

the projects I created in February, for myself and my ADVENTure, all centered around my love of paper and memory keeping.

:: project 1 ::

I drew inspiration from Stacy Julian's book Big Picture Scrapbooking for this mini-scrap for a *L* in my life. I covered these outback steakhouse coasters with pretty papers on one side and her name on the other and a ribbon running through all. my hope is that she captures a few special memories here.

:: project 2 ::

after making these, I decided a special someone might enjoy the gift of cards, so I've started a "year of cards" collection for this gift. each time I make cards, I'm making a few extra and tucking them away. this month I added valentines and thank you's.

:: project 3 ::

this year (february 2011 to february 2012) I'm moving one of my scrapbook ideas from the "to-do" list to the "to-done" list. the skeleton frame is now complete for my "all about me at forty three" scrapbook.

my desire is to not only capture special moments but also special "things" about me at this age. growing up I don't remember thinking of my mom as a woman with hopes, dreams, wants, and needs of her own...she was just "my mom." some day my boys may look back on these years and say: "mom was always creating something; and she had these friends online that she cherished; and why did she take pictures of the mundane in our life?" this scrapbook is intended to explain some of that.

tip of the month: start thinking about the holiday sweet treats you love and love to make. some of the recipes you love to eat may not be the same ones you love to make.

like baking cookies? pick your three favorite recipes, and stick with those. holiday baking doesn't have to be about ten different varieties and the stress they bring with them!

and for those of you looking for a new recipe...you may want to bookmark these for future use- peppermint whoopie pies.

I know many of you have been diligently creating for your own ADVENTure. link up with others to share your thoughts and ideas. please remember to link to your specific post(s) that are ADVENTure related.