happy holidays...

jack henry and sidney with the cutest santa ever

thanks again for sharing another year with me! i look forward to spending next year with you too! sending you all much love and happiness this holiday season,  and hoping all your days are merry and bright!

xo cary

etsy holiday gift picks...

calendar 2011, from my folk lover

i love my calendar from 2010. i frame it... a beautiful new piece of art to have each month! i always look forward to mine.

fairy castle for storing hooks and needles knitting pattern, from tiny owls magic attic

a great present for the crafty knitting waldorfy type in your life:) how cute is this little project! fun to do, cute to look at, and practical too!

covered transferware tureen, from imsovintage

this would make a lovely hostess gift to give to someone welcome you into their home over the holidays. unique and beautiful, and something to remind them of you whenever it is used.

vintage style wooden and brass telescope necklace, by freshy fig

a unique piece of jewelry that is sure to be different form anything else they have! plus it works! how fun, and what a great conversation piece.

when she held her child, print, by theater clouds

i think this would make a beautiful gift for any art lover, but it it is particularly special for a mother or mother to be. i think it would also be lovely in a child's room. what a comforting  and charming image to look at.

lumberjack and crow woodland graphic art collage, signed and dated, by native vermont

another gift for an art lover. i think this would be a great gift for a guy.

wood sailboat automata, from cartoon monster

i love simple beautiful toys like this. they don't actually make them for children but i think it would be perfect for a slightly older child (or any adult!). it is sort of mesmerizing. watch a little video of one like it action here:




i could go on and on. i have so many favorites on etsy. hopefully i have shared a few wonderful ideas for the holidays or for yourself anytime! happy shopping!!

holiday announcement...

so, i think most of you have probably done your shopping for christmas... everyone is so on top of things! if you are like me, though, and wait till the last minute, i thought i'd share my holiday shipping info. any listing marked as made to order, will not be completed until after christmas, if you order past the december 10th deadline. i'm not accepting an more custom orders before the holidays. listing for already made items will be shipped until the 15th. i can't promise arrival before christmas if you order after that.

i'm sorry i have been so absent lately. i have been really busy with holiday orders (if i owe you one i promise it is coming soon!). we have also been very busy around here with other things, that i hope to share soon:) in the meantime, enjoy some recent holiday pictures from my home. i'll be back with some gift ideas tomorrow, it's been too long since i shared some of my etsy favorites!

** by the way, using my advanced social networking capabilities i managed to lock myself out of my own facebook fanpage. brilliant, i know. i have no idea what to do now, but that is why i haven't been posting there! so i will either have to start over or plead my case to facebook. blurg.

looking forward...

sidney, christmas day 2009, watching family arrive

i can't believe another year has gone by and christmas is nearly here again! i look back at how many changes there have been over the last few years and it makes me wonder, what is next? life is so unpredictable. even though the day to day seems like so much of the same, when you pause and look back the amount of changes can be surprising.

so, this week i am slowly starting to pull out christmas decorations... going through old photos to see how i decorated last year. i am looking at the evolution of this home over the short time we have lived here and i am amazed! i haven't even shared recent pics since i repainted the living room and kitchen. i have poured a lot into this house, which i don't regret, even knowing this will probably be our second and last christmas here. a short but meaningful stay. this was our first house in georgia, and the first real house we have ever lived in as a family. we have really enjoyed our experience in this house and creating this new life together. it looks like we will be buying our own house soon and starting a whole new adventure! being a new yorker for my entire adult life this will be a whole new experience for me! i'm looking forward to finding a home that will be ours, one where we can decorate how we like and know that if we move it will be our own choice to do so. i'm looking forward to this new adventure ahead, and to sharing it with you!

new mushroom ornaments...

i hae added four more mushroom ornaments to the shop, including the ones above. i'm working away at my christmas list for the shop. any requests for animals?

prematurity awareness day...

one in eight babies is too many. we can do better. november is prematurity awareness month and today is prematurity awareness day. i had two babies born premature. one who made it... and my first baby we didn't know was struggling in time to save him.  i made a donation in today in honor of my babies and in honor of all those families who have struggled or are currently struggling with this now. i remember my time spent in the hospital after the birth of my daughter sidney, who was born 7 weeks early. i remember weeks of watching her struggle to learn how to breath on her own, learn how to eat, how to stay warm. i remember more weeks spent at christmas time in the hospital again where she almost lost her life from rsv, a common virus to strike preemies. i'm thankful everyday for my little girl and her life. i know she is too. every baby deserves the best we can give them. during this time of year when we think of giving thanks, and giving to others please consider the march of dimes and all the little babies that could be helped by each of us. even the smallest donations add up! i also have placed a button on my side bar you can click on any time. thanks!!

xoxo cary and sidney

fall in the air...

it has been so beautiful here the last few days. rain and wind, and leaves flying through the air. it is magical. we are enjoying this bit of magic while we huddle on the couch and read harry potter (again!). i'm so excited for the movie to come out. i'm also trying to get in bits of sewing too. more ornaments to arrive in the shop soon.

i saw these lovely wreaths made by emily thompson over on design* sponge this morning. how beautifully do they capture the essence of the season? such simple design, but soo lovely. i want them all!

here is another bit of fall goodness i have been meaning to share with you. a simple recipe you can through together in a dutch oven, but it is so yummy! treat yourself!

happy fall!

apple slump
recipe by tracy seaman (from a rachel ray magazine i found in a free pile!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons chopped and chilled
• 2-1/4 pounds gala apples, peeled and cut into eighths
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup whole milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small Dutch oven, melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the apples, then stir in 1/2 cup sugar, the lemon juice and cinnamon. Cover and simmer until the apples are nearly tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon flour and remove from the heat.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the 3 tablespoons chilled butter, working it in with your fingertips until crumbly. Add the milk and stir to combine.
3. Return the Dutch oven to medium-low heat and spoon the batter onto the hot fruit to almost cover the surface. Cover and simmer until the batter is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

holiday collection...

i'm hard at work on my holiday collection... i can't believe how fast it is coming up! i have already listed and sold a few ornaments in the shop. i have made them in linen with wool so far. i will also make some with white wool. i have changed the pattern a bit from last year, and i'm happy how they came out. my penguin has already sold, but i have another in the works... also with linen (can you tell i'm a bit addicted to it right now!). i have put my deer back in the shop (which is a special price as i have changed the pattern a bit now)... along with a new companion!

i'm really happy how this guy came out! i have had in mind for soo long now. sometimes i am frustrated at how long it takes me to get to work on things, but often it ends up being for the best. i'm not sure i could have made him how i envisioned a few years ago. i'm feeling gooda bout how my work is evolving, and i hope to continue to grow as ana artist.

we have sold two nativity scenes in my sister's shop. i'm hoping i can fit in another before christmas. i have such a long list! i'm feeling a bit like another chap must be felling right now... ho, ho, ho:)

check out the featured seller (hint, she is related to me!)...

i'm so happy to share the lovely featured seller on etsy this weekend is my wonderful sister katy!!! i have been so excited waiting for this to come... it's hard to keep a secret! katy is such an amazing and talented artist... completely deserving of this (and i say that not as her sister:)! i'm so happy for her. so go read the wonderful interview, and definitely visit her shop before all those beautiful items are snatched up! go, go...

yay!!!

while there you can also see the beautiful nativity scene we collaborated on. i'm really happy how it turned out, and we have one more in the works. christmas is coming fast!

new penguin...

two penguins are standing on an iceberg. one penguin says to the other... "it looks like you are wearing a tuxedo." the other penguin replies... "who says I'm not."

i love the beautiful absurdity of the funny little penguin.

i have also put up a custom listing for polar bears. they will only be there for a short time before christmas.

i will be adding new items for the holidays over the next few weeks.

be sure to check out my sister katy's home on the get the look feature on etsy right now!!

five...

i love everything about this little (big to her) girl. i love that she says things like "rememorize" and "long-legged daddy". i love that when you give her a compliment she says "you're welcome". i love how strong and confident she has always been... even when she came into this world at only 4lbs. i love that when she asked to get her ears pierced and i carefully explained the whole process, including that it would hurt, she just looked at me and asked if i would hold her hand. "of course", i replied. "then i will be o.k." and she was. didn't even flinch once. you know what? whenever she holds my hand it makes everything o.k. for me too.

amazing...

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

i have no words for how incredible this is! yay for human curiosity and ingenuity!

found here!

mushrooms and more...

a new mushroom in the shop now. i have more on the way. i have also cut out a bunch of new items for the holidays... including a fun project i am working on with my sister... nativity scenes! did i tell you that already? we made some as gifts last year and they came out nicely. i appreciate you sticking with me... i know the shop and blog have been slow. sometimes i have to take a step back and focus on family. i have both kids home full time now, and we are finding our rhythm. new updates coming soon.

another year...

fall always seems to be a time for both endings and beginnings for me. i guess every new season is like that, but fall always carries the most meaning for me. every one in my little family was born in the fall, except for myself... so there are a lot of happy little celebrations and also the melancholy remembrance of my oldest child. this week was a quiet one for that. it is always a bittersweet time. we took his birthday to be together as a family. i felt like that was the best way to hold him close, as we each carry a little bit of him. my daughter really understood this year for the first time what the day meant, and she told me she carries a piece of reece's heart in her heart. very sweet and true words.

we drove up to the mountains, and the children were able to pick the last of the seasons apples. the leaves were so lovely. we took the most wonderful walk through the woods, and found a wide open field next to a stream, to run through. i felt grateful for all that i have been given.

happy 9th birthday to reece thomas.

this year i am also thinking about the (too) many families i know of who have also lost children. we are all connected as family.

xoxo

forever orchids...

 

 

have you been to visit the winsome hollow shop lately? the work my sister is doing lately seriously blows me away! her attention to details, and ability to capture the amazing essence of nature in fiber form is incredible. this orchid is made from vintage kimonos. beautiful... and it will last forever! what a talented artist i have for a sister!

meanwhile, my kids are busy making a pots and pans band in the kitchen... and i am looking for the ear plugs.

weekend getaway (or how i ran into gloria steinem in the bathroom)...

bell hooks and gloria steinem

i had the most amazing weekend recently! it was really refreshing. i took a  quick trip up to kentucky, where i spent at least 2 days laughing. i laughed so much my back hurt! that is what happens when you get all those generations of southern women (i will include myself in that, though i will always think of myself as a transplant) together. five women ages 29-86! oh, boy. my poor uncle who was stuck amongst us. my husband is probably thanking me for not asking him to go, but i'm glad i went! i wanted to take a side trip to berea while there, a lovely old town with the most wonderful college! all tuition is free to students willing to work in exchange. i had only known it to be a school of craft, and a an amazing place to buy the most beautiful handmade (student made) goodies.

i had no idea they also have a women's studies program, which has been lucky enough to have bell hooks on faculty for the past six years.she recently opened the bell hooks institute for critical thinking, contemplation, and dreaming. steinem came to help inaugurate the institute and agreed to have a conversation with hooks for an intimate audience. the talk, was amazing... they covered so many subjects regarding women, race, family, community, empathy, aging,  and laughter! it resonated with me in so many ways. the fact that they are long time friends really added to the intimacy of the occasion. i am so grateful to have gone, and so thankful to my mother for finding out about it. oh, boy it made me miss my own women's studies days. both women looked incredible! i can personally attest to this, as i ran into gloria steinem in the bathroom! 76! we can all hope that we too find a life so fulfilling as to leave us looking so radiant!

the funny thing was my 86 year old grandmother was horrified when we told her we were going, but after having feminism defined for her she realized she had never actually known what it meant... and proclaimed herself a feminist too! amazing... there is hope after all!

berea, kentucky

if you are in the south, or ever that way i highly recommend visiting the town and school.