Posted on by — 5 Comments

easy v. difficult

Some projects are difficult. Project Life is really hard for me. The one bazillion decisions involved… picking photos, placement, embellishment, journaling, etc. I can’t tackle it if anyone else is in the house, if I have any errands or interruptions, nothing. I need big empty chunks of time because it’s so challenging for me.

Painting peg people on the other hand, way too easy. Especially since I still haven’t cleaned them up from Christmas. They’re right here on the dining room table with all the paint and the felt and the floss. It’s out of my control.

Posted on by — 7 Comments

more peg peeps

Oscar was feeling left out so I made him this fellow. Then he went back to his video games.

And I made this gal inspired by this souvenir scarf I’ve hanging in my craft room.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

peg people

Last year for Christmas I bought Phoebe the Klutz Clay Charms craft book/kit and she played with it all break. It was super fun to see her really get into a craft project. So this year I wanted something similarly crafty for under the tree. I think it was Amy (yep, here) who first linked to this Margaret Bloom book, Making Peg Dolls and made me wanty want it. It’s so good! Her projects are so cute. And I, of course, am obsessed. Wool felt and wood dolls, easily two of my favorite things. Phoebe is very into it too. She is painting the dolls and tracing the patterns and doing some of the sewing. I’m making some on my own for her as she requests new characters. We’ve got a growing menagerie (as you can see on my instagram).

Phoebe made this Grandma to go with the Little Red Riding Hood and Wolf from the book.

And here are Hansel and Gretel from the book. I added some embroidery to the felt outfits.

Fairy Godmother I came up with at Phoebe’s request. She wanted her hair in a bun. It’s sorta bun-like. I just glued a blob of wool roving on her head and then futzed with it after it had dried and sewed it in place. Funny how the tiny dab sof paint for the face relay so much character. I think she needs a bit of an upward turn on her mouth blob. She needs to be cheerier.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

the 5 minute Christmas card

I couldn't decide if I was sending out cards this year. I was determined this year to simplify the holiday and not stress myself or anyone else out. But what's the wheat and the chaff with Christmas? It's hard to say. I decided late in the game that cards had to stay so I sat the kids in front of the tree when they walked in the door from school, put the flash on the camera and took 18 photos then I picked literally the first design that popped out at me at snapfish and ordered these cards. They turned out really cute. I love when a fast decision works out.

I'm organizing photos now to start printing for my December Project Life album. I think this year's entry will be slimmer than those in the past. Things I did dial back… outings, photo ops, gift buying. I'm looking forward to going back over the last month and journaling our holiday. Sort of like my exit interview. No matter how hard I try to not feel like the Sr Project Manager in charge of special events I can't kick that feeling every Christmas. How'd I do? Childhood magic achieved? Wish I could get a grade and some notes/feedback.

I think I'll just give myself a xmas bonus and assume I did awesome!  

Posted on by — 1 Comment

oh gray day

Chicago is trying to break records with most gray days in a row. I’ve hardly taken any photos of holiday crafting or merriment because it’s so dreary. What I wouldn’t do for a sunny or snowy day. I don’t even care if it’s 20 below! And I don’t even care that I’m jinxing us! I’ll be warm because all I’ve been doing for the last 2 months is knitting/crocheting. I’ve made my first pair of mittens, 4 scarves, 2 blankets, working on a third…

I’m about halfway done with this one. Looks more impressive in a stack than laid out but we’re getting there either way. Nice bright colors to combat our gray Winter.