moments in the mommyhood - bloggers day of silence

if any of you know me you know i like to talk a lot.  i almost am never not talking.  but after the tragedy on friday in conneticut i have grieved and am still grieving for the loss of so many innocent lives and have found myself...speechless.  in honor of those families and their loved ones i felt that no matter what i tried to write for today nothing seemed fitting.  so i have chosen to take part in a bloggers day of silence today to honor and to show my love and support to those families who have lost and to hold my loved ones just that much closer to me.

thank you so much for stopping by today and i wish you and your families a safe holiday with those you love close to you.

Lunden Designs Quilt Patterns & Birch Fabrics Giveaway!!!

big top, flag day, grand junction and northern exposure quilt patterns from lunden designs

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

Our first place winner was commenter #21 - Laura!!! Yay Laura! Merry early Xmas! Have fun decorating your son's room! 

And second place winner was Jen from A Jennuine Life

I'll be in contact soon. Thank you so much Melissa for the giveaway!

giveaway time ladies!  christmas is just around the corner (eek) and i've been super excited to host this giveaway!  one of my fave quilt designers melissa of "lunden designs sewing patterns" has a great prize for you guys today!  her patterns are modern, fun and i simply adore them!  i've got plans to make a few of them now in the new year for our home.  i've got my eye on grand junction and northern exposure - 2 of the 4 new patterns she just released.

lunden designs sewing patterns are available as paper patterns so you receive a lovely full color booklet with paper instructions and pattern pieces if needed.  her instructions are clear, well written and easy to follow.  each time melissa designs a new pattern i stop and think "how did she do that?" and then bam...she makes it soooo easy.  just the way i like it!  here's a look at her newest patterns.... big top, grand junction, northern exposure, and flag day.

gorgeous!!!  since melissa and i are both huge fans of birch organic fabrics and we both sew so much with cynthia's wonderful organic prints we thought it would be fun to team up again for another giveaway!! woot woot!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta love that!  gorgeous and fresh quilt designs with equally as fabulous fabrics!  sounds like a sweet xmas pressie  to me!  want to enter?  here's the deets!

Set Sail by Birch Fabrics

||  THE PRIZES  ||

- (1) winner will win a copy of the quilt pattern "Flag Day" by Lunden Designs and also the prints used in Flag Day from Set Sail by Birch Fabrics for the crib sized quilt!!!! wowsa! i want to win!
- (1) winner will receive (3) paper quilt patterns:  Big Top, Grand Junction, Northern Exposure!!!

big top, flag day, northern exposure, grand junction quilt patterns from lunden designs

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||

- simply leave a comment below telling me which of the new lunden designs quilt patterns you love the best!
*bonus entry: like lunden designs, birch fabrics and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and leave separate comments letting me know you did that too.

||  THE RULES  ||

- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until monday, december 17th, 2012 at midnight (PST).

you can find more on birch fabrics and lunden designs below:

website  |  blog  |  shop  |  facebook

website  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter

good luck everyone and happy sewing!  i cannot wait to see who wins!  a big thank you as well to melissa of lunden designs and also to cynthia of birch organic fabric for the generous and awesome prizes!

Washi Dress for ME!!!

washi love, washi love!!!  it's taken me forever to finally get the armholes of my washi dress done but i finally did!!! yay! i used a vintage mustard bias trim and love it! it's a fun pop of color just for me on the inside of the dress.  i wore my washi out for my hubbies xmas work party this past weekend and before you judge the pics above let me tell you they were taken at midnight after the hubs and i had (some...ahem) drinky drinks.  this momma was not feeling any pain and boy was it amazing to be out with the hubs without our children for a night.  it was sooooooo nice.  we don't get to go out very often (i mean like 1-2 times a year) so it's a big treat for us to go out for an adult evening :) 

i loved that i could wear a dress that i made.  it was such a thrill!  i love this dress....i love it so much i've worn it about 3 other times since saturday...haha.  i know the pics above are crappy lighting and the dress is wrinkled but i couldn't resist sharing them.  they felt real.   they felt like me...being a goof and capturing a moment for me when i was feeling free and content with my body.  i love that rae's washi dress makes me feel like that.  it hides my flaws and shows off my good assets.  i have never felt more comfy in a dress before. it's a fab feeling!

i plan on making the tunic version next and will be trying out rae's version with the elastic on the waistline instead of the shirring.  i had a tricky time with the shirring placement for my body.  it's the only negative for me with this pattern and that's me being very, very picky.  i never seemed to get the right amount for it to hang right over my hips an butt and i made the mistake of sewing the side seams before trying on the back to see if the shirring was good.  i had to rip open a section of the sides and try to add lines of shirring and take away some and it was a nightmare.  they still aren't perfect but i don't care. i love it anyways. 

i'm also leaning towards doing the peter pan collar for my tunic and a few other of rae's tricks like the longer sleeve.  i can't wait to get started on it.  the nice thing about being done the first washi is that i have already made a muslin and a dress and can just make as many as i want  knowing they will fit :)  the paunch is hidden and the girls (aka my boobs) are happy in the bodice. 

the washi i made was done using the dress pattern and i did the short sleeves and the fully sewn down yoke and hemmed that bad boy short.  well short for me. i really wanted to wear this with tights and/or leggings and found the shorter length was way more flattering and slimming on me than the at knee or just above length that i normally wear. it slimmed my legs and made me look taller.  so i'm so happy i dared to make a big change like that from what i would normally wear.  it suits my wardrobe better now and is way more versatile for me to wear with different shoes and boots with the shorter length.  i'm also thankful for all the lovely compliments and helpful suggestions on tight colors to choose from when i posted a sneak peek instagram shot. you ladies are AWESOME! you can read the convo here which has a pic where you can see the length of the dress better.  i'm still on the hunt for some colored tights like suggested (mustard or teal) so in the meantime the grey has been a great match for brown shoes and boots.

i made a size xl and did not have to do a full bust adjustment.  the xl fit me perfectly.  the darts were right where i wanted them and there was no armhole or back neck gaping which is a problem i always have with garments. thank you rae!  i love that this dress helped me to get over my fear of sewing a fitted bodice for me.  i highly recommend doing a muslin before you make this dress and taking the time to get a great fit.  you can find out lots of information about doing a muslin and sizing etc from this great post rae has written and also from the pattern itself. 

||  FABRICS USED  ||
-  anna maria horner's print fine feathered in colorway pomegranate from her new line field study from fabricworm.
- vintage mustard colored pre-made bias tape for armholes.

||  PATTERN USED  ||
- washi dress by rae hoekstra (made by rae)
- size made: XL
- full bust adjustment: none
- length: mid thigh
- helpful link: sewing women's clothing post from rae (great for tips on sizing and muslins)

have you made a washi dress yet?  what version did you make?  have you made a dress for yourself before?  what is your fave pattern to use?  spill the beans...i'm dying to see your washi's ladies!

A Very Bari Christmas Tree Skirt Tutorial!!

christmas is right around the corner and for years and years i have yet to make or buy a christmas tree skirt.  this year it was time to change that.  first off, my tree skirt isn't round.  i'm digging it like that.  after putting together this christmas tree roundup i fell head over heels in love with the idea of a rectangular tree skirt.  something i could play with some quilting on and finally get to use the essex linen that i've been hoarding like a mad woman since the summertime.

when the fabulous bari j came out with her new line of fabrics - splendor 1920 i was sold.  fabric that was modern, yet classic with geometrics and girly, feminine florals and teapots - it was a line after my own heart. the gemini in me just swooned.  at xmas time i obsess with coffee, tea, treats, curling up under quilts by the fire and doing needlepoint or knitting....splendor 1920 reminds me of xmas.  it creates that vibe for me.  it's something that rings through in my home and even my wee ones right away loved the fabrics and have taken to curling up under the tree on it and pointing at tea pots. they know momma loves her tea and coffee and of course...her downton abbey.

the very bari christmas tree skirt tutorial is a great project for a beginner looking to to advance in their piecing and quilting skills and is also a great canvas for more advanced quilters to have fun with.  all the shapes (besides the circular opening) are either square or rectangular for simple and quick sewing and the quilting lines are all straight and mostly follow along your seam lines so it's easy quilting too!  just the way i like it right before the holiday gift making rush.  the tree skirt is a great size at 43.25"W x 38.25"H and my fave part is that even when the pressies will be under the tree parts of my skirt will still show.  it's soft, cozy and even the back looks great!  i fought the lighting in my condo the last few days with our dark, dreary coastal weather and don't have a shot of the back but it's all solid essex and the quilting patterns add some pizazz.  i gotta give a shout out to my mom who suggested the lovely diagonal line pattern for my 4 corner pieces.  they are my fave and i owe her one for that one :)

i adore the warmth that splendor 1920 lends to my tree that is mostly silver and blues with hits of turqoise.  i don't go for gold much for my tree and love that the soft creams in some of bari's print warm up my tree but don't conflict with the cool tones of the greys and blues.  it's a happy harmony for me and just what my tree needed to finish it off.  you might even see an ornament to go with it soon....

the very, bari christmas tree skirt tutorial features:

: : 6 page full color pdf pattern complete with clear & easy to understand step by step instructions with bright photos and digitally drafted diagrams

: : instructions for a finished quilt including the quilting pattern.

: : fabric requirements, notions needed

: : a fun quilting/sewing experience :)

the very bari christmas tree skirt tutorial is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD here:

VERY BARI CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT TUTORIAL

the fabrics used in the very bari christmas tree skirt tutorial are:

Splendor 1920 from Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics

- Tea Delights Honey  - Nouveau Geo Coral  - Knotted Trellis Gold 

- Abbey Roses Blush  - Grandeur Bloom

Robert Kaufman Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen Denim

thanks for the fabric inspiration bari and for letting me use your name :)  you're awesome!

what do you think? do you make your own christmas tree skirt? is yours rectangular too?  let's chat sewing!  i've got tea on with a cup for you too :)

happy sewing and make sure to upload your pics to our flickr group or leave a comment below. i love to see what you're making and to hear from you!  i hope you enjoy making the tree skirt as much as i did!

ISLAND is here!!!

PRINT COPY || eBOOK || PATTERNS

it's here!!! i'm so excited!  jane and i finally got our shipment of ISLAND in and back out to all of you who pre-ordered.  we're so excited to announce that you can now purchase your own copy direct from AMAZON.com!!!  yahoo! it was so fun to see the book listed on amazon! what a thrill!  we would love it if you would stop by and leave a review of ISLAND on amazon.  it would make our day :)

if you purchase a print copy from amazon and would also like to receive a digital copy of the book please email jane at janerichmonddesigns@gmail.com with a proof of purchase and she will happily send one your way.  you can also now purchase the patterns individually on ravelry as well!  just in time to whip up some lovely xmas pressies!!!

if you are local you can also find ISLAND at the following locations:

VICTORIA

-------------------------------

Beehive  

Button & Needlework Boutique 

Knotty by Nature

UP ISLAND 

-------------------------------

The Book Nook @ Cafe Guido in Port Hardy

LOWER MAINLAND

-------------------------------

88 Stitches

Baaad Anna's

Black Sheep Yarns

Urban Yarns 

Valley Yarns 

SUNSHINE COAST

-------------------------------

Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge

when you purchase a copy at your LYS you will receive a unique coupon code at point of purchase to redeem digital copies of the book and patterns.

||  ISLAND BOOK LAUNCH PARTY  ||
we also have some other exciting news!  WE'RE HAVING A PARTY!!!! WOOT WOOT!  the ISLAND Book Launch Party will be at  Knotty by Nature in Victoria, BC, Canada on Saturday, January the 12th at 6:00pm.  we hope you can join us for food and drink, view all of the samples in our trunk show, pick up a book or have your copy signed, you can even meet the photographer! it's gonna be fun so make sure to mark it on your calendar!!! you can find out more info and details on our ISLAND Book Launch Party Facebook Page.

we cannot wait to see all of you!!!  thank you so much for all of your support and we hope you enjoy ISLAND as much as we do.  also if you live in Vancouver or on the mainland stay tuned...we will be coming over for some book signings and trunk shows in the new year!

||  WHOLESALE INQUIRIES  ||
please email jane at janerichmonddesigns@gmail.com for all wholesale enquiries and orders.

||  PRESS / MARKETING INQUIRIES  ||
please email myself (shannon) at marianraepublications@gmail.com for events, press and marketing inquiries.

thank you so much everyone and happy knitting!!!

Holiday Baking || Nana's Nuts & Bolts Recipe

We have family tradition in our household. Every year at Christmas time the women in my family get busy making nuts & bolts. Mmmmmm, yum! Delicious. It’s funny how this snack mix reminds me of Christmas. The smell, the memories, the fighting with my dad and siblings over who got what kind of cereal (we all have our faves) and then picking them out of the finished dish because you can never get enough of the tasty goodness–they all bring back my childhood.

A Christmas or so ago I posted in my facebook status that I was making these and got a lot of requests for the recipe. I figured, heck, why not share the recipe as a special Christmas treat for you all. A little taste of my “mommyhood” at Christmas time. So grab the kiddos – they love to help stir, tell the hubs no snacking while you’re baking and get making! Add or take away a cereal or be adventurous and try some spices. Nuts & bolts are true to their name, mix it up, match em’ up, play around and build something truly delicious! It smells as good as it tastes!

NANA'S NUTS & BOLTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INGREDIENTS:

- 1 box of Shreddies (675g) (similar to Wheat Chex)
- 1 box of Cheerios (300g)
- 1 box of Crispix (350g)
- 1 bag of Pretzel Sticks (450g)
- Peanuts (600g/1.5lbs)
- 1 botle of Worstershire Sauce (284ml)
- 2 Cups of Mazola or Canola Oil
- 1 tbsp Seasoning Salt
-1 tbsp Garlic Salt
- 4 large plastic freezer bags to store nuts & bolts in freezer (yum!)
-Aluminum pans for mixing and baking (I use two roasting pans that equal the width of my oven.
*The ingredients above filled the two roasting pan size that I used.

STEPS:

1. Mix all the cereals and peanuts into your pans. Use your hands to stir them together.
2. Add the pretzel sticks breaking them into small pieces as you add them to the mixture. (You don’t have to do this, but it can make stirring easier.)
3. Combine your garlic salt and seasoning salt into one shaker. Equally shake the salts onto your pans. Use your hands to stir.
4. Pour your oil in equal amounts over the pans. Mix with a spoon.
5. Pour the Worstershire Sauce in equal amounts over your pans as well. Mix with a spoon.
6. Bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees F. (Bake only 2 pans at a time if you are making a large batch or using more pans.)
7. Stir ingredients every 15 minutes while baking. Yes, I know it’s a lot, but it’s very, very important to stir well and often.
8. Leave the pans to cool down before storing in plastic freezer bags or plastic containers in the freezer until needed.

That’s it! All that’s left is to eat and share with family & friends! Yum! Thanks Nana!

I’ve also included the recipe as a handy pdf download for easy printing. Who the heck wants to hand write this puppy out? Click HERE or on the pic below to get your own copy! Yummmy!!! 
 

So grab your pans….

gather your cereals…

and your pretzels and peanuts…

and get cooking!  Happy baking!
 
Now go sew/knit/crochet while you enjoy the yummy smells in between the stirring :) Merry everything ladies – from my home to yours!  

What's your favorite go to holiday recipe?  Link up and share so we can all make some yummy holiday treats! 

p.s. you can also find this post as a guest post on made - sweets and treats christmas countdown.

WIP's and WISBWO's

the pic above is a sneak peek of a new tutorial coming soon! i hope you all are going to luv it as much as i do. i'm totally crushing on bari j's new line splendor 1920. it makes me feel all warm and cozy and wanting to sip tea and do embroidery. i heart it.

i've been busy making but crazily enough none of it is xmas presents.  while i find this daring and somewhat freeing it's also weird. i have never not gone a christmas without making at least one gift and i'm sure i'll end up making at least 1-2 but as of right now...nada.  i know...it's wild!  must be all that kahlua i've been sipping!   i took a tally of some of my wip's (work in progress) and my wisbwo's (work i should be working on)(yes, i totally made that acronym up, i rock like that) and thought i would show you all that a) i'm not wonder woman and never get 3/4 of the project i start even half way completed b) i always bite off more than i can chew c) i think that i am in fact 3 human beings and that there really is 84 hrs in a day and d) that sleep is for the weak.  i in fact will openly admit this isn't even half of it but it's a good chunk of what's in baskets hidden away in my sewing area.

i got a little irritated with some of my knitting wip's and even unravelled a few and rewound them.  that my friends is really wild.  that i did without kahlua. not even a sip.  i just looked at it and went - meh.....ripping this out.  done.  felt good.  no guilt, yet here i am telling you all about it and now feeling a tad remorseful for the project that is no more. oh...wait....a tiny inkling of wistfulness....and....it's gone.  done.  bye bye.  see?  that was ok. i survived.  now i need to allocate that yarn to a new project or donate it or sell it.  cleaning out and moving on.  i think if we all allowed ourselves the freedom to just "let projects go" sometimes our creative souls would feel so much lighter.  we all carry the baggage around of the "unfinished projects" or the ones "we have no time for but need to work on" or the "ones that we think are gonna be amazing but fail horribly and make us re-evaluate if we should even keep on making".  they all gather taking up precious real estate in a corner of your brain and drain energy that could be spent making projects that simply make you happy.  so for this xmas and for the new year i am only going to attempt to work on projects that "make me happy".  if the others don't make the list they simply will be undone or reworked.  i just don't have the energy to expend on them anymore.  sheat happens and nobody is perfect.  if it doesn't work out, try again or move. simple as that. we all grow the more we create.  the more you practice the better you get and the better you get the more you learn and to me, learning and growing are what feeds my soul and my hands.

i recently picked up this yummy scarf shown above and seriously have been wearing it everyday.  i swear these colors just scream shannon right now.  i have been bundling up with this warm color palette during all of these grey blustery days we've been having.  it puts a smile on my face and keeps me warm.  a win/win in my book.

i've also been busy working on my next tutorial for the fat quarter gang.  i'm up in about 2 weeks and i'm working on something fun using pat bravo's new line "rock 'n romance".  i've been trying to clean up my sewing workspace so i can finally show you all some shots of my new sewing wall that's been up for months now that i still haven't blogged about (oops).  while i was cleaning up i realized some goodies that i haven't blogged about yet or in a while.  remember my audrey above?  so purdy in that yummy red!  i've been plugging away at it when i have the time but it keeps getting put on the back burner.  i started it last fall in the hopes of wearing it for xmas 2011 and never got it done and what do you know....i'm hoping to wear it this xmas but really don't think it's going to happen.  i'm going to remain optimistic though.  so in the meantime it's hanging out with a gorgeous skein of lace weight madeline tosh in calligraphy that i. am. obsessed. with.  i just keep swatching and swatching and know soon she will be a new design.

i recently cast on an "oatmeal pullover" while we were away a few weeks ago and i'm hoping to be wearing this cozy sweater very soon too. i'm just about at my hips and plan on making mine a tad longer and doing short sleeves instead of long ones.  i'm hoping it will cure the horrible case of sleevitis i have going on. the yarn is one of our groups fave go tos for quick cowls and chunky sweaters at an affordable price and it's by lion brand yarn.  i used the lion brand wool-ease chunky in colorway "wheat " for my oatmeal pullover.  i also recommend their wool-ease thick and quick weight as well.  both chunky and thick and quick are regulars for gifts and quick knits.

that lovely rainbow colored yarn is patiently waiting for the new year for me to cross one of my new years resolutions off the list.  i really want to make my first pair of socks.  i've knit my whole life and never made socks.  you see i hate wearing socks. i know it's sorta weird but i just hate having them on my feet. it's bothered me since i was a little girl and used to pay my younger sister pennies to put my socks on for me. i couldn't even touch them.  word to the wise never ever put socks fresh from the dryer near me.  it's like nails on the chalkboard.

needless to say it's weird that i want to take all that time to knit socks when i hate wearing them but the way i see it is that maybe if i make them and i choose the feel of them i just may wear them?  what do you think?  yay or nay?  well i ponder this life altering decision (not) the sock yarn is hanging out with my startings of "folded".  now this yarn i want to just wrap around my body and wear as a cloak (so now i'm nude, with no socks and a cloak made of gold malabrigo sock yarn...not a pretty picture my friends) it's that glorious.  i've got enough to make a garment and chose folded in the springtime.  it's now sat there crying for me to pick it back up.  sad thing is that i feel like i've lost my gumptcha (is this a word?) to make it anymore.  i've been tempted to rip it out and start another project with the yarn but each time i go to start to unravel i stop and think about how long it took me to actually knit what i have done and that i really do love folded.  so it still sits all curled up in it's knitting bag....waiting.....and waiting....for me to actually do what i wrote about at the start of this post. time to be brave ladies.  who's with me?

what are you all working on?  seriously, i love to hear about what you're making. i think it's one of my fave questions to ask you all.  i also adore when you link up posts showing what you're working on or recently made so i can pop by and say hi!  so come on...put the mug down and say hello :)  i promise it's fun.....

Book Review || Mabel's Closet by Hannah Fettig

Mabel's Closet is a gorgeous and "precious collection of modern baby girl knits" perfect for that new wee one in your life designed by the talented Hannah Fettig (of Knitbot) and knit up with yarn from one of my favorite yarn companies - Quince and Co. Mabel's Closet is a useful and handy collection that was inspired and written for Hannah's new daughter Mabel featuring the oh so lovely  yarns and colorways from Quince and Co.  With a foreword & art direction by Pam Allen (one of the brilliant designers behind the fab Quince and Co), Hannah has created a lovely release of some wonderful patterns.

Mabel's Closet is priced at $15 and with your purchase you receive a signed, limited edition book in a muslin bag with a button pin designed by Neesha Hudson & an ebook.

||  PATTERNS  ||

Mabel's Closet includes patterns for the following:

- Cradle Cardigan
- Spring Jumper
- Beret
- Autumn Frock
- Stripe Hat
- Simplest Baby Blanket

Mabel's Closet's graphic design and photography was done by the talented Carrie Bostick Hoge (another creator of Quince and Co), whose work is very inspiring to me. She has such a wonderful signature to her aesthetic and I adore everything she does.

Hannah also used Neesha Hudson, the same illustrator from her previous book "Coastal Knits", who adds a special touch to this collection with whimsical illustrations.  The little bunny on the cover is just so adorable and you can find gems all throughout this little book.

I definitely recommend Mabel's Closet and think it's a great staple to any knitter's collection who is looking to make up some gorgeous baby knits.  True to Hannah's classic style this collection doesn't disappoint.  Her color palette and designs combine for a soothing, modern and natural feel allowing you to imagine all the possibilities for your special wee one.

You can watch a video overview of the collection here and find Mabel's Closet on ravelry here.

You can purchase your very own copy of Mabel's Closet here and also check out the lookbook here as well.  Have fun and happy knitting!!!

A big thank you to Hannah Fettig for all the wonderful inspiration  patterns and also for letting me review this lovely collection.  Thanks Hannah! Mabel is gorgeous and so is the book.

You can find all things Hannah Fettig (Knitbot) here:

website  ||  ravelry  ||  twitter  ||  pinterest

what do you think?  which one is your fave of the patterns? are you a big fan of hannah's and quince and co?  do you have a go to baby knitting pattern?  coffee's on....come chat!

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day!

we put our xmas tree up last night...or i should say we attempted too.  not so easy with 2 restless wee ones fighting over every ornament.  this mama's patience was definitely tested but then that's why us moms can have a few sips (ok glasses) of eggnog and kahlua or anything with kahlua that is. mmmm....would taste good in my coffee this morning now that i think of it...ok, i digress. moving on.

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR ENTRIES** 

The winner is Commenter #165 - Melissa Congratulations Melissa!!!

since i'm feeling festive and in the giving spirit of the holidays i am excited to join in with the "sew mama sew giveaway day" this year!!!  yahoo!!!  giveaways? lots of them? me likie.
i love finding all the handmade goodness that gets linked up in the sew mama sew giveaway day and finding all the fun new blogs to read.  the sew mama sew giveaway day ends on december 7th so it actually runs a week which gives you lots and lots of time to enter all the amazing giveaways!

what am i giving away?  one lucky winner will win all of the patterns from my shop!!  we've got sewing and knitting patterns ranging from clothing to accessories!  the luvinthemommyhood etsy shop is a place for patterns for the modern sewer & knitter.

here's a looksie at what you could win:

||  THE SWEETHEART DRESS PATTERN  ||  

Sweetheart Dress Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE DOWNTON COWL PATTERN  ||  

Downton Cowl Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE MALLORY COWL PATTERN  - CHILD & ADULT ||

Mallory Cowl Pattern (Adult/Child Version) by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE COMMUTER COWL PATTERN  ||

The Commuter Cowl Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

||  THE STASIA COWL PATTERN  ||

Stasia Cowl Pattern by luvinthemommyhood - BUY NOW

here's the rest of the details:

||  THE PRIZE ||

- one lucky winner will a copy of every pattern in my etsy shop!!!  you will recieve the following patterns:

the sweetheart dress pattern  |  commuter cowl pattern  |  downton cowl pattern
  mallory cowl pattern  |  stasia cowl pattern

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||

- simply leave a comment letting me know which pattern is your fave!  that's it! easy peasy right? yay!

||  THE RULES  ||

- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.  giveaway is open until december 7th at 5pm PST.

 luvinthemommyhood - patterns for the modern sewer and knitter.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

find our patterns for sale on....

etsy  |  ravelry  | craftsy  |  knit picks
magpie patterns  |  go to patterns

and make sure to check out the rest of the fab giveaways over on sew mama sew here.

have fun and good luck! thank you for all your entries and happy making!

Honeybegood Fabric Giveaway Winner

prints all from havana from monaluna

we have a winner! better late than never right? drum roll please.....

lemony lucy from the blog "second hand dinosaur" 

congratulations! i'll be in touch with you today!!! happy sewing!

thank you so much karen for the lovely and generous giveaway and for all of you for entering.

you can find all things honey be good below:

website  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  pinterest

Weekend Wishes

yahoo!  today is a wonderful, amazing and oh so special day for our family! one we have been waiting on for almost 5 years!!!  we found out at 7am this morning that my hubby passed the big exam he has been working towards! a few more things he has to do and he will be a chartered accountant. so proud of you my love!

he has worked so very hard for our little family and i couldn't think of a better thing to happen to such a special man.  he's my best friend and i'm so proud of his huge accomplishment.  so instead of my normal weekend wishes i'm just wishing to enjoy this moment and savor every second of it.  i'll never forget waking up to seeing him say "i passed, i passed"!  it was so special and seeing as they make the poor students wait for months to find out (torture) we were so relieved to finally know the outcome of all of his hard work.  he has worked full time and studied since we had mackenzie and it hasn't always been easy, in fact it has been very hard on him and us but it has been so worth it.

so congratulations hun!!!!! i love you so much and the girls and i are so very proud of you.  we never doubted you for a second. thank you for doing all that you do for us. we can't wait to celebrate with you.

wishing you all a very happy and oh so special weekend.  see ya on monday :)

what are your weekend plans?  do you have a hubby or partner who is working/studying tons?  how do you cope with it?  what have you been crafting this week?  let's chat! i'm so excited!!!

Maternity Sewing Tutorial Roundup 2012!!!!!

phew! it's finally here! i couldn't bear to let 2012 go by without our annual "maternity sewing tutorial roundup"!!!  and no, before you ask i'm not preggers. i just like being excited for all you lovely pregnant, glowing mommas out there and give you lots of inspiration for making your own maternity clothes during your pregnancy.

so have some fun! pin your faves, check out all these talented ladies tutorials and show your luv! and most of all...pass it around.  there are a ton of ladies out there who i know don't even know you can refashion or sew your own maternity clothes and are suffering..lol.  i know i did with my first baby, i didn't even know how to sew yet but would have learned a heckuva lot sooner had i known i could make my own stylish maternity clothes without spending a fortune! congrats to all of you who are expecting or who are planning to be and happy sewing!!!!

maternity dress by cotton and curls

make a wrap dress by a beautiful mess

make a sundress from a beautiful mess

1.side tulip hemline tunic 2. maxi tank dress 3. maxi dress

oceanside knit dress by happy together

diy make a lace top from a beautiful mess

1. men's tee to striped top 2. men's loose tee to gathered top 3. top with elastic waistband

diy make a tunic from a beautiful mess

1. summer tunic 2. tied maternity top 3. ruched top 4. my favorite top 5.ruffle shoulder top

||  EXTRA LINKS  ||
- turn a men's polo top into reversible maternity top from cotton & curls
- shirred maternity tunic top refashion

stretchy pocket maternity pants from see kate sew

1. maternity jeans 2. maternity pants 3. diy maternity jeans 4. maternity jeans

diy prepster maternity skirt from growing home

1. very gathered maternity skirt 2. empire skirt

maxi skirt from elle apparel

1. super comfy stretchy maternity pencil skirt 2. comfy diy maternity skirts

||  EXTRA LINKS  ||
- maternity jean skirt from mens shorts 

diy maternity swimsuit sewing tutorial from cotton & curls

1. maternity bow belt 2. the bow belt 3. diy ruffled belly band

diy belly band from a beautiful mess

||  EXTRA LINKS  ||
- stretch lace belt
- mad mim's sewing tutorials
- maternity swimsuit pattern alteration and maternity swimsuit sewing
- 5 new maternity patterns from burda style
- sew fearless's "sewing with a plan: a semi handmade maternity wardrobe"
- www.diymaternity.com - awesome resource!!

megan neilsen maternity survival pack

- any and all of megan neilsen's wonderful maternity sewing patterns.

and our previous years maternity sewing tutorials roundups!!! yay!!! lots of goodies to be found in these giant roundups as well.

 

do you have a favorite maternity sewing tutorial that we haven't included in any of our roundups? let me know and i'll add your faves in the roundup above! i love this part! it's so fun to find new things! i hunted the web for my faves but that doesn't mean i won't love yours!  so grab a hot bevvie and come share!

Bella Collage Quilt Tutorial!!

i'm so excited to tell you all that we finally had some gorgeous weather here and i got the "bella collage quilt" photographed!! yay!!!! i heart this quilt.  it was such a fun one to whip up.  it's all about the fabrics on this one. i'm a huge fan of lotta jansdotter's work and fell head over heels for her new line bella.  i wanted something that was a great beginner quilt for all you fellow newbies but also something that let you have some wild fun with quilting if you were more experienced.  you know me...i'm all about a bit of wild fun :P

one of my main goals for designing the bella collage quilt was to enable the sewer to use 6 yards of fabric fully with minimal cutting.  i'm always looking for a way to use full yardage (i gotta thing for it) and i'll admit it...i suck at cutting.  so if i can't get a pre-cut bundle i tend to lean towards yardage and fun quilting to add some flair.  the finished size of this quilt is perfect for one adult. i'm all for that. i believe in selfish sewing these days and heck if my toes are warm and i'm all cozy and snuggled i'm happy.  when the hubs is out and i need a warm me up i go straight to bella now.  she keeps me nice and toasty.

i had the most fun with the layout of the quilting pattern for bella.  from far away she looks unquilted but if you look close - bam....tetris baby!  i wanted to highlight the outline of the blocks in the quilt front but also play up the 2 pieces on the back by splitting the pattern in half so to speak.  it enables a new quilter to jump in and make something that looks complicated but is fairly straightforward.  all straight lines (no curves). if you can sew straight lines you can make the bella collage quilt.

being a blogger i make collages a lot...and i mean a lot.  so the idea came to me when i was trying to figure out how to preserve as much of my yardage as possible to just make a collage.  i lurve it and it is going to be well loved by this momma in our little apartment.  i've been snuggling up with it non stop since i finished hand sewing the binding on and it really brightens up my sofa (which is definitely not as nice, or clean, as my friends whose is pictured above).

the bella collage quilt tutorial features:

: : 4 page full color pdf pattern complete with clear & easy to understand step by step instructions with bright photos and digitally drafted diagrams

: : instructions for a finished quilt including the tetris style quilting pattern.

: : fabric requirements, notions needed

: : a fun quilting/sewing experience :)

the bella collage quilt tutorial is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD here:

BELLA COLLAGE QUILT TUTORIAL

we had a blast photographing the bella collage quilt.  this is one of my fave places in victoria.  a beautiful lookout bluff that has 3 bright colored anorak chairs perched atop it.  when you sit there you feel as if you're floating in the air above the ocean.  it's one of my fave places to go and just breathe.  it reminds me how amazing this place is and how to not sweat the small stuff.  i can tell you that i needed it that day.  it ain't easy photographing quilts peeps. i freely admit i stressed with this one.  i wanted some shots that i could look back at and enjoy that weren't just for tutorial purposes.  something to document that moment and our little family.  i'm thankful the hubs & even the kidlets helped me out!  i adore the pics and i get relaxed and calm just looking at them.  i think one of these bad boys is going in a frame cause i need all the help i can get these days to just remember "to breathe".

so come, grab your fave quilt and a thermos of coffee and join me on the bluff...let's chat...and dream away an hour or two atop the ocean......

i hope you all enjoy this quick and easy quilt as much as i did. sometimes it feels good to whip something up that makes you feel fabulous that you adore that doesn't take months and months to make.  it was refreshing to just let my mind go and have some fun and just make what i felt like making and not worrying about how tricky or "new" it was.  i just enjoyed the whole process and i hope you will too.  so if you've been scared to try quilting now's the time to jump in.  i promise i'll hold your hand if you need it and i'll be here cheering you on!  you can do it...i know you can!

happy sewing from my home to yours!  xoxoxo  oh, and if you make one please upload some pics to our flickr group so we can all see your lovely quilts!  i can't wait!

what do you think? do you think you'll make one? what fabric line are you crushing on that you would use? i can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Book Review || Pacific Knits

1. mukluks 2. campfire

i'm so excited to review one of my fave new knitting books out called "pacific knits" by alexa ludeman and emily wessel of tin can knits.  this wonderful book captures so many lovely snippets of this gorgeous area we live and the 18 patterns in this book are awesome.  with sizes ranging from newborn to 4xl there is sure to be something for everyone.  alexa and emily were "inspired by the landscape, lifestyle and people of canada’s pacific coast".

tofino surfer

the patterns range from hats, cowls and slippers to sweaters and shawls.  there are projects that are suitable for both male and females and again so many size variations! this book is just overwhelming with goodness.  a perfect gift for that special knitter in your life or for whipping something up for someone near and dear.

1. sitka spruce 2. north shore

antler cardigan

pacific knits features patterns that alexa and emily have designed that are sorted by three different handy logos throughout the book - city, mountains and water.  i think this is my favorite part of the book.  i love seeing the inspiration behind it and think it's a very creative way to showcase all the wonderful amenities that our beautiful coast has to offer.

1. lowtide cardigan 2. urban hiker 3. torrent

pacific knits is 92 pages of knitting goodness filled with bright photographs, clear instructions and well written patterns and charts.  the book has sections on techniques and also an in depth section on sweater knitting and sizing that is very handy to have.  there are cables, lace and colorwork, plus designs for all sizes that are rustic and pretty.  having lived in british columbia my whole life, and vancouver for many, many years before relocating to vancouver island it was so fun to see images of my old stomping grounds as well as shots from some of my fave places to visit such as where i got married - tofino, bc. 

i adore the book and the ladies of pacific knits too.  i've been lucky enough to have gotten to meet alexa and also some of the models in the book (whom are their family and friends) and they are all sweet and oh, so lovely people.  so if you're looking to spoil yourself or treat another knitter in your life pick up a copy of pacific knits for the holidays.

i think pacific knits is a wonderful addition to any knitters collection.  you can purchase the print version of pacific knits, the e-collection or purchase any of the 18 patterns as an individual pattern as well here on their website or by visiting their pacific knits ravelry page.

and while you're over at tin can knits make sure you check out their new holiday collection called "great white north".  a lovely e-book filled with scrumptious knits just in time for the holidays!  sweaters, hats, cowls, and even ornaments - it's a great set of 8 patterns perfect for christmas.

thanks so much alexa and emily! you ladies rock!  you can find more tin can knits here:

website  |  blog  |  ravelry  |  facebook 

weekend wishes

Source: marcjohns.com via Shannon on Pinterest

happy thanksgiving weekend to all of my american readers! i hope you are all enjoying a lovely few days with family, friends and yummy food. oh, and let's not forget all the shopping sales to be had this weekend! i even took the day off yesterday and attempted....ahem...attempted being the operative word, to take advantage of a black friday sale but failed miserably getting my date wrong. can we say loooooossser! yep. silly momma. i'm still ill and i'm blaming it on this long lingering virus that is affecting my normally wide awake and alert brain...hahaha...yeah right! not. (is that word still cool to say - "not"? oh well, i'm saying it anyways..lol). needless to say i enjoyed a wee bit of rest this week and am keeping this week's weekend wishes short and sweet too.

i love the drawing above. maybe it's because it hits home for me and also because the artist is from my neck of the woods here in british columbia. we've got a thing for trees. i've also got a thing for greys, blacks and neutrals at the moment. could be all the rain we're having lately and the grey skies but i've got 2 upcoming knitting patterns due to come out and both are knit up in tones of grey. purdy greys. i can't wait to show you them!

i'm hoping to get working on some xmas decorations for our apartment and tree this year. i always make something new each year to add to our repertoire so i've slowly been pinning some new faves that just might end up being made. i'm trying to relish in this time before things get super duper busy around here. i've also got some xmas shopping to do. i'm about 3/4 of the way done - yay me, and hope to get my shopping done early this year so i can focus on other things in december and working towards my goal for this holiday - RELAXING. yep, that's right. our wee family has had a very long year and all we want for christmas is some down time to spend with each other. here's to making it happen.

what are you wishing for this xmas? are you doing any special shopping this weekend? what sales are you excited about? share the shopping luv ladies. i want to know about the deals to be had! are you crushing on a color at the moment? wishing you all a wonderful, turkey, shopping, coffee, napping and crafting filled weekend

Sweetheart, Delaney & Albatross Dresses - Birch Fabrics Booth Quilt Market

sweetheart dress

our holiday crafting support group post has been postponed :( this momma is still under the weather and has now lost her voice. torture i tell you. if you know me i hardly ever shut up never mind not be able to talk at all!  good thing i'm a good whisper talker...lol.  but it is hard to yell at the kids now and yes, they are taking full advantage of it. smart little whippets.  so i'm taking tomorrow off and taking it easy. this bug is taking forever to get over and every time i think i'm on the mend it hits me again with a different symptom.

sweetheart dress

i realized that i haven't had a chance to show you all the dresses i was so lucky to have on display at the birch fabrics booth at quilt market this fall.  i so love all the fabrics that cynthia's fabulous company comes out with and the fact that they are all organic is icing on the cake.  it was so fun to make 3 dresses - the sweetheart dress, the delaney dress & a new one - the albatross dress.  i love each one of these little dresses for their modern yet retro vibes and feel like they pair up great with birch fabrics prints.  i managed to grab some shots of the dresses before they went off to their new home :)

first off i squeezed my tiny 5 year old into both of these dresses which are a size 3!  yep, that's how small she is.  they were a tad tight but hey, what else do you do when your 2 year old is being stubborn and won't let you take one pic of her no matter what you do. i did get a few but they were about as good as it got. i tried everything. i even had a temper tantrum of my own (embarassing), i bribed, i begged...didn't matter.

 

 

in the end we gave up.  i decided to move on and use the eldest kid who in that particular moment felt sorry for me and agreed to be photographed so please ignore the fact that the armholes are way too small for her little body (shown below).

the albatross dress (shown above and below) is a new dress i designed with the birch fabrics prints as my inspiration.  i love these two prints together and couldn't resist doing something very flowy and feminine.  both of my girls loved it.  it's got a zippered back, faux belt and an adorable cut out with a feminine hand sewn bow detail on the neckline.  this dress will hopefully be available as a tutorial for you all in the next month or so.  i'm working on doing the dress with a lined bodice because my girls like it better and also because i'm really picky about finishing details inside and outside the dress and i think it will just add that extra nice finish to it.

what do you think? would you like to see a tutorial and a free pattern in one size for this dress?  or would you rather buy this dress as a full pattern with sizes from 2-10yrs?  i'd love to hear your thoughts :)

i also can't forget about our delaney dress.  this dress is still a fave to wear in our house.  harper is finally growing out of it...sob sob.  it's a great beginner dress and a good way to practice sewing that bias tape.  isn't that fox print adorbs?

here's some shots of the birch fabrics booth at quilt market.  lindsay (from the cottage mama) and i got to be booth buddies again with some of her clothing on display as well! so fun!!! thanks again linds for taking pics for me! she was at quilt market so it was fun to watch her post pics of our little outfits.  a big thank you again to cynthia for letting me make a few of my dreams come true!

i'm wishing you all a wonderful thanksgiving weekend and in honor of your holiday i'm having my first sale!!! woot woot!!!!! gobble gobble!  use the code "THANKSGIVING" in my etsy shop for a 10% discount off your purchase through till nov.26th!  have a fabulous day tomorrow!

have you made any of the dresses above?  would you like to see an albatross dress pattern or tutorial?  what have you been busy sewing lately?  let's chat :) i can't talk but i can still type <3

||  FABRICS USED  ||
SWEETHEART DRESS
outer dress -  bear orange from camp modern by birch fabrics
lining - bobbers from camp sur by birch fabrics
DELANEY DRESS
outer dress - sly fox from camp sur by birch fabrics
bias trim - bobbers from camp sur by birch fabrics
ALBATROSS DRESS
bodice - flight mahogany from camp modern by birch fabrics
skirt -  las flores mahogany from camp modern by birch fabrics

The Blair Bag - K.I.D. Series on Me Sew Crazy

i'm so excited to be guest posting over on my good friend jessica's blog - "me sew crazy" (and the awesome sewset) today for her K.I.D. series!  i love the whole idea of this awesome series.  we all got to get our kidlets to draw and design a project that we had to make. my oldest came up with a fun bag she called "the blair bag". 

the blair bag features a fun bow tie closure so she can practice tying her bows/knots (something she is working on at the moment) and is fully lined, interfaced and features another pocket inside and an extra wide strap for comfort.

come pop on over to me sew crazy to see more pics and read about our K.I.D.S. experience and also to check out all the other guest posts in this series! 

do you involve your wee ones in the design and sewing process?  what things have they designed that they have made? do you let them choose their fabrics and colors?  let's chat. it's monday and i'm slowly coming out of my cold coma & the coffee's on <3

weekend wishes

to break my pyrex dry spell...

Source: flickr.com via Shannon on Pinterest

to show you all my new quilt next week!!...

image luvinthemommyhood

to teach my kidlets this...

Source: room-for-emptiness.com via Shannon on Pinterest

and that we all get over the evil cold/virus that has hit our house yet again :(

Source: creativeguerrillamarketing.com via Laura on Pinterest

ok ladies.  my new quilt is done.  but now comes the hard part....photographing it.  taking images of quilts has proven to be trickier than i thought.  i am new to this and boy is it tough to capture a full quilt and also the small details.  anyone have any tips they can share with me or resources that they learned from?  i'm hoping to get it photographed this weekend so i can have the tutorial up next week for you all.

i'm also going to be busy sewing and finishing up my project for KIDS over on me sew crazy on monday! i can't wait to show you all mackenzie's project.  if you haven't checked out the other fab guests in this series you should. there is a lot of fun stuff!

we also just got back this past monday from a long weekend out of town visiting family and before we left our oldest got a bad virus/sinus thingie that had her knocked down for days and she's still under the weather.  now i have it and the wee one is fighting it off with just a bit of a stuffy nose. can i say i am sick of being sick? we've had a rough go of it since mack started kindergarten in the fall.  she's had 3 colds now!  that's a lot!  jeez louiz!  i already have a very low immune system due to my health problems so anything she brings home i catch for sure.  such is life.  i keep pumping them up with vitamins etc but it would help if they ate the food they get made...lol.  i am stuck with 2 picky eaters and a mom who dislikes cooking...haha.  not a good combo. thankfully the hubs keeps us all alive..haha.

anyhoo this weekend is going to be busy but i'm hoping to carve out some time to take care of myself and get some extra rest.  for sure some reading and knitting is on the agenda as well.  can't have a weekend without knitting :P

what are your plans?  do you have any quilt photography tips?  what have you been working on this week?  fill me in! it's friday! wishing you all a cold free, sunshiney fall day, vintage finds, cozy blankets & snuggle filled kinda weekend. 

p.s. don't forget to enter to win a fab gift certificate to honeybegood!  you can never have enough fabric peeps!

Shoplocket Review & a $100 Michaels Gift Card Giveaway!!

ohhhhh do i have something fun to show you today.  i know there are a ton of you ladies out there who have been pondering selling their patterns, handmade lovelies and more online but have hesitated due to all the work that is involved with setting up an etsy shop etc.  it takes a lot of work and not all of us have time for it.  but guess what?  worry no more m'dears!  check out the new site shoplocket!!!  it takes all guesswork out of selling online and what makes it so unique is that you create your listings FOR FREE and it gives you a sleek, modern listing that you simply embed on your blog, facebook page etc that you can share all over social media to sell whatever it is you want to sell!! and before you ask...it's so easy.  trust me...it took me less than 5 minutes to set up my listing and the fact that i can set it up to sell directly on my blog and have the pdf pattern go instantly to my customer makes me a very happy designer.

i thought i would show you all a bit about shoplocket and what it has to offer...you know....the inside scoop.  i can't wait to see how many of you are going to go "aha, this is exactly what i've been waiting for" and get those awesome patterns up for sale.  have a cute dress you want to sell - boom...list it on shoplocket and you're done.  flash that lovely listing anywhere you please.

want to know more about shoplocket?  there's even a fun video you can watch plus you can enter to win a $100 gift card to michael's! say what? yep, you heard me...lol.  $100 buckaroos people.  click here to get the deets on our review blog & enter to win.

you can find all things shoplocket here:

website  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  blog

Find my post disclosure here.

Christmas Tree Skirt Roundup - Holiday Crafting Support Group

my poor christmas tree has been ahem....naked shall we say for the last 5 christmases.  i've been shamefully using an old white receiving blanket draped around the bottom of the tree.  it's a sad boring excuse of a tree skirt and i admit i hate putting it there every year.  so this year i've decided to "try" to get one made.  no pressure...just adding it to my would love to have done this holiday season list.

after reading a comment on last week's holiday crafting support group post requesting a christmas tree skirt roundup i thought "aha...now that's exactly what i need to roundup".  so here you go!  i got out my lasso and rounded up what i think are some spiffy and purdy christmas tree skirts.  you've got quilted, pieced, felt, no sewing, knitted and crocheted tree skirts.  have fun & most of all i hope you get inspired!  also, if you  know of an awesome tutorial of your own or one you love please leave a link to it in the comments below and i'll add it to the "your faves" section of this post! alrighty...go pour yourself a nice big glass of (spiked) egg nog and let's get crafty!

 ||  SEWING TUTORIALS  ||

1. vintage embroidered tree skirt 2. sewing 101 tree skirt on design sponge

1. rockin' retro christmas tree skirt 2. spiderweb christmas tree skirt 3. christmas tree skirt in july

no sew ruffled christmas tree skirt

1. striped tree skirt 2. ruffled tree skirt 3. ruffled tree skirt 4. scalloped felt tree skirt

simply quilted patchwork tree skirt from sew 4 home

1. cloud9 christmas tree skirt 2. festive christmas tree skirt 3. buddy the elf tree skirt 4. fur trimmed tree skirt 5. diy ruched tree skirt

diy felt flower tree skirt

1. quilted tree skirt 2. christmas tree skirt

christmas tree skirt tutorial from simple simon & co

1. poinsetta tree skirt tutorial 2. heirloom wool tree skirt

||  KNITTING & CROCHET TUTORIALS  ||

granny tree skirt

1. silent night tree skirt 2. snowball tree skirt

retro ripples skirt

hemlock ring blanket

||  MORE LINKS & YOUR FAVES  ||

- stars all around the tree skirt pattern from simplicity
- hexagon tree skirt tutorial by jaceycraft
- esch house quilts north pole tree skirt tutorial
- bird in hand quilts christmas tree skirt
- fruitcake under my tree tutorial 
- christmas tree skirt from pauls block party
- silent night tree skirt
- round ripple tree skirt
- star tree skirt
- granny tree skirt
- diy no sew rufffle christmas tree skirt tutorial
- christmas tree skirt

you can find all the holiday crafting support group posts here.

link up, join in, comment below, add pics to our flickr group and take part in our conversations on ravelry too! we want to see what you're making, planning on making and what you've got planned for the holiday season.  if you've posted about holiday crafting add your link in the comments below as well.  it's way more fun if you all join in (if enough people comment i may just start a wee linky party for us to use). i loved seeing all of your holiday gift lists last week! i added about another gazillion projects to my faves :)

what's your favorite christmas tree skirt?  knit, crocheted, sewn or crafted?  do you have a fave pattern?  have you made your own christmas tree skirt before?  fill us in!  show off your handiwork!  let us know how your gift making & decorating has been going :)