Time to Myself

While I may not be alone, it's time to do what momma wants. I'm watching one of my all time favorite movies, eating a nice snack, drinking some cider, and working on a embroidery project just for the fun of it! My kiddos are down for the night and my husband ended up falling asleep too. The night is young so I'm going to enjoy this minute by minute.

I don't know why it took me so long to get into embroidery. I've always preferred sewing by hand vs. machine. Controlling the color in each stitch by is so similar to painting for me. Each stitch provides a particular feel and texture just as a brush stroke would. Embroidery and painting seem to go hand in hand with me, while I'm working on one I have a fun idea for the other. I often get torn on what to sit down and work on.

Though I love all kinds of crafting, this week I've been into sitting down, enjoying the cool weather, and hand stitching something from scratch. My current project is a fun small snowflake. One of my favorite things on this earth is snow! I can't get over how unique they all are and their intricacy. I thought it would be a perfect piece to just make up as I go and just have fun with it. This piece is inspired by a photographed snowflake with all kind of colors reflecting off of it. I love where I'm at so far and I can't wait to show you how it turns out.

Cheers to time for myself and a chance to chill out and enjoy the little things!

- Hannah

Red Flannel Festival

We just got done with an eventful weekend! Saturday we set up a booth at the Red Flannel Festival in Cedar Springs, Michigan. Boy, when they say red flannel, they mean it! Everyone was wearing red or flannel. We came prepared with multiple shirts on hand to wear and decorate with. 

This was our first experience indoors and was a nice change of pace. I'll be honest, I didn't miss packing and unpacking the bricks to prepare for some wind. We got a taste for a new kind of set up and were able to show off some new items that we've made! Rachel's gotten some made skills from her crocheting all the time. She's made some adorable infant winter hats, and super stylish cowls that I wanna snag and keep for myself! I've been working on more seasonal items like Christmas themed envelopes, cards and ornaments. 

First indoor display!

New bows and envelopes made from teen romance comic books. Saucy!

Infant sized winter hats. Our kids sport them and love to chew on the tassels.

Rachel's favorite color block scarf. Great color combinations!

Sweet drawings done by Rachel in vintage frames imported from Italy!

I crocheted this out of old telephone wire. I couldn't crochet anything for at least two weeks afterward! Thick stuff, but very cool. This type of wire is pretty hard to find for me. I'd love to get my hands on some more!

I love the tight stitching in this vibrant cowl!

Small crochet snowflakes. All uniquely made from a similar base pattern, but all different in their own way. I dip some of them in paint too!

Adorable bow barrettes for your hair!

Envelopes made from vintage "The LIFE Book of Christmas" books. 

Another cool thing we've decided to try out are some gift bundles of our handmade goods! Perfect for gift giving. We have a small bundle that will include items like a recycled crochet bowl, card with a original watercolor drawing (not a print), handmade themed envelope, recycled paper gift bow, and a hand crocheted snowflake ornament! Our larger bowls may include some crochet goods, or paper bead ornaments. We hope to have a variety of sizes up on Etsy within the week, and each bundle will vary slightly in colors and contents. Of course it's all in the process right now, but if you have an idea of a bundle you'd like from our shop make sure to let us know and we will hook you up!

- Hannah

New Family Addition

Welcome to the earth precious Tanner True Streasick!

Today I got to meet my first ever niece! These last nine months couldn’t have come sooner. I am sure my sister, Tess, agrees too! We have been so excited to meet this new addition to the family ever since seeing the positive sign on the pregnancy test. We wondered what type of personality she would have. Who's traits would she pick up from the family, heck we didn't even know the gender until today! Now she has finally made her debut. A swift one too! My sister was a complete powerhouse through her pregnancy and the birthing of her daughter was no exception.  From what I’ve heard everything went perfectly as far as the birthing experience and everyone's health. I'm so happy for them!

I admire Tess' bravery and passion that has grown in her since knowing she would become a mother.  She and her husband have done a great job teaching and preparing themselves to the best of their ability for this new journey in their lives. I’m glad that my family can live next door to such wonderful people. It seems too good to be true that I have my sister next door raising her daughter and we still get to hangout together nearly every day. What a great life I live!

- Hannah

Fall Is Here!

What a perfect mug for my tea in the morning! My sister found it for me. She's so awesome!

There are some wonderful fall happenings at in our home these days. My family loves this cooler weather. We have even been able to fire up our wood stove on some of the colder nights. I love the smells and snuggles that come along with fall.

Since the beginning of the season we’ve gotten to try some new fall flavors at our local ice cream shop, Joe’s Ice Cream Supreme.  I’m in love with their apple crisp flavor and I’m looking forward to having pumpkin spice next.

My sister and I got some hot chocolate and white chocolate mocha drinks at Joe's. We fell in love with the mustache stickers that came on the lids. I wanna go back and collect more!

Another tradition we have begun with the kiddos has been going to a pumpkin patch and picking our own pumpkins.  We went to Knollbrooke Farm this year and last. We really enjoy the atmosphere of the place. Plus it is super close.  Our favorite activities are the slingshots for tiny pumpkins, the large tricycle racetrack, and the corn maze.  Their pumpkin patch has great varieties to choose from. For some reason I always end up falling in love with the tall ones. I didn’t realize how large the pumpkin I picked was until I was carrying it to the wagon. The scale couldn’t even weigh it for us!

Our pretty picks from the pumpkin patch. One for each of us!

Fall also means a library books sale! I love to hit up this place and get some older books for a couple cents a piece. Last year old picked up some vintage children’s books. I love to have some easy read books right before bed like the Hardy Boys! I enjoy the different story telling style or some of the books back then. The plots are not too much to think about and easy enough to follow without getting stressed out before bed. Call me silly, but I’m always on the look out for more of them!

I found this small book at the book sale from 1958. It's called "A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You". The illustrations are so crisp and beautiful. 

Rachel and I are learning as we go with this business stuff, but it’s been a blast! She’s on fire with her crochet pieces! I’ll be having a booth up at a Fall Festival in North Webster full of all our stuff with a couple new seasonal items. It’s a very new festival, but it sounds like there is going to be a lot to do with the family. Come say hi if you’re around!

- Hannah

Baby Book for Cypress. Love Laura.

Yesterday, one of my greatest friends ever, Laura, came over and surprised me with a gift for Cypress.  It's a photo album that Laura put together with the maternity photos and newborn photos that she took of our family.  The photo book is beautiful.  She did such an amazing job!

Laura chose the perfect color for the cover!

She added beautiful poetry throughout the whole book.  Laura didn't even know this, but Joan Miro happens to be one of my favorite artists!

She did an amazing job designing the layout and placing the photos.

The photo of Cypress on the top left corner cracks me up!!!

I can't stop looking at this photo book!  It reminds me how much I loved being pregnant, what life was like before our Lovey came into the world, the euphoric feeling I had the first couple weeks after Cypress was born, and how often newborn babies sleep!  

To admire more of her wedding, engagement, family, newborn, maternity, senior, AND everyday life photography, check out her growing photography biz at her lovely website, and "like" Laura Leigh Photography on Facebook.  

-Rachel

Skaboot'ns Collection

While pregnant with my first child I would kind of geek out and make these weird noises when I was referring to something really small and cute like a pair of shoes meant for a newborn baby. Over time I developed a word that I used regularly when mentioning something that was incredibly small - Skaboot'ns. I don't know why. I guess it's just one of those weird things about my personality that I'm not going to try and understand. Now I use this word for anything miniature. I get such a high when I see a Skaboot'ns that I end up speaking like a complete goof ball and it doesn't end until the object is out of sight.

Lucky for my family, the fun will never end! I have officially started my Skaboot'ns collection! A couple months ago I visited Rachel's home for the first time since moving back to Michigan and I immediately fell in love with the variety of collections they have! Cameras, A&W mugs, salt & pepper shakers, vintage toys, and plenty more! When I came home I begged my husband if I could start a collection of my own. After visiting a antique mall I ran into miniature Coke bottles and I made my dorky Skaboot'ns noises and I knew. I didn't end up getting the Coke bottles, but shortly after that day my husband got me a little Kangaroo from the zoo. After all the excitement from getting the first item of my collection I looked through my old treasures as a kid to see if I had anything else to add. I don't have much now, but it's a start!

My mom got a ton of paint samples from Lowes for 25 cents each!
 I picked my favorites and painted up a little display I found for my collection.

Starting from the top left going right is a small heart candle I have had as long as I can remember, the kangaroo with a baby my husband got for me (a Skaboot'ns with a Skaboot'ns!!), a little army man from my son's first arcade experience, very small deer I've seen in terrariums before that I've gathered from here and there, a glass owl my sister and I received from our brother when we were young, a 101 Dalmatian's puppy I used to pretend it was my Barbie's puppy as a child, and a case of the "Smallest Falsies in the World" which is really a miniature set of false teeth. I'm not sure where I got the falsies from, but they make me smile and I'm glad I can add them to my collection.

It may not be an expensive collection and my children will probably think I'm crazy as they get older, but it does make me smile and I'll enjoy adding to it little by little as time goes on.

I'm not the only one who gets a kick out of seeing super small things! Check out some of these items from some Etsy shops. I wouldn't mind having a couple of these guys to add to my collection!

Actual pocket knife. 

I love this simple milk jug.

baby sock monkey

Milk Loves Cookie ceramic miniatures.

Miniature Wizard of Oz book!

- Hannah

Brainstorming and Visualizing

I found these fun shapes in the corner of the antique shop a few weeks ago. I love a good deal on a fun hands on activity. My oldest son, my husband and I were all playing with them last night creating different designs from our own imaginations. I have a feeling I'll be playing with these often.

The colors on these pieces are worn out with a satin shine to them. I think I'll be coming back to these whenever I've hit a block creatively or just want to make something pretty. Eventually I'd like to make something permanent from these shapes. Jewelry? Ornaments? Wall Art? Any ideas? Who knows what we will come up with. I'll make sure to share whatever we do come up with. 

I've had a blast reading Grow Your Handmade Business by Kari Chapin. Today I did a exercise she has included in her book to visualize what your perfect workday would look like. With her instructions to dig deep into the details of the actual day I couldn't help but get so inspired by my own dreams and goals. I think this visualization is a good practice for anyone to do. Sometimes we need to just sit down and really think about what we are doing with our lives and where we want to be in the future. I'm not saying I'm miserable where I am now, but that it's healthy to have goals to motivate myself and our business to grow. 

My husband and I like to visualize our future (both near and far) often and our ideas are bursting at the seams. It always leads to great brainstorming and I get so inspired for a new project right then. Keep an eye out for new stuff we've been working on in our mumre etsy shop. We will be switching up our inventory over the next couple weeks with more seasonal items!

-Hannah