...and the rest of our advent calendar

I've been a bit busy since December 4th.  As it turns out making an advent pocket every night and home schooling the kids proved to be all I could handle, you know along with all the other usual craziness.  Here are some of my favorite advent pockets.  The last two were made by the girls.

December 3rd and 4th advent calendar

In which we read a 'new' old Christmas book and made paper chains

Figuring the eight scarf

Oh boy, oh boy! I got a quick hour to myself yesterday.  The girls were stringing christmas lights with their grandmother and the baby was sleeping.  I decided to use the two gorgeous Japaneese print fabrics I got in Colorado to make Anna Maria Horner's Figuring the 8 scarf.  Incidentally the fabrics were both nani IRO double gauze fabrics, one eggplant the other melody sketch both heavenly to the touch.  Buying these was a bit of a splurge for me.  My justification being that I am always making things for other folks and never for myself.  It was worth it though, I have yet to take the scarf off.  (Okay, thats not entirely true I didn't sleep in it.) I keep rubbing it on my face, I just can't help it.  I did find the length to be a bit much though.  I think I'd make it about 10 inches shorter next time.

A whole pile of potential

While in Colorado I stocked up at one of my favorite fabric stores, Mama Said Sew.  I now have this whole pile of potential waiting for me.  There is something so very exciting about all these colors, all these projects yet to be made, blank project canvases to be created so to speak.  And I do have a project for each and everyone of those pieces of fabric.  Most of them are for the kids but I'll admit to letting one slip in there for me too.  I'll be posting them as we make our way through the month of December.

December 2nd

Today we'll be writing letters to Santa.

Advent Calendar

My crafty mama friends in Colorado inspired me to make a new advent calendar this year.  We've had a kind of junky one for years so I've just been waiting for the right kind of inspiration.  Each December I put a paper note in each day up to Christmas.  They say things like 'make window stars', 'read a Christmas book together' or deliver homemade treats to neighbors'.   This year I'll add a felt creation each day with an activity for our family to do together or for others.  Today we'll head to the Winter Faire.  Happy December to you!

The annual lantern walk

We went back to colorado for a couple weeks.  The trip was quite looked forward to throughout the fall.  And by the time we actually got to the trip it was a very needed reunion with friends.  The whole thing was an adventure as usual.  There was snowy travel though the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies (but no snow chains needed).   There was late night mama crafting with wine, chocolate and popcorn. Tea parties with friends and lots and lots of joyful playing (both mama friends and kiddos). 

One of the highlights for me was being there for the annual lantern walk.  We spent a week making lanterns and a special hour carrying our lanterns through the dark night.  What a joy to be with our friends singing and enjoying the light.

Our Lantern Recipe:
Materials:
scissors 
balloons
medium to large paint brush
tissue paper (I prefer white or warm colors.  The cool colors can get too dark and thick and the light doesn't shine through as well)
Elmers glue or homemade paste (see recipe below)
wire
hole punch
collected plant matter (leaves etc)
a stick
bees wax tea light
lighter or long matches
clothes pin and string for hanging to dry

Blow up a balloon and mix glue with a little water or use homemade paste. Rip the tissue into strips.  Paint the balloon and lay strips making sure to overlap.  Its pretty much just like making a paper mache' project if you've ever done that.  Make sure to do a layer or two and then hang it to let it dry for a day or so.  Repeat a couple times adding leaves or plant matter under the last layer if you feel so inclined.  Three or four layers should be enough.  Anymore than that might make it too thick and your light won't be very bright.  After the last drying punch holes an inch or two down from the top.  Depending on how thin your lantern is you may need to reinforce the holes on the inside with tape.  Attach wire and stick.  Put a candle in your lantern and ta-da!  You have a beautiful lantern.   

Paper mache' recipe
1/2 C all purpose flour
2 C cold water
2 C Boiling water
3 TBS sugar

Mix flour and cold water. Add to two cups boiling water and bring to boil again.  Remove from heat.  Stir in sugar.  It will thicken as it cools.  Should last a week or two if refrigerated.