LTTSA: Play Town

I'm running behind.

Shocker.

You know, for a gal who enjoys deadlines, I've been missing a lot lately.

But I'm almost down stitching up a couple of cute little houses for a soft, squishable play town for this month's project over at the a little gray LTTSA.

Now that I've made a couple at the suggested size, I want to do some miniature versions.

I think if I made them minis and stuck some small strips of velco on the bottom of each piece, and paired it with a quilted play mat, it would make a sweet little gift. Maybe make the mat roll-up-able and it would tote will for travel and/or car trips... Hmmm...I do have quite a few friends with IttyBitties turning one this year... It's a thought at any rate.

The devil of these was in the details.

And by devil, I mean my favorite part.

The kids had fun helping me to sketch out what houses they wanted me to make...and even though I've only got two nearly-finished, they have a request of buildings nearly a mile long.

It's okay though...I've been hand stitching on the details in the evenings while we watch movies or The Munchkins read their homework chapter books aloud to each other. I'm always surprised at how enjoyable hand stitching can be when I get over the whole but-I-could-be-done-now-if-I-machine-stitched-it mentality. Slow and steady wins the race. Sometimes.

And also? There's this little gem.
It's so lovely. I had to share

Kate Spade "Henrietta Street" Fashion Film from Kinga Burza on Vimeo.

It's just a short little ad film for Kate Spade NY, created to document their Pop Store on Henrietta Street in London.I want to crawl inside this video and stay for a while...

and so it goes.

there are days when i feel like i have spent a lifetime loving people who leave...

and so it goes.

Pleated Boxes Pillow Sew Along

Well how adorable is this?!

The peeps over at Craft Buds are having a sew-along in March. 

I'm pretty stoked! What a great little pillow to freshen things up for Spring!

Evidence of Faith.

We had The Monkey baptized Sunday.

Yes, finally.

 

Catholic guilt is a mother.

It’s mystifying to me how something like that kept getting pushed to the backburner. All I can really attest to is that I was in no shape to deal with any more life-altering decisions at t he time in which she should have been baptized four years ago, and that by the time she turned four, I was so embarrassed to even admit to anyone that we hadn’t had her baptized yet, that I kept finding convenient excuses not to do so…

 

Regardless, it was beautiful.

I find such comfort in my faith. In leaving my worries in the oh-so-capable hands of someone greater than myself. I find comfort in the community of church. In the presence of strangers in faith. In The Catholic Family.

 

There’s a portion of the baptismal ceremony (not the rites themselves, but more the introduction of the new member to the church) that happens at Holy Cross that I’ve not been witness to in any other church, and I love it. Father offers an introduction at the beginning of mass, asking each of the child’s parents and then godparents to make the sign of the cross on the child’s head. He then invites any other member of the parish who would care to do so, to come forward and also make the sign of the cross on the child’s head.

 

In addition to Sophie’s immediate and extended family in attendance all coming forward, there were a slew of other parishioners that lined the aisle to come pay small homage to The Monkey’s initiation. Each sweet, creased, careworn face bent down to her level, signed the cross upon her hairline and murmured something to her… They called her beautiful and wonderful. They wished her luck and bestowed blessings upon her.

 

And let’s recall, for a moment, that for the first year or so of The Monkey’s life she wouldn’t let anyone so much as touch her. But I’ve never seen a more beautific smile on that kid’s face than when perfect strangers came up to mark her with the sign of our faith and whisper welcome into her ear. It brought tears to my eyes to see how those people loved her without even knowing her. That, in my mind? Is the definition of church. And faith. And everyone good and right about my faith. Acceptance and love, right there, plain as day, for everyone to see.

And afterwards? We had donuts.

The Monkey was in hog heaven. And somehow we fit 24+ people into my tiny little apartment. I'm still not even sure how that happened. But The Munchkins were surrounded by their family. By those they hold most dear.

And The Monkey was showered with gifts on her big day.
I had NO IDEA there existed so many different Catholic-related coloring books.

It was a day to be surrounded by those you love. It was perfect.

The Piano Guys

Wow.

Seriously.

These are all I've been listening to all afternoon.

The Piano Guys.

There's just something about the strings that I've always loved.

I'm guessing it's all wrapped up in memories of my dad playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons all through my childhood. Did you know, when I went off to college I lugged with me my radio/tapedeck/alarmclock and a tape (yes. a tape. yeesh) of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and used to fall asleep to it between settings 1 & 2 so it wouldn't bother the roomie? Truth. Wrap a little classical piano training into my background and I think you can see why I'm smitten with EVERY. SINGLE. VIDEO so far.

Go. Quick. Listen. Thank me later...

Handmade Valentines

Sometimes, after all The Munchkins are abed, I handstitch. You know. Without the machine (gasp!!!)

This little guy...and a few others which are winging their way across this grand ol' US via your friendly, neighborhood postal service...were kind of a kick to make.

 Check out that wonky, mis-folded, handstitched little envelope. I've got skills, yo.

Also? I think I'm funny. I made up the card/reverse applique/saying alllll on my own.
It made the kids groan, so I know it's good.
I based it loosely on the Sew Mama Sew tutorial that I've had bookmarked for forever and ever.

Happy Hearts and Chocolates Day, gang!