Summer Dreaming...Just Shipped

I had so much fun finishing up this little number that I had started last spring.

 

 

I love that we decided to add this butterfly pocket.
I used {this} for my embroidery pattern.
And {this} for the pocket pattern.

 

 

And I particularly love how I lined up the fabric perfectly in the back.
This was also my first time making my own thread button loop.
{Here} is a good video on that.

 

Next up will be to show you some sweet Dollies I'm making for a special order
and some rainbow skirts that will be ready to ship.
I'm thinking of two sets one in size 4 and one in size 6.

Guess what?

 

The shop is open!

 

 

You will find some Raggedy Ann pieces and of course TaDollies.

 

Find me {here}.

 

 

Very Merry Christmas {with Frosted Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs}

I am really loving how our Christmas card turned out this year. 
This was the best verticle photo (that I never showed you) 
from those chilly 15 minutes the other day. 

This morning I delivered 3 dozen homemade, frosted sugar cookies just like these, to our school. I love that we can still bring in homemade treats. This is part of our PTA's "12 Days of Christmas Cookies" for our teachers and staff. We get to fill up their break rooms with homemade treats to brighten their day.

I've definitely found something that I love to do. I can't wait to roll out the rest of the dough I've made, with my kiddos and let them go to town decorating too.

On some of the cookies there is actually more icing than there is cookie.

That's ok, right?

I should have brought gallons of milk too!

In case you were interested in the recipes I use...
Cookie: {This} is the only one that keeps it's shape for me. I cool the dough for 2-3 hours and then let the tray of cut-outs sit in the freezer 5 minutes before baking.
Royal Icing: {This} is my favorite tasty recipe. I only add almond extract, but lots of it. I've also found that the more heavily colored your frosting is, the longer it takes to full dry (can be 2 days!). Look at {this post} or {this one} for the flooding technique.

 

Star of wonder...

...guide us to thy perfect light.

*That's the chalkboard over our couch in the living room.
I was inspired by this gorgeous print {here}. Love that she sells them!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

We got a foot of the perfect, wet, snowman making snow on Sunday.

 

Our niece and nephew enjoyed the day with us too.
While Aidan napped I took Bella out to join the big kids in all the fun.
She had been standing at the window looking longingly at them.
It was time to go outside.

 

She enjoyed her first time sledding with her cousins and wasn't happy about going back inside 30 minutes later.

 

Allison loved playing "big sister" to her cousin.

 

Then she went down a couple of times by herself.

 

This big boy sled the day away not stopping even when the others took a break.
He kept going and going and going and going...

And this one made her own mini snowman that was super cute too.

 

David helped them make a snow fort with our block makers.

 

But Bella thought there should be a little chair right here.

 

"Oh! Did I do that?"

 

"Uncle David, can you fix that?"

"I'll supervise."
 

More sledding shinanagans.

A crash landing.
 

 

Falling off half-way down the hill.

I love how perfect our yard is for this age. The hills are just the right size. 
And we are all happy to see a white Christmas this year.