simpletruths

Handmade Prettiness

via decor8blog.com

I'm not sure if it's because I am, for the first time, the out-numbered gender in my own home, but since having little Mr. I've become more comfortable with my 'girlness.'

True, it may also be that I'm wearing more skirts and dresses because my hips still haven' slimmed down quite enough to fit back into all of my prepregnancy pants; that's another post.

Maybe it's that we've bought a house, and I want to us to be surrounded by things that are indicative of who we are - and not succumb to the ikea nesting instinct.  

Whatever the reason, it's also almost humorously different from Jr. High and High School when I was staunchly against anything seeming "girly." A neighbor once told me the fuchsia shirt I was wearing was a nice color on me. I don't think I ever wore that shirt again. I didn't want to look good in pink. ick. I wore boots, heavy stomping boots, all the time, my prom date said I looked funny with lipstick on.

But here I am, mommy, with my garden, and my crochet, and my high heels - but were it not for my earlier rebellion would I do 30 non-girl push-ups each morning (oh yea! I'm up to thirty in a row)? Would I prefer mowing the lawn to washing dishes...who knows.

ANYWAY - all of that to say
  The Homeade Home by Sania Pell is full of so much handmade prettiness.

That is all.

Big Red Bobbi Bear

via www.purlbee.com

OK - I already know what I want to knit my little guy for Christmas.

covet

 

fox run retro kitchen timer
 

I know right - how adorable is this kitchen timer?  And it's a fridge magnet so it won't get lost in the depths of the misc kitchen utencils drawer. 

Officially adding it to my birthday wish list. 

 

Buy Handmade

and not jut for the holidays.

Last year Poppytalk asked artists, designers and shop owners to give them reasons why people should buy handmade whenever possible.  Their responses became the 101 reasons to buy handmade.

You can take a look at all of the responses, but here are my favorites:

Buying from craftspeople is a conscious decision. people need to be more conscious of spending of where their hard-earned money is going, changing hands etc. this contributes to the bigger picture.

Love. You give gifts with love. When you buy handmade you can be sure that your gift is also made with love. You can think of love as a fairy dust that has been sprinkled over your gift throughout the making and gift giving process. And that fairy dust will make your loved one feel so much better than formaldehyde residue.

 

I love knowing I'm supporting someone's passion.

 

 

It harkens back to the days of old when craftsmanship, creativity and quality were paramount - You are buying items not mass-produced and impersonal but are very personal not only to the buyer, but to the maker.

 

You don't have to say that you bought it at Ikea.

 

Because normally, buying handmade does not require fighting for a parking space, having your ears pierced by blaring holiday music, walking around in a daze under flourescent lights, fighting to push a shopping cart with one bad wheel, or having a cashier you don't know ask for your phone number and zip code.

 

 

ITS THE BEST WAY TO AVOID SHOPPING MALLS!

 

Sincerity. People don’t hand craft things just to make money. They’re not just the product of a slick R&D department for profit. They make things that involve years of learned skills, passion, enthusiasm, commitment and sincerity.

 

Buying handmade shows our children that not everything in this world needs to be mass produced. It teaches them to love and appreciate the unique and the imperfect. And it inspires them to do their own creating as well.

 

It's just simply delightful.

Weekend FOs in Pictures

A late birthday present:

 

Another birthday present:

 

packaged with a pretty blue flower:

A "just because" present for my sister:  

But it looks so nice in my ear. I might have to make another pair

AND Cherry Clafouti. I combined a couple different recipes but the inspiration came from my friend over at Ransacked Goods

Happy Mother's Day!

A really good friend of mine is due with her first baby (a little girl) this summer and I just couldn't resist making a little something.

 

And then a little something turned into three little somethings.

 

I can't wait until she gets here.  I already have visions of tiny crocheted dressed dancing in my head. Happy Mother's Day to all of my new mom's and mothers-to-be!

Baby girl crochet

I finally finished a few things I've been working quite diligently on. Among the completed creations are three gifts for a good friend's baby shower coming up next month. 

 I don't want to spoil the surprise.

BUT, I'm so excited that they're done that I wanted to post something. so, here's a little peek.

 

Pictures of some other finished projects to come soon.

Homemade yumminess

I ran into a friend of mine on my/our way to work this morning (we work in the same building). 

Now, when I say I ran into her, I really mean that I breezed past here in my commute - must get to Starbucks- stupor; I typically work from home on Fridays so I was a bit out of sorts. Anyway, Alex (the a mentioned friend), pulls out this adorable jar of goodness from what must be a magical purse and said that is was for me:

That's right, homemade lemon-ginger marmalade, for me.  On a day that I don't even usually come to work. Right before day-two of meetings. From someone who probably doesn't know that lemon and ginger are two of my favorite things.

Thank you Alex, for my little jar of delicious, lemony sunshine.