snowy day


a little holiday preparation




please excuse the pics!
i had to take them from the inside, since the screens are so dark on the outside!
i decided to put more effort into celebrating the holidays this year.
it took a few days, but i think the decorations came out pretty well.

currently...


we're homeschooling this year and having a blast!
the rules for homeschooling are plain and simple while stationed overseas - there are none!
we use a hodgepodge of curriculum that meets Juls's needs and makes learning fun - drops in the bucket, singapore math, and tons of stuff from teacherspayteachers.


Erbendorf























it took a ridiculously long time, but we made it!

some tidbits -

we flew with Lufthansa on the 830 airbus to be exact - a double decker which was interesting in itself.
the stewardess (serious awesomeness) made the bottles for me, didn't give me any problems with the infant seat, made sure we were well fed and were overall friendly and professional - yeah Lufthansa!
had two fellow passengers, both dads who were willing to listen to and entertain my five year old who managed to sleep all of one hour of the 15 we traveled. the other made it possible for me to exit without complaint each time a diaper had to be changed and made no comment despite the constant babble and at times crying of a one year old who also managed to sleep a total of one hour on the place out of 15 total. BUT the biggest and best news was that no one threw up! and that in a nutshell was all I really cared about! Thank goodness for dramamine!

i should add a thank you to my parents who put up with us the last two months, before we left! i can't imagine being retirement age and dealing with a 1, 5 and 14 year old (horrible stages, right?!) on a daily basis -  and to the hubby who stayed calm as my fourteen year old and I got off the plane sleep deprived and starving, ( did I mention that the plan left at 4 in the afternoon and we landed at 2 in the morning, no sleep?!) we were not the most pleasant or patient people to deal with.

anyways, the jet lag left us just in time for Labor Day weekend. mind you just a few days prior, we slept to one in the afternoon, each time thinking it was seven or eight in the morning! we still have one or two boxes left to unpack. i call them the miscellaneous boxes, but that's just a nice way to say junk i should have gotten rid of before we moved.

we've ventured out to the main base and downtown quire a bit. we plan on sight seeing around the mid month, everything should be in order then! can't wait to show the kids castles and other attractions Germany has to offer!

there's a ton more to share, but i'm hungry and a bit tired and that's not a good combo when you are trying to organize your thoughts!

til then, best wishes!


sneak peek

































here are my new stitchable gift tags.  i will add them to the shop soon!

hold the paper



haven't quite left yet and therefore, things are in limbo. 
but, i'm still preparing for the upcoming holiday season.
i love a pretty package. but not everything needs to be wrapped in paper.
and i don't like to be wasteful. so i
made some laser cut tags that you can use with ribbon to wrap gifts.
add some miniature d-rings and voila!
gift and reuse. gift and reuse.

feature


























thrilled to be featured on weddingchicks.com today!
had a blast making this tag. template help from sundai (thanks a bunch)
curious? feeling crafty? check out the tutorial here!

feature



























i can't believe it!
my birth announcement featured on UK CrossStitcher Magazine!
under the headline - best new baby craft projects!
beside myself!

harvest
























they're ready!
face cringing. he yells. my cheeks are crying!
first batch of blackberries. growing wild in the front yard.
not quite ready, but oh so tempting when you're four.
nature's lesson in patience.

rustic wedding tag




























some other uses for the little stitched buttons i made!

i used a bandsaw to cut the branch, a drill press to drill the holes, a little embroidery floss and stamp set from walmart!

a little alpha fun



























i have no idea what i will use each for. i'm thinking pendants or gift tags.

messes



i don't do dirty.
clean and organized is how i like it.
but crafting messes are fun! especially when you have a little help making them!