christmas and the machine....

we survived christmas.

ruby was showered with plastic high heels (which are hilarious to see her in), yo gabba gabba goodness, and a new found toy story obsession... while harvey was happy to have anything that made sound near his face... trust me christmas is better with kids :)

we ate a lot, visited family, and got that long awaited for white christmas we'd been wanting. 

my husband and i etsy'ed each other up with super nice gifts... he got a wonderful hoodie from blackbird tees (awesome awesome awesome giant squid) http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackbirdtees

and he got me these lovelies from oliviaclare (http://www.etsy.com/shop/OliviaClare) that have ruby and harvey's birthstones in them (sweetest of the sweet)

and now we are recuperating from it all... trying to find room in our tiny house (which never seemed tiny until we had two kids and two kids things in it) for all of it.

the holidays also took a huge toll on my inventory.. which is wonderful... but means i need to get my butt in gear and sit at my machine for a good month straight. my stock has dwindled and needs some refreshing so i have been making myself busy at that. new mens hats, a sassy little purse that i had been wanting to make for awhile...

and several custom orders that are in varying stages of completion. i am pretty excited about one in particular, a little girls coat themed after thoreau's 'walden'... a wonderful customer with a fabulous idea.. can't wait to finish it up.... photos will be coming next week. and in other exciting shop news.. i am only 5 sales away from hitting 100.. woohoo. i have decided that whomever is my 100th customer they will be showered with many a thank you gift.

ah.. i had better get to gettin. the little ones are napping and this is precious time in my house.
happy week and new year!

making, pushing, and wishing....

that time of year is upon us again.. lots of love and fun and all that good stuff. i am looking forward to seeing the little lady rip into her gifts (because last year she was too small) and well, harvey can keep trying to roll over while it's all going on :)

i have a small list of things i still have to make by friday... and if i dont stop procrastinating there will be some gift-less people in my family.....so i need to light a fire under that....

in etsy news...
i am taking a little break.. and by little i mean til sunday.. on sewing for the shop. but i am really looking forward to what i will be new starting next week. there is this stack of old weavings i did in college.. yep, weaved on that big ol' loom of yesteryear...that i am finally going to let myself cut into for bags. i've been hesitant for so long, because i am bad about hanging onto things... but it is time and i am looking forward to what they will become.

i have also been trying to encourage my husband to get his own etsy shop up and running.. because he is a pretty darn talented fellow... with some crazy good prints and paintings. as you can see....

i will be sure to let all know if he gives in to the etsy push.

anyhoo.. i wish everyone a happy holiday... hope you've been good this year!



being snowed in and other things...

ah winter, you have arrived...
it is currently a chilly 18degrees outside with snow all over the ground... needless to say the most perfect of days for all that is indoors. we were all snowed in yesterday... thanks to our living in a place where snowy/ice covered roads are just better left for the next day. everyone lived in pajamas, watched holiday movies, and drank cocoa... there was also a failed attempt at homemade sugar cookies, thanks to splenda's need to dry everything out they were more of a powdery substance than sweet treat....i just havent gotten down diabetic baking, but i am trying.
in true being stuck inside boredom ruby decided to draw all over her face.... and harvey rocked his crazy hair....

my own inside project is about to begin... making the last of the christmas gifts that are left on my list. always fun.... and then working on squeezing in some etsy making time as well..... oh and pumpkin pie baking, because that is one thing i can bake that works everytime :)

i wish you all warmth and cozy food!

handmade makes me happy

one of my favorite parts of the featured seller interviews on etsy is when they ask the sellers what there most favorite handmade possession is. it's amazing to read what has been passed down or made for everyone, and it emphasizes why spending money just isnt as special as some time and love put into something special.

my husband and i have always been the gift givers who have set rules for each other, they usually involve not spending over 20dollars on one another or making it from scratch.
over the past eight years i have accumulated so many lovelies...from jewelry he has made to super fantastical sewing scissors that i will use from now until forever... to the sweet vintage ruby stick pin i got one christmas right before we had our own ruby. ladies and gentlemen, my husband is a good gift giver, whether he realizes it or not, no matter how much he stresses out about it, because he does... he is good at it.
Seven christmases ago he kinda outdid himself for the years to come... it was our first, and showing off his attentive skills he made me the best gift i have ever received. When i was a wee one my prized possession was my green sprite doll (rainbow brite - woo). he met a rather unfortunate end, along with lots of other loved items ... from books to dolls to many a vintage avon collectors item (thanks granny kate). now i dont want anyone to get the wrong idea of some grown ups who will remain nameless, so i will just spare the details of how they all went away (it is rather tragic for a former 9year old to remember seeing her dolls in trash piles). but anyhoo... my sweet now husband took note and made this for me from the remains of an old teddy bear he dyed green and with lots of love and sewing...

our daughter plays with him now and showers him with kisses. so if etsy ever decides to ask me what handmade item i love most i will share this guy with everyone... him and some ruby doodles and hopefully harvey ones too.....



ruby doodles

oh happy wednesday.... how you feel like you should be friday. but whatever. 
it has been horribly cold here, as in 19degrees as a daytime temperature, so wrong. But being held captive indoors has allowed me to befriend my sewing machine this week. As usual it all depends on the cooperation of my kiddos, and this week has been superb compared to the past few. All it takes is some markers and paper to make em happy.
ruby has began drawing faces and characters.... they are pretty darn awesome for my little almost two year old. here are a few :

she's so fancy :)
sweet harvey jack is finally learning that he cannot be held from morning to night (no matter how much i love it, and he loves it....nothing gets done).  He has recently discovered how to use his hands to make things happen, so for a four month old that is endless entertainment. granted ruby and harvey still need me lots during the day, and who am i kidding.. i need them lots too....but being able to make a few items here and there sure feels good. so here's to sewing, making, and creating... with sweet little ones in tow.

well it has been a week of new-ness for me. as of yesterday i have finally thrown in the towel and ventured into the world that is twitter... yes i have a twitter account. so please be patient while i figure the whole thing out... i think i seem pretty boring on there, but whatever. you can go follow me if you want...
http://twitter.com/#!/sweetanddirtys  i promise i will get better :)

also i have been making treasuries on etsy like a mad women... if you are needing something to do go take a look at them..
* for the men - http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf7edda99648eef3154e912/for-the-menfolk?index=0
* for fancies - http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf7b9e79d488eef31e4a91b/missing-my-daily-vitamin-d?index=1
* for santa - http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf6ce3cb1f26d919c0eb696/dear-santaplease-and-thank-you?index=2
it's fun to promote those whose work and shops you love!

and as a final jolt of new i joined a new team on etsy this week... team t international. awesome team, so glad to be a part of it.

well i suppose i had better cut this short... a small lady wants me to accompany her on the drums... and i have a chicken pot pie that sure won't make itself...