MommyCoddle

merry-making

Hi friends. Umm, wow. We are in the throes of merry-making around here. The girls and I made these little votive candles the other day from air-dry clay. Just your basic pinch pot, with some of the greens pressed in the sides to make an impression. They've been the perfect little thing lining my kitchen table. And could not have been easier.

But honestly, what I really need is another good week before Christmas. Though my kids would protest, I never seem to be able to fit in all the things I want to do in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

But what's really slowing things down is a huge project going on behind the scenes. It is taking all of my mental energy, decision-making abilities and honestly, my time. It's exciting for everyone but still...phew! There's not much extra room in my brain these days. 

I hate it when people drop little hints like that around and don't spill the beans, but I promise I'll let you know very soon. In fact, it will probably be my first post of the new year. I can't wait to tell you guys.

I'm taking a little holiday vacation from my work with BabyCenter this week and I'm hoping to be here a few more times before the holiday. I miss this space and miss all of you! 

More soon, friends.

xo. 

to be or not to be (independent)

These little guys are headed to the kiln today for their first firing. The downside of being part of this pottery workshop is that my kiln-firing schedule is at the mercy of others. I have no real say over when my things get fired, especially when the things I'm firing are so tiny and not worthy of their own firing in a big kiln. One of these days, I'm going to get myself a tiny little kiln and start working from home. One of these days...for now, I'm just happy to have clay in my hands again.

Over the weekend, Ms.CampCreek and I were discussing my experiences with Emma and her observational drawing lesson. If there is one word to describe Emma it is independent. (well, actually I might describe her as determined first, but independent is a close second). Lori and I were talking about how we strive for our children to be independent, to be able to do things on their own. But in the next breath, we're requiring them to do things "our way". It's that fine line--figure this out on your own, see if you can do that by yourself....no, you need to do this MY way!

I think I felt that imbalance last week, when I myself was feeling a bit frazzled. I've noticed that when Emma senses my stress, she gets into independent mode--make my own breakfast, clean my rubber boots in the bathroom sink, get out the paints by myself, etc. And in return, I become more frazzled because sometimes her independent outbursts leave a wake of confusion and mess. I heard myself saying over and over last week, "would you please just ask for my help?? That is what I'm here for!" Yet at other times, I'm the one pushing her to do things on her own--sometimes even those same things I just told her to do only with my help. "Emma, you can pour your cereal by yourself."

Does that make any sense?

Her independent spirit is bittersweet when it comes to home schooling. In one sense, she's completely driven. She'll figure things out on her own. Start things on her own. And work until she finds a solution. On the other hand, if I want to sit down and actually instruct her (heaven forbid!), she interrupts with a hand on my arm and a, "But mommy, what if we tried to do it this way?"

Parenting. It's all about give and take. Adjusting. Finding balance. Seeing each child for who they are. Finding their gifts and talents and encouraging them. It's also about guiding and instructing and disciplining. Now if I could just figure out how to do all those things, and do them well.

******And I almost forgot! Check out the wonderful treats we received from our miniswap partners:

here,

here ,

here,

and here. We were so spoiled!! Even if you didn't take part in the swap, there's lots of inspiration to be found in the flickr group.

sweet reunion

Do you ever have dreams that make you wake up in a funk? Early this morning I woke up from a dream where Dan told me I should start looking for my own place to live with the girls, that I needed to move out. He was so polite and emotion-less. It was horrible. Then, in the dream, I was crying to my sister about it all and Dan walked in--"Listen," he said to my sister, "I didn't want to be in charge of leftovers, but she made me. I'm sorry." To which I remember, in the dream, looking down at a container of whipped cream cheese that was in my hand.

Ah, yes--those early morning, weirdo dreams. But I still made Dan get in bed with me for two more minutes before he left for work, just to be sure he wasn't leaving me over cream cheese and leftover spaghetti.

The picture above is how Sunday evening ended for our family--the girls taking turns standing on the desktop and having church. They're actually quite good at it. "Dear Jesus, I hope you are proud of all we're doing here today." And she makes us recite a little liturgy, too. Mary handles all the singing. And for the record, they do it with completely sincere hearts. So much so, that I almost feel uncomfortable, if I sit on the sofa and flip through a book while they have "church".

And after everyone was in bed, I had a little reunion, all alone, at my kitchen table. It was so good.

test tiles all in a row

playing around with a fish-shaped scrap

the leftovers, and hands that will now need lots of hand lotion.

good things to know

1. Always check your barley

...before you shake a big pile of it into your hot bubbling stew that has been happily cooking along in the crockpot all day. Because that barley---that you didn't store in an airtight container--just might be laced with tiny bugs that you'll dump into the stew before noticing them wriggling and writhing around in the hot broth. And you'll hurriedly scoop out as many of the offensive bugs as you can, but when you take a big ladle full from the bottom, there'll still be a few stray deceased offenders floating in it.   

2. You can't register for classes at the local community college

....if you're on academic probation. If, last year, you accidentally signed up for pottery workshop as a credit class instead of an audit, and then you had a difficult pregnancy and didn't do one stitch of pottery, and your professor called you two days before the end of the semester wanting to go over your goals and see your work, and you had nothing, he'll give you an F. And if you have an F on your permanent record, you can't sign up for pottery again (as an audit) without dragging your three children over to Student Services to meet with an academic advisor who will give you permission to take another class. You're never too old for a little academic probation.

3. Don't give your daughter a sharpie

...and tell her to draw her best bird on the muslin cloth so that you can embroider it, without first giving her some direction. Because she'll draw a really good bird on the cloth, one that you really love, with wing bars, but she'll draw it so close to the edge of the cloth that you won't be able to fit it into the embroidery hoop. And the project that you wanted to sit down and work on right away that evening to unwind, will have to wait until you figure out a way to get more room around the edges of that very good drawing of a bird. But then she'll draw you two flowers to work on instead, and that will make you happy. And as you work, you'll realize you really know nothing about embroidery, but it's extremely relaxing and it just might be your new thing.

SPRING CLEANING SALE

I was cleaning out a craft drawer today, and decided it was time to do have a little spring cleaning sale, including this little clutch of owl buttons that never left the nest.
You'll find all the items for sale (buttons, owls, small and large pendants) in the photo album at the top of my sidebar. If you are interested in something, send me an email (link in my sidebar, too) and let me know which specific item you want. I'll mark the item as SOLD and send you a paypal invoice.

ALL SHIPPING FOR THIS SALE IS $1.50 for the U.S.
International? I'll give you a shipping quote later, but be sure to tell me it is int'l when you send the email...

happy spring shopping!

the learning curve

Things have been very quiet lately on this blog haven't they? The end of summer has felt very busy around here. I'm also getting ready for my mother-in-law's visit later this week. The piles of laundry are ridiculous. really, they are. But we're working on it.

I got my first batch of buttons and pendants back from my work with the workshop program at the community college. There is definitely a learning curve involved--finding new clay, new glazes, new kiln...So this batch turned out a little differently from my past work. I'm still pleased with some of it, but I did have to put a disappointingly large pile of things (almost all my owl buttons. boo!) in the "seconds bowl". I'm not sure what I'll do with them. For now they are serving as currency for Mary and Emma's 'grocery store'.

The clay this time was a little bit redder and lighter so everything has a different feel, at least to me.
This was the first time I worked with some imprints on my buttons and pendants. This set has a blue green wash of color over the print. They look extrememly shiny in this picture. Some of that is the sun, but they are a little glassy.

And a few pendants came out nicely, too. They remind me of robin's eggs--the blue color flecked with specks of brown.

These and others will be up in my etsy shop sometime this week. As always, if you are on my mailing list, you'll get the heads up first.

Off to change that laundry.....we're making progress, we're making progress.....

an afternoon in the workshop

bisque-fired buttons and pendants ready for glazing:

backsides painted with wax resist to keep the glaze from adhering to this side, and to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the kiln:

Lots of notes on glaze colors and behaviors when they're fired; as well as notes on what glazes and combinations I use with each batch. (in case I do something great  (or lousy) and want to repeat it):

glaze gets brushed on, and must dry between each layer:

all finished glazing. glaze is rarely the same color unfired as it is fired, that is why my notes are so important. the glazes in this batch will be deep shades of blue, green, brown and mulberry (I hope!)--you'd never know it by their colors now.

after the layers of glaze dry, I clean out the holes...(almost always results in bloodshed):

any glaze spills are wiped off the back:

four hours later: finished pieces, out in the kiln shed waiting for the final firing:

buttons and small pendants

Just wanted to let you know that I've updated my etsy shop this morning with small pendants and buttons. If you are on my mailing list, you should have received my email early this morning. Another batch of buttons will be coming in the next few weeks if you miss out this time around.

MY ETSY SHOP

a hiccup in the plans

I turned on my digital camera two days ago and got no response--batteries charged, all parts seemingly intact...but nothing. I couldn't believe it--I had a desktop full of buttons and pendants ready to post on etsy, two little sewing projects to share. I told my husband I couldn't imagine a day without my camera---he told me it was an idol. Thanks, honey.
I'm starting to think that I'm a walking disaster zone--the broken cars, digital camera, and to top it off--yesterday, I was sweeping my bathroom floor and I bumped into the sink and it fell off the wall! (apparently this has happened before and my dad came to the rescue) but c'mon, I'm starting to wonder about myself!
Anway...my girls are champing at the bit to visit the thrift store this morning, their chance to play with "junky toys", and I'm fiddling with my  new camera (thank you, Mom--another slightly early bday gift!) So here's a few pictures of a little weekend sewing project...two very different looking elephants. One named "horse" by Mary, and the other "sally" by Emma.

"Horse" came first:

My plan was for a simple design, and I wanted them to have an "Eyeore-esque" tail...held on by a button

The second time around I wanted to chage the skinny long trunk, and the legs weren't quite right...so "Sally" had some alterations.

They were roadtested yesterday on a day trip to my mom and sister's. And they enjoyed it immensely. They mostly get carried around by their trunks or tails, but so far, they don't seem to mind.

Alright, children are clinging to my arms, so I must step away--the thrift store is calling....

WIP fridays and a forgotten friend comes home

To my birthday sister: don't read this post.

 
This would probably be more appropriately called my "work in piles"--no progress on this one, yet. I'm leaving tomorrow to go to my sister's to celebrate her birthday with our families.  We both talk about one day making ourselves a knitting needle case so I thought for her birthday I'd beat her to it and whip one up for her. (at least I'm hoping I whip it up. It has to be done today!) I'm using some wonderful linen that I received from Tracy and some of JoAnn's vintage line fabric. I'm hoping to figure out a way to incorporate one of my buttons as the closure.
And when I mentioned a forgotten friend in my title I was referring to a mysterious box that arrived today in the mail. Enclosed was a slew of buttons from my pottery classes in Wisconsin.


We pretty much left town in a hurry and I wasn't able to finish the class.  I had to leave behind some glazed but unfired buttons. So today I got this wonderful package from my instructor that was full of all the buttons and small pendants I left behind. Ah, its good to see them again. I'm going to pick out what I want for myself, and then I'll put the rest up for sale. It is fun to see these old buttons as I can tell I'm already changing some of my techniques on the buttons I've been making in the last few days.
I'll post here when I put them in my etsy shop and if you sent me an email for my mailing list, I'll give you the heads up first.
Happy weekend everyone. Hit the farmer's market, buy yourself some blueberries or raspberries and make yourself a buckle cake. I made one last night and it was delicious!!

Work In Progress Fridays #1

There's a lot going on this friday: work in progress, colorweek...I'll post my color pictures later today, maybe even tomorrow. They are all from a walk we went on last night. There was red everywhere...but this picture is from a little clay time at home this morning. Stoneware buttons are coming, slowly...
In the end, it was only Emma who finished something. I gave her some clay to work with and she fashioned several different things--a turtle, a rock, and finally settled on a bird's nest with "four eggs that the mommy lied" (that's how she says it, everything "lies babies" around here.) Now the nest is out drying in the sun. I think I'll fire it and glaze it for her. She also took this picture for me, even turned on the camera, put it in macro and turned off the flash, with only a little guidance from me. I don't think my mom can even do that yet with her digital camera!  sorry, mom.

Happy Birthday to my Dad...I'm off to work on some consumable gifts for tonight's big affair...Love you, Daddy.

shhh...don't tell them they're leftovers

Please don't tell them they're the leftovers...they're really no less special, they just haven't found the right homes yet. In fact, one of my favorites is still there...

If you're interested in any of the things below, send me an email, there's a link at the top left. The large pendants are $22, no shipping. Small are on sale for$10, also no shipping. I'm happy to ship internationally, but please add $2 to the price. You can click on the picture to get a close up of the pendants...

J, H are spoken for...
A,C: GONE   may be gone as well, waiting to work out details....

And here's a few tissue holders that I have left as well. They are made from a line of vintage quilting prints. I'm only asking two dollars for them, also no shipping. They fit the kleenex pocket pack tissues. I'm not going to ship them filled so that I can send them in a regular envelope. It will save me a trip, lugging the kids to the post office!
The specifics:
2  3--light orange floral, lined with darker orange floral
3--dark orange floral, lined with light orange floral
2--denim lined in green dots
1 2--green dots lined in denim

Coming Soon...

Tonight I got to the box labelled "Pottery: FRAGILE." So I decided to post just a sneek peak at what's to come in the near future in my etsy shop. Of course I still made lots of buttons (lots of giant ones this time) which I think would look fantastic on this pattern, which is my spring knitting project. ( i just checked the link and realized the picture doesn't show it--but imagine one big button at the collar on the swingcoat front.)

But I also became obsessed with making these fun, chunky pendants. I love them and immediately strung one for myself to wear. I love the swirl of colors, the earthy shades and I love that no two are exactly alike. And I'm hoping others will like them as much as me...we'll see. I just have to work out some kinks with stringing them--adjustable? clasps? etc...
Tonight, I'm sitting in a little coffee shop in my new hometown...enjoy the benefits of wifi since we still are working out some phone/internet problems. My husband graciously blessed me with a night out. Tomorrow it's his turn.
I'm cherishing these few moments away to catch up with all of you, too...

It's Good To Be Back...

First of all, I just want to say that I'm sorry I haven't been a very good responder to people's comments lately. I usually make every effort to respond by email, but lately I've just been behind. My inbox is full of people that I've been meaning to get back to and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. So, for now, I'm just going to put it on hold.  I appreciate your kind words, ideas, and encourament so much and I know how much I enjoy it when someone responds to my comment, so I'll try to get back in the groove very soon.
****
I've been back to my pottery ways for the last two weeks. It feels so good to be back. The break was nice and gave me some time to collect more ideas but it feels good to be creating again. I haven't fired or glazed anything yet, just making new things. But hopefully I'll have some color to show very soon. Here's some of the things I'm working on today--buttons (of course), coasters, small square dishes (NOT ashtrays, thank you very much, Dan!), and some pendant jewelry that I'm so anxious to glaze (and wear).

Maxed Out...

My "Wednesday List" is bigger than Wednesday. It has been a crazy morning of trying to prepare for tomorrow's Thanksgiving celebration. For starters, the cousins are singing a Laurie Berkner song (I love my rooster, my rooster loves me....) for a little meal/dessert intermission. Each one is dressing up as a different animal, as the song goes, and Emma is a cow.
This morning, I sat down at my sewing machine to whip up a little cow hood for her and the needle is completely jammed. It makes about two stitches and then is so tight, I can't even pull the fabric out from under the needle. So, instead I spent the morning, handstitching ears and pompom trim onto a plastic headband. And of course, I agreed to make a costume for one of emma's cousins as well! I think she looks more like a cat now, than a cow, so I'm going to have to come up with some type of udder contraption  to instill the cow theme to her audience (grandma, dad, aunt's and uncle's).

Mary has been in an ultra-clingy phase lately which is exhausting. It means either washing dishes and picking up toys (and stitching cow ears) with a screaming baby tugging at my pants, or with a happy baby sitting on my hip. This is all making me a little crazy. I'm wondering if she might be getting sick.

I've also been spending way too much time on a design for cards to try to sell my buttons. I'm so excited about projects with them, and I thought selling a few might defer the cost of my next class a bit.
I've designed a tri-fold card to hold them, but I'm still working on the design to keep the buttons attached to the card (glue dots maybe) and to hold the card closed (wire clips or waxed twine?) But I love the look so far. (please excuse the glare)

Card Front:

Inside flap:

Buttons:

Of course, I'm spending too much time on the things that aren't essentials--like the Five Day Sale at JoAnn fabrics and button cards. But I need a little break from my messy house and broken sewing machine.
But in the spirit of thankfulness, I am thankful for the many blessings that God has provided for our family--a warm home, loving family, healthy children, opportunities for creativity, and blogging friends.
Wishing a blessed Thanksgiving to you all...cheers.