Craft Show Update

I've been remiss in my blogging duties since the craft show earlier this month. I was sick nearly the entire week afterwards and just plain pooped from all the work leading up to the show. I have lots to share since then, but figured I'd start with some photos of my booth at the show:

This is the basic set up of my table, nothing fancy; I kept to using stuff I had around the house rather than breaking the bank for display items.

A basket of my needlebooks and crocheted facial circles for sale.

Framed photos of my handmade goodies.

Washcloths for sale.

Overall, I had a great time at the show. It took a TON of work to get ready in a month and a half, but it was a good experience for future shows (not that I'll be doing this more than a couple times a year!). There wasn't a huge turnout, but I had fun chatting with the other vendors and sold my first two sock kitties! The weather was also beautiful and I enjoyed a mostly kid-free day thanks to my mom who babysat for me! 

I had hoped to have my leftover items up on Etsy by now, but I've been moving at a much-needed slower pace and will keep you updated when I do. In the meantime, I'm getting ready for Mr. Liam's third birthday party this weekend (will I have his baby-clothes quilt ready by Saturday??) and will have pics from Fiesta last weekend soon!

The Sock Kitties Are Coming!

In preparation for this Sunday's Alamo City Handmade Spring Craft Show at Scenic Loop Cafe , I've been busy as a bee this past month. Along with more crocheted items , ruffle blankets , and needlebooks , I've whipped up a batch of handmade sock kitties. I still have a few finishing touches to make (six more flowers to add!) but I can't wait to show these along with my other goodies on Sunday!

If you're not already aware, a percentage of vendor's profits will be going to the Wounded Warriors Project and valid military ID card holders will receive 10% off brunch per table. The event will be held outdoors if weather permits, but we'll be there rain or shine! Visit Alamo City Handmade's website for more details. Come on out for some great food and crafty goodness (and a great opportunity to get ahead on your Mother's Day shopping)!

 

Anna Maria Oh My!

I recently learned about author and designer extraordinaire Anna Maria Horner while listening to a CraftSanity podcast (my favorite thing to do while scrubbing the dishes). What captivated me the most about her (before I'd seen her vibrantly yummy fabrics) was that not only did she become a mother at a young age, but she has also gone on to accomplish great things doing what she loves. Now 35, she is the mother of six (amazing!) and going strong in her creative career. I, too, was (and still am) a young mother and am totally inspired by Anna Maria to see my own creative endeavors through. 

So, after hearing her podcast interview I just had to find out more about her work and fell immediately in love with her fabric collections. She also has a book of sewing projects called Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing. Not only does she include patterns with the book, but she gives you an entire section on sewing basics if you're new to sewing (or just need a refresher). The project I most want to try is the pin cushion caddy--a giant pin cushion with an open center for all your other sewing neccesseties. 

You can also find Anna Maria on her blog (I love her recent post Quilting Questions and Anna Answers ) and website , as well as purchase patterns, fabric stacks, and autographed copies of her books. And she's coming out with a new book this month--Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby. I would love to get my hands on this one to whip up something before our little girl arrives!

Go check out this crafty mama and be inspired to create and do whatever it is you love to do!

Kids Day at San Pedro Park

Our local PBS station was sponsoring a free kids fair at San Pedro Park last Saturday, so I took advantage of the sunshine and took the kids out solo. I wasn't 100% sure they'd behave the whole time, but they usually do well when we're out and about and they have something to do. Admittedly, I did have Eleanor in her stroller the entire time, but I would have lost a kid if I hadn't. Although I was completely exhausted afterwards, the fair turned out to be a blast--there were tons of activities and games for the kids and they were even passing out free fruit! Here are some photos from our morning:

Skyler and Liam both got to try their hand at a little bowling--Skyler looked like a pro!

I wish Liam would sit as still for me as he did for the face painter!

One booth had the kids painting on paper with marbles--an idea I'll be filing away for future craft ideas.

The boys each had the chance to sit on a motorcycle.

We all made wishes on dandelions, but poor Eleanor didn't realize you were supposed to blow them. I guess they do look like yummy fluff.

The boys looking down on the San Pedro pool below. During the off season it looks like a lake, but they clean it up in the summer and it's one of our favorite public pools to go to (and it's free!)

I hope you're all enjoying your spring and taking advantage of the free events in your area!

Fiesta Is Coming!

1. Fiesta, 2. waiting dancers, 3. Irvine Global Village Festival 2009 - 7, 4. Dr. Cascarón or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Eggshell

One of the great things about living in San Antonio is Fiesta, and it's only five days away! Fiesta spans eleven days and originally began in 1891 as a way to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. There are now over 100 events celebrating Fiesta.

If you've never been, and you ever have the opportunity to come to S.A., you should definitely check it out! The entire downtown area practically shuts down for a week and a half for the parades, fairs, and throngs of people that come out to celebrate.

One of our favorite events to take the kids to is the King William Fair & Parade in the said historic neighborhood off of South Alamo. I was in the parade a few years ago when I worked at a local non-profit in the neighborhood, and this year I think Skyler's Boy Scout troop may be in it, too. You can check out more info about the parade here. There's also a day-long fair afterwards with an awesome kiddie carnival .

Although I've lived in San Antonio for the better half of my life, I didn't really grow up participating in Fiesta. I do know that some of the bigger events you don't want to miss are the Oyster Bake at St. Mary's University (kids 12 and under get in free!), NIOSA (A Night In Old San Antonio) at La Villita, and the Battle of the Flowers Parade .  I would also love to take the kids to the Fiesta Arts Fair at the Southwest School of Art and Craft near the downtown Central Library.

I look forward to getting out and about during Fiesta and will definitely be sharing the festivities with all of you! Viva Fiesta!

Easter

Although Chris ended up being sick over the weekend, the kids and I had a nice little Easter. They woke up to their handmade Easter baskets filled with jelly bean- and bunny cracker- filled eggs, stickers, prayer cards, and coloring books. Eleanor favored the bunny crackers until she figured out what the jelly beans were, Liam peeled the stickers right away, and Skyler loved the Boy Scout holy card I found for him.

After church in the morning (while Chris was home resting) and lunch and nap time, we had a little egg hunt in our backyard. Eleanor was as slow as a snail, Liam wanted to open them and eat the goodies as he found them, and Skyler was racing around as fast as he could! Once Eleanor saw the boys cracking open the cascarones, she went to town with her own--only she didn't know to crack them on her brothers' heads. She did get fairly covered in confetti herself, though.

Once all the eggs were found, I packed up the kids in the van and headed out for a yummy dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house where the kids had another egg hunt, too. Overall, it was a good day and nobody else has gotten sick (yet!) Hope you all had a lovely Easter!

Backyard Snail Snapshots

The weather has been gorgeous down here in San Antonio the past couple of weeks and I've been practically kicking the kids out of the house everyday so they can get some sunshine (and so I can get a break). I don't know how it began, but suddenly they're on the constant hunt for snails now. My near-three-year-old, Liam is completely obsessed with them and will not let me be until I find him at least three or four snails hiding in our garden.

As annoying as it can be stopping everything to meet the demands of a toddler when I really need to be doing the dishes or laundry, in the end it's always fun becoming a kid again and rejoicing at my findings. And I can't help but smile at how captivated they can be watching them all day. 

It makes me think back to my own relationship with nature growing up and that sense of wonder in exploring the world. 

Wherever you are, I hope you're able to take some time each week to marvel at the world around you. May our lives never be too busy to enjoy the slowness around us!

Cereal Box Easter Baskets

While thinking of ideas for the kids Easter baskets this year my goal was not only to keep them inexpensive but to not be super-wasteful either. I really hate the idea of most of the stuff we consume ending up in the trash; and baskets (and most other goodies) marketed specifically for Easter are often one of them. 

So I searched high and low across the web for some ingenious way I could make the kids' baskets this year and I found one! Diane Gilleland of CraftyPod has a tutorial for woven Recycled Box Easter Baskets on Craftstylish that was exactly what I was looking for. In her tutorial she gives step by step instructions on how to weave your own basket--and it's super easy! The only change I made was using my hot glue gun instead of tacky glue because I didn't want to wait for them to dry (I'm more of an instant-gratification person when it comes to crafting). They're not for carrying bricks or anything, but they're pretty sturdy and I can't wait to give them to the kids. 

I did splurge $3 on these colorful eggs from Target, but I plan on keeping them to use again and again. Oh! I also didn't want to completely fill the kids' baskets with candy and I was able to find some goldfish-style bunny crackers as well--a perfect (and cheaper) alternative than a bunch of candy--they will be getting some Starburst jelly beans that I'll help them eat, though :)

I hope you have a wonderful Easter with your little ones and give making your own upcycled Easter baskets a try!