I can't believe it's Thanksgiving already

What a crafty weekend we had! We started out with the Holiday Fair at the Minnesota Waldorf School. I was super excited. I had been wanting to see inside the school, since I secretly wanted to send the girls there, and also couldn't wait to buy up all kinds of handmade crafties. But then there weren't that many handmade crafties (although we got a cute coat/hat/scarf set for Rosemary), and the school had a weird vibe to it that cured me of wanting to send the girls there. I think Brent about nailed it when he said it was the Renaissance Festival of schools. But the "Gnome Cave" attraction was stellar, and we all enjoyed an awesome lunch. You could also make a gnome and a candle holder, but for some reason Bella wasn't feeling crafty. Shoot.

Sunday we had fun making Thanksgiving cards! We used 54stitch's instructions.



The hardest part was getting Bella to draw a turkey. First she studied pictures of turkeys in Blue Hat, Green Hat. Then she filled a few sheets of paper with scribbles. Then she declared turkeys too hard to draw. Luckily, it occurred to me to make a hand turkey! Phew! Crafting crisis averted.

I love the way her turkey has "wings" down on the chest. Turkey breast(s) anyone? tee hee.

We made tons of prints, since squirting the paint into the pan was Bella's favorite part. Then we glued (gluing! second favorite part) them to the front of cards and wrote "Happy Thanksgiving!" and Bella signed her name. I signed Emily's too even though she didn't really help much and mostly just rolled from the kitchen to the dining room and back, occasionally shrieking as she went by.

Also yesterday we busted out the new ice cream maker. I was going to give it to Bella for Christmas, but then I read the instructions--FIVE hours to make ice cream?? That is so not going to be fun on Christmas day. But it sure is fun while you're making handprint turkeys! And, although it really did take 5 hours in the freezer (maybe not that long if you aren't 3 and don't check on it every 5 minutes), that little $14 ice cream maker made some FANTASTIC ice cream! We made mint chocolate chip and at first Bella thought it was too minty (OOOH MORE FOR ME!) but then wolfed down a whole bowl (DAMMIT!).

It is surreal that this week is Thanksgiving. Tomorrow the girls have a "free" day at daycare and I am going to have a nice day at home baking rolls for the big feast. Should be fun!

Grand Opening!

I suppose it was inevitable. I had to fulfill my shop-owning fantasies somehow. And, so far, the new Etsy Peppercam shop is doing a great job. I get to design a banner! I get to arrange things! I get to make business cards! All very exciting.

Here is what it looks like:



www.peppercam.etsy.com

I sell safety-pin watches, which I have worn for years and let me tell you, they are FUN. Adults love them, kids love them, everybody pours attention on the watch.



I also have some beaded snowflake ornaments in there, although those aren't getting as much attention as the watches-- even though they are gorgeous (if I do say so myself!). They have a couple issues: a) my photos are kind of crappy, they are a bitch to photograph since they are CLEAR, and b) they take me about an hour each to make so I priced them accordingly, which might be a little steep for the useless decoration category.

And--more shop fantasies--I got to buy packing supplies! What a fun trip to Papersource.



I know what you're thinking. Where are the KNITS? Well, I haven't quite figured out what would satisfy the balance between time spent and money earned in the knitting department. Because most of my knitting projects take me hours and hours to do, and no one wants to pay $100 for a baby sweater. But I have the Etsy bug so I'm sure I'll think of something to stick in the shop!

Rosemary

Look who just came to join our family!

Hello Rosemary!



She's a little bit shy but likes to giggle. She is well-behaved and polite. Last night was her first evening with the family, and since it was movie night, she had a big time. That's why this morning she is just relaxing with her latte. I'm sure her head is spinning.



I made her yesterday at an all-day dollmaking workshop. It was a great, great time. Watching everyone's dolls come to life (each one completely different!) was so amazing. I wish I had a group photo of everybody's dolls!

I brought Rosemary into the house wrapped in a blanket (it was cold and she was nude) and Bella immediately fell in love. I couldn't have been more SHOCKED. It has been a source of some lament for me that Bella has until now shown no signs of being a doll person (as I am [duh]). She has shown little interest in the other dolls we've given her. So I'm not sure what happened, but Rosemary (who, actually, I thought I was making for myself) has been smothered in love since entering the door last night. She even had to have her own bed (luckily I had an extra doll bed (or four) in the basement) set up next to Bella's for nighttime. And this morning she had to ride buckled in the car to daycare to drop Bella off. I am just in heaven watching her and Rosemary become friends.

I am home with Emily today, who has a touch of the stomach flu so can't go to daycare. Although--typical--she's had no symptoms since 7:30 this morning. Well, hopefully she is feeling better!

Tiny Knits

I am so pleased with this new little clothesline for Emily's room!



I think she likes it too. And Bella was quite impressed. She requested a sweater to hang on her wall too.



It was such a cute little project, and used up some extra bits of yarn, all of which are from things I made Emily (the famous bunting yarn is there!).

It was pretty hard to photograph, since it is in kind of a dark corner of the room and I am a total dunce at working my camera (should I just buy the flash or what, any advice would be appreciated!). But trust me, it makes the whole room so sweet! I'm planning on making a teenier tinier one for our fairy garden next spring. I KNOW OMG HOW CUTE WILL THAT BE!!

Speaking of sweet. Just look at these two little hams.



Emily is just so thrilled with any attention from big sister. Bella can run through the room and Emily is all arms-flapping shrieking with laughter. "IT'S BELLA! SHE LOOKED AT ME! SHRIEEEEEEK!"

They like each other! I can only hope this lasts a little while.