Santa Luv-a-Dollie

My Mom created and knit these little “Luv-a-Dollies” for Claire, mostly so that we could design a dollhouse around a handmade doll. We call them “Luv-a-Dollies” because when Claire was about a year old you’d say to her “Claire, love a dolly!” and she would clutch the dolly to her chest and shower it with one-year old style kisses. Super adorable, trust me .
Anyway, Mom branched out from the traditional doll to a pirate for my sister, and then Callum, and now I present to you her Santa Luv-a-Dollie

Isn’t he the cutest damn Santa dolly you’ve ever seen? I thought you’d think so. She’s entered him into Michaels’ Handmade Holiday and could win a trip to New York! Now go and vote. Lots and lots and lots. You just have to scroll over the Snowmen at the bottom of the picture and then click when you’ve highlighted all 5 snowmen (because, clearly, he’s a 5 snowmen sort-a dolly).
If she doesn’t win the trip to New York, maybe people will see the dolly and want to buy it and she can make a fortune knitting Luv-a-Dollies! (ok, that’s a pipe dream, people don’t get rich knitting, but still, he’s cute people. CUTE.)

Christmas Weekend

For Angela – this past weekend was Steve’s annual company party. This party is fabulous because we get to stay overnight in Courtenay at a luxury hotel, and because my Mom is the bestest Mom, she took the kids for TWO nights. Sadly, Steve couldn’t handle drinking three girlie martinis in a row, and spent several hours (the wee, wee hours of Saturday night) suffering for that decision. That part wasn’t much fun, although by far the biggest let-down from that decision was that we didn’t get to do our advent activity on Sunday (a Family Skate) – it will have to get worked into the schedule for another day.
Otherwise the advent activities are going really well. The kids seem to love doing them and I feel so organized and am pleased to be doing things that I want to do during the whole Christmas season. Today we made gingerbread dough, truffles, and squares. Even my Mom kept up with the activities while we were gone! On friday we decided what food we wanted to donate to the food bank (including Mushroom Soup because Callum doesn’t like it, but not Tomato Soup, which he does like… which sort of defeats the purpose but ok). Then we all piled into the car and dropped off our donation and that? well, that was a bit of a let-down to be honest. The volunteer taking the donation barely acknowledged us and no one said two words to Callum. I was hoping that there would be an older gentlemen volunteer there that would engage Callum, you know? Talk about giving to those in need and all that good stuff. We DID talk about it, and Callum was excited to be there and then …nothing.
That damn movie in your head, it always does you in.

recrafted :: Advent Calendar

For some time I’ve been meaning to make an advent calendar. Last year I wanted to make one with activities in lieu of chocolate, but never got around to it. This year I toyed with the idea of making a felt Christmas tree with felt decorations that the kids would put on the tree every day for advent. That felt tree never materialized on it’s own. huh.
On the weekend I decided that I’d come up with some sort of advent calendar before December 1st. I had only 1 requirement, it had to be free. There is nothing like a cardboard box and left-over wedding paraphernalia to get you going.

It’s very sparkly. Certainly more sparkly than I would have liked, but my wedding colors were blue and silver and I have a lot of silver and blue ribbon laying around. I would have made all the numbers blue except, well, I ran out of blue glitter glue.

In each little watchbox there are two jelly beans and a little note with an advent activity printed on Christmassy paper. The first day of advent the activity was to make advent chocolates for the calendar, which we DID do except, well. We failed. Miserably. I had bought jelly beans on sale to decorate the future gingerbread house so instead of chocolates, the kid’s get jelly beans. They seem pleased.
Now I have two problems – 1. finding a place for it that Callum can’t reach as he’s taken to helping himself to jelly beans as he sees fit and 2. Having enough energy to actually DO the activities every day til Christmas.
…and again I apologize for the craptacular pictures. I never seem to be around during decent light.
ETA:
The activities in lieu of chocolates is an idea I stole from Fearthainn’s friend. There are some fantastic advent ideas on the internet and I do mean fantastic. In case you’re looking to steal some activities my are:
1)Make advent chocolates; 2)Make Christmas Cookies; 3)Go to the library and search for Chrismtas books; 4)Donate something to the Food Bank; 5) Have lunch with Great-Grandma; 6)Family Skate Day; 7)Make Gingerbread Dough; 8)Decorate Gingerbread House; 9)Write Letter to Santa; 10)Get Picture with Santa; 11) Attend a Chrismtas Party; 12)Go to the Bethlehem Walk; 13)Family Walk; 14)Make Christmas Cards; 15) Stargaze; 16) Make Snow Globes; 17)Family Musical Jam Night; 18)Watch a Christmas Movie; 19)See the show A Very Sticky Chrismtas; 20) Go to Milner Gardens; 21)Donate a toy to a toy drive; 22)Build a snowman; 23)Go and admire the lights; 24)Make Cinnamon Bun Dough for Christmas morning
I’m giving myself a lot of lee-way here too. I have all the activities written on my calendar so I don’t hit a day and think “oh shit, I’m supposed to make cookie dough TODAY?” I’m also allowing myself the opportunty to move activities around, or rewrite them as I see fit. The activities are supposed to be things that both represent what Christmas means to me (basically crafting and giving) and let us do things as a family. I conveniently incorporated things we’re already committed to as well. And I wanted the kids to be a part of the donating process that is why I have two days dedicated to donating both food and a toy. They’re probably too young for that, but it’s both a lesson and an activity that is easy for me

Handmade Christmas : Jolly Old Saint Nick

This year I am trying really, really hard to buy very little and give handmade gifts as much as possible. My must-buy list is pretty short since most people these days seem pretty happy not to exchange at all if they can get out of it, so for the handful of people on my list I’m trying to see what I can pull together without hitting the shops.
The first, and without a doubt the most annoying gift to make on the list was for my Mom-in-law who I’m going to assume doesn’t read this blog. I’ve actually been working on this cross stitch for a few years, and decided this year I’d finish it. Man, did I ever regret that decision. This wasn’t a fun project AT ALL. There are a lot of quarter stitches and you’d basically have to cross-stitch to understand that statement so let me translate – stitches that are ANNOYING AS ALL HELL.

At any rate, I think final result turned out just fine, even if I was cursing and swearing through the whole thing. Of course, it’s a cross stitch, a stitch-by-numbers craft so you really can’t go wrong, they all turn out just fine.
All of the material for the project I had on-hand, having bought the pattern before Callum was born and being a bit of a thrifted embroidery thread crazy (I have A LOT of embroidery thread).

The frame was under my stairs. I can’t decide if that’s rude or not, but I’m going to go with not. I mean, the frame wasn’t doing anything and it works with Santa (it looks like crap in the pictures because I suck at taking pictures but I swear it, it looks just fine).
So, one present down. Many, many, many more to go.

The Best $1.50 I’ve Ever Spent

Some time ago we came across these little model train kits made by Creatology at Michaels. Callum was fascinated so we bought two of the cars in the set for him. I mean, they were $1.50. I could part with $3.00 if it meant he was agreeable for the rest of the shopping trip.
Best. Toy. Ever.

Of course, when I mention it to any of my Mommy friends they all say “oh yeah, those are great” and I’m standing there wondering why the hell NO ONE TOLD ME. There is usually an added comment about how my kids are too young, which is advice I often famously ignore and man, am I glad I did. I completely disagree that my kids are too young for these model kits. Assuming you get a shmock on your kid, and let go of any preconceived idea you have about how the train should be painted, it is a pile of fun for a toddler. Callum will decide which pieces he’s painting, which Claire is painting, and then spend a solid hour sitting at the kitchen table getting it done. An hour! The things this Mama can do in an hour!
In the interest of full disclosure I should probably mention that yes, there IS paint on my ceiling. I’m ok with it. Did you read the part where I mentioned the hour of free time I got? WORTH THE PAINT ON THE CEILING.

I can’t find ANY information about this company on-line so one can only assume that these are being made via child labour in Vietnam somewhere because I honestly can’t figure out how they can sell these kits for $1.50. When or if I ever find that out I’m going to be one sad Mama because I have come across no other toy or activity thus far that has been so thoroughly enjoyed by my son as this train has been. From the painting to the gluing to the playing with, he loves it.
The kit comes with all the wood to put together the train car, the paint, the glue, instructions, and a paintbrush. The glue is super glue and this train is taking a beating without falling apart.
The train itself links together to all the cars you can buy, and it even fits into the wooden Thomas-the-Train tracks, too (or Imaginarium if you by the knock-off track like we do).

I mean, it’s been a win-win-win. So, I’m telling you about it, because no one told me about it and it’s kinda awesome and a great, cheap, kid gift. Go forth and stuff a stocking.