Wee Wonderfuls

doll girl!

Something has happened the past month, since Christmas really. Phoebe has, and a dare I type it out loud in case it's a brief passing phase, but she's become a doll girl! The mountains of handmade and storebought dolls that decorate her room are actually getting outfit changes and going to bed and having snacks. They have names and discussions with each other and plans for the day. It's pretty awesome to be able to hand over a box of doll clothes I made when I was a kid and have Phoebe be really excited about it. Or to bring down the teeny tiny re-ment toys I've been saving for Barbies and watch Phoebe's face light up. Even if it means those teeny tiny toys being strewn (lost) all over the house. I've so excited to see this stuff get some play that even the control freak in me is happy. 

Pinch me!

And then forget you ever read this because I certainly didn't say it or jinx anything.

it's the snow's fault

I'm looking for someone to blame for my lack of creative focus this week. I choose the snow. On one hand, it's inspiring me. Our quilts are getting a lot of play these days. We come in from playing in the snow, make huge quilt piles to cozy up in and dump all our toys on top of them and play the rest of the day away. It's really giving me the quilting itch. I want to make some quilts in a theme, different sizes but all with same color/design elements. Maybe a doll quilt, a bear quilt, a bed quilt, a sofa quilt or maybe each family member gets their own lap quilt for movie watching. Something silly and over ambitious like that.

(Phoebe's doll quilts have been getting lots of play too these days. Makes me so happy!)

But over here on the other hand is the overwhelming fuss and mess that is snow... the shush, the filthy floors, the puddles, the mountains of mittens and boots amassed at every exit, the bundling and shoveling and scraping it takes to do anything or go anywhere, it all really sucks up any energy I have to actually tackle a project. So, it's the snow's fault. You win snow. I shall sit here and drink coffee and pin quilt inspirations. Not a battle I mind losing.

earring book

My earrings have a little home now. I had some super thick felt that a friend picked up for me in Germany and I used that as the cover with some cute Japanese fabric glued to it. Inside for pages I used 2 pieces of gray wool felt glued together except for where I cut out little spaces for earrings to flop out. I punched the earring holes with a super tiny hole punch I have that I use to punch out decorations on doll shoes. It's a pretty handy gadget, all my earrings in one place. Of course it makes me want to buy more earrings so then I'll need another page. Not sure one would fit in there, so maybe I'll need 2 books. One for dangly and one for posts. All this earring action is making me want to get Phoebe's ears pierced. I don't know how I feel about that. I think it'd be cute as all get out but then maybe I need to make her whine and cry until she's in 6th grade like my mom did. 

clean

After the trifecta of book club, bunco and birthday party this week I am excited to give the red wine and break and get back to my new year's clean eating. I enjoy the detox. (only because my definition of detox is only to stop eating pixies every night) I've been checking out healthy cookbooks from the library, making tofu smoothies, drinking obscene amounts of green tea and eating bowls of quinoa. Feels good. I'm slowly getting back into exercise after a 5 month battle with the bottom of my foot. That feels good too. I've been perusing the fitness boards on pinterest for inspiration but not having too much luck. The butt shot of the skinny girl in short shorts doesn't quite do it for me. I did pin some good stretches, wall exercises and smoothie recipes.

 

Source: wholeliving.com via Hillary on Pinterest

 

Source: wholeliving.com via Hillary on Pinterest

 

The house is clean too. Again, my version of clean, which here means that all the holiday stuff is away. I did spiff things up a little. I have a nice Winter wreath, some snowflakes (thanks Lisa for the idea), some twinkle lights laying around and of course the poms.

the poms are up!

a fun burst of color just in time for the snow

she'll let me paint her nails if she's watching a show

patterns

Oscar and I are pattern making this week. An owl for him, a dinosaur for me.

Also, on deck this week. I want to make something like this for my new earrings.

pom pommery

Here's our snowman. So cute! I love making pom poms. It's so relaxing, like little bonsais.

I made snowman's poms with the pom-po-nette. Pretty labor intensive but they came out super dense and awesome.

for a little present to myself I bought this Clover pom pom maker. So so much faster and still pretty plump and good.

Is it annoying that all my photos are instagram now? Ever since we switched to iLife 11 it takes forever to upload my photos from the camera onto the computer. So much easier to take with the phone and upload to flickr, ready to blog.

it was my birthday, and it was warm!

60 and sunny. That has never ever happened. What a treat! I went for a little outdoor hike. Crazy. I had yummy treats, saw an awful movie and got to buy myself more nail polish. Thanks to all my family and friends for gifts and hellos all day. And thanks to the facebook kid for making the happy birthday machine. I love that "ping, happy birthday... ping, happy birthday" all day long.

pom poms

I'm working on this guy today.