A.musing.mama! 2.1

Is there any thing more unnerving - sanity sapping - heart breaking.. than a baby's cry.

Especially when it's your baby.

Annnnnnd they're just downright cranky, or inconsolable.

Despite your best efforts to soothe, suckle or strut like a flamingo... they just keep screaming.

Yeah, that.

I used to think myself a very mellow, patient, calm type of person... but when these kids let loose an ear-splitting shriek it's enough to knock over this 'house-of-cards' sanity I pretend to have.

So, while Tolkien's creepy ring-wraith's may have a truly disturbing screech... nothing can outdo how undone I get from our kid's cry.

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Side-note: wow.. it's been a blur of a week here - since my last post was last week's comic.

The weekend is even more of a whirlwind (including my craft show.. woooo!).

When the dust settles I hope to reconnect with y'all next week!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

 

A.musing.mama! 1.10.

That moment that happens once every 360 days... where you child sleeps in!

I don't know about you, but I tend to do a happy dance of utter delight, if they keep sleeping I start to get paranoid that they've likely stopped breathing...

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On a related note: did anyone else suffer the delusion that becoming a mama would somehow instantly grace you with the ability to be a 'morning person'.  Alas, four years in the making and I still can't thrive from getting the early worm around here. 

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It's been quite a long time since my last edition of these 'parenting' comics... we'll see if I can whip up a few more in the future again!

If you missed the last handful of funnies - based on real life - then you can check them out here.

Happy weekend friends!

Mel ;o) 

The craftiest time of the year!

It's that time of year.

Once the first dusting of snow hits the ground.. my brain turns into Santa's workshop, just busting with creative notions wanting to be made!

There's the homemade decor for the nest to be created with the kids.

The crafting of gifts for loved ones.

The making of goodies to sell at a craft show.

Just time... and energy, required.... yeah, those are rare commodities aren't they?

Needless to say I've dusted off my long neglected sewing machine and wedged my bulging belly into the crafting corner - a few hours here, a few moments there.

My wrist warmers (seen above) are all ready for our local FOCUS FAIR.

They sell out every year.. but I think I made enough for now. (I'll only be there for Sun.dec.8th).

Then, there's the labour of love creation for our daughter... a fabric mini play house.

I'm very loosely being inspired by the pattern from One Yard Wonders here.

You know I hate patterns.. and committing to a project that takes more than one sewing session... but, if it turns out - it should be cute!

I'm also needing to add a couple more stockings to the mantle (granted I'm all out of this tree fabric so I'll have to get creative).  The rest of my scheming and dreaming will take the back burner until I know there's an inch of time/energy left to throw their way.

What about you?

Crafting and creating and homemade goodness this season?  Do tell!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

 

D.I.Y: paint dipped pinecones (kid-friendly).

Finally.. an actual Do.It.Yourself crafty project from this blog... I bet you just choked on your egg nog to see this miracle!

Granted, we did quite a similar creation last Christmas.. (you may recall dipping pine cones in red paint with my daughter).

Anywho ~ this is one of those kid-friendly projects to decorate the house with for this festive season.

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1. Dip pine cones halfway into a can of paint.  Let drip dry/brush off excess.

(Kids love dipping... but it's less messy if you just dry brush paint straight on to the cones).

2. While paint is still wet.. sprinkle sparkles all over it.

(Yes, this mama finally caved and brought the dreaded demon of sparkles into our nest!).

3.  Once they are dry, the adult can hot glue a dab at the base of pine cone and attach pretty ribbon or twine to hang the decor in your window.  Ours are all dangling in our large living room window... with this gorgeous view outside today:

Goodness, it's a merry sight!

Happy crafting with yourself.. or your kiddos!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

Latest Painting: Patchwork Valley.

Good Monday morning to you friends.

I mentioned last week'ish that I would update you on the final outcome of this recent commissioned painting I was working on.

Voila.

Those with a stunning memory for detail may recall that this painting used to be my muted/foggy version of Patchwork Valley.  I opted to give it a more vibrant tone - with a glowing sunrise through the sky.  The rolling fields are more lush greens, and clusters of sheep and red flowers are speckled throughout.  The little house in the foreground became a little chapel as well.

The sky is a lighter blue than seen here.. but you get the idea.

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(Alterations were made to suit this painting as a gift for a sweet couple that are moving away from our church/city.  I wanted them to take a bit of their familiar countryside with them to a bigger city, and to remind them of a little chapel they spent many tireless years serving and encouraging at).

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In other painting news:  for any local folks wanting to see some of my larger paintings ~ they are back out on display at Haaselton's Coffee Shop downtown.

*I'll also be selling my mini Skyscapes paintings (5"x7") at the upcoming Focus Fair on Sun.Dec.8th at the SPILL coffee shop - 11-4pm!!

I'd love to send you home with one of my painted creations over the holidays!

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

 

the huge update:

By 'huge' you know I mean.. pregnancy and what not, right?

Because, yeah, I'm hitting that ginormous side of massive lately it feels like... pretty soon I'll be the new gravitational pull for all you fine folks who thought it was the Earth's job.

And, I still have a looonng way to go.

I think I've been in my fifth month for about a year now... in fact, I keep having to Google my due date to remember how far along I actually am.

Which, is 26 weeks by the way. (6+months!)

Only around 100 days left... um, can I get a chocolate advent calendar for that?

Speaking of chocolate, I get to do that Gestational diabetes test thing with my midwives this week... meaning: I get to eat a box and a half of SMARTIES and then they take my blood to screen/test my sugar levels... or, something like that.

Basically, I get to eat chocolate for my health.

So, I'm in.

In fact, I've been practising just to make sure I'm ready for the test, being a good mother and all.

Which leads me to acne,

I mean, the every-mama-feels-it moments of wanting a 'make-over'!

I've let my hair grow out to a big nest of frizzy fullness.

I drape my clothes around my growing form.

I still get acne like a kid in highschool.

You know, those little elements that help a woman feel like a sack of porridge left out too many days.

Now I know my heart matters more than the shallow surface of my skin.

And I value character more than cosmetics.

But we all have our weaker moments don't we?

I even want/need a new pair of glasses, and frankly, our lil' Hudson looks way cuter in them any way!

So that's just the mini-ramble on where I'm at here lately.. and I'll have you know that I'm also crafting for an upcoming Christmas show (Focus Fair -dec.8th!) so that's fun!

What's new in your corner of the world friends?

Mel ;o)

A spot of tea : Linen+Leaves

Calling all tea-grannies, and sweet sippers of the delectable brew!

Today I have a special feature for you.

My friend Stacy has an entrepreneurial spirit - she's always creating something simple and beautiful out of whatever loose ends life throws her way.

We've done a few craft shows together in the past, and her creations always reflect care and integrity.

She's now launching a new delicious business: Linen + Leaves.

If you're a fan of loose leaf teas... or would like to stock up for this upcoming festive season, now is the time to check out her many flavours!

 

For an added bonus, if you buy from her SHOP before December 10th, and use the promo code: needleandnest10 then you'll receive 10% off your entire order.

Happy sweet sipping friends!

Mel ;o)