Handmade Baby Shower Decoration

Inspired by The Handmade Home, I decided to make a name banner as a decoration for a friend's baby shower.  It didn't require many materials, and is something that can be reused as a permanent decoration in the child's room or for future birthday parties, etc.

It got a little wrinkled in transit between Milwaukee and Chicago, but was fun to make.

Supplies: 
-Burlap (1/2 yard should be fine depending on length of name) or other background fabric
-4 fat quarters in at least 2 complimentary fabrics (I used 4 different fabrics in shades of orange and green), possibly more depending on length of name
-twine
-needles, matching thread

Directions:  
Cut the burlap squares to the desired size.  Hand-draw or trace letters on fabric.  I did two copies of each letter, one larger than the other, so each letter would be outlined.  Cut out letters and applique or sew to burlap.  String the banner together with twine or string.  Enjoy!

Valentine's Cold Process Soap

This soap used a blend of olive oil (55%), coconut oil (31%) and cocoa butter (14%). I added rhassoul clay (about 1 tablespoon per pound of oil) and a blend of lemon, peppermint and lavender essential oils and a bit of rosemary oleoresin. I used a heart-shaped silicone mold. It smells very nice, but it will need to cure for a few weeks before I can test it out. This is my first batch of soap since moving to California so I'm feeling a bit rusty. I'm looking forward to trying it!

Meet Huntington

On Christmas Eve 2010 Tom and I adopted a kitten from our local vet, TLC in South Pasadena. They sometimes have kittens available that staff members have fostered or when shelters have an overflow. We met each of the five kittens they had at the time, and decided to adopt a 6-month old cream tabby male. Because his fur is the color of sand on a California beach, we decided to name him Huntington, largely after Huntington Beach (where all the surfers hang out) but also because when we first met him he was on Huntington Drive. We often shorten his name to Hunter.

As you can see he made himself quite at home.

Because we already had a nearly 5-year-old cat, Rusty, at home, we did a very slow introduction over the course of several weeks. Rusty had been getting lonely as the only cat in the house (up until a few months before Hunter's adoption, we were a three-cat household). Although he doesn't always appreciate Hunter's energy level, Rusty's mood has generally improved since getting another feline companion. Here are a few photos of the two of them together.

Daffodils in February

These lovely daffodils actually started blooming in our Los Angeles yard in January, but I just got around to taking photos the other day. As a native Midwesterner, it is hard for me to grasp daffodils blooming this early in the year!

Holiday Decorations 2010

2010 marked the first time we had a Christmas tree. Although Tom and I have now celebrated seven Christmases together, many of them involved travel. This year we celebrated at home with a tree that used to belong to my grandmother.

Since this was our first tree we didn't have too many ornaments. The ones we do have are either hand-made or are souvenirs from places we've visited. Here are two of my favorites that I made this year:

Count Claw

Tom and I (engagement photo)

For these ornaments I used wooden ornaments from Joann Fabrics (about .50 each), acrylic paint, photos, craft glue and gitter. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out.

Since tinsel is a hazard to cats, we used some purple tulle ribbon that I had to trim the tree. I think it turned out really well. We don't have a tree topper yet so I tied a bow at the top of the tree.

Next year I'm hoping to add some bubble lights to the tree and maybe a vintage-style topper like we had growing up.

What are some of your favorite decorations from this year? Hope you had fantastic holidays!

Handcrafted Christmas: Seashell Ornament

This ornament was a snap to make. I made it for my step-sister who grew up on an island in Florida. I think it looks pretty and is a nice reminder of a special place. This would also be a nice ornament to commemorate a beach vacation.

Supplies:
-glass ornament ($3.99/4, not on sale at JoAnns)
-two strands of souvenir seashell necklaces
-ribbon

Directions:

Take the lid off the ornament, insert the seashell strands. Replace lid, hang a ribbon on top.

Product Review--Scented Djinn Pink Grapefruit Organic Oil Soap

Recently I won a contest sponsored by The Scented Djinn over at Oh True Apothecary. The prize was two delicious bars of Justine's Pink Grapefruit Organic Oil Soap. The soap was very strongly and brightly scented. It has a very creamy, smooth lather and is not drying. A lovely soap for the cold winter months! It retails for $6, which is really an excellent price given the quality of the ingredients and the loving care clearly put into the final product. Currently there is an offer for free shipping on orders over $35.

I also received a sample of Parma Natural Botanical Perfume Extrait from the Djinn's Artfire store. It comes in a gorgeous green glass bottle with a glass stopper. The sample was as fantastic as the description sounds.

Definitely shops worth checking out as you go about your holiday shopping.