Creating
I cannot help myself. I buy knit fabric every chance I get. If only I had enough time to sew everything I wanted to! I will die with war chests of fabric in the attic! But I do have purpose with these knits I got because it’s time for your holiday custom sized kiddo leggings: FABRICS ARE IN! Run over and grab what you want if you want it now. I do them custom made, according to the sizes desired: 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24, 2T, 3T, 4T. My subscribers have already gotten their early bird discount and snagged the legging fabric they wanted to custom order for their littles! If you’re not on that list and want one more chance to get the fabric at a discount before it’s available to everyone, hop here. I’ll run an auction style sale on Instagram on Cyber Monday, November 30, with assurances people will receive their packages well in advance of Christmas! I buy limited quantities of each fabric so when it goes, it’s gone! I hate the sad emails and notes I receive about people missing out on their chance so line up, or order now! Also in the shop, four new fabrics in gift sets of contour cloths & bandit bibs. Run on over. All one-of-a-kind! Holidays with your kids in my leggings and bibs and burp cloths and caps make me oh so happy. Thank you for supporting this mama artisan shoppe! Love love love, Nell
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I have never completed anything I’ve started for Advent. Books I’ve bought. Journals I’ve bought. Projects I’ve meant to do with the kids. Why? What’s the common thread? I certainly have enough time. I know I do. Everyone has time for things they are determined to do. (I know I could be scrubbing my bathroom floors instead of sewing, but I’m not. #guiltyguilty) It boils down to seeing the benefit. Maybe I’ve been late to mature spiritually, more of a “pragmatist” than a “spiritualist.” Meaning, I’d rather do something I can see tangible results from that doesn’t involve me sitting and pondering. I have a lot of growing to do spiritually. I know the benefits and I want the graces that come with spending time in prayer!! We’ve all seen the studies about the mental health benefits of prayer or meditation. It’s neurologically proven to a-right the brain and improve your systemic health and balance. Because maybe some of you are like me, and need to be encouraged and dragged and prodded. Laura & Nancy & I wrote this Waiting in the Word Advent Scripture study for mamas of little kids. We wrote essays on themes, we picked Bible verses that are short & sweet to contemplate each day, and we even designed (we meaning Nancy!!) a bookmark for your Bible so you could easily grapple with that big ole book. There’s a journal you can print off if you’re a journaler, and if you’re a community leader, there’s a…
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It’s been a fascinating journey for me, to sew and create patterns, and sell the goods to friends and strangers alike at my shop, Whole Parenting Goods. I’ve learned so so so much about fabric and how forgiving or unforgiving it is, how long it takes me to do a job, and how much delight I feel when seeing babies kicking around in something I was able to make for them. Mostly, I’ve oscillated between humility and elation. My products have range from double layered blankets, bandit bibs, contoured burp cloths, leggings, skirts, caps, banners, washcloths, and then an assortment of washable wool knit blankets. I wrote a post a while back about tips to starting your etsy shop. Now I’m ticking off what I’ve learned along the way. 1) Precision and perfection. Sewing for others taught me to be precise, not a skill I had before. To truly tweak and fix and press and stitch as correctly as a human being can–not natural for me! To know it needs to stand up to wear and tear and washings and wearings informed my skills at durability. Yet, these are handmade items. No one is going to be exactly like the other. No one is going to be perfect. I’m not a perfectionist but I am always striving to be better and better. Sometimes that means I’ve had to change my pattern, or drop a product line. A few times my daughter stabbed a scissors through a leggings that I was…
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My junior high friend, Cynthia, has become one of my favorite adult mama Catholic world friends. She was actually Molly’s friend first, but I coopted her now as we go to the same parish, have kids around the same ages, and our husbands like to hang together too. We share of love of crafting and cooking, though I think she’s better at both than I am! Today I’m sharing with you about the vestments she’s hand-made for the little aspiring priests in your life. Of course, my mom bought three of these for her grandkids last year so I’m pretty partial to them, too. My oldest is five now and has had a serious hankering to become a priest since about 2. He’s fallen a bit out of this holy stage as piety swapped out for knighthood attempts (now it’s all honor and valor, so really similar, right?). BUT then I brought home Cynthia’s vestment for him and VOILA. Back to the altar making we go. But she also sells an entire KIT, people. Not just the vestments. And the three year old wears a few blue outfits and is playing “Holy Nun Mother of God Mary Jesus.” Cynthia’s going to tell you a little about herself and her work. And every single one of you is going have a 20% off coupon code for your shopping delights–use coupon code NELL20! SHOP HERE at Interior Castle Goods to support this sweet mama of five. — I know so many Catholic families who’ve…
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It’s Friday. That means you get a seven point chop up of my life for the week. And hop to Kelly’s blog to see a ton of other blogger’s 7 Quick Takes too! Highlight of my week? Seeing Haley and her family and then watching our kids enjoy enjoy enjoy themselves. She’s embarked on a wild adventure #crosscountrycarrots on social media. Look at our kids demolishing their popsicles <– new fav makers of them! The kids have no idea it’s all fruit and vegetables and very little juice. 1) Deodorant. Let’s talk about a paste you apply swiftly to your stinky underarms when you haven’t showered for a day or three, and need to go another day. I get in the bath regularly with the baby but that really great scrub & shave in the shower? It can be too long. Too long for the likes of those around me, too long for my baby’s head when he snuggles with me and then smells like me. Too long for everyone involved around here. I have the solution. Really, truly. Pitty Party. Molly’s organic skincare line just released deodorant. Of course, she knows me of old. It works. It WORKS. It WORKS!!!!!!!!! For a long time. And it’s so delicious and easy to put on with your fingers because you just rub it on your hands & knuckles afterwards–no post-application wash required. Not too grainy. Not too thin. All around da best. Buy now. 2) Raising kids with special needs. Did…
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I wish I could invite you all into my kitchen. It’s a spacious kitchen. It could probably fit almost all of you 😉 But truly, breaking bread with friends or bringing bread to them is one of my most rewarding actions in life. So because you live in your computer as I live in mine, let’s do this virtually. Before I give you the food that we’ve been gulping down, a few places to feed your brain: 1) Building Bridges Podcast I talk with Cristina & Jenna about our approach to parenting which is a mesh of attachment & survival. I think we all want this golden ticket for parenting: this amazing approach + book that will ensure the best children and best parenting experience ever. It does not exist. I repeat: it doesn’t! My little girl and big boy even make a cameo interruption. Yes, we talk about co-sleeping & sex too. 2) Shake it off, Jesus Edition My devotion that addresses how evangelizing works within relationships and a world that may not agree with you. How to not personalize, love, and just truck along with your beliefs while accepting others where they are. 3) FOOOOOOD Smitten Kitchen’s Raspberry Cake. Alice Waters’ Yellow Cake + my mom’s chocolate frosting from scratch Lavender Blueberry Muffins modified from King Arthur Flour recipe. Smitten Kitchen Slaw // modified with red cabbage. Roasted asparagus. Olive oil & broil + salt + pepper. Loaded nachos. Broiled in toaster…
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