How I managed to spend 125% at an after Christmas sale...

I had good luck at K-mart the day after Christmas shopping with my mom. I bought several items from the Whimsical Workshop line (on sale), hoping to have a sewing themed tree in my craft room next year. The K-mart in Arizona didn't have this ornament, however

So I set off to find it at our local K-mart. Two, actually. I found it at the further/ghettoriffic store on one of the sample trees that were set up on the store floor. It had a price tag on it, so I figured no problem. I didn't set out to buy any of the school-themed ornaments, but saw these two

also on a theme tree and thought they would be cute as gift tags to adorn presents to Hank's future teachers.

On the way out, I saw these gorgeous ribbons originally priced at 99 cents

which I hadn't seen at the other two stores I had visited, so popped them in the basket.

I wasn't paying too much attention as everything was rung up, as I was on one of those post-shopping and finding exactly what I was looking for highs. In the parking lot I looked and realized the ornaments had all rung up full price, and the ribbon had rung up for 25% more than what was marked right on the friggin' roll!

I went back in and walked the length of the store to Customer Service. There was a line of about 30 people waiting, which is odd, considering Kmart's crappy return policy. Without a receipt, even if their damn tag is right on the thing, you cannot exchange the item, even for something else in that department, and certainly not for store credit. So, apparently everyone else was fortunate enough to have receipts for their items, as I had already waited in that line during another trip to get the bad news.

I go back to the Garden Center, but there is a different checker there now. In scanning the items, she confirms that those are the prices. Are those the prices they are supposed to be, or what they are ringing up at? I asked. I was told that Martha Stewart is very expensive, and that it never goes on sale. I had a whole bag of stuff at home that proved differently. I pointed out that stores selling stuff for higher than it is marked is illegal in California, to which I was requested to go wait in the never-ending customer service line.

It wasn't worth the few bucks to do so, but just for the record I am pretty pissed at K-mart right now. I suspect the tree ornaments had different price tags than those on the shelves, and hadn't been marked down in their computer system. The ribbon is a bit of a mystery, but again not worth it to pursue with another K-mart drone. Without Martha there, I probably wouldn't have any reason to shop at K-mart next year anyway. At least I will have a cute sewing themed tree as a remembrance of the K-mart years. Oh, and a purse.

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Favorite of the day: I'm not going to link to it, as it is kinda personal, but Matt - your account of the last decade made me teary eyed. Hugs to you and the famdamily.

Working on: Procrastinating

The 2009 mama knitted hat

and animatronic Christmas carnage



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Recent favorite: I hate to hear this blog is shutting down, but love this last post with links to 4 awesome tutorials.

Working on: Trying to fit everything into the family truckster

Santa is going casual this year

What to do if you forget the Santa suit to deliver all the stockings you lovingly prepared for your family?



Arizona Santa, of course! Just add a purchased beard set, borrowed hat and Hawaiian shirt, and shorts, sunglasses and flip flops.

Have a Merry Christmas, friends!

Much better

The drive to Arizona went much better thanks to two things - 1) Turning Hank to face forward in his car seat (lots of "wha dats?") and 2) a car cooler, which was used for carrying more filling snacks. Still took longer than usual to get here due to traffic, but we made it without getting completely frazzled.

Hank is enjoying Nana's collection of animatronic Christmas plushies (you know, the annoying Hallmark creations that play a song when you push a button) and tearing through the giant pile of presents under the tree.

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Favorite of the day: Great list

Working on: I at least have to finish the hat...!

Finished with the odds and ends

It will be a Christmas miracle if the two mama-made presents for Hank get completed, but at least everything else is done. The final stocking stuffers for the adults

Fudge for the women

and almond toffee for the men

I'm going to guess that the Ho Ho Ho bags and gift labels used for these two packages are - hmmm - circa 1999. Why am I such a packrat?? But, it was nice this year using mostly gift wrap I had on hand. And, I freed some space up to buy even more stuff!

I wasn't going to put together anything for BT's siblings, as we typically do not exchange gifts (and they get mad at me for giving my dorky little things.) But, I had some of the syrup jars left over, and decided to put the pancake mix in a bag this time (versus the jar used here)

You may recognize the wrapping style used for the pancake mix from the January issue of Martha Stewart magazine. Need a refresher? It was used for the Ginger Bath Soak

I couldn't help it - this was such a cute way to present cello bagged items, and the soak recipe given so easy to make (this is for BT's cousin who will be with us on Christmas Eve).

So, enough dilly-dallying and on to the hard fun stuff!

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Favorite of the day: How have I lived without this amazing invention?

Working on: One last work party - I'm all partied out...

Art Box

Another "must do" project from my Google Reader Favorites list was assembling an art box like Sally's (versions 1 and 2)

This one was made for the littlest Bluebird. Though I had a lot of cool elements on hand to fill the box - odds and ends accumulated over the years - I did have a hard time finding the perfect box (The one I got is from Walmart).

I do wish it had more compartments in the top layer, and of course multiple layers would be even better. I have a feeling it will soon be a beautiful mess regardless of how it is set up, once Lizzie adds her special treasures to it.

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Favorite of the day: The inside is just as perfect as the outside!

Interesting tidbit: We always joke that it's funny that sugar is considered healthy. Turns out the alternative, HFCS, really is evil.

Working on: Debating if I should finish my "odds and ends" or go back to the big project. I'm leaning towards odds and ends...

Holiday greetings

We had a professional photo shoot this year for Hank's 1st birthday

Jen Disney is just the best photographer! I think we scored bonus points with her for showing up with matching Cons and a giant balloon (which sailed away halfway through the shoot - guess who was holding it at the time? Nope, not him).

Jen made two un-photogenic adults and a hungry/cranky/teething baby look great

The photo shoot took place at Shoreline Village here in Long Beach

which has all sorts of fun elements and great colors

There is also a carousel, photo booth, and coin operated ride-ons

Since I like to give Christmas cards that are also gifts, I made ornaments using one of our favorite shots.

Not that I really expect anybody but my parents to put this on their tree...but, you know - it's the thought that counts.

(BTW, the envelopes and card bases used in this project, from Paper Source, were intended to be for Hank's birth announcements - a project that wasn't even a blip on the screen once he arrived.)

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Favorite of the day: Just add them to the Paper Source wish list (after seeing Hillary's completed version here)

Working on: Odds and ends - neglecting my big project. Again.

Make new friends

We have some new folks on our Christmas list this year

New friends, a pastor, and of course the awesome staff at Hank's school. It is challenging to come up with a gift for teachers. On one hand, you want something meaningful and/or cute - possibly handmade. But, I'm sure with time teachers accumulate too much stuff, cute or not, and really don't know what to do with the new stuff coming in.

So, I decided to go the gift card route for the two main teachers (for Kohls - these are the Starbucks gift card holders from a few years ago). For the staff, I added chocolate ornaments to a little mini tree and made a tree topper using Hank's Santa photo.

Overall, though, I feel I can't repay a group of people that wipe my kid's ass 3 days a week, and somehow manage to do it with a smile.

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Favorite of the day: I love every single one of these. I have a whole year to decide, but I am leaning towards this one for next year.

Working on: Our first overnight trip post Hank!!

Christmas "Sock" Tutorial

Finally - the tutorial!




This pattern is something near and dear to my heart - my husband's family's Christmas stocking, or "sock," as they call it. I am not sure if the tradition of making these started with BT's grandparents or even further back than that, but every new member of the family has had a sock made for them (even prospective members - mine was made the first Christmas BT and I were dating. Good thing I stuck around or the sock made for me would have been wasted!), first by BT's grandma, then his aunt, and now by me.


(three generations' worth of socks)


I love the socks so much because of their vintage look, and that there are so many ways to customize them. Additionally, I like that they have a gusset. I saw some beautiful "2-D" felt stockings at a craft fair recently, but wondered what they could hold and if they would lose their shape once they were stuffed. These socks do not hold a lot, mind you, but they have withstood the test of time -some have been around for four generations.




Materials:

• 1/2 yard red wool felt (37.5" wide) You can make 2 socks with this amount of felt
• red thread
• white cotton fingering weight yarn or embroidery yarn
• felt scraps to add embellishment of your choice
• sequins (I bought a good sized bag of random sequins and have been using them for several years now to design socks for new family members. The sequins sometimes help me in determining a design.)
• seed beads (I prefer clear so they disappear on the design, but you could use beads to match your design)
• miscellaneous materials (rick rack, fabric, glitter glue, etc.) to complete your design
• 3/4" gold jingle bell
  

Tools:

• sewing machine
• dressmaker's chalk or air erase pen
• fabric glue
• scissors
• pinking shears
• sewing needles (one will need to be slender enough to go through seed beads. You will also need a needle beefy enough to accommodate the yarn being used for embroidering the name)
• thread to match sock embellishments

Instructions:


1) Print .pdf of sock pattern here (will print onto 2 pages). Cut out pattern pieces (you do not have to cut the jagged lines - they are just a guide for lining up the pieces). Carefully line up two printed pages to form sock shape and tape together.

2) Cut a strip 2" wide and 36" long of red felt.

3) Cut two sock shapes from red felt.

4) Place one sock half with toe facing right. Starting at upper right-hand side, carefully pin long strip to sock half, going all the way around sock shape. Your strip will be longer than the sock - just ignore the "tail" for now. You can switch directions and have the sock pointing to the left, but be consistent in making subsequent socks. Some people get particular that their family's socks all point the same direction.

5) Using your sewing machine, sew strip to sock using a straight stitch and 1/2" seam allowance. Stop when you get to the final edge of the sock. Do not stitch onto your tail.



6) Before continuing sewing up your sock, it is good to add your embellishments at this time. Using dressmaker's chalk or an air erase pen, write the name of the stocking's owner using a script font diagonally through the middle of the sock. My names end up cutting diagonally through the sock and are more difficult to connect letters than the original socks made with a slanted font. You will have to use trial and error to come up with a version that suits your fancy.




7) Using a stem stitch, embroider over your markings using thin white yarn or embroidery yarn.




8) Now comes the fun part! Each sock should be unique to the recipient. You can use standard Christmas imagery or something that represents the recipient (a hobby or sport they enjoy, for example). Designs can be made from felt or fabric. Please see my Flick set for samples of designs for socks used in BT's family. Felt or fabric embellishments can be glued to the sock using fabric glue, or sewn on for extra stability.




9) After cutting out and assembling your main design, you can embellish it or the rest of the sock with sequins. To attach a sequin, bring a slender needle and thread up from back of partially assembled sock through center of sequin. Slip seed bead onto needle. Bring thread around seed bead and go back through center of sequin to back of partially assembled sock.



Now the sequin will stay put! I sometimes use a smattering of sequins to represent snow or stars. Some designs are made of sequins, like the candy cane used here



10) After embroidering the name of the intended owner, adding your design, and embellishing the sock with sequins, you are now ready to add the back sock half. Follow steps 4 and 5 for pinning and sewing this half to sock. You will still have that pesky tail at the end!







11) Trim both seams with pinking shears. Continue pinking onto tail.



12) Cut tail's end at an angle with straight scissors. Fold over tail to make loop. Loop should stick about an inch and a half about the rim of the sock. Pin in place.


13) Sew down sides of loop approximately 2 inches onto sock body, overlapping if possible with existing seams. I also like to line up the pinked edges. You will sew both edges of the loop where it overlaps the sock body, but do not sew onto the actual loop. As you get better making the socks, you may be able to make the loop as you are sewing the side seams so you do not need to go back and resew the loop onto the sock.



14) Using needle and thread, attach jingle bell.

Your sock is complete!

Socks are filled with an orange in the toe, chocolate fun-size candy, and a candy cane as well as your gifts for the recipient. Here are some of the stocking stuffers I am giving this year.



Santa brings socks to everybody, kids and adults alike, on Christmas Eve.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and provide a link to your finished socks!

Please allow me to introduce myself

We have a new girl in the office who bakes. And presents her baked goods, in bags and bows

There is always room for more baked goods in an office setting, but as for a resident craft and baking diva, there can be only one.

(gingerbread cupcakes made from mix, Tollhouse chocolate chunk cookies. By the original office Martha.)

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Favorite of the day: Sooo pretty! (via Whip Up)

Working on: Stressing over how late my Christmas cards are and wondering if I will get any of my big projects done.

Spoiled!

Once again by Barb!! Today I received a generously stuffed flat rate shipping box filled with

Fabric, a cut and sew pattern for a mouse sewing supply holder (cute!) and 2 apron patterns.

Other craft supplies, including some Generation T items and a collage book

Some fun stationery items and bento box mayonnaise holders (the Japanese think of everything!)

Barb always fun magazine tears of craft projects. The memory box is adorable! Coincidentally, seeing the project for the quiet book, I am making Hank an activity book for Christmas using another pattern Barb sent previously.

I definitely know Barb wanted to spoil me rotten - that she was able to part with this great Hawaiiana and kitsch. The handkerchief in the corner is from Disneyland, and is just too great for words. I love the cloth napkins, and the metal box (filled with stationery) is so perfect for my craft room. One of the books shown here is How You Can Give Hawaiian Parties. I'm sure you will be seeing that again!

Finally, the mousie items

I have been wanting an animal shaped cutting board, but had no idea a mouse one existed! It is so perfect! I think I will wear the brooch tomorrow to our Christmas party.

Thank you so much, dear friend. I am sorry that we don't have our long email conversations like we used to. Hopefully things will get back to normal this year with Hank getting older. I'll keep him busy with an activity book or two.

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Favorite of the day: I'm sure the lists I link to have some overlaps, but they are all so good!

Working on: Work holiday party prep