from the north country : ten finger workshop

Staying warm : a few crafts from the snowy north

This sweater mitten tutorial from five green acres changed my life this winter.  I've made about 20 of them, for friends and family.  They are satisfyingly quick, economical and most importantly warm.  This set was for a family who has an annual camp out on a frozen lake, I have yet to participate but I thought their digits could use some extra protection.

Insulated Curtains ,  a must have for a drafty old house that sees 4 months of  winter winds that come from the north. 

These curtains were really simple to make too.  Heavy Ikea fabric and a quilted mattress cover, that had been torn by the washing machine, made for an simple panel curtain.  Made a bit longer than the windows so it can be tucked on the sill to keep drafts down.  Not the fanciest thing I've ever made, but it has made the most difference.  

 

Minor improvements every year keep us treading through winter namely a netflix membership and lots of wool.  I hope you stay warm too.  
Thank you meg for letting me guest post for you this week, come visit me at ten finger workshop. 

details - long winter days pt 3

We had epic winter storms this week that forced us to stay inside.  Staying in our pj's,  turned the oven on and enjoying another long winter day together.
We roasted the rest of our sqaush & pumpkins from the root cellar .  Filling the depleted freezer with puree,  and our shelves ready for empty canning jars, waiting for next year. 
Welcome February, and one month closer to the growing season.  

art table - long winter days pt.2

 It seems like soooo long ago when I moved in the art supplies from the front porch for the winter.  What ended up being a vintage metal assemblage of furniture is our art table.  A wide trough held paper, stickers, crayons etc. ready whenever the mood stuck the boys.  I tried to clean it up, move supplies through every once in a while to keep it fresh but too often it just became another cluttered mess.     SO,  enter in another vintage piece of metal furniture. 

 This tall organizer has been in my studio for about 10 years,  holding....who knows what.  Time to give it up, haul it upstairs and give it over to the family's newest artists.  It gave the table top more space,  more supplies with less clutter and hopefully inspiration.   With a blizzard on the way I'm hoping this updated art table get's some more use.  sooo now what?

penguins - the long winter days pt 1

I had stashed this cool wooden model from a recent craft store raid a few weeks back.  When reading Casper the Ghost comics exhausted itself this afternoon I stumbled upon this.  So while the little one was asleep, Felix & I dove into figuring this thing out.  It was so fun, I felt like I had finally found a project that was at his level, fun and we stayed friends throughout building it.  The result is a sweet pair of penguins.  A mama and a little guy,  how perfect. 
score one for the tired mama......now what are we going to do???

the long winter days

 

These days come every year,  cold, still & snowy.  The wonder has worn off, no celebrating or gift giving, now it's just a waiting game.  It's too early to think about spring, but we can start to dream about the garden.  We knit, bake and watch movies, try to make plans and only a few happen. It's the perfect space to be in my first trimester,  with no energy to do much of anything, but dream about the summer.    and a baby. 

in the new year

hello friends.  I don't have much happening on my end at the moment besides cleaning up, purging & making my 2011 list.  Here's how it stands:
- get lenses for my awesome new wooden glasses
- take a page from elsie marley, simple, organized & cool.
- give this midwife some business
- organize my studio, again.
- do more yoga
- make homemade cheese somehow
-  give these children some breakfast. 

happy new year all of you. 
Lily

making a bit of christmas magic for a friend.

Hello all you holiday makers,  we're gearing up just like you are for all the festivities later in the week. While my lists are done,  I got a chance to help a good friend this week by making her boys some stockings to hang for Santa.  I had been making mittens using old felted sweaters and this fantastic free tutorial from Five Green Acres ( and Mary Jo's old sweaters too! ) .  These stockings were simple to make using the scraps from the sweaters.  I used an old stocking as a pattern and than cut it into 5 pieces.  Using the pattern I tried to make a white, blue & green stocking each embroidered with the sweet boy's name.  I like the cozy handmade look of them,  maybe I'll make some for my boys next year.      there's always next year rite?! 
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you all. 

Cheers,  Lily