December

Happy December!

I know the month has already started, but it has been awhile since I have posted and I wanted to say hello! This time of year is so busy and exciting, I love all things comforting...food, clothes, music, food, shopping (yes, even shopping!) sharing, giving, food, and making.

I have to admit that I have been on Instagram a lot and I love it! You can follow me I'm ravenramandmoon!

I've taken some cross-stitch projects on, (Christmas ones) and I may not be done in time!!!! I guess they will be ready for next year.

Also, Christmas decorations are coming up slowly around the house and hopefully I can take pictures and share those with everyone! (So excited!!! then I can move on to the cooking!)

Here is one of the cross-stitch projects the Christmas Celebration Sampler, still a work in progress but going to try real hard to finish before Christmas! It is being released as clues so there is still one clue left (the border-coming out this Friday, Dec.5th) and I'm sure it still will be available on their site. This one is Christmas spelled out and each letter representing a theme...C for Carolers, H for Hot cocoa and holly, R for Reindeer, I for Icicles and ice skaters...no point to keep going you can't see the rest since I haven't done them...haha!

I have been loving the calendars from Oana Befort's blog, here is the December one...too cute! The little hot chocolate mug on the bottom right!!! The link lets you download on desktop, iphone or ipad.

I also wanted to share a link to Advent playlist "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him" created by SheReadsTruth! I'm currently following their Advent plan, enjoy!

The Advent plan study resource...just a glimpse you really do not have to have it to be part of the study, but this one is adorable, includes songs, recipes and of course the readings. It's done with my favorite holiday colors, green and red.

 

 

I got A Christmas Carol in the mail today!!! This will be our family reading for the rest of the year. Remy has been excited to start this one, hopefully the other two will enjoy it as well! The book is a Penguin Classic, fabric bound in white with navy blue snowflakes, they are adorable!! The illustrations are black and white but have an old time feel, which I am enjoying this time of year. Hopefully no humbug for me! I am behind on my gift buying, but I am every year...

Linked up with Small Things blog - Yarn Along.
Sharing my book, did not have a picture of my knitting...working on a Breezy sweater, the picture is from Ravelry.

Image from Ravelry

More Christmas-y things to come,

Have a happy Wednesday!

xo,

estela

yarn along...be brave

I have missed looking at everyone's books and knitting...I kind of been obsessed with Instagram!!!

Today is the first day of Soak's photo challenge for Quilters so there is still time to start on the first day! Last month was fun it was for knitters! 

Okay today I'm linking with Ginny of Small Things in her weekly yarnalong!

Book:

"Let's All Be Brave" by Annie F. Downs. Just started reading last night and had to make myself put it down around 2am!!! I think some of it had to do with the Mocca Frappe from McD's I had around 8pm...The book was not what I had thought it would be, it's her stories of being brave and inspires you to be brave as well. She means brave as to grow, try, learn and not miss what you really want to do. So far it feels inspiring to do something as small in daily life to a major life decision! I've only read a few chapters but it is a good read. I'm not a very good book critic but when I finish I will describe the book more.

Knitting:

Almost finished with my Spate finger less mittens, I'm working on the hand part but should be done in a couple of days. Can't wait to do another project from this book! I'm using the yarn the pattern recommended (love) in a different color because they sold out of the cream color (it's actually called something else) and I have tons of yarn left over. I know because the mitten I'm working on I'm redoing. I actually didn't read the measurements correctly and made it really long...haha! Typical! 

xo,

estela

"this moment" September

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Inspired by SouleMama.

xo,

estela

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Inspired by SouleMama.

xo,

estela

journey of a birthday quilt

 One of my friends suggested I photograph the process to document the work I do. This is probably the only time I did take pictures, thanks to my kids...so here you go, from finished to beginning. Journey of a birthday quilt!

my photo assistant!

me quilting, L took this one, she was so excited about taking pictures

sketched drawing next to sewing machine, it helps when I have to change directions

basted, rolled up, and ready for quilting, my son Ram took this one of me

this is the final layout, although I did go back and rip things and re-cut

work in progress

before I added the pictures, this was the first layout. takes all my living room and block one passage to the kitchen...It was fun to create something special!

Since this post was sitting in as a draft for a bit, the birthday boy has gotten his quilt and i'm told he loves it. YEA!!!

xo,

estela

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Inspired by SouleMama.

xo,

estela

etsy loving

sharing some eye candy from a treasury I created on Etsy...these can be so much fun and people are so creative with their products!

enjoy,

Estela

yarn along

 Reading:

Not much knitting right now, trying to finish a custom order. I always feel guilty when I work on anything while I'm working on an order. A while back I started reading Bitter in the Mouth and I'm enjoying it. It's a story about a young girl, Linda, who tastes words in her mouth. It caught my eye because I love this photographer's work and she had designed a cover for the new version, yup I judge books by their covers...I checked mine out from the library and they didn't have the prettier cover.

Isn't it pretty!!!!!

photo taken from Amazon

Linked with Ginny of Small Things

xo,

estela

walking

We [mom making kids] have taken up walking to get out and exercise. In support of my coworkers efforts to work out I added the MapMyRun app they have been using. [we walk, just to set things straight, even though the app says run] This weekend I took the kids [not to excited] for a mile walk. They enjoyed it! We stopped and smelled the flora because there were no roses [as the saying goes] on this trail, there was some poison ivy!

  

 

 

Poison Ivy...I did not know, they boys did! I'm still not sure if I can identify it on my own, but I will stay away from plants that branch out into 3 leaves...

Hope everyone had a great fourth of July!

xo,

estela

"sew week"

Last week we started our round of summer activities to engage the kids mind. [Mostly the boys.]

They made a 20" envelope pillow for their project and we ended the week by attending the quilt show. Our bible study for last week and this week has been the book of Titus. We are focusing on giving, through Grace, Mercy, and Peace. In easier terms for them it's help, forgive and comfort. All three of us are learning everyday. So I am incorporating that into our projects. 

Remy was surprised he could make something and very happy with his pillow. Ram had a more complicated cover, with the back a different fabric, but he was so grateful and impressed by his accomplishment. We added a pocket for his phone following the pattern instructions. I think they turned out great! Even though they are in different rooms, they match.

The boys selected fabrics, surprised how quickly they were able to do it. They learned how to cut with a rotary cutter, iron and use the sewing machine. Hopefully we will continue to do projects in the future.

 

 

Rem

Ram

I used this pattern as a guide, since we made ours for a 20" pillow.

I think they better understand why I enjoy sewing so much.
 xo,
estela

yarn along

 

 

Knitting:

Finished the Briar hat!! My little model looks adorable in it so I have started a smaller version for her. The yarn is cotton so she will be able to wear all year long. I'm back to working on my Perkins Cove top, it's always hard to get back to something when you rip it out, having to figure out where you are in the pattern, picking up stitches, counting...blah blah blah, its sooo boring! Usually I put the project aside and take a long time [months, maybe years] to get back to it, but made myself not procrastinate and keep working on it!

Reading:

I finished reading Missing Lily! Honestly this one was kind of hard for me to finish, although when I finally finished it I was glad I did, it's a cute romance story. I flew through the fist half and then kind of stalled on the last half.

Linked with Ginny of Small Things

xo,

estela

quilt show 2014

I took the kids to the quilt show, to round up our "Sewing week" [more on that tomorrow]. Here are just a few pictures of the quilts. The show is a biannual event at The Central Park Hall at the Expo Center sponsored by the Green Country Quilt Guild. The kids really enjoyed looking at the quilts made this mama happy they share my joy!

Ann is our local long arm quilter, this was her booth. She is amazing!

Kids in most of the pictures...

L called this the "America's Quilt". I learned from my son Ram, that poppies symbolize the soldiers of World War I and II and sometimes the soldiers wear them, and here I thought I was teaching them something, ha! It's a poem, Flanders Field.

Amazing, it's in 3-D!

Baltimore Quilts

and traditional wedding ring

Made and quilted by Ann.

 

WOW! Hexagon quilt...and kids...

I want to sew! So many quilts, so little time!
Hope you enjoyed the show.

xo,

estela