par avion from japan

from japan
Originally uploaded by ravenramandmoon

My order from thisandthatfromjapan etsy shop came in today! It came all the way from Japan!! I think that's the farthest I have gotten mail from. Getting the mail has always been exciting for me it's like getting presents, I even like getting the junk mail.
I ordered two books, both written in Japanese, Cotton Time has such good pictures I may be able to make some crafts by just following them. Japanese quilting is so simple it's elegant and they tend to use alot of linen....love linen! The other book I have no idea what the about the title, is for making zori's, japanese sandles made from fabric. They look so cute and the color combinations are endless. I had come across someones blog (can't remember the name of the blog and I guess I didn't mark it because it's nowhere in my favorites). Well she had made a pair while in Japan. I have tried to find a site to make a pair but none had them made completely from fabric. I will have to make a couple and try out on my tester friends...hehe! and have them tell me how they hold up after I get done making them. The pictures are great in this book too. I'm thinking they may make great gifts, it will depend how long it's going to take me to make a set. Remember the socks I was knitting??? I had taken those out and restarted about 10 times and I still don't have one done. So I have put that aside for now. Knitting may not be my thing...haha!
I also got cute fabric a linen blend with little red riding hood (it's too cute, don't know what I'm going to do with it yet???). The other fabric has sewing illustrations and words, plan to use it to make me a sewing kit.
Now I just need to clean up the sewing area, it became the catch all since I moved stuff around for the Christmas decorations. Next year need to come up with a better plan.

white christmas

It has been years since we had a white christmas (Roger says it's been more than 10 years, usually we get ice). This year we got a white powdery one and I'm loving it! It started to fall on the 24th and by the 25th it was a winter wonderland. This is L's first christmas so it's even more memorable.

View obscured by the snow on the windows, when I lived in Southern California we used to spray that fake snow to make it look like this.

Our christmas tree with the gifts we are giving. The tree is not crooked, the angel is. The boys need to get credit they decorated the tree this year. I did the bubble lights and garland. The bottom ribbon is messed up L pulled some of it out.

This year I was going to make stockings for all of us but I ran out of time and just barely finished the boy's stockings. Still working on the other four and maybe I can get them done in time to put the christmas stuff up...we will see.

Boys excited about opening presents Christmas morning, L didn't much care except for a piece of paper she found and watched tv most of the time. Remy making one of his goofy faces, can't seem to get a good shot without him doing that!! haha!

More gifts!

Ram holding L and she holding her giraffe, which she still has not played with!

Boys sledding

Roger helping pull it back up the hill. I got to ride it a couple of times but I had the camera...haha! Not sure how much snow we got but I think it's more than the 2-6 inches predicted!

L stayed in the car, the wind made it feel colder.

Still playing outside in the snow, Ram making tracks.

Rem running in the front yard.

Some of the snacks we had after Christmas. Cheddar and black peppercorn popcorn and pickled olives. The blue glass dishes are gifts from my sister and mother in law...lucky me, I got a place setting for 12!!!

Mints, chocolate and nuts.

Yummy cheese spread and water crackers.

More snacks, none of these snacks were made by yours truly they all came out of boxes.

Wishing everyone a prosperous New Year in 2010!!!

artwork

A quick post with some artwork from the boys.

Rem does 8-box artwork at school every week. His interpretation and detail amazes me! Just look at the detail he did for some of his words, like the cow flying through the air in the tornado block,...haha! Looks like a Holstein. The tail of the airplane picture in the art museum art block (he just informed me that its a FedEx 727), the death star in the star block and the space station for the dark block (in the bottom right). I did close ups of them so maybe you can find more objects, an I spy post.

Ram drew a turkey for me tracing his hand. I was sewing and he planted himself next to me and decided I needed a picture of a turkey. He actually got in my way but he didn't stop until he was done. It turned out pretty good. Which is a reminder that Thanksgiving is next week....uhhh! too quick!

We are starting to get busy with the holidays, behind is more realistic, but it all works out in the end. I have been sewing quite a bit, actually a lot. Some of the projects are turning out pretty decent so I keep going. The house has been neglected so now I have to stop and clean...of course tomorrow, I'll just start tomorrow...hehe. I'll try and post pictures of some of my completed projects.

In case I don't post before Thanksgiving, hope you all have a great Thanksgiving Holiday and enjoying a great dinner or lunch like we do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

8-box artwork

star block - star and death star

clear block - clear path and clear skies

tornado block - cow flying in the sky

dark block - space station and x-wing fighter

art block - FedEx 727 painting

Yes we love airlplanes!!!

say cheese!

Just had to share this picture with everyone. Ram took it of L on Halloween and it turned out pretty cute.

Just a note:

Seven weeks if you count what is left of this week until Christmas!! I'm stressing already just thinking about it. Just wanted to let everyone know, I don't want to be stressing all alone...haha! Lets get into the holiday spirit and spread some joy! Our local radio station KBEZ is playing Christmas songs all the time. (I thought it started after Thanksgiving but they started playing around Halloween.)

Fa la la la la!

Halloween 2009

This Halloween was hectic since I was sick for almost 2 weeks with the flu. Everything got done on Saturday, finished costumes, went to the pumpking patch and picked out pumpkins, went trick-or-treating and then carved pumpkins. Finally got caught up (somewhat) so here is our day.

Captain Remy and Caveman Ram

Bumble bee L

Happy Halloween!

Story Book Portraits

Busy Bee Lifestyle is having a giveway, check out the website they create story book illustrations out of ordinary pictures. I entered!!

Win a $225 Gift Certificate to Story Book Portraits!

Update: contest has ended

Enter to Win! Enter to win a gift certificate valued at $225 towards a beautiful piece of art work from Story Book Portraits! This unique art creation will feature your own one-of-a-kind Story Book Scene with your child or family as the characters! An original work of art, your painting will be hand rendered especially for you by professional illustrator and designer, Katrina Jones Baden, using your photos for reference. Along with your “main character,” you can incorporate any special personal details and elements you wish into the picture for a very personal heirloom keepsake!

Enter at Busy Bee Lifestyle

Artwork

Some of the artwork the boys have done at school.

I'm so impressed with the detail Remy puts into his work, nuclear explosion and the shadow on the criminal escaping from prison...haha.

pictures he drew for each word assigned

This is Ram's work from school, it got cut off but it was an assignment on apples and he drew an airplane...haha! they do love those airplanes...maybe they were hauling apples???

ValueJet airline, normally it's American Airlines...