Winter Solstice and Xmas

We celebrated the Solstice day, which happened on the 22nd this year, with my mom before she left for Mexico. I made a cipaille, which is a traditional meal from our region consisting of throwing meat and potatoes in a pot and covering it with dough. It was good and the kids loved it, especially Merrick who likes potatoes so much.

We also made a batch of gingerbread men and pine tree, but they've gone missing before I had a chance to take a picture of them... I actually found some in the playroom, missing limbs, naked of all their buttons and eyes...Wonder what happened to them!

We opened our stocking on the solstice day. I like that, so xmas eve isn't too overwhelming and I feel they savour their gifts more. It might me egoist of me, but I knew my handmade stuff would be eclipsed by the huge cardboard playhouse the in-laws bought. I love it too!

I was heard and no one received plastic! Even me, I asked for knitting needles and crochet and received bamboo ones.

But I have mixed feelings about this year's holidays. I really feel like celebrating on the 24th is a fraud, so to say. Papa also informed me of his desire not to celebrate the 31st, as it's "Just a number". We pretty much agree that the real new year happens is November 1st, when the nature is finally getting a rest. So we are in this weird stage of creating our family tradition and finding what's right for us. You know, Boxing Day isn't our kind of thing.

What traditions did you keep? Which one did you create?

Other Handmade Gifts

My daughter adores Fairies. It might be my fault, as I push for her not to like the princess, fairy makes a good replacement. Those are the disney fairies. Even the "evil" one, my daughter's favorite, that never really gets to be displayed on their merch. I love how they turned out and find them really cute. Mariann loves them of course, and she installed them in the felt house I made last autumn.

I made 2 mechanics for Merrick to go with the cars Mariann painted for him.

And this crown was made for the little red-head best friend of Mariann, Zoe. She turned 3 in the middle of the month. I also made her a set of pretend cookies.

And I made this for one of my SIL. Now that she moved to study I thought she could use a sewing kit. I also made an infinity top to the other SIL, but she finds it too thights and the wraps aren't serged so she won't wear it... I made a red infinity dress for myself. I'll try to show you soon.

Winter Clothing and Emergency dollmaking

My goal of knitting a sweater for Mariann, Merrick and Papa wasn't achieved, but, I managed to complete one for Merrick! It still needs to be blocked.

Mariann's sweater dress was made out of a sweater I paid 1$ and Merrick's pants were sweater sleeves as well. I plan on turning the body of that sweater into stocking for next year...I found ours are way too small!

And you know what? After completing and giving this doll... I found Victoria!
We made a lot of reno upstairs and since Mariann doesn't sleep much in her bedroom anymore we had put the reno stuff in there. I thought I checked everywhere and moved every blankets, but Saturday I was seeking for dressing the new doll and while moving the doll cloths pile I saw the pyjama I thought we lost Victoria in.... And removing the blanket, there she was, in the pink pyjama!

Mariann was so delighted. She's playing with her ever since. Dressing and undressing, walking around with her in her sling. Ah! It made my day!

What I got through the mail...

I've agreed with Marie to make her a doll in exchange of her magnificent nativity set, that I would offer to my Catholic in-laws. I proposed to make a bigger doll so I can get a Winter King as well. But if you know Marie, you know that she is a sweet, generous being. So even when I came back at her telling that the doll I made was too expensive to ship to NZ (and her saying okay) she sent all the same. AND more then I asked!

The Winter King came with two gorgeous Winter Ladies ( and beautiful postcards of her work). I can't tell you how much they have been cherished since they entered our home. Mariann and Merrick love them so dearly, they are the new stars of their play. And they are so well made, they will last entire childhoods. I love them, a lot.

Thank you, Marie! Check you mail soon, you will have a little something from us as well!

What the Candy Fairy brought us

I confess, I did the Candy Fairy gift on the night of Halloween, when Mariann and Merrick got to bed. I first didn't think of making something for Merrick...But it didn't seem fair as he strolled around too.

After leaving her candies for the Candy Fairy, she went to bed, a tad later then she's used to...She was full of sugar. That's what she found in the morning.

I took vintage blocks from her block bins and turned them into a fridge, a stove, a sink and a counter. I also made an autumn gnome! It's the first gnome I make! and two oak leave carpet. The rest we already had it.

And I made this little quick star baby for Merrick to chew on. Oh, and he did chew it.



It was our first visit from the Candy Fairy...I hope she will come back next year!

We celebrated Halloween and Samhain

This is what we left for the Candy fairy.

I don't have pictures of them costumed, But they went as knights and only did some fifteen houses, which gave the candies above. Mariann was thrilled the give them to the fairy and only kept 6 boxes of smarties, and a dorito bag for Papa.

...to be continued...

We've emptied a bottle of glue

Along with the tons of art supply my mom gave me, was tons of tissue paper.

Seeing that Mariann is ready for gluing things, I remembered a fall project we did in school, it was an apple, made with tons of little balls of tissue papers. I was 6. But does a 3 years old gets tired of pouring glue? No.

I realized I didn't take a picture of the lovely final result...Shame on me, I will before we give to Mariann's "godmother" this weekend , for her birthday. Well, that's what Mariann said she will do. So aunt Marie-Eve will be really really really really happy. Really. Right, Maman?

I've also wanted to try making one of those for some times now. Here's the instruction from A Child's year. Simple enough. Just try to keep glued-covered toddler hands off of your points while you shape them.

So now we have a pretty star to welcome people on our door.

And here's the cleaning team. 3 littles spontaneously picking up brooms. Is my floor that dirty?

Merrick is so proud of walking. He follows the girl around and steal their snacks, enjoying multitasking. 2 free hands!

Halloween Happenings

I haven't updated for a little time now. I'm busy making various sizes of doll. I'm sewing like a mad one. I have scratches and cuts all over my hands. Fortunately, no blood was shed over the dolls... And I have no pictures to prove, but I finished something like 15 dolls this month.

Monster Cake!

Our daily rhythm activities concentrated on spooky things and the like. We made a bean-based cake that Lili can eat, and poured bright green icing on it. On a day we didn't have our little friend home and graced with a nap from Merrick, we painted some paper plate orange, painted spooky faces, and glued green leaves. It was the first time Mariann glued something. She loved it. Now I need a project she can glue and glue and glue and glue over and over again...

We also stencilled on that day. Scary stuff, of course! Mariann was very proud of this one, and proceed to show every person entering the house.

Um... Modpodge with toddlers.

It actually went well. I didn't have to scrape all the tablecloth afterward, just some places. Even Merrick did a great job. We've let them dry and decorated them with sharpies...I didn't want to take out the mod podge again... I love them... We will do some more for the winter solstice.

And now prepare for cute....

Mariann's helping Merrick to walk. It was from last week and now Merrick walk around, alone. They are no longer little babies.

Swapping for Holiday gifts?

This summer, Marie oven at SoSoftheart proposed to exchange a nativity scene she made for something someone would propose her. What a great idea!

14" Waldorf Doll

So here, I'm proposing to swap stuff I can make (dolls, crowns, wands, baby clothing, even crocheted dishcloths!) for something you can make (soaps, knitted doll clothing, wooden toys (even if they are used!), dry herbs, homemade teas... or anything you think might interest me).

Sounds like a good idea?

Personalized Birthday Crown

Comment here or leave me a email :D

My friend Danni over The Whimsical Cottage is hosting a Countdown to Hallowe'en (see sidebar button for details).
I won't post something Halloweeny everyday, but I'll try to catch up once a week. I'm doing a bit of themed crafting with the kids and some decoration myself, and I'm making their costume again this year.

So, yesterday we craved a pumkin! Its seeds are currently soaking in salt water, waiting to be roasted. We also harvested mapple leaves from my mom's neighbour yard. You'd think with all that land we got, I would have plenty of leaves for ourselves, but since we are by the sea, the first maples we encounter in our land are very deep in the woods and not quite child friendly to access. So, the city mapple produced a nice bunting non-the-less !

Pratical Magic Party: Cauldron Magic

We're doing it this year too! Last year, I showed you how I make my teeny tiny hand bound spellbooks. It was fun, and I tried to come up with something PM raleted, but not so obvious. But they do, at one point in the film (Gilly's exorcism) make a bubbly smelly potion so I thought about explaining you some basic of Potion Making, and I took some pictures to go along. Enjoy!

First, making a potion can be very simple, as it can be very elaborate... I better like simple! Since not all of us has access to bonfire in the middle of a meadow or on a shore, I'll propose you something most of us has but seldom use; a chocolate fondue kit. You know the one you can put a tea light under? It makes reasonable size potion and you can safely brew you potion all day long with that. I opted for my big red cauldron in the picture, because.... It makes great pictures ;)

You'll need:

• Cauldron/Fondu kit/ Pot-pourris Burner
• Tea light
• Glass stick, or twig, or wooden spoon (those are great since you can carve symbols into them!)
• Mortar and Pestle
• Ideally Spring Water, but boiled tap water can do.
• Herbs and Essential Oils

Herbs can be substituted by their essential oils, and vice versa. For herbs, you need to crush them hard enough to break them and free their essence, but turning them into dust isn't a necessity.

Previously take your water to boil. By the way, if you don't have any fondue kit, you can makey your potion on your conventional oven, you just have to watch it more closely when it brew. Pour it in your cauldron. At his point you can request help from the fire and water element. As a rule of thumb, have about 2 tablespoon of herb for a cup of water. Crush each of them into your mortar and sprinkle on the water. If you feel like strengthening your potion, you can say aloud the name of the herbs/oils you add and why you do so (ex: "Ginger for success", "Rosemary for memory", "Pine for ideas"...).

You can also say something like:

By the Fire and Water,
By the essence of (herb),
Make it as I wish!

When all your herbs and oils are in, let them soak while your think of your goal. Concentrate on it, and when you feel like it's the time, take your stick and stir 3 times; counter-clockwise for banishing potions, clockwise for others. You can also say aloud your goal.

You can also say a more complex incantation, like this one:

By Water and Fire, By the Air and the Earth,
May the hidden powers come to help,
And grant me my wish.
(Ain't it harm none) It is my will, so mote it be!

The potion we made in yesterday was:

Calming Potion

Chamomile
Lavender (+ 5 oil drops)
Mugworth
St. John's Worth

Hope you all enjoyed! It is very fun to do and it leaves your house smelling good, so I hope you'll try this at home. It can be a really fun thing to do with the kids (Mariann couldn't stop throwing chamomile until there was no more...). Or just by yourself... It is a very relaxing activity, and if time allows you, you can meditate on it afterwards.

I also want to wish you all a very Blessed Mabon! Autumn is here, goodbye Summer, I'll miss you! This year I plan to celebrate and enjoy autumn as much as possible. The scar is healing, I don't hate you anymore, Autumn, so let's be bodies!

For some more magic, head up there and enjoy the party!

*****************************************************