nanaCompany

:: goodbye 2011

The following are words I want to commit to in the coming year...

Source: inmyblessednest.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

It's so simple really, but I do have to remind myself to be be joyful, to be thankful, and to keep on praying ~ even while admitting that my life is pretty damn rosy any way you look at it.  But my focus can get muddled.  Like right now I'm trying to remember that pregnancy is not forever ~ I will feel good again.  And no matter what happens with this pregnancy ~ I am already blessed with three beautiful children that charm me to pieces and make my heart full.  But I get frustrated, and I get hormonal, until at last someone sends me into a fit of laughter that shatters my cranky mood and then I remember... Be Joyful.  Yes!  Be Thankful.  Yes!  And keep on praying ~ keep Him with you in all that you do.  Yes.  These are my resolutions for 2012. 

To round up my last week of 2011, I'd like to show you the finished tea towel I made for my niece, who is recently married and making a home. 

This past week, we also headed down to Legoland for the day.  The little ones loved it... 'nuff said. ;)

It's crazy, but all that stuff is built out of teeny tiny Legos!

And lastly, here's an overview of my stitches in 2011.  It's not everything, but you get the idea...

1. liv's new apron, 2. leaves and berries, 3. merry Christmas to you!, 4. holiday cookie garland, 5. Play Cookie set Giveaway!, 6. new needlebook , 7. the start of something good, 8. for Rach, 9. needlebook, 10. hexagon flower, 11. two brothers, 12. baylea's quilt, 13. come on over... grandma's baking cookies!, 14. a cozy house needlebook, 15. home sweet home, 16. patchwork needle book, 17. needlebook, 18. baby j, 19. linen + hexagon cover, 20. linen + scraps, 21. stitches, 22. easy as 123... abc, 23. scalloped edge dresden plate trivet, 24. FWQAL block no. 44 "Gentleman's Fancy", 25. milk & cookies, 26. little outline stitches, 27. baby animals quilt, 28. for the love of joy, 29. set no.3, 30. patchwork quilt, 31. the schoolhouse bib, 32. 111 | 365, 33. 91 | 365, 34. apple tea towel, 35. baby animals, 36. 47 | 365

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

It's been a good year.  Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of it.  I wish you all a tremendously joyful 2012! 

Happy New Year, friends!  xoxo amy

an apron for Liv

hello all!  Ready for New Years?  Big plans?  Not us... in fact, I have no idea what we're doing.  I only hope it involves lots of food and lots of pajama wearing and maybe a few movies, too.

Well, hey ~ I am loving the new Singer.  Took me about two minutes to get used to, and the first thing I've sewn is an apron for Livi...

And here's the back... I used unbleached muslin as the lining.

Pretty cute, eh?  Well, I've got more to share but right now I'd better get ready for my dinner date... I'll be back soon!

Happy Friday!!

1. Christmas decoration, 2. 10-02 TableNumbers1, 3. wedding invitations, 4. Winter Wreath, 5. Linen Bread Bag, 6. Sequin storage, 7. crafting for craft: gold caddy a-go-go, 8. A. B. bee!!! #crossstitch #lizziekate, 9. blankets for bear, 10. In a creamer..., 11. Gausse, 12. Whit's Knits: Eleventh Hour Blanket, 13. red, white & blueberries

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

all is calm...

This morning I was victorious (in my own way).  Since we had so much leftover ham, I decided to make eggs benedict ~ even if I've never been able to make a hollandaise sauce successfully.  And, this morning the sauce did start to "break" but a few drops of warm water and my husband's strong arm whisked that sauce right back into submission.  Ha!  Angels sang.  The eggs benedict was delicious.  Rich and delicious.

Did you have a nice Christmas?  Was it all that you hoped for?  I was pretty bummed we didn't have family to celebrate with this year, but my husband found a way to make it delightful nonetheless.  I have three words to describe my Christmas:  Anthropologie, Tiffany & Co., and... Singer!  I got a new sewing machine!!!  Goodbye Shark (from Target, second to cheapest they had, been sewing with it these last five years.)  I am so excited to try out my new machine, but I am sad for the Shark ~ it was good to me.

Today we finally got around to baking our sugar cookies... the day after Christmas.  Never too late, right?

I am so enjoying this after-Christmas calm.  Cooking, eating, reading books, watching movies... we've got nothing to do and lots of time to do it.  I am ready for the New Year, though.  Starting fresh.  Always hoping to make it the "best year ever."  I've never been a resolution girl, but this year I may write a few things on post-it notes and tack them to my mirror... How 'bout you?  Do you have resolutions for the New Year?

xo amy

I've tossed the to-do list...

We're making memories instead. 

Yesterday we took the little ones to the Grove to see Santa Claus... wait time: 4+ hours.  Yep.  So, we took our number ticket and went off to get pretzel-dogs, saw a movie (Alvin and the Chipmunks), ate lunch at Johnny Rockets, looked at books and toys, drank some hot cocoa, took photos, went to the Gap to buy new pants for both of them as it was getting colder and colder outside while we waited... and finally, at last, we did in fact see Santa Claus.

Which turned out to be the highlight of their day so I'll have to admit it was worth the wait.  The photo with Santa?  Right up there with all those awkward family photos lovingly glued into albums and shared when the kids are older.  I will tell you this: nobody was crying :)

Happy Friday and Happy Christmas Eve-Eve!

1. Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale, 2. Letters, 3. Happy Macarons, 4. Drosselmeyer's workshop..., 5. 10-12DearSantaStationery4, 6. 10-02 TableNumbers1, 7. 10-12Tree2800px, 8. Untitled, 9. Merry "vintage" Christmas!, 10. A Quilted Notepad Cover, 11. Closet Candy..., 12. secret gift making, 13. In a creamer...

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

ps. please be patient with me, I'm so behind on emails and everything at the moment, but I'll catch up!

xoxo amy

tick tock... tick tock...

oh, the rush is on!  The weather outside is delightful here in sunny Los Angeles.  The Christmas cards have been sent, but I haven't finished my shopping and today is the day!  Just wanted to show you a little apron I made for a new little friend of ours... her name is Soleil and she likes decorating cookies.

Of course, now Olivia wants one.  And I was just thinking to myself... do I have enough time to sew up stockings or maybe a simple table runner to spruce up the holiday meal?  So many ideas, so little time!!!

How is your holiday to-do list coming along?

xo amy

oh joy.

Sometimes you see an idea and it seems so promising but it just doesn't work out the way you'd hoped.  That was today.  Things started off well enough.  Made a few leaves and berries...

... stitched up some letters...

... and strung them up as a garland for the kids to hold while I took their holiday photo.  That, my friends, was the opposite of J-O-Y.  One child won't look at me.  One child won't smile.  (The oldest one was patient and perfect, thank you.)  You should have heard me yelling at the kids in the front yard.  Look at meeeee!  30 pictures later and not one of them is usable.  Will have to try again tomorrow, but I think we'll lose the garland ;)

Happy Friday!

1. Old but beautiful, 2. Zakka Style, 3. candy cane christmas table runner! :), 4. Elly <3, 5. Christmas centerpiece, 6. My New "Lunch Bag" Purse, 7. Untitled, 8. Christmas decoration, 9. pink & pale yellow, 10. shiny, 11. this is my winter song, december never felt so wrong., 12. wishing..., 13. Zakka Style

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

Christmas patchwork pillow

hellooo!  I realize some women just breeze right through pregnancy, but lemme tell ya, I was never one of the those girls.  I've had better days and downright bad days lately and just when I think I've got a grip on this morning sickness and the rhythm of my energy, my body throws me a curveball.  Loooovvve it.

Cookie Kits went in the shop Monday and they all sold out, but if you wanted one and didn't get one ~ no worries ~ I'll be listing more tomorrow.  Did you have a nice weekend?   Saturday was Nicholas' birthday party, which was a blast (pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, cookie decorating, pinata, pizza... we went a little old school on this one)... so much fun it was, I had to lay down by 4:30 in the afternoon and I was done for the night.  I've never slept so much in my life!

Sunday morning I started cutting 2 1/2" squares of Christmas fabric.  I had in mind one project, but about halfway through cutting, it was already something else...

Now Olivia has a Christmas pillow, too.  (Nicholas already has one.  Actually, he has a pillow for every season ;)

Next up, I'd like to make a garland to feature in the kids Christmas photo... which will hopefully go into the holiday cards if all goes well.  Have you sent yours out yet?  Only 11 more days 'til Christmas ~ yikes!!

xo amy

a Winner and a handful of Cookie kits!

Loved reading your comments for the cookie giveaway.  A few of you touched on my dream holiday vacation ~ Christmas in NYC with my entire family, both sides.  I'd like to get several suites for all of us (the Plaza hotel would be perfect) and just enjoy eating and drinking and laughing because everyone is nuts... though the love is undeniable.  Oh, and if not NYC than Ireland.  How's that for dreaming?  The lucky winner said she'd prefer to stay home at Christmas... "but home with snow would be fun!"

Yay!  Gail wins the little box of cookies (send me your address and I'll ship 'em right out!) but I'd like to mention I'll be selling a handful of kits in my etsy shop, so you can make your own!  The kits will include pre-cut cookie shapes, pre-cut frosting in pink, white, and chocolate, an assortment of "sprinkle" beads, polyfill, and floss.  All you'll need is a couple of needles and thread, a bit of relaxing time, and a cup of hot cocoa!

I hope to have these in the shop on Monday.  Another item that might go in (if I can bear to part with it), is this little winter pillow I finally finished up today.  Really I was just trying to see if my sewing machine missed me too... so I picked out an easy project (I did the embroidery a year ago) and sat down with my old friend for a few stitches... voila!

Well, I'm off to celebrate my most favoritest boy in the whole world... who is 6 today!  Happy Birthday, Nicholas!!!

And, lastly, Happy Friday faves!

1. Bee 'happy' embroidery, 2. Pastel Ferris Wheel, 3. Botanical Applique, 4. love is in the air, 5. ~ a rare delicacy ~, 6. 100% LINEN Rick Rack, 7. charcoal and wine hair pin trio, 8. tea cups and doilies, 9. Home Needlework Mag Oct 1914 pg 14 closeup, 10. Urban Lattice quilt complete, 11. idees, 12. Still-life of Tree & Wallpaper, 13. july1510_2

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

visions of sugarplums

"... the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads..."

Hurray!  I finished the cookie garland and hung it above Livi's bed.  I'm hoping it will sweeten up her dreams, and maybe even convince her to spend more time in her bed and less time in mine. ;)

xo amy

a sweet cookie garland and a giveaway

I completely forgot about the candy cane garland I'd made last year...

... though I was glad to find it, because it's making my life a bit easier.  Instead of the vision in my head, I'm going to take the easy route and incorporate the old into the new...

Nope, the cookie garland isn't finished yet.  I'm still working on it.  I'm just so.  Dang.  Tired.  We got to see baby's heartbeat Wednesday.  It's given me my first real glimmer of hope.  I even allowed myself to look at baby things at Target, just for a few minutes.  One day at a time, we keep saying.  I'm glad the holidays are here to distract.

I think I mentioned that I stitched up an extra set of play cookies?  Well I put those six cookies in a cute gift box (makes a great holiday gift for the little girl that you adore) and I'd love to give it you!

For a chance to win, leave a comment on this post by Thursday, December 8th, telling me... what would be your ultimate holiday dream vacation!  I wish I could give the winner that dream vacation, but all I've got are these cookies ;)  The winner will be chosen randomly and announced next Friday (Dec 9th).  Good luck and Happy Friday!

1. Christmas is here to stay ..., 2. FWQAL 49 and 50 - Red Pink Green Blue White Flower Sugar Lecien, 3. to you and yours, 4. Spring bird, 5. IMG_7036, 6. Christmas Bear ATC, 7. Nutcracker ornaments, 8. Etsy Prints Round Up, 9. printed doll, 10. Livros de Receitas - Explore!, 11. Vintage embroidery, 12. Letterpress calendar - over the rainbow, 13. francis

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy