Happy Handmade Home

Elsie and Emma's new book "A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Home" is out and in stores finally!  I'm truly in love with this gem of a book.  There are several projects that I had my hands in, like that car quilt above-- it was fun stitching it up and seeing it all come together!  Anyway, if you are looking for some inspiration, I highly recommend it.  There are projects and pretty photos and party ideas... a little bit of all my favorite things.

Happy Monday, friends!

We Love "Let's Sew Together"

If you've been around the web lately you've probably seen this fun new book by my pal Ruby (of Cakies) called Let's Sew Together.  It's packed with tons of fun things to make with kids.  I can't wait to get started on some projects with Hope and Poesy!

I'm totally in love with that hanging chalkboard in the photo above.  I may have to do an extra large one in Poesy's room!

If you are looking for a good kids craft book, I highly recommend this one.  So many fun things to do with kids!  I'm proud of you, Ruby!!  xo.

Growing Little Bookworms

We were at an antique shop last week and I looked over to find Poesy sitting in a chair with a little book she found. Nothing makes my heart swell like seeing my girls genuinely interested in reading (or pretend reading/looking at pictures in Poe's case).  I can remember being a kid and anxiously awaiting the final school bell, because the excitement of walking to the public library with my best friend was almost too much to handle.  We'd spend hours flipping through book pages and talking about our favorites... it was our happy place.  Then our moms would come and pick us up and we'd look forward to doing it the next week.  Granted, we were a bit older than my girls currently are, but I want to always be feeding that passion.

Library day in our house is one of the most exciting days of the week!  The girls giggle and squeal when they realize what day it is.  The simple pleasures of dropping their borrowed books down the book chute and scanning their new books themselves allows them a feeling of exciting independence.  Here are some of our favorites at the moment (linked, in case you are interested in checking any of them out):

Hope:  Wildwood, Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child, The Nancy Drew series, The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Secret Series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Indian In The Cupboard, Howl's Moving Castle

Poesy:  Alice The Fairy, Madeline, Eloise At The Plaza, The Goldilicious series, Papa Please Get The Moon For Me, Charlie and Lola, Thumbelina

I'd like to make more time for reading again in my own life.  Sometimes being a grown-up means you fill up every little bit of time with things and things and things, but I miss this special part of life.  I'll be clearing out some time this year for much needed book love.

I also love the idea of a book club!  Emma is hosting a monthly book club on her blog and I think that is just wonderful!  Will any of you be joining in?  I'm thinking about it...

If you feel like leaving any of your current favorite books in the comments here, I'm interested in checking some of them out!  Here's to lots of reading in 2014!

Sew & Stitch Embroidery

My friend Alyssa just sent over her new book called Sew & Stitch Embroidery and we've been having a good time looking through it.  I've been online pals with Alyssa since my early days of plush stitching, so it's so neat to see how far she's come!  Actually, Alyssa and I did a swap way back when and she has one of my very first horses!  
Hope and I decided to tackle a little cross-stitch project out of the book first.

We both really enjoyed flipping through the book and planning our next activities.  I think once she finishes this one up, it will hang proudly on her wall.  Do you remember your first crafty endeavors?  It feels so great every time you tackle something new!

Be sure to check out Alyssa's book Sew & Stitch Embroidery if you're looking for a good crafty-type book.  I'm proud of you, Alyssa!

Wednesday Wishes

Today I wish to live next door to a bookstore.  Not a junky bookstore, though... I'd like to live next to a grand bookstore that would house every single book I could ever want to read.  Sounds nice, huh?

We live in a cluster of three small towns.  These towns, neither singularly nor combined, can sustain a bookstore.  Our nearest (big) one is about 45 minutes away.  I know... it's sad.  Now you have the background for my wish.  ;)

(I cannot find a source for this photo-- if you know, could you please let me know?)
(source)

Happy Wednesday, friends!  xoxo Katie