{this moment}

Inspired by the lovely Friday posts of Amanda Blake Soule @ Soulemama:

" A friday ritual. A single photo-no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extrodinary moment. A moment I wasnt to pause, savor and remember...."

Full Steam Ahead!

Holy cow it's been a long time since I've blogged! I've had a long list to get my Etsy shop in order and this needed to get checked off! Just because I haven't been on, doesn't mean I haven't been busy!

Halloween is a really big deal centering around my sewing room. Four costumes that are mama-made and are warm enough for our Alaskan Halloween is a tall order.

I've been busy in the shop as well. My poor machine has gotten lots of use lately churning out covers, woolies and nursing pads galore! I've been featured in a bunch of treasuries as well which is totally awesome.

This weekend I'm focusing my sewing on a charity cause. Superstorm Sandy has done some terrible damage to my native New York. I'll be sewing up fleece socks & mittens to send back east to be handed out to those who need them. I'm hoping to have a FRB STUFFED by Monday!

Now time to go sew :)

Yum Yum in her Tum Tum

A little off topic from my usual crafting posts, but something that is near and dear to me just the same....


Anyone that knows me knows that I am big into breastfeeding. I just feel that it is what babies should be fed, otherwise our bodies wouldn't make it. My babies were both exclusively breastfed through infancy and Donovan is still nursing at 14 months old! I'm so happy that we can share that special bond for just a little bit longer.

I have a friend of sorts that is having a very hard time trying to keep up with her babies breastfeeding needs. "Little Baby A" has some metabolic issues and health concerns that I am a little foggy about, but don't want to prod too much. I have just started pumping for her since Donovan doesn't nurse like he used to and I was always such a great producer. 


I am hoping by pumping once a day I can get about 10+ ounces, which seems to be my average every time I pump. I am sure there will be days when I forget or just can't, but I am hopeful that there will be days when I can pump more. 


I know "Little Baby A's" mama worries about not having enough milk for her and that is a worry that no mama should have to think about! I was lucky enough to ease right into breastfeeding both boys with no issues. No latch problems. No supply problems. NOTHING. I also know how lucky I was to have it just "work". I am hoping to make some other babies tummies as full as my babies tummies always were :)


For more info about milk sharing, please check out Human Milk 4 Human Babies .

Black Friday,Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday & the Missing Day Inbetween

   So today while working on a custom order, I was thinking that I need to start some kind of "post-holiday" Sunday shopping event. Spend Your Money Sunday? I don't know, something along those lines. I am all for supporting small local business and making do with what you can, but I sometimes think this whole holiday shopping thing is getting a little out of hand. 
  I will be hitting up some local craft fairs and talented local folks for the majority of my gifting. My kids always enjoyed a local toy store called Reindeer Pause, so I will be heading that way for some quality toys. My husband on the other hand will be frequenting Wal-mart *sigh* hoping to get as much as humanly possible for as little as humanly possible. We just aren't on the same page. We never have been when it comes to things like this. And that's okay. It's not the end of the world. My kids will get thoughtfully crafted toys and mass produced crap. It's just the way it goes and they will be fine.
  On a less "soap-boxy" note, I have added a super cute pair of fleece longies to the shop. I wish I made them bigger since this was the last little scrap of my houndstooth and I really wanted them to fit the boys once I started working on them. I love them.

Well here's to a happy holiday and enjoying the days with those that make the holidays all worth it!

Black Friday Codes

After some humming and hawing I thought to have a "pick your sale" on Black Friday at the lounge. I figured it would give you the most savings without going so low that I am sewing for free :) You can either...

use code GOBBLEGOBBLE for 25%off your total order OR
use code SHIPFORFREE for free shipping

Crazy right? Codes will be good through cyber Monday. You can combine this with the $10 gift card if you are the winner for some pretty sweet deals!

Happy shopping :)

Giveaway Time and Black Friday Insanity!

 So I've been super busy getting the shop totally stocked up for the black friday/cyber monday rush. Nothing like wating until the last minute! I have tons of diapers, soakers, woolies and nursing goodies lined up, now to finish listing them all. It seems that's where I drop the ball. I think it has to do with taking the pics and uploading them all. I understand natural daylight is best, but really, at subzero temps, I'm just not feeling it.

I am also offering a giveaway to help you get a jump start on your shopping and keep your wallet a little fatter. Just like the lounge on facebook and you will be entered to win a $10 gift certificate. That's it. Easy peasy and oh so cheesy. Giveaway closes on November 27th so get those enteries in!

Keep an eye out for my Black Friday deals. They will be posted on facebook, my shop announcement and on here too!

Here's the newest additions to the shop:

I've Been a Busy Beaver!

 So although no one has heard from me, I promise I'm still alive and fine :) I've been sewing up a storm in what started as "Santa's Workshop" and is now "Santa's SLAVEshop". I got signed on for a few commissioned pieces for my husbands job, 2+ craftfairs, 2 knit Peruvian Inca hats and a few others. Not to mention throwing Halloween and 4 homemade costumes into the mix. My poor sewing machine was down for the count after that one and had to go in to be tuned up.

I have been whipping up diapers like no ones business, both for my shop and for my boys. Excuse the less than stellar pics, it was already like 2am.

 We also have been playing outside in out mounds of snow :) Nothing like getting the kids excited to shovel, like it's something fun.

Time to get back to the sewing machine and get those projects moving along! Enjoy your Saturday everyone!