Paint Chip Bunting

I'm working on fall goal #1--decorating our (first) front porch. Plus, Sukkot at our home is coming up next week which, of course, is going to require some festive decorations. And my sister's fall-themed baby shower is right around the corner and, of course, I've happily volunteered to make all the decorations. In short, our dining room table has been overtaken by a mountain of fall-colored fabric, paper, ribbon, and general goodness.

Today I made what will likely be the first of many, many fall-colored buntings. This one I made with paint samples, clear packing tape, masking tape, and nylon string.

I cut the paint samples into triangles which I attached and, at the same time, laminated with clear packing tape so they'll (hopefully) survive rainy days on the front porch.

And between each paint sample flag is a little masking tape flag....folded over the string and cut into a triangle. Super easy!

One bunting down, who knows how many left to go!

Happy fall decorating!
Arian : )

Skirt to Scarf

I've wanted to try my hand at one of these hipster scarves I've had on my pinterest for awhile. This skirt had been a staple in my wardrobe for years but it was becoming a bit too short (thanks to approx. 232 trips through the dryer) and had a few little stains and holes so it was time to move on.  While Jude watched an episode of Word World and used his scissors to cut a piece of scrap fabric into tiny shreds on my bedroom floor. I used my scissors and turned this skirt into this scarf.

It's fun to wear so I will probably make another (it being scarf season and all!) And maybe I will even try making a new skirt to replace my old one! I found this crazy cute circle skirt pattern today...seems simple enough!

What is it about fall weather that turns us into crafting fiends? Must.....make.....something.....cozy.

Arian : )

Headed to the Country

 We fulfilled part of one of my fall goals this week---heading to the country. Lots of our friends celebrate the Old Testament holiday, Sukkot. Though mostly celebrated by only Jewish people, it's one of those festivals God put in place for great reasons. So we celebrate it because we can and want to! (some pics from Sukkot last year here)

(crocheting and chili cooked over a fire....yesssss.)

 For us, it's a week of spending most of our time outdoors, eating (and sometimes sleeping) in tents. It's a reminder that, like the Israelites wandering in the desert with hope of the Promised Land, we haven't yet reached our true home. This is just a temporary dwelling place.

 This week is the first of three weeks of Sukkot festivities various friends are hosting so we'll be hopping around from celebration to celebration and eventually hosting our own in early October. LOTS of good food, fresh fall air, and real conversations with good friends around campfires.

 Preeeeetty sweet.

I think Hudson and Jude are gonna grow up loving this whole Sukkot thing. : )

Arian

Fall Goals

Fall is my favorite season and I always want to soak in all that it has to offer before the trees are bare and the snow starts to fall. I waited til October to do last year's list but, like I said, everything is getting a bit of an earlier start for me this year to make room for baby in December.  Fall is bumped up to now and Christmas bumped up to November so that December can be reserved for holding our new baby boy and his two fellow new December boy cousins : )

So here's this year's list!

1. Decorate our front porch. Since we've always lived in apartments/shared houses, we've never had our own front porch before! Its' a big blank canvas I get to make our own. Mums, pumpkins, a new fall wreath, and some handmade fall garland are in store : )

2. Pick our own pumpkins (like last year)

3. Take the boys to their first football game (complete with blankets, face paint, and hot cocoa)

4. Host a crafty ladies night. This has been on my to-do list for tooooo long!

5. Try a new soup recipe. (maybe this one)

6. Head to the country. (at least three times)

7. Take lots of walks (fast ones for exercise, slow ones for Jude)

8. Get a crock pot.....and use it.

9. Make good use of our fire pit!

10. Go on a fall-y date with Daniel.... pumpkin spice latte, walk through the woods, sketchbooks, and cozy sweaters.

That's it!  How 'bout you? Any fall goals?

Arian : )

Family fun weekend!

 We took the boys to Great Wolf Lodge over the weekend, something we've been promising for awhile. I think the business of raising kids can sometimes get too serious. I know I'm often wondering (worrying) if I'm doing/saying/teaching/disciplining in the right way to ensure they grow up to become good, honest, hard-working men. I occasionally have to remind myself to just have FUN with them and enjoy them in all their crazy little boy-ness.

 So that's what we did this weekend. We laughed and played and the boys grew braver and conquered fears as they attempted bigger and bigger water slides. We ate greasy pizza, root beer, and caramel apples and stayed up late watching movies in our comfy hotel room. Gooood stuff.

 We left tired, proud, and very happy : )

Love my boys! I'm looking forward to adding Eli to the fun in a couple months!

Arian : )

Museum bench

 I finished up my project for the Cincinnati Children's Museum. Someone donated several old church pews to the museum to use at seating in their interactive kids play area. So the museum had local artists create murals to be attached to the backs of each bench. Pretty fun! Can't wait to see my art in its new home!

I've got lots of posts to catch up on so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Arian

In progress...

I'm wrapping up a project I've been working on for Cincinnati Children's Museum... pretty fun stuff! This is one of the last freelance projects on my to-do list before I focus all my creative energy on prepping my Etsy shop for the upcoming holiday season and our home for the upcoming December baby! With all the new paintings I want to do for my shop before the holiday rush, all the decorating I want to do in our home, and all the gifts I want to craft before Christmas, there is no such thing as starting too early!

Looking forward to it!

Arian : )