Brandi Graves

Running with Glitter (or something like that)...

SO, - BIG news (well, for me... for now, at least!) - Since getting my little Etsy site up and going, I've mustered the courage (with an equally-crazy friend of mine) to hurry up and get some things together to join in on the Petaluma Craft Mafia's annual winter craft fair........Running with Glitter.         

            

Many more picts to come, - but wanted to give you a preview of my new re-purposed Red Cross wool blanket Viking Helmets.... as you can tell, - my boys LOVE them, ... glitter or no glitter.  I'll be selling these, along with some other winter wool crowns, little boys and girls aprons, and some of the other things already on my Etsy site.... Wish me luck!

 

Giving Thanks.

I was Oooooh so happy to get those skeletons and rotting pumpkin out of my house, oh. yes.  

Isn't that the way it goes, - lots of fun in planning, in winding - up.... but the day after?  I am over. it. ... And I know I can't be the only one.

Well, - then what?  Yes, of course,... Thanksgiving... One very important season of gratitude.  

Frankly, though, I'm not a 'Pilgrims and Indians' kind of gal, - and since we head out of town to my dear Auntie's every year, poor Thanksgiving has been nothing but a little stop-over, with a few left-over pumpkins piled up by my front door.

So I had this idea, this season, for a gratitude banner.  My boys love the Birthday/ Celebration ones I've made.... they seem to indicate something special on the horizon, - a little reason for anticipation, celebration, and warmth.  And they are SOOO simple ... just fabric scraps, a little bias tape... and NO pattern-reading needed - (ooh thank goodness.)

 Just one short evening, and ... 

... "Wha-la", - my little Thanksgiving banner - possibly not entirely straightforward in holiday specifics, but 'autumnal-esque' just might be all we need.  It did, however, lead to a little confusion this morning, as the boys noticed it immediately and started dancing around and asking whose party it was, and "WHERE DID YOU PUT THE CAKE????!!!?"

Aah, OK, - let's have a party... and cake? - Well, I say:  WHY NOT~!

(now if I could only get rid of those ridiculous white switch plates on my green wall - ohh, anyway.)

"Now, I shall be CALLED....... THE HUNTER."

 "... And you SHALL call MEEEEEEEEEEEEE, ...... Bob Dylan."  

Bob Dylan?

"The Hunter," sure.  This was the proclamation of Henry, my fully-invested one, upon donning his much-anticipated Robin Hood Costume.  "The Hunter."  OK, sure.

But,...... "Bob Dylan"?  To be sure, - announcing his new incarnation right on the heels of Henry's grandly enthusiastic declaration, my little Joe's choice of moniker seemed...... welllllll..... I'll just say it: PERFECT.  

You can't harness conviction, right?  ... And, maybe, sometimes... it's more about the fanfare, than anything else AT ALL.  Agreed?

Oh, How I Love. These. Boys.

A couple of months ago my wild ones saw the old Robin Hood cartoon movie... and they were hooked,... their little hearts resolutely purposed upon one clear goal:  Halloween Costumes. 

(Really, I mean, really... I don't think anyone can resist Roger Miller singing "Oo-De-Lally" - without getting hooked, - it's just TOO cute.)  

Since the declaration was made many weeks prior to the great dress-up event, we thought we'd have plenty of time to convince little Joe to take on the role of "Little John" (the great bear side-kick).... but, as you can imagine, - Joseph Dennis WOULD NOT be contained to such a minor role, - and insisted on being the equally-important title character: Robin Hood. 

So, - One evening, 5 yards of felt, a little bit of orange faux fur, a few feathers, and - "ta-daaa" - Robin Hood, and Little Robin Hood were born.  (I will, for now, gently dismiss the great-big-ol-can-o-morally-confusing-worms the story did present, however... we'll see to that one, another day.)

NOW, - the true spirit of the costumes could not be fully realized until my good little thieve's dear daddy completed the all-important, much-discussed, - bows and arrows. 

(Bravo, Danny - Bravo.)

 We barely got the quivers 'round their arms, - and they. were. off.

Handmade-Handsome.

Well, no.  I can't really take credit for how very handsome my boys are, - yes, - there were some good Scandinavian genes kickin' around a few generations ago, - but those sweet faces are all their own, - the little handmade neckties... simply adornment.  And yes, I am terribly, terribly biased.

I can, however, credit those crafty gals over at Purl Bee for posting this sweet little boy's necktie tutorial.  The fabric is from a local quilter's shop, but while you're looking over the tutorial, check out the Purl Soho's fabric page ... they've got some super cute Japanese prints - and really, the amount of fabric you need is so minimal, the little tie is truly affordable.

... And the pattern is really easy to follow, - just print, tape, cut and sew - the whole thing can be done by hand, on the couch, at the end of the day.  My boys loved picking out their own fabrics, and made their Mammy (our word for Grammy) - very happy when they got dressed at her house on Easter morning.