Tag Archive | Halloween

Crafting With a Purpose

So at the last minute Shandai and I did up a craft table for a day at the Priory in August. At the end of this week we are returning for a 2 day sale we had pre-planned attending. So come check us out at A Prior Affair HERE. Now onto the blog post I am warning you I wrote ages ago:IMG_20180825_231115_037

Shandai has been making and selling these adorable and functional baby/small dog bandanas. You can purchase some yourself at her Etsy page… ShandaiMade or Facebook HERE. She uses a large variety of fabric and lovely sturdy snaps. If you want something a little larger, she is branching out to large dog versions as well, that would also fit a child (or potentially an adult). My niece is the perfect model and uses them all the time. They keep drool and mess off clothes and sensitive baby skin.

Look at the awesome colour combos she has!

Look at the awesome colour combos she has!

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It was a last minute opportunity so I just threw together my random on hand pieces that were critters and ran with it. Surprisingly it was my Cthulhu’s and ice cream cones that were of interest… and the little desserts I had made up.20180705_175631

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It was a fun experience, though the crowd was not huge. The current plan is to come back to the bigger 2 day sale at the same location in the end of October and bring more items out. I hope to make some more key chains, maybe some Halloween themed pieces. With cooler weather maybe some scarves would be of interest.

Seriously though, check out ShandaiMade and spread the word. Handmade, functional AND fabulous. Oh and did I mention… reversible??? I wish I had had these back when my kids were tiny. Tying on bibs was a royal pain.

Bib in action

Bib in action

I am also going to work on updating my Facebook page It’s a Hoot. I really need to add more of my on hand pieces. I always have spare stuff sitting around. And commissions are always welcome. After all, crafting helps keep me sane!

Now enjoy the obligatory niece and kitty pics. Both are utterly adorable. 20180825_134635

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Now Onto November

Onto November and possibly getting my blog up to date before November of 2018 comes around… maybe? Summer gets so busy for us and I have let it snowball a bit. So enjoy the post and the look back at way cooler temperatures. A head’s up… December is already up and posted along with seasonal links HERE.

Ken spoiled me with a new tea mug!

Ken spoiled me with a new tea mug!

Anyway, November… the month of chinchilla and workout pictures… wait that is much of my life the past year. I do love the Fluffy Overlord and working out has become second nature with me now.20171103_094635

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Talking about chinchillas, November marks Neko-chan turning 1 year old!!! check out that post HERE

Emanuel went through a bit of an image change with a fancy new hair cut.IMG_20171126_211130_690

As did Echo. We have some rather spiffy looking kids!20171118_170129

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The 3 younger kids went to Home Depot for the craft and even convinced Dad that PAINT should be involved.20171125_101844

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I crocheted up a storm and we blocked this year’s special mom and grandma gifts… shawls! Plus matching hats for all 3 of us girls.

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The kids dressed up in their finery for Santa. We went with the Schwartz family to their mall Santa of choice since our traditional one no longer exists after a store closing.  You can read all about that HERE.20171121_170642

I found winter boots in the children’s section of Target – something that made Ken laugh and entertained him and a few other people for days!20171117_205212

We had dinner with our wee niece Maevowyn… and her parents too, but we all know who the star of the show was!!!

I may be biased.. . but that face just makes me melt.

I may be biased.. . but that face just makes me melt.

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Echo LOVES her cousin

Echo LOVES her cousin

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With Mom, and Dad photo bombing in the back

With Mom, and Dad photo bombing in the back

I also got in some quality kitty time, and pictures.

Silly Snoopy

Silly Snoopy

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We had school time.20171107_102159

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Themed crafting continued.

A whole set of Halloween themed cupcakes that were out past the date.

A whole set of Halloween themed cupcakes that were out past the date.

Gavin made all of our cards this year.

Gavin made all of our cards this year.

Christmas Art

Christmas Art

A Christmas mouse

A Christmas mouse

Gavin the solemn crafter

Gavin the solemn crafter

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Christmas mug cozy

Christmas mug cozy

Really all the babies babies were seen.20171105_153752

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A poppy was worn, sent straight from Canada for Remembrance Day.20171103_184608

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And I photographed my chinchilla from pretty well ALL possible angles…20171105_225259

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All the junk in that glorious trunk!

All the junk in that glorious trunk!

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Close up with lighting!

Close up with lighting!

Yup that was November in a quick scan through images… hope you enjoyed!20171102_201658

We baked!

We baked!

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Whole family!

Whole family!

Examining October

Well, you can already see pictures from Halloween HERE, as usually it was a fun time.

Neko-Chan and her Halloween prop

Neko-Chan and her Halloween prop

Echo’s wedding dress photos are HERE.

October was also Ken’s birthday… his 40th if you can believe it! We kept it low key, just as the birthday boy requested. He is not a big party animal. But he also was given an award for his hard work involved in getting his mental health under control and advocating for the association that helped him. We got to dress up and everything!20171005_183253

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New outfit and all

New outfit and all

It was a fun sort of duo season month with time to jump in leaves (and rake them up, slightly less fun)…20171023_132448

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Gavin

Gavin

And a bit of snow to toy with as well.20171027_100640

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We even had TWO foreign visitors, Jeff flew down from Canada to hang out. Never a bad thing, friends and family flying down when we still can’t return ourselves.20171024_170421

With Jeff there is ALWAYS yummy curry.

With Jeff there is ALWAYS yummy curry.

And Karyn!!! A shorter visit than her normal yearly visit but we packed in the fun and hugs and … shopping of course!20171010_115528

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UNO

UNO

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So we may enable each other... just a little... and we like it that way!

So we may enable each other… just a little… and we like it that way!

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We had our yearly pumpkin patch trip with our friend Trish and her two kids. Always fun and thankfully on a day when the weather mostly cooperated.

I am so grateful that Trish is willing to embrace our loud and crazy family.

I am so grateful that Trish is willing to embrace our loud and crazy family.

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20171020_150620Ken made pumpkin pie from scratch.20171022_111019

The twins took on acolyting at church.IMG_20171022_095158_027

20171029_091707We worked on all sorts of school stuff from crafts to book work and more.20171031_135121

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20171031_093754We had the Novaks over for VR fun.20171014_201627

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I continued my obsession with Neko-Chan pictures.IMG_20171022_000542_936

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We had a bonfire with the Schwartz family and I got my cat fix.20171013_205711

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I worked my buns off at the YMCA, with the family in tow, of course.20171022_173545

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Emanuel and Trinity even got their YELLOW belts!!20171012_181358

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And I crafted, my sanity is very closely tied to crafting it seems.

Seasonal!

Seasonal!

Of course more images to enjoy. Fall really was pretty last year!IMG_20171022_151323_502

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Face painting!

Face painting!

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...asleep

…asleep