Home : :

It seems as though I got a little ahead of myself with the "happy to be back" post. As soon as I declared that I was getting back to work, the nastiest of flues swept through our family. It's been keeping my days busy and me up most nights for about a week, but has helped us settle into this new house in a deeper way. We're finding a {our} comfort here that only laying around the house, taking care of each other, while surrounded by lots of falling snow can bring. It's nice, we like it.

Today I'm going to try to find the sewing time that I have been craving so badly, since I've had my new studio room all unpacked. I'm making many new pillows for my Mom.

I'm hoping to have some pictures to share tomorrow. Until then...
: ) Maureen

Handmade Holidays ♥ A Winter Song Dollhouse : :

This Christmas song is one of my very favorites and the video... amazing, beautiful and so inspiring! Last year I made this Winter Dollhouse, inspired by this songs story : :

 Hand knit with soft wool yarn, felted to be sturdy and durable...

This dollhouse tells the Winter Song story... A little bundled up girl leaves her snow covered, icy little home -- searching for a little sign of love in the snow.

With lots of needle felted and hand stitched details -- She finds the sun shining brightly down on a little love that is beginning to grow...

This dollhouse is still one of our most favorite items. Enjoy the song and have a wonderful Monday!
~ Maureen

My Weekend : :

A little more than a week ago a friend of mine left me a comment on one of my owl photos on  my facebook page, asking me if I wanted to have a little table at the Falling Leaves Festival. I decided to "try" to do it, changing my mind because of the weather and then exhaustion, hmn...about 100 times! Oh, my poor sweet husband...I think know I drove him crazy with my hour to hour ramblings of "I'll be ready, I'll just stay up REALLY late each night working. Yes, that's what I'll do"....to...."There's no way I'll be ready and now the weather is calling for rain, AGAIN! No, I'll just do the next one"....

Well....

I made it and I am so glad I did! It was a beautiful day, a wonderful experience, and I did really well! Due to time --- I didn't get everything finished and had to let go to that very specific vision I've had for when I would participate in my first local festival...but that's alright. What's left will be available in my etsy sometime this week or headed to the shops.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, too! ~ Maureen

Knitting, knitting, and more knitting : :

I spent a good part of this past weekend knitting. Now that it’s Fall and much cooler, it’s so easy to turn to the yarns. Every year at this time I want to knit everything, so that is what I'm doing. A dozen new dolls, several new dollhouses, and a couple mini totes are all waiting to be felted and I can't wait to show you all! 

I don’t know what it is about picking up my needles that creates such an all-consuming effect. It's been this way since the day I learned. When I begin a knitting project I'm either happy as one can be, starting out with a new idea and so excited or I'm in the deep, dark throes of trying to finish it as fast as I can and feeling like it’s never going to end. Once I start, I don't like to stop until I'm done. Thankfully my husband and children are all very used to me saying, "Just let me finish this row first...." If you're a knitter --- you know what  I mean. : )

I hope you had a lovely and productive weekend, too! ~ Maureen

Quilted Dollhouse : :

Well, kind of? I don't know much about quilting, but I am trying to learn...
This was the first dollhouse that I made little sewn appliques to use as some of the details : the doorway, a couple of windows, the shutters, a little tree, and a sweet little bird...
I added little yo-yo fabric flowers and a fabric lining to the inside of the house (something I plan on doing with all future "felts like home" dollhouses).... because I absolutely love the way it turned out!
This one is definitely one of my favorites. And, yes, I'm aware of my personal bias in this situation, but I still think it's special. I think I'm allowed to say that, right?