knitcole

Mason Jar Pincushion

When I was working on Christmas gifts this year I came across a photo of a mason jar pincushion and I thought it would be perfect for my sister-in-law who is improving her sewing skills.

It was a lot of fun collecting all of the little sewing notions for the jar, I especially love the stork scissors. I made the felt dahlia part of the pincushion from a book I have, (Sewing Bits and Pieces by Sandi Henderson,) then I sewed it onto a circular piece of fabric. Then after adding some stuffing I pushed the flat part of the mason jar lid into the ring, trimmed the excess fabric and hot glued it down and placed another piece of fabric over the wrong side of lid. You can still push the flat piece out of the lid as you would before but in the meantime it makes a perfect pincushion. I even made a tiny little pincushion for the pins so they wouldn't be floating around inside ready to poke you at any moment! I think it made a lovely Christmas gift and Lauren loved it and has already used it!

Nicole

Wrap it up!

I really enjoy wrapping presents! It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas. So here are my essentials to wrapping gifts.

First you've got to set the mood. Light a holiday candle, put on your Christmas playlist, grab a peppermint mocha and turn on the Christmas tree lights even if it's daytime!

Then you've got to get your supplies. Break out the wrapping paper, labels and ribbon, grab your scissors and tape and then of course the presents! I bought almost everything online this year, it was glorious.

Now it's time to get wrapping! I always like to take a seat on the floor, for some reason I think it's just easier and I always wrap in my pajama pants! Why yes those are chihuahuas with antlers and sweaters on my pajamas! I think the OCD part of me really likes to wrap because of those perfect corners. I just love this red and white paper, labels and red and brown twine from Ikea. Combined with our standard kraft wrapping paper from Target I think our gifts came out looking just lovely.

Now you can sit back and enjoy the view! (Sorry for the horrible photo but we get sunlight all day from our slider and it was impossible not to get an overexposed photo.) Our little Boston was extremely curious about the presents and he's been a good boy and left them alone but when we leave the house we put his gate around the tree to avoid any mishaps, I wouldn't want to come home and find someones special gift all chewed up!

What's your favorite thing about the holiday season?

Nicole

The best and worst thing about this time of year.

For me, one of the most fun parts of Christmas is making gifts for my friends and family. This year I'm working on some fun custom orders and some fun, new to me projects for my family. I wish I could share more than just tiny tidbits of yarn or fabric but that's all I can share for now!

What are your favorite projects to make for gifts?

Nicole

One of many reasons to be thankful.

Ever since I started dating Mr. Coleman the military related holidays like today mean so much more to me. As the granddaughter of a soldier who was wounded twice in WWII, the wife of a soldier who survived Operation Iraqi Freedom virtually unscathed, and the friend and family member of many others I am so thankful that I get to celebrate my loved ones on Veterans Day instead of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died in the many wars and battles that help to keep our country free. On days like today I can't help but think of men and women like Specialist John Winterbottom. John was a man who served in Iraq next to Mr. Coleman except John never made it back home. On May 23, 2007 Specialist John Winterbottom was killed by an Iraqi bomb while serving his country. I'm sure today means something completly different to the Winterbottom family.

I love my husband with all of my heart and I know that he very easily could have ended up like his friend John. There is no rhyme or reason to war and the men and women who die aren't really any different than the ones who come home. Call it lucky, call it fate, call it God's plan; whatever it is war is ugly and the men and women who serve do so regardless of the risks. 

I had something different to blog about today and the weight of this day and what it means just hit me and I had to write about it. I am thankful everyday for the men and women who have fought and will fight for our country, especially those who won't make it home. They fight because they believe in America, not because they believe in whatever war we are currently fighting. Whether it be Vietnam or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan the men and women of our armed forces may or may not agree with why we are at war but the fact still remains that they are there fighting for each and every one of us and some of them will never come home.

I am thankful that I live in America and I will always support our armed forces because they deserve to be appreciated for the things they do. Things that people like me will never quite understand. I think it was General Patton that said "let me not mourn the men who have died fighting but rather let me glad that such heroes have lived." 

Thank you to all of the American heroes.

A very belated Valentine's post

Mr. Coleman and I both don't believe in Valentine's Day. We definitely think that it's just another holiday created by greeting card companies and flower shops to sell, sell, sell. That being said we decided to celebrate our Valentine's Day with very modest gifts. Since Valentine's Day falls only four days before my birthday and three days before we left for Portland it was a very busy time and since my gift was not in stock when he ordered it we decided to celebrate when we got home from Portland and when my gift arrived on the 21st.

I bought Mr. Coleman the "What I Love About You" book, which is really more of a journal. You fill out the pages which are full of all of these questions about why you love, how you love, and other fun stuff like anagrams of their names. I bought it back in December hoping I would have time to fill it out before Valentine's Day but I still didn't finish it. There is a ton to fill out but it's a great way to tell someone how you love and appreciate them. Mr. Coleman loved it! He might have even shed a tear or two.

Mr. Coleman bought me this amazing jewelry tree from Anthropologie.

The detailing on it is beautiful and it looks just lovely sitting on my nightstand. I couldn't have been happier with it.

What did you get for Valentine's Day?

Nicole

 

 

Happy Halloween!

I just wanted to stop by my blog to say Happy Halloween to everyone out there!

I know today is technically Halloween but I saw a ton of people who went out to parties last night and dressed up. So far the best costume I have seen yet is my friend Dano. She was the Queen of Hearts last night. I didn't get to see her dressed up in person but these pics I saw seem to sum it all up quite well.

What's the best costume you've seen this year?

Happy Halloween everyone!

Nicole

Happy Labor Day!

It's that time again, the first Monday in September or what we in the U.S. call Labor Day! Usually Labor Day signals the end of summer. Kids start going back to school, the weather gets a little bit cooler and all of the fall clothes and colors start popping up everywhere.

So I started thinking this morning...what the heck does Labor Day mean?

I went to my go to source for everything...Wikipedia! I don't for one second think that Wikipedia is the be all end all for facts but I figure it can give me a pretty good start for most things.

Here's what Wiki told me about Labor Day. It started in New York City in 1882 by the Central Labor Union of NY. It became a federal holiday in 1894 when President Grover Cleveland sought reconciliation for the labor movement after the US Marshals and military killed some workers during the Pullman Strike. "The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families." There's your history lesson for today!

So get out there and celebrate! I don't know about you but I'm headed to a Labor Day "BBQ" complete with chicken and waffles! You should be very jealous!

source

Have a fun, safe Labor Day! Enjoy your day off from work!

Nicole

Red, White and Bluish!

I decided to paint my nails in honor of the 4th and they came out red, white and bluish! This would be due to the fact that I don't actually own a bluer shade of nail polish but my heart is in the right place!

Happy Birthday AMERICA!

I love the 4th! It's such a great reminder of our nation's story. In honor of the 4th I've decided to post a few lists of things that I love that are All American and red, white and blue!

Red Things I Love

1. Cherry Kool Aid - Make all the jokes you want but truth is red Kool Aid is the all time best of them all!
2. Red Lipstick - It's just about the sexiest thing when you see a woman with big red pouty lips.
3. Nintendo DS - My DS is red and I love it so much that I play that thing almost everyday. It makes me feel like a kid again! 
4. Red Anjou Pears - If you've never had one then you need to try one! Pears are probably my favorite fruit and the red ones are just special! 
   
5. Red Yarn - I pretty much love all colors of yarn but I always seem to buy red yarn. There is just something about it. I think it's just such a dark, rich color and since it's more unisex than other colors I just buy it up like crazy!
6. My red glasses! I love them and get tons of compliments on them! My Sally Jesse's as they are lovingly referred to are way awesome!

Blue Things I Love

1. Jeans - A staple of my wardrobe for sure. I wear jeans almost everyday and I think they are the most comfortable, stylish, wearable thing that most people own.
2. The Ocean - It's always mesmerized me ever since I was a kid. I love ocean animals and the learning about the dynamics of how things work underwater.
3. Blue Whales - They have always been my favorite mammal even as a kid. It must be their massive size or their gentle nature.  
4. Pens - I love blue ink. I hate when forms tell me to use "black ink only." There's just something about the blue that I find extra special.
5. The Blues - I love old blues guitars and the art form in general. Good blues music just has a way of wiggling it's self right down into your soul.

White Things I Love

1. Clouds - When I was a kid I always loved to look up and make animals and different shapes out of the clouds. They so fun and white and puffy and I just want to squeeze and armful of them and have them disappear around me. These particular ones remind me of mashed potatoes! 
2. Snow - Snow is one of my favorite things to look at. It's gorgeous and purely white and maybe it's because I don't live in a place where we get very cold weather but I find it to be gorgeous.
3. Polar Bears - They're just awesome...and cute...and technically their fur isn't white but oh well!
4. White Nail Polish - Thanks to a friend who's been sporting all white nail polish the past couple times I've seen her I've been a little obsessed with it. I used to always love wearing white polish and I think I'm definitely going to be bringing that back.
5. Abominable Snowman - Specifically Abominiable from the old claymation Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. He's adorable and I just love that movie!

All American Things I Love

1. The American Flag - It's just one of those symbols that are so iconic and bring pride to my heart. I always think of when an Olympic athlete wins a gold medal and they stand on the podium while our flag is raised and the national anthem is played and it just makes me proud.
2. The Constitution - I think we take it for granted sometimes and without getting into politics I will just say that I believe in our constitution and believe we should continue to abide by the things said in it.
3. Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter - Iconic Americana propaganda from the war always portrays the Uncle Sam that wants YOU! or Rosie going to work while the men are at war. It's imagery that sits so strong in my mind of the America of our grandparents; an America from a different time...and I'd even say a better time. 
   
4. Thomas Jefferson - He's my favorite president so I figured I would throw him in here. As far as presidents go, I also love Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. I have a special place for Benjamin Franklin in my heart too.
5. Apple Pie - My grandma always made pecan and apple pies when I was growing up. (Usually the pecan from scratch and the apple from Sara Lee!) Apple is my favorite of the fruit pies, especially Dutch Apple! I just love that crumbly topping!
   

What All American or red, white or blue things do you love? Does the 4th make you think of anything special?

I hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating America's birthday! I'm off to the beach for fireworks! Until next time!

Nicole