December

a nativity calender - gifted to us - when each flap is opened, a Bible verse is revealed

our Stockbridge, Massachusetts village - gifted to us over many Christmases when we lived in the Berkshires

a tree from our little homestead

Images from Christmas Day

Abraham looking at a puzzle he received from his brother

hand knit mittens for Abraham

Abby made her Poppa a pillow with "poppa" embroidered on it

Wooden play people for Abraham and Sarah

 

Presents wrapped with recycled papers and yarn with painted words and pictures

 

Sarah with a hand knit sweater from her Poppa

 

An afternoon hockey game - the children were given hockey nets from Poppa

This week after Christmas is such a nice time to reflect, organize, spend time playing games inside  and outside, and to make some plans for the coming months.  What are you doing this week?

Warm wishes, Tonya

(I am also putting the finishing touches on the newsletter - sorry for the post-Christmas delay.  They will begin to be mailed on Friday.  I am really excited about this issue.)

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Blessings on this First Day of Winter and Warm Christmas Wishes

We are ~

enjoying the antics of having a puppy and a a kitten

keeping busy while mom and dad finish the last of the orders

bringing some of the outside in

making gifts

 and baking ~



I will be mostly off the computer the next few days, enjoying the baking and making with our family.  We had a last minute order rush which resulted in two trips to the post office yesterday.  But, now all is officially done, and my heart and mind are eager to turn toward this week of joyful celebration.

Wishing all of you a warm and wonderful week,
Tonya

Handmade Holiday - Last Post

It  has been a joy to do this each week since July.  I have been introduced to  many new people through their blogs and have enjoyed all of the creative ideas.  Thank you so much for sharing and I apologize to so many of you that I probably did not include .  We have dial up internet, so the going is slow and I don't alwyas get the chance to visit everyone each week.

Hopefully, this Christmas will be filled with some handmade goodness for you to share with others and also that the process of creating has been a positive one for both yourself and for your children that may have wanted to join you, and just maybe one of your children has learned a new skill or two as well.  Also, maybe by giving a handmade gift to friend or relative for the first time, just maybe, this will light a little spark within the receiver that it is possible to make and give handmade useful, beautiful, and/or thoughtful gifts instead of having to drive down to the mall or big box store and buying something that may have been produced in less than ideal circumstances by people earning very little and have to work in a very unhealthy environment.   

Small things truly do matter and by living a life true to my beliefs is all I can do.   My hope is that the ripples may someday turn into waves.  Anything is possible, right?


Ok - here are some more wonderful ideas from some of you ~

Homemade Laundry Detergent from Earth Mama

Beeswax Lantern from Moment to Moment

A Wet Felted Playscape from The Little Gnomes Home

A Simple Knit Hat from McGreen Experience

Peg People from Peas and Carrots

 

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Skating and Christmas Preparing

Yesterday was our first day out on the pond... so much excitement and fun.  Last night the children headed out on the ice after supper.  We discovered a flood light that shines on the pond. What a wonderful blessing.

Daily, little holiday preparations take place... (most of our holiday orders have been filled and shipped - which is such a great feeling)

stringing cranberries and popcorn

baking for friends and neighbors - this is a batch of cranberry, oat, walnut, with white chocolate chips cookies

There is a nice relaxed feeling as we prepare for the coming week of celebration.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

(The honey giveaway below, will close at 7:00 pm tonight.  I will announce the winner then.)

Handmade Holiday - 2010

Knit dishcloths from Honor Crowned Crafts - a wonderful last minute gift 

Cranberry white chocolate chip oatmeal cookies - a great idea from cardigans and kids - would be wonderful for neighbors

Adorable potato printed mushroom shirts from Twig and Toadstool

a wonderful gift for baby from Groovy Moments

knit hat and mittens with a link to the free pattern at While the Water Boils

jacob's ladder tutorial from Duo fiberworks

The winner of the neighbor giveaway - is #75 - tracyp - please email me at naturalearthfarm@netzero.net as I don't have a way to contact you.
Thanks everyone for entering.  I am going to be passing on another neighbor giveaway tomorrow.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Light and Love

May your days ahead be filled with light and love during this beautiful season.

I will be back on Sunday with the winner of the giveaway (you can enter below).  

We are busy as elves here at  home filling holiday orders.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

The Season of Advent

Some preparations have been made to mark tomorrow as the first Sunday in advent.

We made a holder for our advent candles in a birch branch from a fallen tree.  I still have to add a white candle for the center for Christmas day.

This Sunday we will light one candle and burn it each night with our supper.  Next Sunday we will add another candle and burn two with our nightly meal, and so on.  Each candle represents the following words.

Candle of Hope - the hope we have in Christ.

Candle of Peace - a reminder of the peace that God brings to us by forgiving our sins.

Candle of Joy - represents the joy that God brings into our lives.

Candle of Love - represents God's love.

Warm wishes for a peaceful Sunday,
Tonya

A Handmade Holiday - Teenage Boys

This is a topic near and dear to my heart as I have two teenage sons, ages 16 and 14 and another son that turning 12 this Thursday.

So....

I have heard from others that are joining in that is hard to come up with things to make for this group. I agree!

Both of my older sons saved up their money and with the help of their grandfather, each bought themselves a lap top. My fourteen year old needs a carrier bag for his. I am imagining a crocheted bag in browns with a thick shoulder strap.

My sixteen year old loves scarves, so I will be searching for a nice pattern to knit up for him.

In addition, both boys have oodles of photographs from the last two years on their lap tops but they have never been made into photos. I will ask them to load up about 100 of their favorite photos on one of those little tiny memory holders (I don't know the correct term). Then load them up on my computer and when I am at the library, order about 50 photos each for them from an online photo shop and then put them in a photo album with a hand crocheted cover.

(so part handmade for this one)

They love food, at least they eat lots of it:) I will make them each a batch of their favorite recipe. Usually they have to share with everyone.

I do need more ideas, though.

If everyone will leave ideas in the comments and links to projects that will be wonderful. Also, if you would like me to add your blog to the list of contributing blogs, let me know that in your comment as well. Feel free to add the Handmade Holiday button to your blog. Next week's post, I would like to share some of your ideas for Teenage Boys and more links to projects.

Assignment: Fill in your Holiday Notebook with your ideas and write them in under the list of people you already made last week, and start working on one of the projects. If you don't have a teenager in your life to make for, please start researching handmade ideas for men.

:: Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a baby's vest hand knit of handspun wool as well as the leftover yarn ::

Thanks and warm wishes,

Tonya