june at noon

We interrupt your week of Handmade Holiday with a special alert. We seem to have lost Jane Ann in the midst of all the holiday preparation…. Ooops! There she is, hiding in my mother-in-law’s massive Santa collection! Jane Ann would like to wish you a very merry Christmas. P.S. You know, I just realized in [...]

Christmas baking, that is. What’s Christmas without some homemade goodies? Every year I like to fill reusable containers with some special things for our family and friends. I always include some tiger fudge, and then I choose a couple of new things to make. (Last year’s homemade jelly was a hit!) More recently I’ve started [...]

Over the years our Christmas has become more and more handmade, primarily because I so enjoy making and giving things made by my own hands. In the process, I’ve found that the simplicity of a Handmade Holiday can be quite rewarding. While we don’t do anything grandiose, I thought I’d share with you some of [...]

I use a lined journal for my planner right now. It gets used as a calendar and a list-keeper and a sketch book. I jot down ideas and to-do’s and drawings for projects. It’s the only way I remember to clean the bathrooms or prepare for the next morning’s story time at the library or, [...]

Oops! I seem to have missed my (somewhat) regular Friday post. When I say I’ve been busy, I mean I’ve been BUSY. I’m making good progress finishing up gifts, but I’ve also had to throw in some baking and family events and tree-decorating, among other things. I’ve barely stopped to eat (literally), but I am [...]

The hiss of a hot iron meeting damp fabric. The metallic sound of the shears, the whir of the rotary cutter. The swish of scraps and thread being brushed to the side. I’ve had a lot of prep work lately because I’ve been turning out Christmas gifts like a madwoman. I’m making good progress, but [...]

In our family we have a grandmother who is very fond of birds. When I saw this project, I was inspired to create my own version of a crocheted twine bird feeder for Grandma. In fact, I liked it so much I made two! I started with the same premise as the original, but I [...]

Last weekend I got out all my Christmas decorations. Yesterday we had our traditional family tree-hunting party. The Nativity and nutcracker collections are in place, the evergreen scent is in the air, and we are officially in the holiday season. That means lots of things, including celebration and love and remembrance, but one thing it [...]

More spaces at kootoyoo.

Welcome to my creative space. Or, as it is currently called, My “Just How Many Christmas Gifts Can Gretchen Make in the Very Short Time Left Before Christmas?” Space. (Unfortunately I can’t tell you what any of these photos are because they are gifts in the works. You’ll just have to use your imagination!) Last [...]