mamaroots

flea market style

 

February- a week out from Valenines and I am starting to put out just a few of the simple things that I have for Valentines.  But I wanted to share a couple blog post about some of my known loves- flea market styling.  One styling element that is fun to bring into your home is enamelware or graniteware.  A country utility item that has been around for a while, it really grew in popularity in the 19th/20th century country homes.  

I remember my grandma having several pieces when I visited her on the farm.  It is pretty prevalent at the flea markets and antique shops, and unless it is a collectible color you can often find it at pretty reasonable price.  It makes great storage containers, organizers, and just fun in the kitchen.I have to try and control myself, it is just so very fun and country.  The old chamber pots seem to get a chuckle from folks who know what they are.  My mama was telling me stories when she saw an old chamber pot/now trash can in my bathroom- it brought back some memories from the farm.

Before you go out and get some new cheaper made items at the store- think about going to the flea market instead- most of the enamelware is really well made and has such sweet charm.  Some of my favorite pieces around the house are our food dishes for the old ladies of the house our dog and cat.

 

 The old trays make great organizers for focused learning areas for your kids- this is Silas' writing tray.

Organizing yarn is quite fun in this old baby bath tub.

But this is my favorite, I was not sure what it was when I first saw it and actually walked away and then did some research.  It is actually an old french lunch pail.  Once I researched it and realized what good shape it was in, I went back to get.  Took me a couple trips back to the fleas to re-find!  Apparently I was not the only midwestern that did not understand what this was!

 

 

The boys have modern Tiffin lunch pails that work just great for them and has really cut back on our use of plastic bags, but this little sweet vintage pail fits much better in my backpack!  

Ironically I recently found a modern version of this on-line, it looks pretty neat sweet but I am quite tickled to have my vintage one!

How about you- any fun memories of enamelware?

p.o.m.

Excuse me as I briefly interrupt this grey winter day for just a spot of color and flurry of pom pom making that won me a couple "you are like magic" moments from my boys upon watching them be made.  I will take a compliment like that any ol day!  If you would like a few more pom eye candy I made a whole board just for them!

What do you do with a bowl of poms?  They quickly became furry friends, pretend fireworks for Chinese New Year, and of course a creative game of pom in in paper bag from across the dining room!

flying

Chilly, windy midwest, Winter's Bone kind of day.  Not the meth Winter's Bone, but grey and cold to the bone Winter's Bone.  The perfect time to have another inside picnic.  Gather:

snacks, quilt, new story prop, and hot chocolate!

I wanted to review for you today the new book that I fell in love with this week.  Sora and the Cloud by Felicia Hoshino.  I think I was draw to this because I have boys, but also the illustrations drew me in immediately.  It is a lovely look at children's imaginations, and perspective- from above, where snails and ants are in the streets and squirrels fly airplanes!  We loved the little details in the drawings and the gentleness of the cloud.  Especially when we found the mama eating rice balls at the end, one of our favorite treats!  We also enjoyed the bilingual nature of this book, though we did not know the Japanese characters it was lovely to see them on the page.

This led me to another thought of having a good world atlas handy when we are reading stories from other parts of the world.  Barefoot Books put out a great atlas that is has their classic illustration style mixed throughout the continents and areas of the globe.  

So while the boys were finishing up their after school homework I cut out a quick cloud for us to have as both a story prop to use, and reminder to the boys of where their imaginations can take them.  After reading the story Silas was pretty convinced that you could indeed stand on clouds, he was not so sure earlier!  But in case you don't have a scroll saw at your quick disposal, I can only image that you could create a pretty quick and cute cloud out of some cotton balls or wool!  Hope you get read this one soon!

serving

I have been on the hunt for a snack service set for a while.  It takes me back to my childhood.  Though I was born in the mountains, I was raised in rural midwest farm country.  When I was little I remember my mama getting together with other women in our little community.  They would rotate houses, the hostess would make tea.  This usually consisted of tea, coffee, and punch along with an assortment of sandwiches and desserts.  Ugh the palmento sandwiches though!  I remember the serving snack sets- everyone seemed to have sets that were brought out. 

After tea and visiting the women would set up almost an assembly line scenario where they were creating bed pads for the elderly at a local nursing home.  It was made of newspaper and old sheets that were sewn together.  

As girls, my sisters and I would go with my mama, enjoy the punch and other treats including those chalky mints, and then sit and watch the women as they worked.  I am not quite sure when the women stopped gathering, but I have always remembered those days when I see the snack sets out in the fleas/antique shops.  I am reminded of the simple service these women did.  

I tracked down my first set, I love the leaf pattern!  I served my boys with some snacks to break it in and today we will be finding a service to do for our community to celebrate MLK Day.  Since our temps have melt the snow and it will be almost 50 I think it will involve trash picking up at a park.  

Thanks mama for all that great influence growing up, you are always my best teacher!  Next time I will remember the chalky mints!

it worked

Seems like we just needed to make our little elf jar to bring some snow, it was really just a dusting but I will take what I can get!  I was born in the mountains, raised on the midwest plains, a brief stint back in the mountains to return to the midwest plains to be near my family.  But to be honest I really miss the mountains!  Snow takes me back there!  

Now, onto a welcomed 3 day weekend!  Maybe some toymaking, maybe some thrifting, maybe some valentine planning!  How about you?

2012

Welcome 2012!  Nice to say today was a welcome:

*handmade donuts (apparently a Dutch New Year Tradition)

*new years gnomes and sparkling juice

*embracing new organizing for new craft mediums (with some help from my little strong helper)

*more gnomes bringing us a good luck mushroom

Thank you everyone for joining me her again for another year, I am so glad you came.  This year should continue to challenge me with the new regulations that are coming into play.  I will be posting this week how I will be embracing these new changes and how it will affect the shop.  

Cheers- maybe one more glass of bubbly before bed!

the longest night

Probably one of my favorite solstice days in years!

*waking to Tangle (our resident fairy) presents that my little one has toted around most of the day.  This year is was a sweet bear and moose!

*rice pudding and pineapple for breakfast

*bike rides and nature walks on a chilly first day of winter

*late season family photos

*feasts by candlelight

*bonfires to release our solstice bundle of wishes

Many blessings to you on this longest night- 

weaving

The needle, thread, fabric, yarn, and dust, dust, dust are weaving and flying throughtout the house.  The week before the holidays is a big crunch time for finishing up the merry making.  This is mixed in with some ebbing and flowing with some family health issues have taken me to place of understanding and growing in the way in which the universe is woven and my place as a mother.  

But I figured there are other last minute merry makers out there so I made a Once Upon Table Project for you this week.  If you enjoyed the Spider Ornament that I did for Rhythm of the Home, I thought you might like maybe just one more- this time with a little walnut influence.  

May the holidays weave peace and magic around your family.  I highly recommend the book The Christmas Spider's Miracle to go with this tutorial.  The spiders are so cute on the tree let me know how you like it!

Download Christmas Spider

check it off

Almost ready to check it off the list, the Christmas cards!  I recently heard in a retail meeting that cards, you know the classic paper, lick the envelope and add a stamp kind of cards are up.  The e-cards are winding down.  Hmmm maybe we are still retaining some lovely slow human touches!

How about you- do you send cards?

growing boys

We made it to the farm last weekend, walked and for the first time we, okay "I" found the tall skinny tree I have been wanting for years.  It seems that we always find these trees with such girth.  It took some sweet talking and promises of Amish fudge on the way home and more hot chocolate once we got home to decorate, but mama got the final say on the tree this year.

 

I must say it is a beauty!  I know the delimma with cutting down a tree just for decoration, but I was reminded by this local company that it is an eco choice for the holidays, good for the air when it it growing, a tree or two is planted for everyone tree that is cut, and it is supporting a farmer.  

I kinda like the way each holiday it looks a little different since the tree is never the same.  I am still working on some more winter walks to add more greenery to the house.  I did get a couple bags full from my ma and pa's house.  It is such a simple way to make it really green.  Still hunting down some dried sumac- it is gorgeous too!

So as we continue to support real trees, local farmers, each year we are continuing to grow our boys.  More pictures are here of our adventures.