etsy gift ideas of the yarn variety and sounds of the season

some warm and toasty gift ideas (from left to right)

1. either-or capelet from fringe
2. a rose in a snow forest hat from tomokotahara
3. leg warmers from black circle
4. toasty super cowl from tea with toast
5. daisy wheels scarf from kanokwalee
6. cuffs from while they play
7. cashmere ballet slippers from adventuresofjr
8. grass green pom pom hat from kanokwalee
9. coffee and cream neckwarmer from tickled pink knits
10. lollie goes visiting hat from jmaccknits
11. blue pebble twins gloves from knithappens
12. veronique cowl from hand me down

*****

sounds of the season

did johnny mathis sing in your home when you were a kid? i can hear those records drop on that old extremely large record player that was outside my bedroom. i can hear those records drop and then at some point this song would come on and i would find myself dancing a bit and peeking down the stairs to see the corner of the tree in the living room. i bet i was hoping for a cabbage patch kid...

(i have decided to post my december views posts by themselves toward the end of the day, and my "sounds of the season," gift ideas, and other wordy posts at other times. at somepoint in the wee hours of the morning while i was sewing away, i had this realization that i could do whatever i want. so look for december views later today.)

december one.

december views

*****

sounds of the season

so do you know this one?*
dean martin sings "marshmallow world."
it's a new one for me, but i just love it. love him.
favorite part? well, i would love to say mine is when he puts his hand in his pocket while in front of the fire...put it really is that puff he takes while standing there. oh. my. goodness. cracks me up.

*oh and i am going to always put little youtube warnings as sometimes quality is a bit iffy with these oldies. the clapping at the very end of this clip sounds like alien noises. just sayin'. you might want to turn it down for the last few seconds.

believing on the last day of november.

I started to write a post about what I can't believe…how I can't believe that it is the end of November and I have written a post every single day…how I can't believe I have completed something I set out to do…

I started to write about what I can't believe.
But the thing is, I can believe it.

I can believe
that I posted every day in November.
that I found words to share in this space that feels like another type of home for me.
that the holidays are here and another year has almost passed as each year does as a life is lived.
in the stirrings of hope and possibility this month has given me.
in the connection of friendships found in this space, in this other type of home.
in the encircling of friends who see me.
that sharing pieces of the guts of my experience is one of the reasons I am here.

So I hope to post almost every day in December because posting every single day this month has reminded me of my early days of blogging when thinking things like "oh! I can blog this!" was a new sort of inner dialogue and I found great joy in coming to the empty screen and putting down the whispers that are inside me…

I will be embarking on December Views with Dar and a few other delightful souls (more information here) and sharing these whispers through images.

But while I look forward to sinking into the silence that comes with sharing images next month, I also want to sink into the sounds of this time of year…at least the sounds of my world. I plan to share a favorite holiday tune each day through Christmas Day because…well, because the soundtrack of the holidays is very much part of the soundtrack of my life and I want to share because it simply makes me so happy.

I also plan to share a gift ideas list (or two) as I have come across so many wondrous simple things as we attempt to buy handmade yet again this year. I had hoped to do that during the wordiness that was November but I guess other things needed to be shared. I will also let you know when I update the shop with scarves, patchwork aprons, and some other fun holiday-inspired creations. I am planning an update Monday, December 8th after my only holiday show, Urban Craft Uprising, next weekend (in Seattle at the Seattle Center on Saturday and Sunday; hope to see you there!!). However, if you see anything float across my flickr page this week that catches your eye, just send me an email.

Mostly though, I plan to be quiet in December while sharing little peeks into my world through images.

Blessings to you…and thank you so very much for visiting my little corner and staying for a bit.

what if

what if
what if you took that small step
just that small step
toward
that one thing
that one thing that your heart
that the guts of who you are
desires
what if you decided to begin
now
right now
with that one small step

i dare you.

remembering: sounds

her voice saying "come on" as she insists we walk around outside right after breakfast
the ritual of water running as soap is squirted and dishes slide, then knock together
flip flops clopping as we walk to the indoor pool and giggle when we see that again we have it all to ourselves
the guest room/her bedroom door creaking as she peeks to see if i am awake yet
the brush placed on the vanity when she finishes brushing her hair
laughter as she watches my brother and me slide down the backyard hill in our green sleds
her annoyed voice saying "honey" when i try to test her just a bit
the word "hello" just after my grandfather hands her the phone
the wooden spoon stiring sloppy joes on the stove

there is more...so much more...but i can't seem to find it tonight...the sense of seeing wants to take over the memories, but i want to remember the sounds...the sounds of almost thirty years of love and laughter and friendship and home...i want to remember how her voice said every word to me. but i can't. it seems lost tonight...but it was yesterday as i stood in the kitchen and began to measure flour and baking powder and nutmeg that i heard her voice. i heard her and i realized why i have stayed out of the kitchen these last few years. why i have come up with excuses to let jon cook most of the time or to get takeout. me, a person who actually likes cooking. it is because as soon as i start measuring things, i think about her. i think about calling her and asking her a question but then i have to remember that she isn't there. it happens almost everytime. i used to call with questions i didn't really have just to have an excuse to talk to her about cooking or house stuff as she was so proud to help me figure out my first home and cooking for my husband and all that wife stuff. and i wanted to learn from her and hoped she would feel good helping me as life seemed to be slipping away. i think though...i think i am going to try to spend a bit more time in the kitchen because maybe...maybe if i spend time measuring and turning the pages of cookbooks and filling the house with the smells of home i will remember the sounds...i will remember the sounds of her voice and it won't seem quite like it is all slipping away with each day that passes...maybe she will travel back to me for just a moment and i will remember.

today.

tonight, as i am curled up on the couch next to jonny and all snuggled in my plaid flannel pajamas, i think back on today and know that i am so very thankful for...

wonderful friends (who let us be part of the family today...thank you)

laughter that invites you to just let go (i laughed until i cried while we were playing charades...i am in fact still laughing about that moment right now just thinking about it)

my little family (jonny and millie and me all together nestled in our home safe and sound)

for being able to come here and just be me (and having you reach out and connect and remind me that i am not alone...thank you for that dear ones...thank you)

i hope your day was full of the really good moments that make up a life well lived...

blessings,
liz

saying yes

some outtakes from a two girls, two clicks photo shoot

(i chose this one)

saying yes

to laughter

to letting it go

to embracing the inner silly

to knowing i am loved

to holding onto my circle of kindred spirits

to balance

to pigtails

to keeping the doctor away

to someone else cooking the turkey

to listening more

to remembering the laughter of those i love

to help

to chocolate + chocolate mint ice cream

to curling up under the quilts

to orange+green

to rereading the divine secrets

to hope

to brainstorming

to love

to seeing the beauty

to trust

to seeking peace within

to praying for peace everywhere

how about you?

eight places to go (and two girls, two clicks)

1. shedding (me) 2. holding on (geek girl)
photo collaboration with miss geek inc, week 10
two girls, two clicks

places to go:

kelly's post where you can make a really incredible difference in one family's life (and maybe win one of her paintings!)

jen's post about living your life in your way on your path

denise's new baby's photos (he is simply adorable)

susannah's and alicia's favorite things

dar's view of autumn

the world of skunkboy creatures

the dolls and creations of christine alvarado (i adopted isadora in the last update...she is gorgeous)

the very special intimates at under the root (have the bloomers and LOVE them)