Wednesdays with Willis

In case you haven't heard the Pacific NW is covered in a lot of white stuff! Can you say...SNOW DAY?! The winter storm even made the TODAY show.

My work is totally shut down & I'm clearly not going anywhere...

& something tells me Willis knew that as soon as we got up today.

So far our day has consisted of some french press coffee, playing in the snow, 

eating breakfast & watching Sex & the City...

it's been pretty rough & Will is already ready for a nap.

While the pup sleeps I'll be crafting. 

Here is a little preview of what I've got going in my workshop:

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

*lucy.

A Lesson in Swaddling

Meet my lovely friend, Kristin.

We met in nursing school & became fast friends. Now she's having a baby!

And since she'a an ED RN I knew exactly what I was going to sew her little...

{A SWADDLER}

photo cred: prudentbaby.com

A while back I was trolling Prudent Baby's blog for shower gift ideas & 

stumbled across this gem. 

Since I'm a pediatric nurse I thought Kris could use a lesson in swaddling :)

1.    Position babe in center of swaddler & start your burrito wrap

Don't judge, this is the only prop I could find as Willis wouldn't cooperate :)

2. Tuck the blanket into the gap                    

3. Tuck the strap in the other side of the gap

4. Tuck the other end of the strap up top & you’ll have one happy baby!

{that is swaddled with industrial strength}

To make this DIY Swaddler HERE

Happy Swaddling.

*lucy.

***

Update: Baby Jack (& mama) love the swaddler!!

{5 Lovely Things on Monday}

Now that the holidays are done & things are starting to slow down the presser foot on my sewing machine is picking up speed...
So here is my Lovely to-do List!

{1} Amy Butler's Sleep Snail

photo cred: Amy Butler's Little Stiches for Little Ones
One of my friends' littles will be the lucky recipient of this cutie!

{2} What a Hoot!

photo cred: Fiskars
Fiskars has a free tutorial for this plushie that I can't resist!!
As I've always had a love for owls that are quite the trend now I can't
decide if I want to give this as a gift of keep it for myself :)

{3} Laptop Tote

photo cred: Joy from HJD Studio
Woot-woot for Sew, Mama, Sew featuring this tutorial!
Every blogger needs a cute tote for their MAC, right?

{4} Supply Roll-UP

photo cred: Kate of Peep Threads
Washable makeup brush cases would make a great gift! 

{5} Perpetual Calendar

photo cred: Little Birdie Secrets
The best part of this project is you can start it any time of the year!

I hope all of your are starting your New Year off on the right foot & thanks for following me in my novice blogger adventures :)

cheers,

*lucy.

A "Make it Work" Kitchen

With the New Year comes resolutions & a focus on getting your life organized. This week I couldn't help but notice how many articles I came across regarding "organize your home one room at a time" or "storage for your personality". It only seemed fitting to put my two cents in & share how I made my euro-style flat's kitchen a workable space. Here's a little refresher on what I was up against:

An overabundance of counter space...

Ok storage but it's not always convenient to use a stepstool to get things down...

At least I have a gas stove & oven!

So with a very white slate I began. Step 1: IKEA. If this is how Europeans make their apartamentos work I can too!

Shopping List:

1. something to go above the oven

photo cred: IKEA
Bekvam Spice Racks x2
{these will be a snap to paint & "spice" up}

2. more space to show of the Fiestaware

photo cred: IKEA
After my dad saw my handiwork with an electric drill to mount this
GRUNDTAL wall shelf he said, "Watch out Bob Villa".
{I know he was very proud.}

3. something to dry dishes sans counter space

photo cred: IKEA
The GRUNDTAL series strikes again-- genius.

4. somewhere to hang my pots & pans

photo cred: IKEA
Some hooks for this GRUNDTAL rail & we're set!

{drum roll for the grand reveal...}

Yes, that's a fresh cobbler baked by moi

Thanks to a score from my good buds I have
instant additional counter space & storage!

My handiwork has made my kitchen so workable
even a man can cook in it :)

Thanks for reading. I'm sure even Tim Gunn would be proud of my "make it work moment" with this circa-1890 kitchen!

*lucy.

p.s. The first time I posted this entry I forgot to include these pictures:

Thank goodness for my lovely bf who mounted this rack with industrial strength!
It's definitely not going anywhere

{Best of Photo Loveliness from 2011}

Well boys & girls it's time to delve into 2012! I apologize for my blogging absence during the past few weeks & I promise to be back in action. Gotta start the New Year off, right?

2011 was a year of transition & self-reflection for this girl. And that is why I've decided to make the the first {5 Lovely Things on Monday} of 2012 my favorite snaps from 2011. Enjoy & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 {5} Meeting Mr. Jamisen

Getting a first glimpse at one of my bff's first babe.
The look on our faces reminds me of the quote:
"A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, a dream of possibilities."

{4} The Trifecta

This pic says it all.
These girls are most definitely my sisters from another Mr.

{3} Father & Son

Portraits of dads & their kiddos never get old-
especially when you've known the dad since they were 8yo!

{2} BF in the Belfry

Taken in the bell tower at my parents' cabin (or compound, rather)
You can see why I like this guy & the scenery isn't bad either ;)

{...drumroll, please...}

{5} Sista, Sista

This pics was taken on Easter Sunday 2011
in Gig Harbor. It may be my favorite
sister picture of all time.

CHEERS!

 xoxo

*lucy.