~ One Snowy Night ~

Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out how you can participate in the next Families, Create! Carnival.

This is one of our absolute favorite stories. In this particular version the hat has the velvety coating to make it soft so it is fun to feel. This is a great story to help show kindness and compassion for one another.

To go with our story I made this little amigurumi hedgehog and red hat. The kids loved him and call him Hedgie. He snuggles right down in his warm little hat. We are off to read our story so I will post more pictures of the kids and Hedgie tomorrow.

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• What's the perfect way to snuggle up on a cold winter night? Acacia at Fingerpaint & Superheroes knows the answer: make the perfect soup!

• Simply decorated jars by children bring warmth and light to cold Winter's days at Living Peacefully with Children.

• The ArtsyMama teaches us how to create a no sew fleece throw inspired by your favorite snuggle time book.

• Movies made from books are often pretty poor representations, but this family-made movie from Dionna at Code Name: Mama is monster-ific!

• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes created a cozy for her Kindle, to protect it from little hands that think they need to cuddle with it.

• What better way to cuddle and get cozy than in new jammies made by Mama G @ Z everyday things?

• Inspired by her family's love of the Harry Potter series, Mandy at Nestled Under Rainbows shared a reflection on and a celebration of snuggies, lovies, cuddlies and specials.

• Little Hedgehog got a wonderful idea when his red hat from Father Christmas didn't fit, and Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias got a wonderful idea to knit a sweet hedgehog!

• Monster-inspired artwork by a monster-clad kid. Despite the growling, he really is cuddly! Monster love courtesy of Dionna at Code Name: Mama.

• Arpita at Up, Down & Natural shares a quick tutorial on how to make your very own Pippalily inspire pouch sling, with zippered pocket & key ring, and a matching nursing cover to boot!

• Amy at Anktangle finally completed something cuddly and warm for her son Daniel: his very own afghan, crocheted with love by Momma.

• Who'd want to cuddle with a cuttlefish? Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes thinks you might want to cuddle up with this sweet plush cuttlefish!

• In an attempt to slow down and relax while watching her children, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to give knitting another chance.

Join us in February to create something with (or for) your own family. Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out more about February's "Heroes and Heroines" theme.

~ Pay it Forward 2011 ~

I put this on my facebook page but haven't had any taker so far so I am going to share it here. I am going to put my own special twist on it so don't miss out!

Pay it forward 2011: I promise something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you MUST repost this status, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by YOU & it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. Ready, set, CREATE!

Hat for Grace

~ My Baby Girl is Four! ~

My baby girl turned four today. My, does time fly. As she was eating breakfast I said to her "How did you get so big? It was just yesterday you were a little baby". Her response "No! yesterday I was three". Grace was my first planned homebirth which I wrote about here. The one thing that I would do differently is let my water break on its own. There aren't enough words to describe how different homebirths are compared to hospital births. I can't ever imagine going back to the hospital to give birth (unless a true emergency were to happen). My sister made this absolutely adorable apron for her and sent her some felt food from Ikea. She loved it. It was her favorite gift! Thanks Auntie Lexie!!

I wrote this post on the 6th but waited to post it because I knew my sister was most likely sending something really fun and I wanted to share.

~ My New Fun Project ~

My fun new crafty project includes this book and the theme Cuddles. Want to join me, click here to find out more.

~ Tawashi ~

This has been my fun little "relaxing" project. They are just little kitchen or bath scrubbies, but are quick and easy to do. Makes you feel like you actually got something done, which is a good thing since some of these are going to be Christmas presents. I used Sugar n' Creme yarn, holding one colored strand and one white stand to make an extra sturdy tawashi and a J hook.

 Round 1: Ch 4, sl st into 4th chain from the hook to make a ring; ch3, 10 dc in ring, sl st to first dc
 Round 2: Ch1, 2 hdc in each dc, sl st to 1st hdc
 Round 3: Ch1, 2 sc in each hdc, sl st to 1st sc

 Loop: Ch12 and sl st in same stitch, finish off

 For Flower same as rounds one and two above
 Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same stitch *skip 1 st, 6 dc in next st, skip 1 st, sc in next stitch * repeat between * 4 more times for 5 petals. Join to 1st sc.
 Loop: same as above

 This is the very first crochet pattern I have written, so if you can't figure it out chances are I wrote it wrong. These are very fun and easy to do and they don't have to look perfect, they are doing the dishes after all. Have fun! *Please don't claim the pattern as your own, but you may do whatever you want with what you make, give as gifts, donate or sell.*

~ Warm Woolen Mittens ~

I finally finished the cuff much to my son's delight. These are the first mittens that I have ever done. The pattern was very straight forward and easy to do. Not much counting or keeping tract of stitches or rows.

~ Need Inspiration? ~

I have a few blogs that are great go-tos for crafty projects, new ideas, and all around great inspiration. I love to read the comments of other people because most of the time they also have great blogs with lots of crafty ideas. If you need a new project or some crafty inspiration or even a new recipe, take the time to read the comment section of your favorite blog and most likely you will pick up a couple of new favorites. One of my favorites is The Long Thread, she has great kid friendly projects and lots of other fun stuff, which this morning led me to My Zoe Bug, who had a great valentine wall hanging project and some awesome crocheted baby things.