Number 18: Blossoms by June Lynn

It's time for another 30 by Thirty update! If you missed the original post, I am attempting to accomplish 30 goals before age thirty.

Goal Number 18: Buy a handmade craft on Etsy

Meet my mother, June. Formerly a preschool teacher, she now spends her mornings crocheting and managing her Etsy shop, Blossoms by June Lynn. Baby hats are her favorite item to make, but she also crochets headbands, baby booties, and women's brooches.  

My first Etsy purchase (and fulfillment of goal number 18) was this cute little baby hat for a little boy baby shower. 

She also sells twin hats, animal hats, hat and bootie sets, and seasonal hats for every holiday. I love her new St. Patrick's Day hat! The prices are quite reasonable. Most items are between $13-$16 depending on style.

Styles are adorable - Prices are adorable!

Click here to check out Blossoms by June Lynn Etsy Shop

Making a Tutu Tulle Wreath

 

Creating a tulle wreath is very similar to making a little girl's tutu. If you've ever made a tutu, (or are familiar with the process) then you can make a fluffy tulle wreath. Tulle on a spool is a great choice for this project because it doesn't fray, comes in a variety of colors, and its narrow width is a huge time savor versus the widder tulle sold from the bolt.

Making a tutu tulle wreath is as simple as cutting and tying strips of tulle to a wreath form.

This will be a great addition to our birthday box of reusable party decor. Only two more months until our little girl turns three!

Sharing this post at a few of my favorite creative link parties listed here. 

Me Age Seven, "Do Not Forget My Birthday"

Twenty-two years ago I drew this sweet little Valentine's Day card for my father to take with him to work. A Valentine's Day card with a shameless reminder of my birthday :-)  Gotta love the honesty and self focused mind of a seven year old!

When my dad cleaned out his old files last year, he returned a large manilla file of my childhood art,  displayed in his office at one point or another over the years. This card, along with many other letters and artwork were carefully tucked inside.

Flipping through my old "masterpieces" was a fun trip down memory lane and a powerful reminder that the art we make is important. That the imperfect is cherished. And encouragement to guide my daughter to her own creative expression.

December Misfit Posts

I had a lot of holiday and seasonal posts planned for the month of December that never made it onto the blog. I'm calling them misfit posts. I realize it is now February but these five mini-posts are still worth taking a look. Here are the condensed versions for your belated holiday viewing :)

Pasta Angel Ornament
I spotted this handmade ornament on a secondary table tree at my parent's house. One of us kids made this pasta angel years ago. The body is penne, the arms macaroni, the wings bow tie, the candle a thumbtack, the head a wooden bead, hair acini de pepe pasta. I thought it was a cute idea and snapped a picture to reference as a children's craft next Christmas.

Cute as a Button: Snowflake Hair Ties
Don't you just love cute little curly baby pigtails worn high on top of the head? Forgive the terrible photo quality. To make these I used shank buttons - the kind with the hole on a tab underneath - and clear plastic hair ties simply loop knotted together.

Cookie Cutter Pie Crust 
Clever idea inspired by a number of Pinterest pins - cut your pie crust with cookie cutters. This was a fun activity to do with my toddler.

Norwegian Heritage Wreath
My family's ancestry has strong Norwegian roots. We still eat Lutefisk, Lefse, Kringla and other Scandinavian treats at Christmas time. To celebrate my heritage, I adorned this wreath with traditional wood and straw ornaments.

Casserole Carrier: Handmade Christmas Gift
I followed the instructions found here, with the modifications mentioned here, to sew this casserole carrier for my grandmother's Christmas gift. Sewing is still somewhat of a challenge for me so while it did take a number of hours to assemble, I was quite proud with its completion.

Alright, thanks for humoring me. Now on to more seasonally appropriate writings :)