It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

Meaning, my house is full of unfinished holiday projects, and the promise of Thanksgiving and Christmas parties on the horizon.

Speaking of which, can you believe that Thanksgiving is NEXT. WEEK?! Like, next Thursday. I haven’t even created my shopping list just yet, only a menu, which, by the way looks and sounds fabulous!

On our menu is:

Turkey
Short Ribs
BBQ Turkey Legs
Baked Chicken Quarters

Candied Yams
Acorn Squash with Garlic Butter Sauce
Greens
Dressing
Brussel Sprouts w/Apples and Bacon
Macaroni & Cheese
Green Beans & Potatoes (maybe green bean casserole)
and Chitterlings (let’s not act crazy about this please, it’s a fave of my son and husband)
Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin Pie
Cheesecake
Pound Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Hawaiian Salad

Various drinks

I think that about covers everything. What are you all making for Thanksgiving? It absolutely is my most favorite cooking holiday. EVAH!

I have also been thread deep in sewing orders that I have been blessed to receive.

Two of the HUGE diaper bags (which I’m now thinking about making for myself – without the diapers) and several of the wristlets from my Houseful Of Stitches Etsy shop! I’m so happy that people love my sewing capabilities, but I can honestly say that I can’t wait until I can draft my own patterns! Hopefully next year!

This bag has a lot of components in it that confused many people on the internet. However, I think that I’m weird because I had issues with the easier instructions and not the harder ones with no photos. As a matter of fact, I think that I am indeed weird.

Here are closeups of the process:

Those may or may not be my feet in this photo. For those of you with foot issues like a certain someone that lives with me, I apologize in advance.

The ever problematic cell phone pocket. The darting was fine for me, and my Galaxy SIII fits perfectly in there.

I also made a couple of dresses for some teachers that work at the school that the cellist attends and that’s about it.

I’m LOVING the fact that Christmas music is playing as well, as I cut and sew away. It really helps me get into the mood of giving.

This year, I promised to give handmade to several people and I’m working on those gifts as well. I can’t post them just yet, so I will when I send them off and the holidays come around.

Are you all doing anything special now? Share below!

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

Did that title just make you giddy? I mean, I’m literally giddy, and I’m the one doing the giveaway!

If you’re not familiar with Melissa & Doug products you can check them out here and salivate over all of the greatness that comes from these masterminds in toy production.

How about I want all of the kitchen items for myself? Yeah, I said it!

Anyhow, I’m proud to present to you the Terrific Twenty List from Melissa & Doug

*click the photo for the list*

And don’t worry, if you don’t win here on the blog, you can always enter on the Melissa & Doug Facebook Page daily for chances to win as well!

One thing that I do love about the Melissa & Doug is the fact that they have wooden items. I absolutely love wooden toys and I hope and pray that my children love them as much as I love gifting them with these items.

However, the item of choice that I am really ecstatic about is the Grocery Basket and Play Food!

I really like this because my children are infatuated with my spices and pots and pans in the kitchen. I like having them in the kitchen with me, but I do not like having broken spice jars OR having my spices spilled on to the floor in general.

Hopefully, we will be purchasing a wooden kitchen for the ladybug, and the twizzlers to toddle around in this Christmas (please keep your fingers crossed) and this would be a perfect addition. If we don’t get the kitchen, they still have pretend food to play with while I’m cooking the real food! Everyone wins!

Now, here’s the great news. One of you all will be able to win one of these Grocery Basket sets as well!

Follow the instructions below and you’re done!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grilling Up for Father’s Day #GrillingIsHappiness #Giveaway

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions are strictly mine, including the kooky ones.

Father’s Day is coming up, and it’s no secret that most dads sometimes get the short end of the stick when it comes to their special day. That’s why I was thrilled to be able to head to my local Sears to surprise Mr. Houseful with some grilling accessories that he had been eyeing for a while.

If you follow my tweets, or my FB fan page, you’ll know that we’ve been grilling now for a while since the weather in Chicago has decided to cooperate a bit more for longer grilling periods. Just to be clear though, we’re not above grilling in the winter or rain, but there is just something about summer that BEGS for someone to light a grill and put all types of meat and other goodies on it to cook over that open flame.

Continue reading →

Easter Dressing – Simplicity 1873 Review

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

I did it.

I sewed an entire dress for myself. Literally.

Continue reading →

Easter Sunday

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

I came.

I sewed.

I almost conquered.

I say almost because Mr. Houseful and the cellist were left out this Easter Sunday. I feel HORRIBLE about it, but they have both assured me that I am indeed forgiven and that life can go on.

I’ll have a more in depth post of photos when I can get the kiddies to pose correctly – yes, I’m one who will do post celebratory posed photos on a whim.

But for now, here are two to keep you happy: Continue reading →

Make Two Challenge: Update

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

Make Two Challenge

So back in November, I posted this challenge that was shared by Ana White on her site. Basically, you were supposed to make a gift for a person in your life, and then make one to give to a child in need.

Of course, since I was on an apron sewing binge, so that seemed like the gift to make. I love seeing my little ladybug in hers and created one in the same print to gift to the pre-k class at my son’s school. They have a wooden kitchen there and I’m SURE that some of the children there would like an apron to go right along with their imaginative play. I am currently looking for a more ‘manly’ print to make for the little guys who like to use their culinary skills as well.

Did you guys make anything? Share!

~Make It A Fantastic Day!

It’s HERE

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Natasha Nicholes

The year 2012 that is.

I remember when I was younger, I thought that any year starting with 20 would have us in flying cars, and space suits. Little did I know. While we have certainly made strides in technology and science and all of that, the flying car thing I’d rather not participate in.

HOWEVER

If it has anything to do with sewing, crafting, cooking, homeschooling, reading, and traveling. I’m all for it. With that being said, I constructed my first clutch on the first day of this year, and I am pretty pleased. I have to make sure that I stitch a little neater, and catch ALL of the fabric the first time.

I got the pattern from Noodlehead and I absolutely love it. I’m going to make the other variations this month as well, and hopefully I can add this to what I’m putting into my etsy shop. WHEW! Here are a couple of photos of it:

The stitching is slightly off, but I’m proud that I actually got the zipper right! I have to pick up a few more zippers in the right size, and then I think that I will actually have the correct amount of room in the clutch. I just LOVE the gathering on the front. It’s funky and I only used two fat quarters of fabric (not really even that much) and it was a quick project.

I’m also excited to say that we will be doing our first sew along this month, and the first item we will be sewing will be a circle skirt. Are you as excited as I am? So, look out for that, and we’ll start with picking out your fabric and cutting it. To the assembly, to finishing touches. We’ll even learn how to do pockets soon!

Well, I hope that the first day of the year was as fulfilling to you as it was to me. May the rest of this year be just as fantastic!

~Make It a Fantastic Day!

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Natasha Nicholes

So, I know that this is going to post on the actual day of Christmas, but it’s going to post at night time, so we all win.

Our Houseful would like to take the time out to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas. Even if the bottom of your tree isn’t as full as you would like it, rest assured that the love that you show to your family today and every other day beats out any gift that you could wrap.

Even if your tree has missing lights on the bottom and a crooked bow on top, you smile because your two oldest children decided to decorate it this year.

Even if it took all night to get the cellist, the ladybug, lil’ miss twizzler, and sir twizzler tucked into bed for the day ahead – I know that I am blessed because I have a family to share the season with.

With that being said, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our Houseful to yours.

Eleven Days Left

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Natasha Nicholes

For Christmas Shopping. Yes, each of those words needed capitalization. If you’re like me this year, you’re thinking practical with a splash of the luxurious. The small houseful are getting handmade things, and other items that they can treasure throughout the coming yearS. Yes, I meant to capitalize that ‘s’ as well.

While I do enjoy the magical aura of the holidays, I do value the family time spent much more. With us doing holiday projects, and watching holiday classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas, and all the claymation movies makes me happy.

I love the feeling of unity.

I love the feeling of happiness – and realizing that it will continue well after the 25th of December.

With that being said – you have 11 more days until Christmas, and I’m wondering, where are you all with your shopping? Are you doing homemade gifts? Are you doing large gifts? What?