About Tricia

I am Tricia. Momma of nine, homeschooler, artist, foodie and maker of all kinds of things. It's a pleasure to share here our family homesteading adventures, the things we make, and what inspires our days. Read more about my family and work here. Thanks for visiting!

Author Archive | Tricia

Brothers to the rescue

By Tricia on December 11, 2012 in Family

Many people comment on the size of our family and I have heard more than once how my home must be a place full of bickering children. I have also heard that perhaps my children would be happier if they had less siblings because of course I could not possibly love them all enough. The fun part is seeing those people visit our home to realize how much our children love and need each other. Normal children that they are, there are moments where everyone wants their own rooms and need some time alone but for the most part, they love each other to pieces.

Case in point. I am cleaning the dust bunnies off the ceiling fans downstairs when my little Christopher and Olivia come rushing in excitedly screaming that someone is stuck in a tree. I run out being led by my two little ones to the oak tree that is over our trampoline. Sure enough, JP is stuck in the tree frozen with fear. He is sitting on the very branch that everyone jumps off of into the trampoline.

Everyone is on the trampoline trying to coax him out of the tree but he is not listening to anyone. Before you say or even think it, I am a terrible mother because firstly I am laughing at my sons misfortune knowing that he has jumped off that limb so many times and is not really in any dangers. Secondly, because I am taking pictures of the whole thing. Excuse the amount of pictures but they tell the story.

Nick, trying to talk JP down from the branch

Plan A: jump and we will catch you

Plan B: Just let us hold you as you hang off the branch

keep an eye on Nick in the background who is working on Plan C

almost there JP!

and he says he will never get up there again!!

successful mission

Momma will make it all better (ignore all the ceiling fan dust in my hair and my messy braid)

Brothers and sisters are good to have around!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

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Stash Bash – Saint Nicholas handmade gifts

By Tricia on December 6, 2012 in Handmade Holidays and Celebrations, Inspiration, Stash Bash

I’ve never met a crafter without a stash of some kind. This year my goal is to use up all the craft supplies I have spent money on that are taking up mental and physical space in my life. Join me here every Thursday for a Stash Bash.

How lucky for a Stash Bash to fall on such a beautiful feast day!! I hope you are enjoying your day if you do indeed celebrate this feast day. I am sorry for getting this posted so late this morning. I was up again until 2 AM finishing the last gift to put into the kids shoes. I actually am not showing that particular gift because I did not put the last part on it though my son was super happy with it anyway but once it is done I will share the pattern…it’s a knitted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!!

This year I had to really think hard to make the gifts from stuff we already have but I am very happy with everything. I hope this does not sound like bragging but I heard some of the kids this morning saying “this really looks store bought, how did Momma do that” and one of my older children who was walking by saying “come on it’s Momma, she can do anything”. That made the entire day of crafting yesterday worth it. And it makes me feel like a super hero!! Except, that I’m sure super heroes don’t wait until the last minute to make projects they have had planned for weeks.

If anyone wants a how to on any of these little gifts, just ask and I will post a tutorial. They are all small gifts and make good stocking stuffers.

Burlap sack with a leather tie from my scrap collection of leather to put the wooden memory cards into

animal tracks memory game drawn by Momma

Tic tac toe game on a wool bag with a velcro closure to keep game pieces in. The tic tac toe pieces are made from wood circles

Livie loved this clothespin doll. I think some furniture might be in order for Christmas!

the girls got handmade knitting needles with their very own stitch markers. These were so easy to make and were finished with a nice beeswax polish

and by the time I came downstairs Ronnie had already put them to use. I need to do some knitting lessons with her but I guess she started figuring it out on her own.

and for my bacon afficionado…a bacon shirt

the only things I had to purchase for the Saint Nick gifts were this t-shirt and chocolate coins which they know will await them every year. If you look closely, you will see that they are Hanukah coins because that is all I was able to find at the store…though they were 40% off and I don’t think they kids even noticed. I’m surprised actually!

So what have you been up to? I love to see what you come up with. I have added the Mr Linky to the bottom of this post for you to link up your Stash Bash projects.

Here’s what to do. There are no rules.
Just use what you have and try to not buy new supplies, unless you need it to complete a project that you are making from stuff you already have in your stash.
Take a