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

Yarn along, Handmade Christmas Craft Along and a handmade giveaway

By on October 19, 2011 in Handmade Christmas Challenge, Yarn Along

I’m playing along with the Yarn Along over at Small Things again this week.  Ginny’s yarn along has helped to get me working on presents early this year.  For the past few Christmas I have hosted a handmade Christmas challenge but I always end up making all of my presents really last minute.  This year I am commited to have them done early. 

Tomorrow will be the first day of this years Handmade Christmas craft along.  Would you like to join me?  I would love to see what you are making for your loved one. If you would like to take the challenge,check back tomorrow and every Thursday until Christmas.  I will have a handmade goody giveaway every week for those who craft along.  You can see yesterdays post about it here

This week I have been reading, 10 Minute Housekeeping by Rose Kennedy and working on a cute little hat. I made this newsboy hat for a pretty little girl on my list. I made this pattern two years ago and I have played with it and changed it so much that it bears little resemblance to the first I made for Christopher when he was 3. I think I am happy with it now and the flower is detachable so it will hopefully match with more outfits for the recipient.

 oh those eyes…

 I should apologize for so many pictures but I could not pick just a few

After seeing it on Livie, I am going to have to make her one, don’t you think?  I love red on her and I should have known that making someone else a red hat would end up in my making another for her.  

OK, so come back tomorrow for the first Thursday of the handmade craft along!  The first give away is sooo sweet!  In the meantime, get out a notepad and make your Christmas gift list.

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)

Comments { 17 }

Handmade Christmas Challenge Craft Along

By on October 18, 2011 in Handmade Christmas Challenge
We have basically 10 weeks left until Christmas. Did you just faint?  Yeah, me too!  Now is the time to get organized, plan and make the gifts for those we love.  For the last few Christmas seasons I have hosted a handmade Christmas Challenge.  You can see those posts here. 

This year, inspired by Ginny’s Yarn along from Small Things, I would love to invite you to take the challenge and join me in a Handmade Christmas Craft along.  On Thursday, I will post the first day along with a way for you to link any homemade gift you have made recently or in the past.  The more ideas we share, the easier it will be to become inspired and make a handmade Christmas a reality.

Every Thursday I will post what I have made and you can link your gifts through a linky link on my blog post and share with everyone who reads this blog.  Every Thursday I will also have a giveaway from among those who linked up and or left a comment (you must also be a follower of this blog or follow me on Facebook), so stay tuned for lots of handmade loveliness from many talented people.  This will be a little handmade present from them (and me) to you.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, to take the pledge to have a handmade Christmas this year by giving those on our Christmas list a handmade gift.

Here are the rules:

1. Gifts must be handmade by you, or,

2. Purchased from someone else who handmade it, check out Etsy or Artfire, go to a craft fair, or,

3. Upcycled items such as thrift store, antique store or garage sale treasures. If this one is alarming to you maybe you should think about what it really costs to make something new, the energy to make it, ship it, house it and how buying something pre-loved is using a resource which has already made its impact. My brother asked me if buying someone a, basket counts, I said yes but buy a pre-owned basket, really could you really tell if you received a new basket or not and if it was new would that make it a better basket? 

The point is to use your imagination instead of buying all the mass produced stuff at the mall which every store is going to convince us we need and will make our Christmas this year perfect. Shop at home first. If you are a crafter, you have a stash. Most of us crafters don’t even know all the stuff that is in our stash so instead of heading over to the craft store, shop from your stash first.

Even if you do not have a blog or have nothing to link to, Please post your ideas or what you will be giving to your loved ones.

I will of course be posting some of my ideas and projects to inspire all of you too. (hey most of my viewers are probably on my list so gotta keep it hush hush)

Here is the pledge:

I, state your name, pledge to:

To take a political stance against mass consumerism of Christmas

To give gifts that are unique, meaningful and full of love


To promote, encourage and celebrate hand-made You may not have the time to make all your gifts but I know you will be out purchasing them. Why not purchase a handmade gift from someone instead of somewhere.

Tomorrow, I will post more so come back!

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)

Comments { 11 }