Shop Feature: Polka Dots for Christmas

It's December already.  I've been easing myself into the Christmas way of things -- decorating, shopping, baking -- for a couple of weeks now and it's such a relief to hit December with a not-too-long To Do list.  How are preparations coming along for you?

I was really channeling Christmas when I designed these lovely Red Polka Dot Placemats for the Etsy shop.  As with all my hand-printed items, these are cut and sewn from a premium natural burlap that has a relatively even weave and very little of the characteristic burlap scent.  They're printed individually, so no two are exactly alike.  They're in the shop now, along with lots of other pretty things.  Please visit.

SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT:  I'll be closing the shop down for a Christmas holiday on December 10.  This is also the last day that I can guarantee pre-Christmas delivery.  Dapple Design Shop will reopen on January 4, 2017.

A Day in the Life

This week I undertook a "Day in the Life" photography challenge.  The idea is to snap a photo every ten or fifteen minutes to capture all the mundane moments that otherwise escape the lens.  I only lasted about an hour and a half but caught these sweet moments.  Let's call that a success.

Have you ever tried to document a whole day?  How did it go?

Starting Again

 I've rediscovered my camera and started hauling it around with me again.  Today to the lovely gardens at Royal Roads.  In a good mood, S was happy to pose for photos on the castle steps and even took her turn behind the camera -- so I'm in the picture too today.

String of Stars Tutorial

This is my first foray into Christmas decorating this season.  The Christmas bin is still in the garage, but I was ready to hang something festive in the window.

This string of stars garland fit the bill.  The concept is simple enough to come together quickly.  In fact, it's simple enough that my three-year-old could help.

If you'd like to whip up your own string of stars you'll need:
- wooden popsicle sticks
- glue gun and glue sticks
- yarn in your choice of colours
- more yarn or jute twine (not shown) for stringing the stars

Begin by hot gluing five popcicle sticks into a star shape as shown above.  You'll only need a bead of hot glue at each of the five star points.

When the glue has set, tie one end of the yarn to the star leaving a tail of 2 or 3 inches.

Keeping track of the yarn tail, start wrapping the yarn around the corners of the star.  Wrap around the star in one direction for 3 or 4 turns, then switch to a different corner and wrap another 3 or 4 turns.  Somehow I ended up with a mini star shape in the centre of my star, but random patterns are fine too.

Don't forget to wrap the points of your star too.

Remember that tail of yarn that you left when you first tied into the star?  You'll need it now.  When you're happy with the look of your star, cut the yarn and tie the two ends tightly together across the back of the star.

Trim the ends.  This is the back of your star; the knot is not visible from the font.

Make a constellation.

I mentioned that my three-year-old helped.  After the hot glue was dry, she chose this blue-green yarn.  I tied the first end for her and she wrapped to her heart's content, which turned out to be just one star.  Then the markers came out and she decorated another one her way.

To make your stars into a garland, thread a long piece of jute twine through several strands of the wrapped yarn at the back of each star.  This is easier if you tie a knot near the end of the jute.  The stars will hang more evenly if you thread the jute near the edge of the star as shown above.

Continue in this way  until all your stars are strung.

My garland is hanging in the dining room window, but it also looks nice across the mantel.  

Leaves

The leaves are falling in earnest now.  Every day I take Miss S for a walk and we come home with fist-fulls of new-fallen finds.  We hang them in the windows or fill bowls with them for centerpieces.  Mostly, we let them dry into crunchy curls, but I pressed a few in a book last week and remembered them today along with a creative idea that I've been meaning to try.  Thanks to Jean at The Artful Parent for a very enjoyable hour of creative fall fun.

How do you enjoy the fall leaves?

Linking to Mosaic Monday

A morning walk

The sea is placid today.  Pacific.  Passive.  Reflecting sky and hills, still green.  Amplifying gull cries; highlighting wingtips with sparkle and spray.  Retreating in a long exhale of tide.

Joining A Spirit of Simplicity for Tuesday Afternoons

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As Summer Fades

Yesterday we had a misty morning and a rainy afternoon.  Today I ate lunch on the sunny front step.  And so the days bounce back and forth between summer and fall.

Last you heard, here, I was taking a month away from blog land to settle into a new house.  A month away became summer vacation, but that back-to-business September energy has finally caught up with me.  I'm here with a few tidbits to share.

From Home:  This fuzzy friend crashed our front-step lunch.  I'm no naturalist, but I would like to know what sort of butterfly he will become (assuming he survives Miss S's adoration).  Does anyone know?

From the Studio:  I've been adding new listings to the Etsy shop almost daily.  Getting the photos right has been tricky this time around, but at some point the listings just have to go live.  As fall creeps in, I'm enjoying the simplicity of this burlap table runner.  What do you think?

Linking to Mosaic Monday hosted by Lavender Cottage.