A Place Like This......

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Don't forget the giveaway.

 

A Happy Blog Anniversary Give-Away

A Place Like This is three years old and almost 400 posts done. Something like this needs a bit of a celebration don't you think? First off, there is a new design to the blog.  For the most part it's finished but I will still be tweaking a few things on it yet.

This is a two-part give away.

The first is the new book by Alicia Paulson. Alicia is a fellow Oregonian like myself, and has a blog called "Posie Gets Cozy". Everytime she posts I find my way over to get a little dose of Oregon. Alicia has a new book out which I am absolutely in love with called "Embroidery Companion."

 

Each page brings a new treasure and an inspiration to pick up the embroidery needle and thread and get to creating some very unique works.

Currently, I'm working on these tea towels.

 
 but also on my to do list are these.

 

 

 

Next up on the give away list is something so special. Another place I shop at online is Alewives Fabric. Last year I bought this really lovely wall hanging quilt kit called Far Far Away Charm School, using the fabrics of Heather Ross. Though you can still get these fabrics at Alewives, the quilt is sold out and finished. So....... I am giving away one Alewives/Heather Ross quilt kit for you to make.

 
 

Want a few chances at winning one of these lovely prizes? Here's all you have to do.

 

1.  Leave a comment below.
2. Become a friend on Facebook.
3. Subscribe to "A Place Like This" feedburner.
4. Become a friend on Google Connect. It's in the R.H. sidebar.
5. Follow A Place Like This on Typepad.
6. Share this giveaway on your blog.

Please leave me a comment for each item you do. I'm leaving this giveawy open until Nov. 2nd 2010 at 6 P.M. EST . I'll announce the winners on Nov. 3rd. Thanks for celebrating with me.

 

Comments are now closed and I"ll announce the winner tomorrow morning.
 

Let Us Celebrate

                                                           

 

In heaven shines a golden star.

An angel led me from afar.

In heaven high unto the earth,

That brought me to my place of birth.

 

Welcome, welcome golden day.

With sunshine bright and flowers gay,

With painted birds that sing their song,

And make me kind and good and strong.

 (A waldorf school birthday poem, author unknown to me)

 
Many friends came to celebrate Lilla Mimi's birthday. On such a magic day, we made magic boxes out of pasta,glue, and colored markers. Perfect for storing treasures in.

 
We had a birthday parade complete with lanterns. Out towards the fairy tree we walked and then it was time for songs and games.

 
Time for cake and presents.

 
When asked what kind of cake she would like, her mother and I were thinking along the lines of flavor i.e. chocolate, vanilla etc. In her happiest voice she announced that she wanted a "Chipmunk cake in dark pink". We were stumped for a few days and this is what we came up with.

 

 

 
Mimi do you like your cake?

and here is her answer to that question.

 

 
Her favorite present of paint. She loves to paint. And here is her very funny big brother.

 

Happy Birthday Lilla Mimi. May you have many more! 
 

Scribble Lantern Tutorial

 Here's a look at Tuesday Through my Window.

 
Your wish is granted. So many of you asked how I made these lanterns that I thought I would leave you a tutorial.

Supplies:

• 18 x 12 manila drawing paper
• Tissue paper in a variety of colors
• Double stick tape
• Scotch tape
• Glue Dots
• Scissors
• Poster board
• Pencil
• Variety of color crayons
  

Take your manila paper and scribble all over it using one crayon at a time. We oftentimes would use 6 to 8 colors on each sheet.

 
Fold up the bottom 1 1/2 to 2 inches.

 
On the bottom fold that you just made, cut one inch slits aloong the bottom and up to the fold line. Once that is completed fold both sides of the paper.

 

 

And fold down the top. Using a maple leaf pattern, trace this onto the back side ( non colored) side of the lantern.

 

 
Next, cut out the maple leaf pattern, being careful not to rip the lantern itself.

 

Taking one sheet of tissue paper,cut out a square which will cover the leaf. Go ahead and tape this onto the leaf cut-out with tape. You will want to tape all four corners and the top and the bottom. This will hold it into place when we bring the sides together to make a cyclinder.

 
Now hold the piece of paper up with the tissue paper facing you. Bring the sides together by hooking the tops into one another and taping it into place. Once in place, use your double sided tape and put it under the lip of the top part of the which is overlapping. I use a couple long pieces of tape to make a really nice seam which sticks together. Now adjust the lantern so it is truly a cyclinder.

 

Using the top part of the lantern, place it on the poster board, trace a circle and cut it out. This is the bottom to the lantern.

 

 

Turn your lantern upside down so that the fringe is on top and facing you. Adjust the fringe so that it becomes the bottom of your lantern and the fringe folds down nicely. Place double stick tape on the bottom of your lantern.

 

 

Taking the bottom posterboard piece of your lantern bottom, place glue dots all around the perimeter but not too close to the edge. Place this piece on top of the double stick tape and fix it to the lantern. Trim the bottom piece if necessary. Turn your lantern right side up and you are finished. 

Inside the lantern we place battery LED lights which flicker like real candles. It's so much fun. Enjoy.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

The Great Pumpkin

 

Hey....what's that over there?

 

 

Mimi was home last week for Fall break. We had four wonderful days with our girl. She had a lot she wanted to make and do while she was at home and pumpkin carving was high on her list.

 

 
Of course pumpkin carving always works a lot better when the family cat is checking up on things and helping out.

 

Here's some of our afternoon's work.

 

 

Tuesday Through My Window: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Tuesday through my window I am watching Aunt Ruth working with "O" on their ever enduring project,"The Buffy Porsen."

 

One year ago I found this book on how to build a Buffy Porsen, for the last year these two have been working on their car. Now that the weather is cooler, it's time to pull her out again and work on the steering and brakes.

 

As a very small boy, "O" loved the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This car immediately caught his eye because of his love for this very magical motor car. Ours is magical too but in a very different way.

 

It's a wonderful feeling when someone believes in your dream and helps you to create it. Aunt Ruth has mentored "O" through every step and has taught him how to use every single tool in her kit. Especially the ones with electricity and loud motors.

 

By mid-day, they've decided to live dangerously and not put in brakes at all ,due to the width of the car. Next they work on the steering. Until the steering wheel is completed he will just have to steer with the rope. It very much resembles the reins of a horse. I wonder if this is what Henry Ford was referring to when he wanted to create the horseless carriage?

 

To get it all started he runs along just like Fred Flinstone.

 

And then off he goes steering all the time with his car reins.

 

Oh I'll just stop all of this explaining.....here have a look at my 28 second video.

Joining in the Tuesday tradition of Swedish House, in the words of Julie

"TUESDAY THROUGH...THE WINDOW

ANY WINDOW

In your home, your shed, your school, your place of work, your favourite shop, your journey...

Wherever you are...Inside or Outside...

Share your view of the world!"

Please go and see who else is playing . Will I see you there?

Handmade Holiday: Heritage Cards

There is something about Fall which gets the home fires burning and the crafting started. Tonya from Plain and Joyful Living asked that we share our ideas for holiday cards.

For us this year, not only are we making or buying handmade gifts but we are also focusing on keeping family traditions and crafts alive by making a handmade heritage holiday.

We come from a family of very creative people. As the years go by, some of our cherished memories and talents are beginning to fade. To introduce the younger generations to the old, we are whipping up some family magic. The first glimpse of this enchantment will be when they get a view of "the heritage tag".

 

On the outside of the tag is the To: and From:, a photo of the person who originally came up with the idea. Also included, either on the front or the back, is a little tidbit about this person. What they loved to do and create.

 
 

Great Gram would crochet.

 

My Grandmother would make her famous chocolate cookies,

 
My grandma was five years old in this photo.

 while my dad would make us wonderful toys, inventions, and cartoons. All learned from one of our famous relatives, Oskar Lindqvist.

 
My great grandfather, newly in America.

Being a designer, my mom would make us wonderful clothes. This tag, however, is toting her incredible apple cake.

 
My  mom at 13 years old with the apples she grew.

Inside each gift will be a card which will have either the pattern, recipe, or instructions and a little bit more about the person along with some photos. By the end of this holiday season, my children will receive and meet a different side of their large and happy family. Plus they will have some great beginnings on a heritage album.

To see what other sorts of cards everyone is coming up with, head on over and take a look.

{This Moment} Barely Being Civil

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 
photo by Zaina Budayr

How Far Can One See?

Built in 1807 with graffiti to match,

 

 

Mr. Moody created an observatory to watch for ships coming into the harbor and to communicate with the dock and city below, that there ship has come in.

 
Counting 180 steps to the top with a historic stop on each landing. Mr. Moody would take subscriptions from the various merchant ships. He would stand perched at the top of his tower looking for the various ships. Spotting one he would raise that ships flag alerting the dock crew that they would have to unload soon.

 
 

Though the building has seen some wear and tear over the last couple hundred years, there are many spots which are original. We had such a good time seeing how the restoration was completed and how the history of this observatory has been preserved.

 
A couple of days ago I showed you some views from the windows of the Portland Observatory and oh what a view it was too. 

 
 
 
We loved every moment we spent there. The tour is fantastic and we learned so much. I think this little tribe of mine would take to living near the sea very well.

 

How far can one see? On a clear day like we had you can see 30 miles. :)
 

 

The Fairy Forest

Where the forest meets the sea,

 

there is a pilgrimage of sorts. Mothers, fathers, grandparents,aunts,uncles, and all the children who love them, all become gatherers of sticks, bark, stones,sea shells, and moss.

 
  
 

All walking down the forest path with their arms loaded.

 
 
All coming to build a metropolis for Fairies.

 
Hundreds of fairy houses are scattered throughout the fairy forest. Each  house a testament to the uniqueness of it's builder.

 

 
For the master fairy house builder in our family this was nearly paradise. He got started right away.

 
 
As the house began to come together the boy's father asks," How long does it take him to build a fairy house?" The happy mother replies,"Oh a few hours to build several." Out from the fairy forest a voice was heard,"Baba, fairy house building is not a spectator sport. Can you please collect me some bark and some more shells please."

And with that the boy taught his father the art of fairy house building. Many hours passed and all were happy.

 
 

Mackworth Island is on Rt 1 just outside of Portland Maine. This is where the forest meets the sea and holds a very large fairy forest. All are welcome to build fairy houses made of natural material. If you didn't believe in fairies before you arrived you will absolutely believe in them by the time you leave.