Handmade Holiday

For a few years now we've been making all (or most) of the Christmas gifts we give. This can be tricky for few reasons. For one, it's hectic and busy and by December 25th I feel like a ragged little elf who desperately needs a nap and a pedicure (hint hint Santa!).
The other drawback is that after doing it for a few years, I run out of things to make! One can only give a purse or pair of earrings so many times.
But all in all, I really love doing it this way. The whole family works all season long for a handmade holiday - even the littlest hands can help out!

This year, I decided to paint these signs for teacher gifts:

And this one for my husband's office (always read the fine print):

Judah even made one for Ruthie: 

Some handmade goods from Christmas past:

stockings

 vintage fabric tags

 apron

 ornaments here, here, and here

Happy Handmade Holidays! 

Countdown

We are ready ready ready for Christmas. Super ready. Couldn't be more ready. Not so much for the  Christmas day present hoopla thing - although that will be fun. But we are counting down until we pack our bags, load up the car and make our way through the mountains to family! FAMILY! We miss them all so much! And we get to spend time with both sides this year and we can hardly wait. 

We needed something to help us count down to the big day. Advent calendars are fun and all, but to be honest the thought of stuffing one with trinkets for each kid (meaning 50 trinkets!) sounded like a bit much. Plus, we aren't counting down to Christmas morn, we just need a countdown to ROAD TRIP 2012. So I made this. We tear a number off each morning. 

You could do the same for Advent or Christmas morning for sure. Especially if you want to bypass treasure hunting for the traditional Advent calendars. 

It's a small thing to do, but helps us pass each day. It'll be here before we know it! Now the trick is to enjoy days 23-1. 

Be Merry & Bright!

New Listing - Night Sky Earrings

I have a friend, a really really cool friend (you know the type) who always has a rad mixture of earrings on. Try as I may, I can't ever seem to mix my up just right to accomplish that effortless asymmetrical balance. For those of us with that problem (using the term "problem" ever so lightly here) my latest listing could offer a solution.

Vintage charms...perfect asymmetry...that little moon man smiling atcha... what more could a gal ask for? :)

Click HERE for details on the Night Sky Earrings

New Listing - The Bar Necklace

This went up today in The Shop - first one in forever! I kinda really like it a lot. And I kinda really like being back in the swing of things. :)

Click HERE for more details on The Bar Necklace

Kid Craft - Necklaces

As with almost every craft I make, this one certainly has "easy" in the description. It's not new or clever, and doesn't require any skill from the adult (except patience), but it's one of our favorites. We have quite a collection!
All you need is string (cord, hemp, yarn, ribbon...anything you have on hand) and some fun beads. Ruthie is my, um, spirited child. So I used the ol' highchair to keep her in one spot and contain some of the chaos, or else I would be finding beads around the house from now until the end of time.
She wears hers everywhere - her "gussets"she calls them - and rakes in the compliments. :)

(the boy loves them too. we save the black white and navy beads for him)

Go make some! (they would make sweet Christmas and teacher gifts!)

Happy Etsy-versary To Me! (and a coupon code!)

I just realized that it's been FOUR YEARS ago today since I first opened Corrieberry Pie. 

It's been such a good journey for me through various seasons of my life and I'm excited to dive back in with some new stuff in the coming weeks. 

As for today...

Use the coupon code: FOURYEARS at checkout and receive 20% OFF your purchase!

a few favorites from over the years...

 HAPPY ETSY-VERSARY!

Has It Been That Long?!

I know, I know. It's been waaaay to long. (six months to be exact!) I thought about giving a million reasons (excuses) why I haven't written, or slathering pictures of my kids up here from the last few months to fill in the gaps, or doing a huge catch-you-up post...but I fear if I don't just jump right back into the wonderful world of blogging then I never will.

So, the abbreviated highlight reel of the last 6 months:
- Summer happened. Texas be crazy (family modo)
- We road-tripped to family, gained a perfect new nephew, and drove all the way back to Texas just to miss them all terribly. (thank goodness for FaceTime)
- I took a massive break from my Etsy Shop - playing with the kiddos before the school year began trumped many things. They're getting too old too fast. I didn't want to miss any of it.
- My son turned 5, started kindergarten, learned to read and write, and is just so stinkin' sweet.
- My daughter turned 2, gave up pacifiers, loves to swing and "party" and is ridiculously cool.
- My husband is a working machine. But since he's a minister we get to be at "work" with him a lot, and he rarely misses out on family fun time. He's a perfect teammate...we're pretty fond of him.
- I got a job here and didn't take it, started volunteering with some super fun teenagers, joined two book clubs (LOVED this book), and knocked out both seasons of Downton.
All in all...life is pretty sweet.

Ok, now you're pretty much caught up. And I promise to be back with some fun crafts, gift ideas, fun findings, shop news, etc, etc.

A Lovely Mess

Just listed these Jumble Earrings today. A lovely mess...

 ...reflective of my life right now, I'd say. I adore summer, but being the routine-lover that I am, I've felt a little disoriented by all the changing schedules and seasonal hoopla. But I know it will be gone faster than I can slurp down an iced coffee...so we embrace it, chaos and all. :)

Wishing you a happy, crazy, messy summer!

500 SALES!

It's a party around here.... The Shop made it to 500 SALES! There will be cake, which doesn't really apply to you. (sorry)
But - this does apply to you - enter 500PARTY at checkout and receive Free Shipping on your order now through the end of May. (domestic only)

Thanks to all my wonderful customers out there. Eat a cupcake today for me. :)
>>>>>  Now let's celebrate good times, c'mon! da da da da...

Viva My Plants!

Some of you may remember my longstanding record of killing anything (and everything) green. I don't know what happens. I just don't have the touch. I see people with lush landscapes and overflowing gardens and can't fathom how they do it. I'm not asking for a farm or jungle...I just want to maintain a tiny house plant! But I can't seem to manage it.
My longest living plant thus far was a cute little succulent a few years back. So I thought I'd give that another go since people joke that you "can't kill these!"...if they only knew.
So here they are. A few succulents and a poky little cactus. (He's the feisty one)

I sent a pic to my husband yesterday and said "here we go! all in their pots...viva my plants!" and he replied "in their tombs, you mean". He has bet me the cost of this endeavor that they don't make it through summer. We'll show him, won't we fellas?

20% OFF for Mother's Day

Get your mom something fun or lovely...and do it for 20% OFF when you use the coupon code SUPERMOM at check out.
Say 'Thanks for the sweet memories' with the Childhood Charm Bracelet...or 'Thanks for all you do' with the Iron Charm Necklace or the Vintage Charm Necklace - Cookware Collection...or simply 'Thanks for being you' with the Flora Necklace.
Lots to choose from! 
Click Here to shop around, and Happy Mother's Day!

Xenotees

Remember that little deal we have going with my friend Noelle of Xenotees? She sends us free clothes (the whole family) and we model them for her shop. It’s been going on for a few years now. I love a good trade, but I'm certain we got the best part of this deal…free clothes!!!
A few weeks ago, a giant box stuffed with new shirts for all of us arrived on my doorstep - wahoo! I've been photo-ing like a mad woman. :)
Check out her shop for the newest stuff, including this fun Mother's Day Special. Matchy matchy!

Little Birdies

A new family just moved in to our birdhouse. We watched the mom nest and nest for weeks and then one day we heard little squeaks coming from the birdhouse. Then finally, we saw them poking their itty-bitty heads out for a quick bite. The mom trusts us a tiny bit...but she won't keep her back to us for long when it's feeding time. I snapped a quick picture through the window tonight at dinner.



















The kids check on those birds morning noon and night. Ruthie watches and waits patiently, yelling "WOOK! WOOK!" when the mama appears with a snack. She tells them "nigh-nigh" at bedtime too...so sweet.
















They're getting so big! I'll be sad to see them fly away. (the birds too)

How to Make Marshmallow Peeps At Home

My husband, knowing my affinity for these sweet treats, just sent me this article and I had to share.
Click Here for the step-by-step. (thanks to those over at The Kitchn).
Look how pretty!

Easter Eggs

A few days ago the kids and I dyed some eggs together. I'm pretty sure I haven't done that since I was a little kid! I love it. There's something about those simple smooth pastel egg shells that has me smitten.
Definitely worth the $3 and the mess. :)

Pillow Covers

Oops. I was browsing through my old photos and realized I never posted about these! They were on this DIY To Do List from a few months back.
I loosely followed this tutorial. It was one of the quickest and easiest sewing projects I've done...right after burp cloths. It would make a great project for any beginners out there.

















I mixed stripes and prints from Ikea. I think that navy stripe is my favorite. I might make a few more of those one day. Given the simplicity of the project, it would be a breeze to make a stack of covers to change out seasonally or whenever your room needs a makeover.
Sorry there's no step-by-step photo. I must have made these when we were between borrowed cameras.

New Design...

Just listed these White Chain Earrings this morning. Nice, eh?

Domestic Art #1

Did a little doodle last night...

Floating Feathers

New in the shop today...
















Floating Feather Earrings...such a light intriguing pair. Perfectly mysterious.

Table Tent

This is so simple...why didn't I think of it before?!
I just threw some quilts over the table aaaand...voilà. A play tent. Kept them busy for at least an hour.

PS: flash lights and light-up toys are bonus.
PSS: I'm pretty sure she's picking his nose in this picture.

Fussy Kiddo Spray

I was at the store the other day and came across this Overtired & Cranky kid spray. It was terribly appealing, but you better believe I was not going to pay $12 for a tiny bottle of mostly water. (No offense, California Baby). Being the do-it-yourself-er that I am, I instead purchased a small spray bottle, and created my own FUSSY KIDDO SPRAY.

See the effects:






































Ok. Just kidding. But wouldn't that be nice?

My version is super simple. I put about 40ish drops of lavender (I didn't count, I just wanted enough to scent the bottle real good, but not overpower it) in my spray bottle, along with 12ish ounces of bottled water. Be sure not to use tap water. Stuff will grow in there - this isn't a science experiment! You can purchase the oils at any health food store. Many would be nice...chamomile, rosewater, ylang ylang. I would avoid any with mint, if you are misting it near the face. (Click here for a quick list of some oils and their uses.)
If I were super crafty, I would have printed a cute label, but washi tape and a paint pen work just fine in a pinch.


















My kids looooove this stuff. I spray them down before school, during our bedtime routine (spritzing their pillows, stuffed animals, etc), and when they are cranky, fussy, and bickering. It is a great way to snap them out of a chaotic moment and make them smile. It also works as a nice "Calm Mommy Spray". :)
Try it!

Coming Soon...

Next week I'll be adding these instant vintage charm collections to the shop. Sweet, nostalgic, and unique. Stay tuned...

Lunch Notes

Every day this school year, I've put a little note/drawing in my son's lunch box...just to say hi, I♡U or make him laugh - some more elaborate than others. I assumed his affinity for them would fade as the year wore on, but he looks for it every day, and saves every single note - such a sentimental child! What will I do with all of them? I've thought about framing them all side by side in a big grid, but that would take a mighty big frame. Maybe I should scan them in and print out a more manageable sheet to frame? Or just drop them all into a shadow box frame? Well see...
For now, here's a glimpse at the notes for next week:

SUPER Easy Valentines Day Garland DIY

While the boy worked on homemade Valentines for his classmates, I busied myself with this super easy, super cute heart garland. It's really rather simple. All you need...

❤ pink and red paper
❤ scissors
❤ string/thread
❤ pretty washi tape, preferably pink and red

That's it. Cut, tape, and hang anywhere for instant Valentines sweetness. ❤