This weekend...

Have a fun weekend!

Party time...

We spent yesterday afternoon making party hats for the little new year's eve party we're going to tonight. The glass cloche is a stand-in for my uncooperative models. We even made one for my parents' adorable new puppy, Gus (who I'll try to take a photo of today). I knew those pom poms I made last year would eventually come in handy. What are your plans for new year's eve?

Kicky's quilts...

You may remember Kicky's collection of breyer horses (agreed...perhaps not the most age-appropriate collection for our one year old). Well, she received a bunch more that I found on etsy (I couldn't help myself) and, a few nights before christmas, I had the genius idea to make miniature horse blankets for all of them. It was at that point, with my hair in an uproar, my eyes rimmed in the loveliest shade of red, and with my eyebrows screaming for attention, that PRH said,

"For real? Miniature horse blankets?! Hmmmm. There's something about you, hon. You're just kind of...um, different.".

Um, thanks? Different or not, I forged ahead with my plan and made nine wonky miniature horse blankets. Unlike her less-than-grateful three year old brother, Kicky loves them! She tries to put them on her head and carries the whole stack around, playing the best baby girl role very well. Score one for this mama.





for scale...

Lightboy/lightgirl...

I am so loving these lightboy/lightgirl lamps by Ricardo Garza Marcos. Wouldn't they be a cute addition to a nursery?

Instant cheer...

After seeing the fabulous washi tape garlands on poppytalk (always a fave), we made our own version using colored masking tape. It brings instant cheer to whatever room it's in. We've used that dollar store masking tape for so many projects (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6)! I think it's my favorite craft supply...besides puff paint. What are your favorite craft supplies?

Camp...

How gorgeous are these vintage camp blankets from three potato four?! I just love how they look in a big folded stack.

Rainbow...

Last year for christmas I made my grandmother and PRH's grandmother a variety of soups. This year I went the sweet route and made these cupcakes. I used Martha's recipe for spiced cupcakes with citrus glaze (from the December 2010 issue of Everyday Food) and they turned out great. I made a batch a few weeks ago to test how well they would freeze; not only did they freeze well, but they were super tasty...and so pretty! I think we should cover everything in rainbow glaze.

Lesson learned...

I thought you may like to see sock monkey in his new bed with his new quilt. EZ E was not impressed. On christmas morning he only glanced at it long enough to ask, "Why's sock monkey in some bed?". I don't think he would've given it a second look if Kicky hadn't tried to crawl into the bed and broken it. Lesson learned.

Seizing opportunities...

Exhausted would be the best word to describe my little family today. We had a wonderful weekend, but we're all so tired. It's a good tired though. On christmas day, I decided to seize the opportunity and take a quick family photo just minutes before we left for my grandmother's house. We were all dressed and the camera was on the tripod when, of course, EZ E, said, "Mama, I need to pee". After hearing a little too much laughter coming from the bathroom, I went in and found him standing at the sink, covered in water. Rather than going to the bathroom, he had seized the opportunity to splash water all over himself and all over the bathroom walls...hence my facial expression in this photo. The day was still fabulous though and I totally love the 'bunny ears'. I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing weekend.

P.S. No, I'm not rocking a mullet...my hair is in a ponytail.

This weekend...

Wishing you all a happy weekend and a merry christmas!

xo, Abbey, PRH, EZ E, and Kicky

*photo by Abbey Hendrickson/Aesthetic Outburst*

20 in 20 (rejected)...

I made about 40 ornaments for my 20 in 20 challenge. Some were too similar to ornaments that I'd already made, some didn't turn out as planned, some were given as gifts before I took a photo, and some were just plain hideous (h.i.d.e.o.u.s). So, as promised, here are just a handful of the ornaments that didn't make the blog cut...otherwise known as the ten that I wouldn't have to crawl under a rock after posting.

The ornament above was made from a piece of scrap wood in PRH's studio. I was thinking about Andrew Geller's incredible buildings, but won't be quitting my day job to become an architect anytime soon (if I had a day job, that is). The four ornaments directly below were made using the same recipe we used for the trees...


The base for this one was a plain store-bought ornament that EZ E thought looked like a snowman. Apparently, he thinks a lot of things look like snowmen. We jazzed it up with some felt and puff paint (my go-to craft materials)...


I found this disaster of a wreath at the thrift store for 25 cents, took it apart, and made a mini yarn wreath inspired by Katie Runnels...


This is a miniature version of the arrows that we already made...


I'm sure you know why I didn't post these. I couldn't subject you to any more of my graph paper/security envelope madness...

20 in 20 (final day)...

20 handmade ornaments, 20 days...day 20!!! I found the idea for this ornament on the crafty crow. It was simple and would look lovely as a gift tag, don't you think? This would also be a great project to do with all of the kids who are bored at family functions. Easy peasy. This 20 in 20 challenge has been really fun and I appreciate all of your sweet comments. Stay tuned for the 20 in 20 rejects.

Peace on earth...

With the deer and birds on the blue cabinet, you may be wondering what happened to our globe. Well, it's joined a new painted globe on the cabinet in our entry. Yes, painting the word 'peace' on a globe may be really cheesy, but I was drunk. I'm joking (truly). This globe will only be out for the holidays, so 'peace' it is. :)

20 in 20 (day 19)...

20 handmade ornaments, 20 days...day 19. This ornament was made at the request of my mom. My parents needed a lightweight tree topper that wouldn't overwhelm their little tree. I took inspiration from the vintage horse ribbons that I used to have hanging in my studio*. The glitter is Martha Stewart's luster glass microbeads, which I've used for a few projects now. As far as glitter goes, it's pretty rad (um, did I just call glitter rad?! Pathetic.). Now that I'm looking at the photo, the glitter is a little uneven and I probably should've put on another layer. The glitter is still rad. Anyways, tomorrow is the last day of 20 in 20. Head over here to check out all of the ornaments in one spot.

*I ended up giving all of the ribbons to my former classmate, Naomi Marine, and she used them in a beautiful installation.

Doll quilt...

The onset of 20 in 20 brought with it a freakish urge need to make handmade christmas gifts for EZ E and Kicky. I wish I had gotten a start on them prior to this crazy week but I didn't, so now I'm making myself insane the week before christmas trying to finish up a million projects. I digress. Last summer I found a beautiful, really old doll bed at a garage sale. A couple of the pieces had come apart and it's been sitting in our garage for months, waiting to be fixed. I was planning to reassemble it and give it to Kicky, but EZ E has a sock monkey that he's quite fond of who's in desperate need of a bed and a quilt (anything to silence a sock monkey). I've long admired Hillary Lang's handmade doll quilts and decided to try my hand at making one. I've never made this kind of quilt before (I've made this, this, this), but I found this tutorial to be very helpful. I also took much inspiration from the following gorgeous quilts: 1, 2, and 3. I still have some fussy details to finish up, but overall I think sock monkey will like his wonky little quilt. And if he doesn't, I don't care because he can't talk. I'll share photos of the doll bed once that's finished...oh, and Kicky's present too. Aaggghhhhhhhhhh!

20 in 20 (day 18)...

20 handmade ornaments, 20 days...day 18. Do you remember the favors from Kicky's first birthday party? Well, that may be why this ornament looks familiar. We had several favor bags left over from the party, so I snagged a clothespin person and made it into a ski bunny. Everyone deserves a holiday now and then, right? Happy 20 in 20.

Timber...

Continuing with the holiday decor at our house...this collection of trees was on our dining room table until *someone* decided to be an insane little lumberjack (perhaps channeling a certain ornament?) and knock down all of the trees. I've since moved the trees to higher ground, far from the grubby paws of a certain three year old boy. The painting in the background was made by PRH's great aunt in the 1950's. It seemed like the perfect backdrop.

20 in 20 (day 17)...

20 handmade ornaments, 20 days...day 17. This ornament was inspired by the santa ornament in the photo below (right). It was in a box of handmade ornaments that PRH's aunt gave us. It's cute, but I decided to give a go at an ornament update of sorts and ended up making this drunk-looking, bearded character. He reminds me of a friend of ours and, it must be said, he's the only ornament I've made so far that looks like it belongs on a six pack. Maybe he can go out for drinks with santa after the big night? Cheers! Happy 20 in 20.

Oh my deer...

You got a glimpse of my deer collection last week, but I thought I'd share a more detailed view. This is another collection that I only put out during the holidays. The solid blue bambi all the way to the right is the newest addition. Hmmm...solid blue bambi...band name, anyone?


This broken legged little beast is my fave...



Did you happen to notice the craft disaster smack dab in the middle (below)? A miniature deer glued to a wine cork with a plastic dove thrown in for good measure. Let's close our eyes for a moment and imagine the thought process behind this thing...

"What to make, what to make? I have TONS of corks and all of those leftover wedding doves...oh, my relatives are going to just LOVE this!"

I'm not ashamed to admit that I do love it. Very much. Not really. The deer is super-glued to the cork and I can't get it off.