Everyday Beauty

A New Season

This picture was taken a couple days ago on Sofia's first day of preschool. And so another school year begins! I can hardly believe I now have a 3rd grader, a Kindergartener and a Preschooler. These three were so ready to get back to school and start the routine that Autumn brings. And as sad I was to send them off that first day, I must admit, these precious few hours (Sofia only goes half days, three days a week) have proven quite productive! The house is so QUIET. 

I've been cleaning, and getting organized and (gasp!) making jewelry! A few new pair of Ear Drops to start, and little by little I'll be adding to my shop as the fall continues. These will be in the shop sometime today. In this collection I used old religious medals, lots of rhinestones, chuncky Amazonite beads and some vintage pearls.

It's a beautiful mild day here today, perfect for a lunch outside. I think that's where my girl and I are headed after I pick her up from school.

Holiday Picture?

Considering using this one to include in our Christmas cards this year. It is quite comical and quite typical. Sofia is 2 going on 16. Heaven help me. As you may know, trying to get a great photo of multiple children is like trying to herd cats. But I have to say, I laugh out loud everytime I see this picture.

Just thought I'd share my laughing moment with you!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from our home to yours!

My Girl

We were getting ready to head out and run some errands today, and I quickly snapped some pictures of Sofia. (some are blurry!) Sometimes it's these little moments that make life sweet.

Flashback to "The Feast"

Thanks so much for the warm welcome back! It is really wonderful to be blogging again. I thought I would go back in time a bit and recap what's been happening around here since I last blogged in June. It was a crazy but wonderful summer, filled with family outings, celebrations and memories in the making for the kids, which is exactly why we moved to Ohio.

One big bonus to living here (for us) is that there are so many Italians......and therefore lots of Italian festivals and great restaurants and delis. My husband is in his glory. As most people probably know, food and family are the backbone of Italian-American culture, and the NE Ohio area welcomed thousands of immigrants during the big wave of immigration at the beginning of the last century. Many of the families have stayed for generations, and I think half the kids in Mario's school are Italian. There is even another Mario in his class, which we never thought would happen!

In August, we headed to the Murray Hill section of Cleveland for the annual "Feast of the Assumption", more commonly known as "The Feast". Most Italian festivals coincide with holy days in the Catholic church. You celebrate by eating good food, visiting the catherdral, peeking inside the bakeries (and buying a pound of cookies and some cannolis), and shopping the antique shops and boutiques. Just hanging out together and enjoying the energy of the gathered people. Good stuff.

Of course no festival is complete without rides for the littles. Sam rode this truck ride no less than 10 times. And he seriously thought he was driving.



Sofia's first cannoli!

And filling her belly with homemade cavatelli. Heaven!

I know it's just a festival, but it's really important for us to stay connected to our heritage. Although so much has changed since my grandparents' generation, family traditions, special recipes and stories can be passed on forever.

I Guess She Likes Hummus

 
Sofia is the pickiest little eater. But we did recently discover that she likes hummus, when I left the container on the edge of the kitchen table, a little too close to her high chair.

 
My initial reaction was to grab the container and start cleaning her up, but then we started laughing and realized she was having a good old time digging in. So, I let her have a bit more fun.

 
 
 
And we discovered a food that she will actually eat!

 

Fabric Dolls

 
I found these adorable fabric dolls last year and had to get them for Sofia, though it will be a few years before she plays with them. I finally finished cutting them out and wanted to share with you the details and how-to's.

It's a paper doll concept, but with fabric. The fabric (with the dolls and clothing printed on it, as shown below) is sold by the yard, like any other fabric.

 

I cut out each doll, and then ironed a double-sided stiff fusible interfacing to the back, and then I ironed a plain cotton fabric to the back of that, to finish them off. This makes the dolls stiff and easier to play with.

Don't you love their vintage undergarments?

 
Then -this is the fun part- I cut out the clothing and ironed each piece to double-sided Wonder Under, then ironed felt to the back side of the Wonder Under. The felt grabs on to the dolls better so the clothes cling a bit, like a felt board. Here are all my pieces cut and finished.

 
You can also buy yardage of just additional clothing (shown below). One yard of fabric gives you lots of clothing and accessories. 

 
I cut off the tabs because you can't really fold them over the dolls anyway. But wouldn't the clothes be cute framed and hanging on the wall in a little girl's room?

Now it's time to play dress up!

 
 
How darling are these?

Mother's Day Love

 
Mario colored this precious picture for me, and was so excited when he gave it to me. Aren't these the best kind of presents? I have a box full of his handmade treasures I will never part with. It's sweet to think about what goes through his little mind as he's drawing a picture. His favorite shirt at the moment is a red one, that he would wear all week long, and sleep in if I let him. The fact that he put me in a pink dress cracks me up, and my crazy hairdo is not too far off from reality! I love the happy clouds and sun (wearing sunglasses of course) and trees. Observing the innocence, wonder and happiness of childhood is one of
the greatest gifts of motherhood.

I hope all of the mamas out there have a Happy Mother's Day!!!

Brown-Eyed Girl

 
Ciao Bellas! It's me again. I'm 8 and a half months old already, and thought I would pop in and say a quick hello.{Please forgive my crusty little nose that mama wipes all day long.} 
Well, I must scoot along now {literally} and see what kind of a mess I can get into! Last week I chewed a book to bits before mama realized it. I think today I'll try and eat something a little more tasty.....hopefully mama will put some pears in my lunch. I'm really over the green beans, I must say!

Enjoy your day!

xoxoxo Sofia Angelina

Angelic

 
When I was little, my Grandmother started an angel collection for me, and each year at Christmastime she would make or buy an angel to add to the collection. I looked so forward to receiving that angel each year, and had quite a little collection by the time I was a teenager. I still cherish all of the angels she gave me, and remember the excitement of receiving them.

 

As I thought about what I was going to make for the kids this Christmas, it only seemed fitting that I start a collection for my Sofia....after all her middle name is Angelina, meaning little angel.

 

Using an on-hand paper mache cone, I crafted this white angel for her. {below}

 

On a wooden ball, I painted a simple and sweet little face and gave her a curlicue hairdo, sleeping lashes and tiny heart lips. A vintage round pearl brooch was glued in place as a halo. A little tinsel and some feather wings, and she was complete.

 

I tucked her in this tree, though she's not really an ornament. She stands about 7" tall.
While I was at it, I made the much taller pink angel shown above. She is a gift for someone special, and is made from a styrofoam cone and vintage trims and jewels. She stands at least twice as tall as the smaller one. I had so much fun making these angels, and found that as soon as I painted their faces, they each suddenly had a personality that came to life!

 

The pink one has faux crystal corsage pins here and there on her dress and a band of sparkley vintage trim along the hemline. She stands on a round lace piece that was part of an old hat.

 

She fits right in here at home, but is already in the hands of her new owner.

 

I have a few little angel ornaments, guardian angel crib medals and vintage spun cotton angels that I've placed in a special box for Sofia. Next year, I will decorate a little white tree for her with all the angels, and place it somewhere {high!} in her bedroom at Christmas. And then, before too long, she will perhaps ask to help decorate the Angel Tree with me each year. Traditions are one of the greatest things about Christmas, as they tie the generations of a family together. I hope she comes to cherish this one, a special tradition from my own childhood.