around my crib: christmas.

Wowsers, it's been a while since I posted...sheesh! I'm going to go ahead and assume a 2012 resolution will center around blogging more frequently. I always enjoy it during the planning and actual execution, it's the actual sitting down that's the issue. Anyone else have that problemo?


Anyway, I'm headed out of town for the weekend to ring in the new year properly with family, friends, and live music. It has always been a tradition that Christmas decorations go down by midnight on December 31st, but I'm breaking that tradition!! I want to come home Sunday to a magical house still, so these bad boys are staying up til next week!! (Shhh, don't tell the "Traditions Police.")


I had such a great time decorating this year, and really put effort into changing things up from last year, and adding more sparkle here and there, as well as getting ideas off the internet and actually following through with them. Decorating was also a major form of much-needed distraction from some personal upheaval I've experienced lately...so I'm just not ready to take it all down yet and want to enjoy it for as long as I can.

...and this is one is my favorites:

Happy New Year!!

a perfect thanksgiving.

After many years of envisioning an outdoors Thanksgiving meal and it never taking place, I finally got my wish granted this year. The weather could not have been more perfect, the food more delicious, and the company present more special. It is definitely one for the books and hopefully a new tradition was started...weather permitting of course.

This garland was a little something I whipped up while we were finishing up cooking. I knew I wanted to do something to spice up the napkin/hand tools basket, but what ended up happening was beyond what I had envisioned when I went up to my craft room. It's so funny how that happens....

We collected all of our pumpkins, fall decor, leftover burlap from another event, and some acorns and berries from the woods for a little table excitement. My sister-in-law's sister certainly has a knack for centerpieces.

After the food was brought out, we all gathered around and each read a page from Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message, and then my mom read a Wendell Berry poem to remind all of us to be grateful for the wonderful bounty Mother Earth provides all of us on a daily basis. (Isn't her shawl fabulous...might have to "borrow" that one!!)

A couple of the kiddos with their cute little autumn headbands.

Plate #1. It almost became a double-decker...

And luckily for the pigs, they got to celebrate Thanksgiving as well!!

Did any of you continue or start a special Thanksgiving tradition this year?

been scrapbooking a 'lil bit...

...even though they are last year's pictures. But, I did set a goal with myself to rock out 2010 in a scrapbook, and that's exactly what I'm doing...even though it's almost 2012.


Yep, that's how I roll.

(cute) craft room chaos.

Because my life is in such limbo right now and I just can't figure out what I want to/need to/should be doing with my days, I have agreed to the special weekly commitment of taking care of my niece and nephew once a week. They come over with smiles on their faces in the morning, we play, eat lunch, take naps, have snack, play some more & then they go home. All three of us love it and I really can't wait until the next time they come see me.


I have a large craft room upstairs that used to just be empty roof space (a larger metal roof was put on my house a few years before I lived here), but had been sectioned off to remodel an upstairs room with bathroom, etc...which had never been done. So, about two years ago, I invested in my cousin's carpentry skills and we cut out a huge hole in my guest room ceiling, built some stairs, and made a cozy craft room! (I hope to do a Craft Room Tour in a future blog post, but as you will see in the following photos it needs a little tlc before that happens.)


Anyway (holy side note), I have most of the Fisher-Price toys that my brother and I used to have as kids and some other favorite toys in a fabric bin upstairs for my niece & nephew to play with. I thought this was a great idea because while they are occupied with playing, I can be right there working on paper or sewing projects! And sometimes they go up by themselves to play if I'm making lunch or something and we do little verbal check-ins that are so cute...

Me: Kiddies, y'all okay?

Noah: Yeah...and Gilliam's not getting into any of your stuff Hannie, 

we're playing with the people.

Well, here was the state of things when I went up the other day to work on a few things:

All I could do was start laughing...and say to myself "Hoooooooooly sh*t." But then I started looking around more closely and saw where they had set up little separate play areas which were just so sweet.

Notice the beds all lined up with people in each one...and they added a fourth one on a floor mat (second to left). I will add that they sleep in two twin beds right next to each other. I imagine their little hands carefully placing each piece of furniture or little person and it just melts my auntie heart.

I recently bought a new pack of Papermates, so I passed my old set down to Noah who loves not having to ask me if he can use them to draw his perfect geometric designs and practice his name. And I usually have to put about 5 tops back on, but looks like he's finally remembering to do that.

Check out the baby driving with the girl in the back looking out the window. And the ear in the top of Mr. Potato Head's head. Hee hee.

I feel like the above barn setup deserves its own post. We live on a working farm in Virginia, where my brother manages a herd of grassfed beef, pastured pork & poultry, and several milk cows. Well, Noah loves going to work with my brother and mimics what he sees and hears on the farm in his play. Sometimes it gets so hilarious...especially when he gets his "man voice" and starts telling me stories of his imaginary friend "Poot Salt" helping put up fencing and drinking Dr. Peppers. Well, you see that black bull on the top of the barn? You guessed it, he's waiting to go to slaughter. And you see that mama cow lying down in the grass? Yep, she's calving and that's her waterer behind her. I'm not sure what the tractor is doing half in the pond, but I can only imagine....

little luna.

As of a week ago today, I am the proud new auntie of Miss Luna Vaughan.

She was born at home to my brother and sister-in-law, and I was extremely fortunate enough to assist at her beautiful birth alongside their midwife and apprentice. Births are an incredibly magical event to anyone involved, and I have been fortunate enough to assist at about 19 births so far (Luna's big sister being one of them). Although, they can't help but be so much more meaningful when it is family. I will have a special little bond to Luna for as long as I live because I watched as she took her first breath of fresh, country air, and that is truly a gift to hold in my heart forever.


Besides possibly giving birth to your own, have you been witness to one of life's natural miracles?

are you a....?

...doodler, writer, journaler (is that even a word because if not, it should be), note-taker, list-maker, or brainstormer? Not like you couldn't be all of the above, but even if you are just one...


Check these puppies out:

All embellished journals above are listed in the shop, and more are soon to follow so be sure and check back soon!

happy birthday ma!

My Mom with a seemingly concerned me...Circa 1977

Today is this special lady's birthday and we are celebrating by traveling to Charlottesville tomorrow to hit up Anthropologie (she just HAS to use her birthday discount you know) and enjoy lady's lunch at her choice of many delicious places to eat in the area. Psst...I'm hoping it will be outside to enjoy this beautiful fall weather...do I have the non-birthday right to sway her decision?

5 Fun Facts About My Mom:

1. She used to literally iron her hair across the counter to make it straight...and it ended up waist-length with a lovely 70s part straight up the middle.

2. One time we were sledding and she "broke her ass" on a bump in the hill. We still refer to that snowy winter as "the one that Mom broke her ass."

3. She got married when she was 18, and she and my Dad celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary this year. I'll go ahead and throw in that I threw them one heck of a 50th wedding anniversary party last year; one that they are STILL talking about and one that was MUCH deserved!

4. She has baskets and baskets of yarn because she can't imagine actually using them and not be able to squeeze them in their perfectly-wound ball of softness when the urge arises.

5. When we were little and my cousins were over, she and my aunt used to let us have "Cussing Sessions" to get it all out (under supervision)...these usually lasted until someone under age 10 let out the F-bomb...aaaaand that was usually me....

Not only is her name awesome, but....

...her illustrative work is as well!!


I was sitting at a bar in Baltimore supporting a friend's fundraising efforts (really...I was supporting) for running the NYC marathon in honor of another friend who passed away, when the little red light on my BlackBerry started to blink in anticipation of being checked. So, naturally, I obliged.


Lo and behold sat my beautifully executed silhouette that I recently commissioned from Moorea Seal. Needless to say, my phone was quite popular for the next few minutes while this was being shown off to everyone!

Isn't it beautiful?!?!?

I love it! And what makes it even better is that Moorea was so wonderful and easy to work with - she had wonderful suggestions for what to do and also fulfilled my wish of including my new favorite headband in the silhouette! I love the colors, the background, and it's me! I've been hesitant about putting a "signature" picture of me on the blog (just not my style to pose for a headshot), so this was the route to go with making my blog a little more personal. I'll get less camera shy in the future, but this is just perfect!

I borrowed this little rundown of Moorea's services from her blog: 

Are you interested in having a portrait of yourself illustrated by me?  Or perhaps you are planning ahead for Christmas gifts for someone you love.  An illustrated portrait is such a special way of capturing a moment in time, for yourself or someone you love, whether it is used for your internet presence or to display in your home.  Email me at mooreaseal{at}gmail.com to chat about creating a one of a kind illustration just for you! 

But you should also go here and read up on her packages and past clients - she does such a wonderful job!! And you may have seen a few of these floating around in the blog world....

Thank you Miss Moorea Seal!! ;)

fall mini-book + shop update.

I've been working in my craft room a lot lately, and I have to say it has been so inspiring and enjoyable! I decided to document this Fall - I have a feeling it is going to be one that I will want to remember, ie. personal breakthroughs, big changes, and because I just love the changing of the seasons. There is such a promise of renewal & rejuvenation, both of which definitely trickle down into my current projects.

I made my first mini-book using assorted papers I (hoarded) saved over the months along with new solid cardstock. If I had known all it took was MAKING ONE to be inspired to keeping it current...why didn't I do this before? Actually, I have done it before and it was a total bomb...such a shame because it was a real cute book....

I love working in it.

And lucky for you, I made some more to put in my shop. You know you want one too. :)

**Some stellar "Mini-bookers" you may want to check out: Elise, Amy, Janel, & Eve (just to name a few...)**

me: a to z.

I've seen this around as a blog post (Liz, Vanessa) so I thought I'd join in the fun as well!

------------------------------
A. Age: 34 
B. Bed size: Queen (my bed is like Mexican food - it pops into my head one time and it's all I can think about until I get it) 
C. Chore that you hate: doing the dishes 
D. Dogs: Miss Roxy Sue 
E. Essential start to your day: brush, brush, brush 
F. Favorite color: any color remotely related to Seafoam
G. Gold or Silver: Silver usually, but getting more into Goldies. 
H. Height: 5 feet 10 inches 
I. Instruments you play: my BlackBerry keyboard 
J. Job title: Uhmmmm...I'll get back to you on that one. 
K. Kids: not yet, but totally looking forward to it 
L. Live: Virginia is for Lovers 
M. Mother’s name: Martha Anne 
N. Nicknames: Hannah (real name actually Johannah), Hannie, Your Mom (old college joke with my bestie) 
O. Overnight hospital stays: when I was 2 and 3 (or 4) for eye surgery 
P. Pet peeves: tailgating before a concert & different folks are playing the prospective band as loud as they can all around me, when my mouse loses its wireless connection for no reason, no turn signals...I could go on.... 
Q. Quote from a movie: (and it's a long one & pardon the language) "We're all gonna have so much *BLEEP* fun we'll need plastic surgeory to remove our *BLEEP* smiles. You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of you're a**holes!" ...basically anything from Clark Griswold
R. Right or left handed: right 
S. Siblings: 3 older brothers & 3 sister-in-laws 
T. Time You Wake Up: anywhere from 6:30-8am...even on the weekends
U. Underwear: yes
V. Vegetable you hate: I think I like them all actually, which is a new thing. Used to LOATHE squash & zucchini but now I love. 
W. What makes you run late: not having my sh*t together before I leave & I'm running around grabbing different things. (Or just Bloglovin') 
X. X-Rays you’ve had: wrist, teeth, lower back 
Y. Yummy food that you make: raw milk butter, Balsamic Chicken, grassfed salsa burgers 
Z. Zoo animal: Seals. I just want to snuggle one...is that too much to ask??
----------------------------

Now you know a little bit more about me! Do it yourself and link 'er on up & I'll check you out! ;)

one of my favorites.

I am definitely not one to toot my own horn, but this one is darn impressive.

{Taken by me :: Fuji Instax Wide}

last hurrah of the summer...maybe.

I'm off to this beautiful place for the long weekend to enjoy the sunshine, water, and quite possibly a couple of ice-cold beers.

shop update.

I've been working on some updates for my shop in order to keep it fresh and consistent. One of these updates was to retake my product photos in order to keep the shop looking streamlined (or maybe I just wanted to use some vintage fabric as a backdrop *wink wink) as I add new products.

I've also been working on adding some new embellished journals. These are going to be embroidered with patterns drawn by me or other artist friends. I'm pretty excited about these and embroidering is so peaceful to me. I look forward to trying out different color choices different stitches, and getting some thoughts straight...of course I'll probably have Arrested Development playing on my laptop in the background...

So, check out the shop when you get a chance, and I hope to get these added sometime next week as well as making a few more over the weekend.

{These pictures are not the best quality, I know...taken with PictureShow app pretty spur of the moment}

instagram beach round-up.

Just wanted to check in with a little collection of Instagrams I took while vacationing in Nags Head, North Carolina earlier this month. I love to look back on them and pretend that I'm still there with my toes in the sand.

Insert huge sigh.

1: The water was so calm until the last couple of days we were there...and no jellyfish!! //2: Rosemary & Sea Salt home-grown bacon //3: my Dad holding up the umbrella. Literally. //4: One of my favorite pictures from the week //5: I'm pretty sure that's Lobster font in action // 6: One of my most coveted beach activities //7: Another favorite //8: Very practical design for a pier //9: Pet for an afternoon (don't worry, we put him back) //10: Just because I liked the colors //11: Tortuga's Lie ceiling //12: my 3-year-old niece laying out her clothes for trip home

* Background provided by Pugly Pixel.

sunday craft.

I am on this quest to make my home decorating more "intentional." Right now, because of that, it is a total mess with a pile for Goodwill here, a pile for a future yard sale there, and piles to go through everywhere. But, I do see the end somewhere in sight. I just always have to remind myself when I'm tripping over things all throughout my house that there is a purpose, and it is one I hope filters down into my everyday LIVING as well.

My style has definitely changed throughout the years...so I'm trying to meld them all together so as not to require a complete revamp of decor. Is there such a thing as antique/vintage chic/beachy/natural/retro/modern/woodsy style?

One thing that I have wanted to do is make a collection of hanging items somewhere. I was first thinking in my "step room" (I had an upstairs finished last year and the steps take up pretty much the whole room), but I'm noticing there is not much wall space to work with. So, next thought was the hallway. Right now, I just have a couple of randomly hung items and this heavy, thick mirror that I bought at an antique show when I was going through my "shabby chic/natural antiques" phase. It is soooo not my style anymore (especially the rustic country stars) but its purpose as a mirror is much appreciated, and I do use it as one pretty regularly.

As a means of respecting said purpose, I took those country stars off (why didn't I think of that before now??) and whipped up my first string of fabric bunting yesterday morning. Tied that bunting right on the hangers and it will definitely do for now. wink wink.

I'm pretty pleased at how it turned out - and the bunting was a quick and easy craft...definitely something I'd love to make more of!

right now.

Picture taken at beach last week (where I still wish I was) using Instagram

Listening: the cicadas outside, cars going by, a/c fan

Eating: nothing (but just enjoyed apples with peanut butter with niece, nephew, & sis-in-law

Drinking: a Session Lager

Wearing: khaki skirt & Local Roots tee

Feeling: peaceful, but yet anxious; groggy from overdone nap with niece & nephew

Weather: sunny, some wind, about 85 degrees

Wanting: to purge A LOT of stuff; an Anthro shopping spree

Needing: to simplify my belongings; some direction

Thinking: I would like to get in my craft room & get busy!! (I just need to do it)

Enjoying: writing a post after a long absence; the quiet

Wondering: WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO DO WHEN I GROW UP?? (Ehem, I'm 34 years old)

art journaling.

I seriously cannot get enough of my Papermate pens touching down on the insides of my Moleskine. It's getting a little ridiculous...really. One online course has ended, and another one has begun - the timing could not be more perfect. Thanks to Janel and her 2nd Annual 30 Day Journal Challenge the prompts can continue!! And so can the inspiration, and the daily creativity, and the obsession (and procrastination and not returning phone calls and a messy home)...

Here are the 3 pages I have done so far (all done today playing catch-up):

I'm sure I'll be adding more to my flickr as the days go on...you can also check out my "ink blots." pages too!

ink blots.

Today is the first day of this class by Elaine, and I am so excited!!

Regular journaling is something I have always been envious of...and not sure if it's the appeal of a full, word-filled stack of bound paper on a shelf that makes me envious or the words that have been 'let go' from the mind and moved on to paper. I'll shop around for the perfect journal, hoard it empty for a few days, write in it a couple of nights, and then...I'm too tired, I don't feel like it, my thoughts aren't worth being documented, I had a couple of cocktails at dinner.... Whatever the case may be - the pages get ripped out and pitched and the empty journal gets shelved. So sad. But, so true.

Last year, I started a 'creative' journal in a brand-new, blank, hard cover Moleskine (I'll never use another brand after discovering them), and I made a deal with myself for a no-pressure approach to journaling. So far it's worked wonderfully and I love opening it up to a new page and putting new handwriting fonts to my (often crazy, far-fetched, and nutty) thoughts. But that's exactly what journals are for....