December | 2014 | Snapdragon Studios

It’s the second week of December! Which means that I’m now definitely behind on my Christmas gifting!

We’ve been busy behind the scenes around here planning and sewing for a wintery photoshoot that took place yesterday morning. We’re looking forward to sharing those pics with you soon, but in the meantime, here’s what I’ve been daydreaming about while I procrastinate on my Christmas projects.

1. Melissa’s Marigold Dress is calling my name. Wouldn’t it be super fun in a homespun plaid for wintertime? Leggings? Boots with legwarmer cuffs? I think so. Perhaps in something like this denim blue homespun from Jubliee Fabrics?

2. It seems like everybody and their brother (sister?) is making the Lane Raglan from Hey June, but there’s a reason for that, right? I’m thinking two versions – one t-shirt weight knit in a floral with contrasting sleeves to combat the winter blues and another in a loopy French terry sweatshirt weight for cozying up with a cup of tea. I’m digging the elephants hidden in this print from Near Sea Naturals. Maybe with coral thermal sleeves? Something like this pretty plum French terry, I think.

3. Sewaholic’s Thurlow Trousers seem super versatile to me. My first thought was corduroy (my head says brown or grey, my heart says kelly green), but I’m a jeans girl for sure and I think a pair of dark denim trousers would be kinda great.

4. In the spirit of “put something on your list you’ve already done so you can cross it off right away”, I made a Weekend Rambler Skirt in a great medium brown tweed that I wore yesterday and totally love. It could go full-on classic librarian with some sensible shoes and a twinset, but I wore it with my old, bright stripey wool sweater and combat boots for a funkier look. (We photographed my sister wearing it during the photoshoot with less rebellious boots, so we’ll show you that look as soon as the pics are edited.)

5. Like the Lane Raglan, the Grainline Archer is making the rounds, but again, it’s because it’s great. I’m possibly the last person in the world to have made one, so I am feeling the need to get on it. I’m leaning toward a neutral to wear with my ~~kelly green~~ sensible brown or grey corduroys, but I am also really enamored with the plaid sample on the website and I have no control when it comes to shirting fabric, so….

6. And, finally, I experimented this week with making the Market Day Tunic into a dress and the result is kind of awesome. I will have photos and a tutorial soon, but in the meantime, I want one in all of the colors. All of them.

What’s on your sewing list these days?

-Elizabeth

i love driving through town and seeing the lit trees lining the streets, the unique and individual ways that people decorate. i’ve always envied the homes in photos….you know the ones, where everything reflects light, all the ornaments “match” and the entire house seems cohesive. but then i decorate my own home and realize that i wouldn’t trade the memories that my holiday decorations hold for all the glittery perfection in the world. my tree still holds construction paper chains made by a now 31 year old. ornaments that tell the stories of three boys growing up, a few ornaments from a dear grandmother, a favorite aunt, and the hand painted wooden ones that my husband and i painted together during our dating years.

so today i’m sharing little snippets of my holiday…..they’ll never be seen in a magazine, but each one holds a memory.

the quilted snowman wall hanging…each block was a monthly gift from a secret sister in quilt guild.

a snowflake…i have three, one from each of the boys during their cub scout years.

my grandmothers lead figures, including a horse drawn buggy, skiers, sledders and figure skaters.

my handmade snowmen who grace my hoosier each year…my favorites being the chilly little couple who always sit together happily.

part of my bay window…a simple cracker jar filled with ornaments reflecting the lights of the garland lining the window.

and in the corner of my kitchen, standing by the bay window is an alpine tree filled with cardinals, nests and pinecones (marcia…i think of you every time i look at that tree!)