It's beginning to look alot like GIVEAWAY time!

Diposting oleh fawaid on Kamis, 10 Desember 2009

If you are a regular follower you have already been informed of a few giveaways that we have been participating in around bloggin' land and the web.

Just wanted to inform you of a few more! Sew what's new? WE ARE! Currently giving away some patterns on Sew's What's New! Check out their right sidebar and click on the their link for details!

Also Tiffany over at Three Pea's Pod has done a Lucy Apron pattern review and has posted her thoughts, opinions and photos! These make great gifts - whether it's the pattern or the apron!

I know it's been quiet here. We are busily packing up and moving. We hope to be moved and starting to settle in by next week! Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend!.............


Read More

The Wagner

Diposting oleh fawaid on Selasa, 08 Desember 2009

Ever been to the Wagner Institute in philadelphia? You need to go right now. Step away from the computer. Grab your coat and get on a bus. I will be doing the same and will meet you there tomorrow afternoon at 1pm. (I'll be dressed like a crazy lady from the forties, so you should't have a hard time finding me.)

the wagner free institute
The Wagner is a natural history museum of sorts, dating back to 1855. The displays have remained virtually untouched. Hand written labels. Bugs, moths, mammals, minerals. I died.

the wagner free institute
No photos allowed inside, so i poached these from the Wagner's flickr. A hearty thanks to my dear Haylie for recommending. And to Sarah for getting me out of town. And to Nicolette for driving. It takes a village.


Read More

Monday Mayhem #5....wrapping it up!

Diposting oleh fawaid on Minggu, 06 Desember 2009


It's monday mayhem time again! There are a few bunchy scarf designs that have been restocked this week! Hop over to the shop ASAP to snatch up what we have left! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE see our shipping details below or by clicking here. Due to our upcoming move this week we will only be shipping through Thursday, Dec. 10th.

I've got some new pattern news to share very soon. Until then, happy shopping and enjoy our week! We will be very busy here packing up our household and my studio and relocating! xoxo......Meg
Read More

Shipping gifts through Dec. 10th

Diposting oleh fawaid



















We are "wrapping" up our studio here and will be relocating this week. All of the Brassy Apple ebooks are temporarily unavailable from our shop but are still available on YouCanMakeThis.com. Any other merchandise purchased this week will be shipped up through Thursday, Dec. 10th. If you place an order after our shipment goes out on Thursday it will not be shipped until Monday Dec. 14th.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter. We will do our best to to ship our your Holiday gifts while we are moving and relocating.
Read More

More from the family vault

Diposting oleh fawaid on Kamis, 03 Desember 2009

Pardon me while I indulge in christmas morning reveries from 1984. I was 5 months old and my mom was looking extra rosy, happy and perfect. My dad was wearing his knit hat and red suspenders (which he still wears christmas morning, 25 years later). I was wearing my first ever tutu with striped socks. Life was good.






Just look at my parents. They're so perfectly suited for each other in appearance, temperament and interests, it's mind boggling.

To this day, while he searches for horn handled knives in the antique store, she hunts for old bits of lace. He goes crazy for bonsais at the botanic garden while she's giddy over the ferns and moss. She plays the bowed psaltery while he's on the recorder. He's baking the bread while she's manning the omelet pan.

This fall my dad has started driving my mom to work in the mornings. Last week he was so excited because he bought them matching his and hers travel mugs so they could drink coffee side by side for their hour long commute. Painfully adorable.
Read More

Let them be little.......kids DIY Holiday decor

Diposting oleh fawaid on Rabu, 02 Desember 2009


Christmas time is "the most wonderful time" of the year - no matter what age you are! The lights, the colors, all the fun decor that adorns every nook and cranny of the house....and on and on.

Now if you have tiny hands around your house like I do, it can be a world of "Don't touch" and "no, no".......am I right? From Christmas tree ornaments to that expensive or sentimental nativity set, The Christmas Season can come with a lot of "Do not touch items". That's hard for curious little hands and minds.

Solution? here's one! Give them a space of their own! and what better place than their bedroom!

A string of lights, some paper, scissors and a little tape and you have more than an activity - you've got a favorite memory and/or family tradition starting!

We sat down one night and cut outpaper snowflakes. It's one of their favorite winter activities. I help roll up tape for the backs and they got to hang them any where they wanted in their room - windows, walls, doors, ceiling, etc.

Then we took a string of lights and I helped them tack it up around their room. Hanging paper snowflakes from the string of lights is a good idea too but we happened to have a bunch of inexpensive white glittery plastic snowflakes ready for hanging and opted for that route. :)


You can imagine their excitement as their rooms transformed into a festive place THEY created! Lots of giggling, squeals, jumping on beds and just good ol' kid friendly fun!

and then if you are still up for even more fun............dig out the large paper! Colored or plain paper will work. We hit a local craft store and bought some very inexpensively if you don't happen to have any one hand. Lay out the paper on the floor (hard/smooth surface) and let them draw and color whatever they want! Snowman, Christmas tree, fireplace, stockings, Santa's sleigh, reindeer, North Pole, Train, etc. Let them be creative with the colors, shapes and use of the scissors, unless of course they are too small to be cutting. Will it be perfect? nope. Will they love it? YUP!


My kids created a Christmas Tree with a fireplace for their room. Complete with a real "warm" fire (whenever the heat kicks - tee hee he). We also personalized some gingerbread men ornaments to put on their Tree. Each one symbolizing a person in our family.


(This is my daughter's personalized gingerbread man ornament. Did you notice she is wearing a Kitschy Corset Apron? ha ha ha!)


They also created a snowman complete with a belt - who knew frosty needed one! :) ! My son was so excited to have him hanging on the wall that he hugged and kissed the paper snowman and then told me, "Brrrr! Mom he has cold kisses and hugs!".............aw - just love their imagination!


So what if their room doesn't end of looking like it came straight out of a Pottery Barn kids catalog....that's OK. In a season of "don't touch" all around them, they will love having a space of their own that they created......and you will probably get the title of "Best Mom in the world" for the day :) .............Have fun!

Read More

Pa Merrick

Diposting oleh fawaid on Selasa, 01 Desember 2009


Before this weekend I hadn't really seen childhood photos of my dad. He just never let on that he had any. On saturday he cracked open a hitherto unknown photo album and out they came, in all of their boyish Staten Island in the 50s glory.



My dad has always been a brilliant mountain-man type, so to see it manifest in a "suspenders, toy shotgun, cabin, jug o' moonshine, crooked smile" little boy version of himself is really really amazing.

Makes me want to pinch his 7 year old cheek, which i'm sure he would have hated. Which naturally makes me want to do it all the more.
Read More