Author: Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Gina Munsey is a Mexico-born, Eastern Europe-raised missionary kid who ended up being a Californian by way of Florida outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She lives her days full of coffee and adventures while her 12-year-old learns Mandarin Chinese and Greek, her 3-year-old uses all the markers, and her artist-husband creates worlds from pixels and light. A blogger since the turn of the century (ouch!) she's an editor, co-op teacher, and writer who has only completed four chapters of her languishing manuscript. You can find Gina right here at oaxacaborn.com, or in the middle of [home]school surrounded by stacks and stacks of books.

it’s cloudy this morning. a touch of grey fog, quiet and calm. the dampness clings to the long slender shoots of grass and wraps around the tired oak fingers. the earth seems to sigh, and the clouds heavily roll along, lumbering, as if even they are too tired to take another celestial step. the occasional hum of a passing vehicle sounds far away and distant, the sound too weary to cut through the morning grey. inside, the dog rests his furry head between his paws, his eyes half open and lifted, watching me as a he fights a losing battle to stay awake.

me? in keepin’ with the situation, i try to eat my cereal with a fork. i feel clumsy, sleepy, already ready for a nap.

i wonder how much longer it will be before baby girl makes her debut. today we’re just three days away from 40 weeks.

Handmade, Little Style

handmade baby gown upcycled from women’s dress [with link to tutorial]

January 1, 2011March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

thanks to a great tutorial i found here, i was able to create a baby gown/infant sack from one of my old dresses! the tutorial was intended for cotton t-shirts, but of course i had to make things way more complicated and use a silky chiffon-like fabric. seriously, what was i thinking?! i love the way it turned out, though. and i also love that since i got the original dress at a thrift store ages ago, the baby gown is it’s third life!

Handmade

pretty little stitches from my brand new sewing machine

December 31, 2010March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

i think i’m going to like this thing called sewing. got my new machine up, running, and properly threaded….and ohhhh pretty stitches! my first ever.

now to actually make something…

Handmade, Little Style

box of knitted baby goodies from a dear friend

December 30, 2010March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

if we’re connected on twitter, you’ve already had a sneak peek into the box of hand-knitted goodies my dear friend lauren sent for the baby. lauren has been my kindred spirit for years now, and she was one of my bridesmaids when i got married two years ago. we’ve never lived in the same state, ever, and often don’t even live in the same country — but that’s no matter. when we’re together it’s like no time has passed and we catch up right where we left off. everyone needs a friend like lauren.

Handmade, Little Style

tiny sewing projects, and baby adventures

December 29, 2010March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

it’s only wednesday, but so far it’s been a lovely and busy week-between-christmas-and-the-new-year!

now that all the christmas crocheting is done (hats for everyone!), i was able to finally finish this sweater for sweet little baby. i think i might like it even more than the first tiny sweater i made.
handmade crochet simple baby sweater - variegated green with brown buttons

this week, i’m about to make the leap into sewing…with an actual sewing machine. (thank you, grandma, for such an awesome christmas gift!) i’ve got the most darling fabric all washed and ready to go. tiny little baby dress, i think you’ll be my first project. you know, after i’ve learned to properly thread the machine. perhaps it would be a good thing to read the instruction manual, as my twitter friend lottie pointed out. ;-) in any case, i’m really looking forward to this new sewing adventure.

not that we’re short on adventures around here. i mean, we’re about to add another real live person to our family. eeee! i had my 38 week checkup a few days ago, and looks like baby is still very much content to stay where she is. (it doesn’t feel like she’s very content where she is, though! pressing up against my tailbone isn’t really the most comfortable of places. =P) my doctor doesn’t think baby will make an appearance any time before next year. my due date is still 12 days away. but who’s counting? who’s paying attention to all this heartburn and nerve pain and random contractions?

it’s all becoming so.very.real.

Life in Photos

my almost-38-week stomach: christmas at grandma’s

December 26, 2010March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Christmas

merry christmas!

December 24, 2010March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Wishing you all an absolutely lovely Christmas! May you all see the lights with childlike wonder, and may you see the Light in a very real way this Christmas.

“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!”

Inspiration, Travel/Moving

introducing ‘next stop: ireland & scotland’ – a collaborative inspirational travel blog

December 20, 2010March 21, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

i’ve become quite enamored with all things irish. my husband shares this penchant, too (can’t you tell, just looking at this very celtic-inspired canvas?) and of course, it’s no secret that we both have the travel bug.

so, we’re pleased to announce the launch of our brand-new collaboration, next stop: ireland and scotland, where we will each be posting tidbits pertaining to scottish and irish design, culture, and travel in general.

From the website:

We’re Josiah & Gina, and ever since we returned from France & Spain in 2009, we’ve been dreaming of our next trip. Itching to travel again, we have Ireland & Scotland on our mind.

We’re not sure when this trip (with our soon-to-be-born little girl!) will happen; but until then, join us here as we dream, research, plan and share inspiration for our visit to Ireland and Scotland.

won’t you join us on our virtual journey?