Well Hello...

I started a book the other day. It's called "The Book Theif" by Markus Zusak. I was recommended from Pip's wonderful blog " Meet Me At Mikes." Wow! What an amazing book. I am thouroughly enjoying it.

My husband and I have been able to go on several dates while family is visiting. Yay! We went the other night to see "True Grit." I loved this movie. So realistic to the time period, and of course a Cohen Brothers movie. They are all well done. The acting was superb by the young girl in the movie. Definitly one I would see again.
Have a great day!

Back. And Still Enjoying The Holidays.

Wow, I can't believe another Christmas has come and gone. We had such a good time. Aside from having a stinky cold flu, yuck. The poor kids were a little sickly on Christmas, but that didn't stop them from enjoying all the goodies they recieved. We have my husbands parents in town, and they make the holidays super enjoyable. I get to kick back and relax. Papa makes all the food, and Emmie does the clean-up. What more could a girl ask for? I feel guilty at times, but they insist, and how could I resist. With being sick, this has been much needed help. I got some amazing new embroidery scissors, some new movies, and the most awesome gnome ever. I will take pics here soon.

Santa brought some Calico Critters for my daughters so that I could take a big and small pic with mine miniatures ;) We got the kitties and the bunnies.



Oh and yes, I almost forgot. Have you listened the the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Well the lead singer Jon por Birgisson (sorry I didn't do all the accents) made a solo album titled "jonsi go." Quite amazing. The range his voice can go is just astonishing. My husband also got this for me for Christmas.



Have a great day!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

All kinds of Christmas

Well I have been catching up on a few things wanted to make this year.

I made a little plaid wreath for my kitchen. I love plaid, and bells. So I incorporated both into my little wreath.



Super easy to make. If you even have an old flannel that is ready to kick the bucket, your set. I had some fabric on hand from a shirt I had made. All you need is
1 Wreath form
Enough plaid to wrap around the form. Cut into about 3 inch strips
5 bells (I strung them on a piece of yarn and then pulled them together into a little berry cluster, knotting the yarn. I then hot-glued them into place.
I then cut 2 leaf shapes and hot glued them on as well.
I then had some green and white rope to attach to my faux window.
There you have it.



I made my Christmas table runner too. I found this fabric that looks like vintage Christmas hankies. I was thrilled. Then I bought some small red trim with white balls on it. I was so excited to make it for my big dining table. It was so super easy too. I didn't add a back. I simply folded the edges and sewed the trim. Whalaa!

We did some candy eating and decorating this morning on our ginger bread house. I worked on making the pieces lastnight. It is a vegan gingerbread house for my daughters allergies. He totally has a face. I didn't realize until I took pics. And the candy canes are the eyebrows.




What is your fave thing to eat around the holidays? We always do a seafood Christmas Eve, complete with oysters and stuffed shrimp. Ooohh I can't wait. I don't think I can get enough gingerbread cookies either.
Have a super Monday!

Okay its almost time...

I can't believe that Christmas is in like a week! No way! I am relieved I just have one more gift to finish, and I'll be shipping them all out tommorrow. Whew! Now to make those Christmas decorations I've been talking about all month. No pressure.
I got a couple of my Christmas gifts early. I bought, what it called a "cozy mystery' called "The Quick and the Thread" by Amanda Lee. It is a crafty themed mystery. Okay before you think this sounds old ladyish, it totally is not, and is the perfect book to sit on the couch and relax on a winter evening. I highly recommend for a fun winter read!
I also got " The Crafty Marketplace" by Kari Chapin. I am really excited to dive in. I read a bit last night. This book is filled with endless information. I need to take notes. I think there are alot of things I didn't think through before I started selling my work, and I think this book is going to get me on the right track.

My wonderfully cute and sweet husband sent me this song this morning. It reminded me of when we first met. We love anything old, and have enjoyed such things since the beginning of our relationship. We would spend our afternoons after classes looking through some of the best antique shops in the country. We went to college in Springfield, MO, yes, where the wonderful Elsie from " A Beautiful Mess" runs "The Red Velvet Shop." It really is the best area for those sorts of things.
We found so many treasures that we still have today. Such good memories.



Oh yes we bought a Bialetti Moka Express to make some espresso. Were moving up in our caffeinne needs ;)I have to say I have been quite pleased. My husband was one of the best baristas in Southern California. He knows what he's doing. We keep changing little things to get them quite perfect. Last night they were great!
The Bialetti goes for about 29 dollars. I got mine on sale for 24. Not too bad.
I think you could find a good deal this time of year.

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Fun.. Videos

I love this commercial from Target! I totally want to get up and spin on my head ;)

I just discoverd "Dottie Angel" and I just love everything she does. The video of her on etsy is amazing!



And lastly, Zach Galifianakis makes me laugh so hard. This clip from the "Jimmy Fallon" show really makes me laugh. By the way, Jimmy Fallon is my fave late night show. Consistently funny!

Im lovin' the Navajo

I love these cute slipper boots from Target. They are stylish , yet comfy

I love the colors in these navajo style blankets by Urban Outfitters.

I'm not sure where this sweater is from, but the colors with the grey is adorable. I would live in this.

I adore the colors in this somewhat navajo design by 7headz. I love the hearts!

How about you? What is your current trend crush?

Have a great Monday!

I took pics!

We did a little drive last night and visited a couple of your fave Christmas houses. The top one doesn't even capture the half of it. He has a little workshop with elves. Its' nuts. We haven't missed it in 6 years.

We decided we would get donuts this morning, so we went to Krispy Kreme, ready to eat some glazed goodness. We pull up and of course order a dozen of the original glazed, what they are known for, and the lady gets on the speaker to say,(Spoiler Alert) " We are all out of them." What the... Out of donuts, your a donut shop. We all gasp in the car. I found it funny and ironic.

I hope to get some Christmas crafts on to share next week!
Have a great weekend!

Friday

Wow, my weeks are quite fast lately. Next week is my last week of stocking orders and I'm ready to get started on some handmade goodness! I would love to do alot of things handmade for my kids, but they have other ideas, I understand, I was a kid once too. All those commerical that make you think you will have the time of your life with that hamster that runs around the house in a car. Yep, they wanted those.
I have plans of making a Christmas table runner( I found the most amazing Christmas fabric), making some little holiday trees, a wreath, personalized stockings of the kids choices (legos and hello kitty sound like the order this year), cross-stitch gifts, of course some gingerbread houses, well the list could go on and on.

Unfortunatley my dreams of making the kids a tent this year doesn't seem
plausable. I'm not sure the space is there. As my daughter says, " Whaa, Whaa, Whaaa." But I did find a pop-up tent that can easily be put away. My husband thinks that sounds more like it ;)

I have my Christmas cards planned out in my head. Lets just say we will have some stand-ins that look quite similar to us.
I love doing something off the wall for our Christmas cards. Last year the front of our card had us with boxes on our head in front of the tree. Maybe some of the family didn't get it,but I like to throw people for a loop. Why not. Keep people wondering ;)

I think I am actually going to learn how to screen print. I have a whole kit that my husband bought me several years ago, still in the box. What ashame I know. But this year I'm going to make it happen. I'm a bit scared, but you know what, I'm gonna just go for it. I have so many funny sayings my husband comes up with( seriously brilliant he is) and sketches, that I think would be perfect for silk screening. I took a class about 12 years ago, and now I can finally use my skills, that I don't remember anymore ;)

What are your wishes for Christmas? Things you want to make, receive, or buy?
Have a great weekend!

HO...HO.. HO.. I need a nap

(not the actual house, found via weheartit)

The holidays really are my favorite time of year, but by the time the new year rolls around, I just want to take a nap. I really do like shopping for gifts though. I love thinking about the joy on my kids faces as they see what they opened and had hoped for.
One tradition that I love to do every year around this time is to drive around and look at all the Christmas lights. There is a particular house we visit every year that seriously has like every lawn decoration you can think of. We love it.

We love to watch CBS's "Sunday Morning" show. This past week they did a feature on the storefronts in New York City at Christmas time. I seriously love the the "Lord and Taylor" window. The replicas of Christmas memories. Check out the retro kitchen.

Have a super duper Wednesday!

Popping in for a visit

I have been super busy with the holidays, so I wanted to pop in and share a couple of my holiday finds recently.
I just got my vintage pixies/elves in the mail today. I got all four for just a bit over six dollars, not to bad. I have been wanting some for awhile. I also found the cute little set of elves at the thriftstore this weekend. I didnt' realize the one with the knife looks a bit creepy with the knife. He looks so happy though ;)
I am currently trying to find some cute vintage deers. Those are next on my decoration hunt. I love to find new decorations each year. I get bored and like to switch them up.
I hope you have a great Monday!

Christmas Decor 2010

I thought I might do a virtual tour of sorts of some of my Christmas decor. As you can tell I am on a tinsel kick this year. I have collected my little trees the past couple of year. I wanted to do the silver tinsel garland around the house too.
I won some vintage elves on ebay yesterday that I cannot wait to get! I got four for only 6.55. Yeah! They are in very good condition too.
Have you noticed the little "Elf on the Shelf" sets this year. They are everywhere. The vintage ones look just like the look alikes. I got four of them, and the kids keeping talking about how they will have to be really good if four of them are keeping an eye out on how good they are. I have one that you can see by my orange phone, but he is actually a bunny on the shelf. I adore his colors.
Have a great Thursday! Whoa, where did the week go? Oh and what is your fave Christmas decoration? I would love to hear.

Christmas Came Early....And Other Random Fun Things

A sweet and most awesome flickr friend heard my distressing cry that I just "had to have" the miniature Sylvanian Families. She so sweetly was able to get me a set! I can't even tell you the child-like joy that came over me when she told me she could get one for me! I did a little photo shoot with my "Danbo" this morning.


And she sent a Re-ment cockateil with the most adorable bowl! Danbo loves it!

My son is quite the little artist, and I just had to share a picture he drew based on one of his Arthur books. I love the mouse teacher!




Seriously check out this video, if you get bored , forward to the end, its worth it.
If you like that type of thing. I do ;)


I was up super duper late working last night. I'm off to sit and watch a movie with the kids and have some fun putting up some more Christmas decorations for the house.
Have a great Wednesday!