Ten, Eleven, TWELVE!

Okay, I know you all are anxious to see those crafty gifts!

Number Ten is a set of little wooden Christmas houses from Claire. She suggested that we could turn them around and use them after Christmas as well. I think that's a great idea...and I'm considering my three-letter word options OR adding one initial for each of us (we're a three-person family) instead of leaving them blank.







Number Eleven is from Beth. I felt compelled to show her packaging as well as the gift. Isn't it elegant? Beth made little pouches with clips that are loaded with Aveda goodies. I'm particularly excited about this because my cell phone is a perfect fit!





And, number twelve is from Tasha. Are these the sweetest little birds? I'm calling them my Two Turtle Doves...


One more to open! This has been just the most fun. What an amazingly creative and talented group of ladies.

{Testing, testing}

In love with the playlist on Beth's site. Wanted to try it. Unfortunately have THREE Pete Yorns. Will fix it later...

T.

A Day Behind...

Sorry. Since Friday morning I've been late on every single thing. I'll have to post day ten later.

Gift number nine is a PIDGE, and I love it. Thank you Donna! What's a pidge, you ask? Well, it a very tiny knitted scarf, kind of like a detachable color. Take a look for yourself:

Claire was sick yesterday, little tummy bug. It wasn't too fun. She's much better but we kept her home all day today. Need to make sure she's good and healthy for the big day.

We had a nice surprise tonight, carolers on horseback. They come through our 'hood every year and it's just the warmest, cheeriest Christmas tradition ever. Caroling is always nice, but somehow the horses and the jingle bells just make it that much better. I choke back tears every time. I got some pictures, but as you can imagine, they're not that great.

{Day 8}

Day number 8 is Mary Claire! She made these clever little stands from silver spoons. They are intended to hold your recipe cards while you cook. Cute, huh? As a bonus, she also made rings out of vintage buttons. I have to confess I did receive a button ring earlier in the year - and it has gotten some major attention whenever I've worn it.

I'm proud to report that I am completely finished with my Christmas shopping. (Though I may brave the malls tomorrow to find a pair of shoes.) Now, just wrapping and cooking ahead of me. Yay! I can almost relax. Today was NOT the easy work day I had envisioned. In fact, I'm still reading email obsessively. Need to let go...

My Turn

So, I had day number seven. I knitted mini-purses. Technically they are felted - but there were huge differences in the way each color felted...the oatmeal was the most stubborn, and the orange felted the most. (you can see that at picture time the orange was still in production!) All the same wool, weird how the dye affects it.

...

Today had a GREAT work day. I'm all caught up and will only work a few hours tomorrow. Then, it's vacation time and I am ready. Still have some Christmas stuff to take care of. I haven't wrapped anything at all and have a handful of little things to buy yet.

.

Last night was the December birthday dinner. We had much to eat and drink, much fun. I really love doing week night parties. It feels somehow extravagant - and it sort of lengthens the weekend. We shouldn't be living for the weekends anyway, should we? Here's to more fun Monday thru Thursday.

{Cute as a Button!}

Check out these fabric covered button magnets from Kristi! Cute, cute, cute!

Just a short post tonight - this week is a bit hectic - I'm still working (I have to stick it out through Friday, dang it), and still so much to do for Christmas.

Cinq Cinque Funf Vijf Cinco

I can't overstate how fun this is. Behold, gift number five:

This one I had to put in the dining room - breaking my own rule about keeping them on the sofa table. The silver bells and the green bow match my dining room Christmas theme so well that I couldn't resist putting it in there. Thanks Tracy!

Also, just updated my links list to include Beth's blog, particularly for my non-12 days peeps. Y'all need to see this girl's jewelry. Actually, Dawn got some of it for Christmas last year!

Back to work. I'm counting the days 'til Christmas vacation.

{Interesting Times Article...}

All about Etsy...mentions the Renegade in Chicago but not the Rock 'n Roll Fair in StL.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/magazine/16Crafts-t.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=53ee17396750479a&ex=1355461200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Days Three and Four

Sorry for skipping a day - Sunday was a busy day.

SO, day three is a cute, cute hand stitched dove ornament from Maggie. It's adorable. Two shades of blue, detailed in French knots.




Day four is CHOCOLATE! Each piece beautifully wrapped in gold and silver foil. That was such a surprise... thanks Amy. And that pretty little snowflake? Yeah, it's gone already. EDITED: I'm giving away my sweet tooth (as if y'all couldn't already tell) but, it's not only chocolate but yummy vanilla caramels as well!




So, why so busy? Well, after church the Sunday school kids had a bake sale. Our contribution was a basket of gingerbread cows. They are working diligently to raise $1000 for a "milk menagerie" from Heifer International. You can learn all about that here: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2699393/ They are about half-way there! $500 to go...


After the bake sale the kids had a pizza party lunch and then went caroling at a local county-run nursing home. That was a sobering yet heartwarming experience. We've done the caroling thing at "commercial" retirement/nursing homes before with girl scouts, etc. This facility was so much more modest than others we've seen and the residents were so excited about us being there. They all joined in singing and were thrilled to get cookies and candy canes from the kids. I must say it left me feeling kind of like a jerk. They were happy to get a candy cane, and my wish list? Well, it starts with an expensive electronic gadget and ends with a big giant house. Nice.

{On the Second Day of Christmas...}

Look what arrived on my doorstep today! Holly delivered this beautiful embellished hurricane. My mom happened to be home when my sister and I opened our gifts and I think she was a little jealous!








Holly, my husband feels bad that he hadn't shoveled the sidewalk before you arrived. Sorry about that.

Today's been a great day to stick close to home. We did a major grocery expedition: dinner party for the December birthdays this coming Wednesday PLUS holiday baking equals a big grocery day. David came with me - he hasn't done that in quite a while - and he completely freaked out over my $9 block of gruyere. Might be better not to bring him from now on.

Claire is making the most of the snow we've gotten. I swear she doesn't feel the cold. We had to force her to come in. (Actually we lured her in with promises of hot cocoa.) Here she is standing on her aborted snowman flashing her gang sign.

Day One!

What a great start to our Twelve Days! Brooke made this scrumptious monogrammed pear... Love it! It's going to be great on my desk, but for now I plan to keep all the Twelve Days gifts displayed for all to see.



Package #9 arrived today...I'm keeping my fingers crossed for #2!



Looking forward to a little snow here in the midwest. I have to admit I have my finger's crossed for a decent accumulation. We haven't seen a significant snowfall since we've lived here and Claire's unused sled has been waiting in the garage for quite a while now.

Christmas Projects

We're busy little people here getting ready for the holidays. Thought you might like an update:

David is now "aging" his Christmas brew. He refuses to give any bottles away yet so don't even ask him.

I'm participating in a Twelve Days of Christmas craft exchange. (It's actually thirteen, we get a bonus!) I'm #7. Finally shipped my little boxes on Monday.

We'll open one gift a day starting on December 14th. Here's my pile so far. It's killing me not to snoop!

{Photo Catch-up}

So, here's photographic proof of our little November adventure. Sorry I'm only now getting around to posting the pics. To be honest, the only reason I did get to it is because I need them for my next post!

Ren-Faire Claire:

The Alamo from our hotel room. It was Veteran's Day weekend, that's why the soldiers are there. They don't have a basement at the Alamo but they do have air conditioning.

Random RiverWalk shot: