Xmas Sigh...

Well, it's over... and we're finally home!

Here are the last of the Xmas pics (I hope)...

-

Jamie's present... a bookbag/accessory set- not quite as good as the gift she gave us- she took Chris & I to Of Montreal, which was for sure added to the Top 5 shows of all time for me. The image set I used was from the lovely Danielle Thompson, here.

-

Xmas candy gifts, 'cause we be poor. And it wouldn't be Christmas without me trying to throw my back out over ridiculously involved food gifts... There is peppermint bark, fudge, peanut butter balls, and spiced nuts in there. Cute Martha packaging from Michael's.

-

Cranberry Orange Vodka

I'm big on the food gifts... surprise...

-

Table set for Xmas brunch for my fam. My new tablecloth is so freaking adorable that I want to leave it out year-round! I suppose I feel that way about all our holiday decorations, though. The Roseville castle has been leaving their lights on year-round... maybe I should join in...

Swedelicious!

This Christmas I decided to make some Swedish themed decor... Every Xmas Eve in my life has been spent at my Swedish grandmother's (and non-Swedish grandpa, but you know, he didn't decorate) house, until this year (Chris & I have decided to start switching locations year to year instead of trying to do both family celebrations). Anyway, I decided to have a brunch for my family before we leave town to make up for it, and thought I needed some Sweden in the house for it...

Swedish Hearts

Wool felt with blanket stitch edging.

-

This year's Christmas Cards

I carved a block for printing these and finished them with stardust pen details.

For non-Swedes, the Julbock (or Yule-goat):

"is a ubiquitous symbol of the winter holidays in Scandinavian countries"... continue at Altreligion

Now, it's mostly thought of just as a cute Xmas decoration, though...

-

Lucia Doll

This is the first doll I've made with yarn hair, which was a bit tricky, but she really have to have the braids. The crown-wreath is loop knotted yarn with felt/tiny pom-pom candles. And she's even got Dala horses on her tights!

"Lucia Day, December 13th, initiates the Christmas season by marking the beginning of brighter days to come in Sweden. It is customary that the eldest daughter as Lucia... dresses in a long white gown with a red sash around her waist and wears a crown entwined with sprigs of myrtle greens on her head. Five or seven lighted candles in the crown spread a luminous glow around her."
-American Swedish Institute
-
Next year, I'll make some tomte... I just ran out of time...

It's beginning to look a lot like...

...sweetness.

-

Invites to my fam for a Holiday brunch... made with Martha Stewart stamps- on my new (repro) Christmas tablecloth... I'll post another pic of it, I'm sure.

-

Our outdoor wreath... it's very sparkly. I bought the base wreath (which is glittery and has pinecones and dried leafy stuff) and put silver sparkly leafy stuff in it... Here's a pic you can see it better in:

Yes, White Kitty is trying to eat it.

I leave it up all winter, since it's not strictly "Christmas-y".

-

Our indoor wreath. Hmmm... as I look at it now it doesn't seem terrible Christmas-y either. Maybe I should leave it up all year! I made it years ago, with a grapevine base, moss, sparkly fruit, leaves, berries, and glitter.

Both wreaths have a Labyrinth-y (as in the movie) look to me... natural, mossy, glittery... sigh.

-

We don't have a mantle/fireplace, so I started using our new (to us-thanks D&K!) entertainment center as such.

-

My Grandma gave me this a couple weeks ago... it's been up at her house every Christmas for as long as I can remember and I love it sooooooo very much. I'd hug it if it were more cuddly.

I lucked out! I was explaining to her how Ebay works & told her I had been looking for a tree like that one there, and she said something along the lines of "that thing? You can have that! Take it home today!". Yaaaaaaaaaay.

-

This is a cardboard ornament I just finished painting... I made a hole in the bottom so you can poke a tree light though to make it light up. There are more handmade ornaments a couple posts down...

-

The whole tree. Sorry it's not a great view, but honestly, it's shoved between three pieces of furniture, and I just couldn't get a good shot. You get the idea, anyway, right?

-

Next up, I'll be posting more X-mas stuffs... all along the Swedish theme! Yaaaaaaaaay Sweden! Uh, you'll see.

For Alanah

Sweater set for Alanah Armijo:

She's Chris's cousin's baby-to-be... due soon!

I finished this awhile ago, but I had to wait

until after the shower to post it.

I hope I get a modeled pic!

Craft Night!

Well, Craft Night was last weekend, but I haven't had a chance to upload the pics until now... It was Holiday themed, to get a head start and all that... Anyway, it was definitely the most productive one ever- most of the time we had ended up just hanging out, which is fine, but you know, less productive.

See, boys can come too! Chris is always looking for buddies to avoid the crafting. But these boys wanted to craft, too! In your face, Chris! Uh, I love you.

---

We started with making some paper ornaments:

That one's mine- I made it ahead of time.

-

This one is Jamie's.

Chris forgot to take a pic of Kathryn's, but I will add it later if I can get one...

I got the instructions from Heather Bailey ("Paper Globes" under "Free Patterns"). They're super easy- I highly recommend. I've seen them done with different edging, too... something to try later.

---

Then we made clothespin dolls... I got the idea from Allsorts here (there are non-holiday Allsorts ones here, and a whole flickr group of different ones here). I bought the supplies ahead of time and glued together the three main pieces so they would be ready to paint.

Jamie's!

-

Mine (I didn't finish until everyone left, though)

-

Natalie v. Bob!

-

Doug v. Kathryn!

-

As you can see, much fun was had by all. There are few more more pics here. I hope to get another Craft Night together soon, and I have some more holiday crafts to post! Soon...

New Model

Olivia's here! Olivia Mary Williams

Thursday, November 20, 2008

-

She wore the hat I knitted her home!

Quite a perfect little model, I think.

Congratulations, Beth & Jimmy!

Sweetness

Dear "New" Boots,

Thank you so much for being awesome.

Love,

Jessica

Vintage Italian Boots from Ebay

Black and white and gorgeous all over...

I have obtained two prints somewhat recently that I realized I haven't blogged...

-

One from the amazing Elsita (Elsa Mora) that I haven't taken my own pic of, but it's on my wall right now:

I matted it in red with a black frame... I love it so much. Check out all of the tiny little hiding animals! I really want to buy out her entire Etsy store.
-
And more recently I got this print from lalalaika (Donna Enticknap):

I contacted her after seeing this image on Flickr & had to have a print... she has more available if you contact her there. It's absolutely beautiful... it even has little hand-touched gold highlights! And check out that little hand-drawn thank you that I got with it! How did she know about my fox obsession?

Autumn Happiness

Kathryn's birthday is today & these were her presents:

Vintage Salt & Pepper Shakers

(She collects shakers)

-

Acorn Earrings

(I might have to make myself a pair of these, too!)

-

I suppose you can tell I'm in a Autumn-y mood...

-

Here's my Thanksgiving tree:

I actually put it out in September, sans turkey ornaments, but the Halloween tree goes up in between...)

-

The Porch:

I have a thing for acorns.

-

I also must add how very happy I am... I'm so proud of our country today- there will be so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Huzzah! <Picture me doing the Snoopy dance>

It is a bittersweet victory, though... I'm proud of the US, but disappointed by my love, California. Prop 8, people? Really? I suppose we're made huge strides lately towards erasing bigotry, but it looks like we've got a lot more work to do, and soon.

Maude!

Here's my costume:

Don't know who I am? Don't worry, no one else did either...

Maude! As in Harold & Maude, if it's been awhile. I carried the DVD in my pocket... I really didn't expect anyone to recognize me. One person actually guessed it, but really I blame Chris for not being my Harold. He's a pooper. Of the party variety. There are more pics of other peeps costumes here... some are out of control cute... I'm looking at you, Panda with Baby Panda.

Hallowe'en!!!

I loooooove Hallowe'en... it's my favorite holiday, really, even though that is based more on childhood memories than actual current celebrations. My fondest memories of childhood always include Hallowe'en: roaming the streets in a pack of kids (after dark!), getting to dress up as a fairy princess in public, pillowcases filled near to the top with way too much candy to ever finish... Kids don't get to do all this much anymore- it seems that the majority end up at parties, school functions, etc., which I'm sure is fun too... but it couldn't possibly be as fun. Or maybe I'm just suffering from nostalgia overload.

-

Believe it or not, I didn't finish all the decorating I wanted.

Hallowe'en Tree.

Yes, I have a tree for pretty much every holiday.

-

Bat & pumpkins knitted this year.

-

Candy Bucket.

I made this last year to hang on our door after we went out.

-

I'd decorate the whole house if I could, but my laziness always wins out in the end.

-

Close-up of the wreath.

I made it with a cheap grapevine wreath, a black feather boa and a fake crow from the craft store.

I like white pumpkins... they're like the ghosts of orange pumpkins, and therefore scarier. Right?

-

I will hopefully have pics of my costume after Friday... not of Chris's though, as he is a big party pooper and never dresses up.

Top 5.

My Top 5 Pets...

as in, the top 5 that I don't have, but want desperately.

As in, I can't actually talk Chris into bringing these home...

-

(in no particular order)

-

Pygmy Hedgehog

-

Fennec Fox

(That's right. A fox. That you can keep as a pet. I KNOW.)

-
Miniature Pony
(They're dog-sized! Ahhhh!)

-

Bunnies
(one Angora)

(...and one Dwarf)
-

Sheep/Goats
(I put them together because they're pretty close, really...

except personality-wise... sheep pretty much hate people.

Mine will have to get over it. Because I will hug it. Daily.)

-
And I leave you with this:
In case you haven't already died from cute.

(All pictures from Cute Overload)