Monday, December 17, 2007

Mistletoe and Merriment

i guess i only blog when i need to procrastinate - i have had almost a week of free time and i still haven't updated.

Finals are over, and we finally got our tree! (it fits in the trunk!!!!)



and we celebrated the season with good friends and lots of dessert...


Now its on to knitting for the husband, getting my gnome swap packages ready to go to family in CA, MI, and NM, and more crafting... I am one happy girl!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

signs of the season part 2

I. Want. My. Christmas. Tree. I can craft and craft and craft and craft, and it just isn't Christmas until we have a tree. As a child, whenever things got messy around the holidays (as anyone with a family knows it does) i would sneak off into the corner behind the tree. Surrounded by favorite ornaments, soft white lights, and the smell of pine, everything just sort of seemed to get better. Now i am an adult, our trees seem to be getting smaller (no joke - last year we definitely waited too long and ended up with a Charlie Brown tree) and i don't fit as well as i used too. But i have found a new favorite spot. These days, even when things aren't messy, i love to snuggle with my husband and my kitties, comfy on the couch in front of the fire. Luckily, this time of year is cold enough for the roaring fires Todd likes to keep going (it was almost 85 in the house last night when we finally went to bed), and we haven't had a bill from the gas company since September! But i digress....

As i look in on all my favorite bloggers out there, i keep seeing images of trees and conversations about wonderfully hand knit garlands, and heirloom ornaments. I have finals coming up, and all i want to do is decorate, craft, bake, snuggle, and celebrate!!!
So i have chosen one of the five to keep me sane while i muddle through the last week of school.... crafting! The bowl of felt balls has been depleted for garlands galore!!


I finally made a few trial runs of the felt tree, and was greatly impressed! (by the way, a good old paper Trader Joe's bag works wonderfully if you are like me and don't keep interfacing around the house)


I even made a felt-ball snowman... who is adorable - and just a teensy bit creepy (i think its the eyes, i should have used a colorful bead).


And then i just had to have some holiday cheer for the couch, and so a few scraps of printed cotton and corduroy became these lovelies!




Saturday, December 1, 2007

Signs of the season...




It is definitely that time of year again. I have unpacked our Christmas candles, Todd has been busy splitting firewood, and i have been dreaming up new crafts for my never ending decorating schemes. This year i really want to make cone-trees (in felt instead of fabric), snowflake table toppers and runners (inspiration here), and felt-ball ornaments and garlands.



The first round was pretty successful, as you can see. I still have a bowl full, waiting to be beaded or strung, and a new tradition has been born! Todd suggested we make felt balls every year, especially as they are extremely easy, uber kid (and kitty) friendly, and a delight to touch. I can already see them dangling from the bow of pretty packages, hung around a special bottle of wine or champagne, or even just slipped into a pocket when no one is paying attention. What a fun way to give a gift!