more holiday gift wrap... there is still time!

Now, I love wrapping gifts (and products) in fabric *ribbon* but I just tear one inch strips and leave it all raggedly.  I've always kinda liked it that way.  But check out this perfectionism on Design Sponge.  Loads of work but the packages look simplistically stunning.  Love it.  Oh, and her choice of colors are pretty fab too.

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gingerbread sewing cottage

Please tell me this is not THE sweetest gingerbread house you have ever seen. I mean ever. I am beyond impressed (once again) by The Decorated Cookie and her overabundance of creativity. Click on over to her original post for additional photographs and full details on how to create your own gingerbread sewing cottage. (yeah right). Or just sit there and stare at hers for a long while feeling incredibly envious.

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diy advent tree

So many people were excited by our thankful tree that I knew I had to post this one as soon as I saw it.  This advent tree is courtesy of Paige Russell and via Poppy Talk Handmade.  I'm still trying to decide whether or not to dress a Christmas tree in our home (I'm leaning towards yes because I really want to make pom-pom garland... don't ask... no clue) so we won't be partaking in this craft but I still think it's pretty darn cool.

There is a full tutorial including a video on Paige's blog so click on over to see what it entails.  And if you make one in your home, please share your photos with us! 

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tree trimming at anthro

Since we never actually spend Christmas day here (Santa thinks we live at Grandma's house), I'm not sure if we're going to trim a tree or not.  Last year was our first.  And we did an entirely homemade tree.  Well, except for the lights.  We used jingle bells, paint, egg cartons, wooden shapes, pipe cleaners, ribbon, beads, and lots... and lots of glitter.  But if I were going to "buy" a tree... you can bet I'd go to Anthro.  

And it would look something like this.

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sweet tooth

So get this, these super fancy Christmas cakes are not only edible...they are gluten free too! No, I didn't make them (hangs head in shame) but I found them...here on Torie Jayne's beautiful little blog. Doesn't that count for something? Torie Jayne did make them. And I don't even need to taste them to tell you that they're fabulous.

better late than never?

Six days before Christmas I stumble upon these fabulous cookie cutters? And they ship from Europe? The jigsaw puzzle pieces are my absolute favorite. But of course they are, because they are sold out.
Well, there's always next year.

crickets

That's the term we use around our house when everything goes silent. Like when you tell a joke and everyone just stares at you waiting for the punchline. And kind of like this blog lately. Like all of blog-world this week, really.

My poor shop and blog have gotten almost no attention since we departed nearly two weeks ago. But for just cause. And that's what I'm here to prove...for about 30 more seconds, that is.

I try not to talk too much about the family on this blog. That gets taken care of here. But see these smiling faces? I am proud to say that I was there to share in and capture on film each and every one of these moments...and thousands more.

So, while I'm feeling guilt about neglecting my craft and my blog, I am also relishing the last two days of a much needed vacation. I hope you got one too.

trimming the...trees?

Pac-Man, Ladder & Upside Down Christmas tree images are all courtesy of Toxel. Follow the link and check out some other novel ideas including a tree made of books for a library and one made of empty bottles. Wonder how long that one took.

Now if I had any inclination to erect a tree in our home it might look something like this Plywood Eco tree also courtesy of Toxel. No mess, no ornaments, works with our decor and it's "80% more environmentally friendly than a traditional fir or spruce." (don't ask me how they got that statistic...that's why it's in quotes!)