A Year In Pictures

What a year!! 2011 came in with a scare but I'm so happy it's ending on a happy note. This New Year's eve will be the first one in a very long time that I get to give the hubby a New Years Kiss.
I can't thank all of you enough for the lovely comments throughout the year. This little blog has become something bigger than I could have imagined! Here is to a new year full of hope, wishes, and a magical start :)

The Lefton Christmas Angel Story

Amanda,

Now that we are one day after Christmas, I'm going to tell you my Christmas Angel story.

My wife Colleen was born on 12/28, and she received a little Lefton Christmas Angel for her 5th birthday in 1958.  This little red, white and gold ceramic angel was one of her prize possessions and it occupied a place of honor in our China hutch.  About 10 years ago, as Colleen and I were moving the hutch away from the wall because we were repainting, the hutch tipped slightly, its door opened and the little Christmas Angel fell out, shattering into so many pieces on our hardwood floor that it was unrepairable.

Since then I've heard Colleen mention on many occasions, that she used to have a precious little Christmas Angel, but Mike broke it several years ago.  Well, after searching and looking for many years, and looking at hundreds and hundreds of little ceramic angels, I found the replacement at your Itchin Stitchin website!

Imagine my excitement, when I opened your package to discover what was indeed a replica of my Colleen's missing Christmas Angel!

Colleen opened her present yesterday, in the company of her 91 year old Mother, and they both agreed that this was just like the Christmas Angel that she treasured for so many years.

I really, really appreciate that you were able to make my wife Colleen's dream of having her Christmas Angel back come true.

Amanda, you definitely rock!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you,

I will always remember you,

Mike

 This is the very reason I love selling vintage. Treasures that hold memories and have a story. I'm so over joyed that this little Lefton Angel brought such Christmas cheer to one of my customers.

The very reason that one of my New Years resolutions is to never give up.

 Just like Mike, one day you will find your angel.

Buster Christmas

This weekend was crazy around here. Those small adults kept coming up to me petting my head and saying only 2 more days, 1 more day, SANTA is coming tonight. Not sure what it all meant but I got strict instructions from the oldest not to eat the man that looked jolly in the red suit because they wanted presents.

I must have did a good job because there were presents under the tree for me too! They were...

giant bones!!! I didn't even make a wish list .

I tried my best to eat them all that day. It only made me tired.

Later on there was some snuggling on the couch. What?! Guys snuggle too!

Hope everyone else let that man with the red suit into their house. 

Free Holiday Gift Tags

With the holiday right around the corner, (there is a literally a count down happening at our house) I would like to give a gift to all my friends out there. So what better than some printable gift tags! 

Just download the pdf file, print, and cut out.

Click here to download the PDF.

Happy Holidays :)

Crochet Button Baby Booties

Say that three times fast! Just finishing up some wonderful handmade Christmas gifts. These little booties are for my sister in-law who is pregnant with her first child, a little girl. When I saw the sweet design on Ravelry I knew I had to make them. The funny thing is that just while I was crocheting along thinking about how nice it will be to hold another baby a friend texted me with a good news. She is pregnant too!!

Guess it looks like there will be more baby booties to make :)

Christmas Decorating

Every year is different. Not the putting up the tree part, that always happens the day after Thanksgiving. The kids always help and the tree usually looks bare at top with a cluster of ornaments in one spot. At night us parents rearrange everything without them being any the wiser. 

The part that changes every year is the general decorating. Candles, garlands, and other festive bits always manage to find their way around the house. This year was no different. We finally have everything put out just the way we like it. Center stage this year is the kids creations. A paper decorated tree, cotton ball snowmen, hand print wreaths, googly eyes gingerbread men, popsicle stick reindeer, paper plate school ornaments, and tissue paper candle. 

For some reason it feels extra cozy this year, no fireplace needed. Still working on our Santa lists, holiday cookies, and a few handmade gifts we are in good shape for a Merry Christmas. Are you ready?

Happy Mail

Absolutely love opening my mailbox to happy mail!! There were two things to be excited about this time.
First was an ornament from my dear vintage soul sister. She gets me.

It was a total surprise. If only she could see my reaction when I opened it. Isn't it just beautiful!!! The ornament is from Jupiter Designs - and I adore everything about it.

Thanks so much Micaela!!!

The other surprise in my mailbox was a giveaway I won over at NanaCompany. Lady luck must have been on my side that day because there were a lot of entries. What I won was an amazing quilt blocks book called "Modern Blocks" and Amy herself has two blocks that she designed featured in the book. Just flipping through this book gave me tons of ideas.

Amy also included some great little extras as well. Can't wait to use those trims! The handmade trivet is beautiful.

See all those tiny little hand sewn stitches?! Thanks so much Amy. I don't think it will be mine for much longer though. Someone, who will remain nameless...but not pictureless, has already proclaimed it hers. This is the very reason she didn't see me open my package from Micaela :)

Smocked Knitted Winter Scarf

Pure perfection. You can't miss me in this coat. Dear hubby quietly had doubts about this coat but has come around.

While I started making my smocked knitted scarf for my brown suede coat I think it looks just as swell on this one. Smocking was intimidating. In fact I did it the "old" way and read about it in the book The Complete Guide to Needlework. Questioning myself I decided to research the technique a little and discovered that many people actually knit the smocking while they are making the scarf - the "new" way.

After basting several threaded lines - 18 to be exact - I crossed my fingers and started the smocking. It turned out better than I could have imagined. Each end has a bit of smocking, giving the scarf a more feminine feel. The edges become more scalloped and ruffled, just enough to make a statement.

When I wear it I feel like I am doing just that ... making a statement!

Salem for the Weekend

This weekend was a trip to Salem. It was perfect!! What a lovely day to walk the quiet streets, smell the sweet earthy smell of herbs in Wiccan shops, and soak up the history of clap board houses. A day without the children was a much needed rest, even though your mind always thinks about them and their names sit of the tip of your tongue waiting for the opportunity to escape your lips. Hand in hand we strolled neighborhoods and dreamed big dreams. Eyeing every empty shop window with a hope of opening my own. Lunch at the Lobster Shanty - where the owner spied us looking at the menu, an offered us to come in early for brunch before they officially opened. Strangers passed us with a greeted hello. Salty wind filled the air. Stopping at a yarn shop full of color, along with a fabric shop with reproduction feedsack prints, and a botanical shop- we got a treat just for us. As we got in the car and drove through the winding streets, we thought about the magical little town and the happiness it brought. 

Dabbling Definition

Dab.bling verb \-b(ə-)liŋ\:
           The art of starting more than one thing with a bunch of little somethings but never truly finishing anything.
ex: Amanda has been dabbling in her studio all day.