2012 in Photos

As the year is coming to a close, I look back at my photos. My 365 project (a photo a day for a full year) reflects my year pretty perfectly. Even though it ended with 251 photos - I still feel great that I took that many. Here is to a new year full of hope, wonder, and new possibilities! Happy New Year!!!

Magical Winter Snow

The kids tried their best to wait up for Santa - there were noises heard, tip toeing down the stairs, and cookies gobbled. We left Santa a plate of cookies that all the kids helped me make. In the morning there was a little dusting of snow, a white Christmas after all. Family came over, presents were unwrapped, and the kids got everything on their wishlist and more. They must have been really nice this year.

Then yesterday the snow came in! Lots and lots of snow. A good 6 inches or more - snowman making snow. The kids got all bundled in snow suits and played. As the snow was falling all you could hear was neighborhood children laughing and screaming, having a snowball fight. I made homemade hot cocoa (not the kind in the packet) and welcomed the red nosed children back inside to warm up. Today we take down our tree and reclaim the living room. This was the perfect way to end the year. 

Santa Countdown

We are patiently waiting for Santa's arrival tonight. Our stockings are hung, we are making cookies, and there are guesses as to which fireplace he will come down. This may not be a white Christmas but we made our own snowflakes and hung them proudly. 

Congratulations to the Let It Snow garland winner Lindsey. Aries picked your number out of the snow and needed to show you.

Wishing you all a magical Christmas!

Grey Days

Today was grey. Full of lots of rain with no escape. Big wind gusts and this chill in the air. I would much rather snow - at least a small dusting before the holiday. Last night I wrapped up some watercolor prints and snack bags for the kids teachers. It's important to honor teachers and I do think it brightened their day to be appreciated.

 The day required warmth, so I lit candles and made homemade bread for the neighbors. Carefully wrapping the still warm loafs in parchment paper, with a new flour sack dishtowel, all bundled with some bakers twine, I set out my oldest delivery boy - who got many hugs for his job. I took a moment today to admired the lovely vintage ornaments my dear friend sent and got to work on some watercolor holiday cards. For a moment while sitting at my desk, my back turned to the window, I believe the sun peeked out. It felt like it just wanted to admire my work before making winter all grey again.  

Studio

The little studio corner in our bedroom is evolving. This weekend I put away and organized a large number of my supplies. While this little space won't stay this way, it felt good to unpacked some things. 

I hugged my kids a little tighter tonight. Repeated a million times how much I love them. Every time I was thankful to have them in our lives and each time a little saddened that tonight other parents in Connecticut won't be able to do the same. My heart sinks at this tragedy that has hit so close to home. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Newtown, Connecticut.  

Winter Brings Out

This weekend I had plans to do so much more and get more accomplished. It's always seems that way around this time of year. After a day of shopping with my mom, to which I still didn't get too much holiday shopping done, I went to her home and gathered some very rustic nature provided materials to work on a wreath for our side door. But I found myself using some of it to decorate the mantel in the dining room. Woodland, birds, rustic, simple - perfect. 

I also received the most perfect parcel in the mail the other day. My ornament swap partner, Erin, sent me some rather beautiful ornaments. The fluttery red and white paper handmade one is from a vendor she sees at the craft fairs every winter ( love supporting the handmade community). The twine bird is from her favorite little gift shop, and I can see why it's her favorite. Oh thank you Erin!! 

The host of the swap also received her cute little surprise handmade ornament I made for her and her baby Felix, so now I can show them off. Red snowflake cross stitch, hung in a small hoop, with a sequined scattered star for a Christmas wish. Felix's first Christmas ♥. I haven't done cross stitch for a very very long time - but winter brings out knitting and cross stitch. 

100,000 Pageviews Giveaway

I am by no means a stats blogger, worrying about numbers or checking how many followers I have all the time. There are small celebrations every now and then, when I get lovely comments or compliments on something I have worked very hard on. This little blog is not considered work, nor would I want it to ever feel like that. It's simply a place to connect, share, and feel very proud of. Being a busy mom, wife, caregiver, vision therapist, artist, online shop owner, and whatever title I might carry on any certain day - it's takes a deal of dedication and time. Something I give whole heartily to this space, willingly, without any expectations.
So when your this kind of blogger, to notice you are just a mere 25 pageviews away (at the moment) from 100,000 views is well, astonishing, to say the least. For me, it's just the thought that my words are being read and listened to - what a joyful thing.
So as a thank you to anyone who has looked at my blog, left a comment, follows me silently or loudly - a small no rules giveaway. Just leave any comment on this post by December 22nd to be entered, and of course a way for me to contact you, for a chance to win a Let It Snow Garland. I will find some amazing or not so amazing way to pick a winner - and announce it here.
Good luck and Thank you all for helping me reach a milestone ♥
This giveaway is now closed - stay tuned for a winner!

Whatcha Working on Wednesday: Red Cross Stitch Holiday

Just when I thought all the craftiness left me until next year out came the red floss and a snowflake design. Red cross stitch just screams the holidays. This little project is for a dear friend and once she gets it I will gladly show off the finish product. 

Isn't it funny how one little thing can inspire ideas - like new stockings for our fireplace (it will be our first Christmas ever with a real fireplace to hang the stockings on) and a new tree skirt for next year. What are you working on?

Unraveled

The winter cold finally caught up to our house. Damien, who hardly ever gets sick (in fact the last time we can really remember him being truly sick was when he was 3), has come down with a cold. This weekend we gave him some children's NyQuil and sent him to bed. Still there is this persistent dry cough, one that gets under your skin and makes you give the poor boy a million cough drops.

We did manage to paint the dining room and are planning on finishing it tonight. There hasn't been much craftiness lately beside an ornament which I will show you soon. My plan was to try to finish up the scarf I've been working on. Last night, while dear hubby watched one of his movies, I sat on the couch and did a row of knitting. The next row I did unsuccessfully. Panic set in, as I'm not that much of an experienced knitter and this row needed to be unraveled. Searching the internet I did find how to do this without unraveling my whole project, that is 85% done. The only problem is I messed it up - not once, not twice - but 3 times! So just when dear hubbies movie was finishing I got my scarf back on track only it's now at 50% done. Needless to say it's going to take a bit longer than I thought. 

Glimpse

This week has been random is the most random way. 

We got a small dusting of snow that has since melted. 

There has been a small hunt for ornaments for Micaela's ornament swap and for this lovely lady whom I've been paired up with. 

While driving home from work I noticed our tree from half way down the street and how it just got prettier and prettier the closer you got. 

We filled our bird feeder, unsure if we would still get birds during the winter. They seem to be getting use to us.

No plans for the weekend. Well that's untrue because the plan is to paint and make things for the shop but no plans to leave the house.

Procrastinating on things like dishes or folding laundry, and drawing instead.

Has your week been as random as mine has?

Getting More Accomplished

This weekend was full. We finished celebrating Thanksgiving and put up the Christmas decorations. Next year we decided that the tree will be put in a different room, as it's filling up a good portion of the living room. It looks very traditional. Handmade, vintage, new, and all different color ornaments fill the tree. This is a great leap from years before when the children weren't old enough to help. Before the tree was color coded red, gold, and purple only - evenly spaced, and organized. I've relaxed a little because the memories are more important. Although I do have plans next year to simplify things - more of a rustic natural look. 

Little by little we are getting more accomplished here. Today dear hubby and I are priming the dining room. There are certain moments in the painting process that I look forward to. Picking out the color, when the room is primed and ready to apply that first bit of color, and of course the finished product. All other parts I'm not a fan of. Painting walls is much different than painting a picture. I've set up a little corner in our bedroom where I can paint watercolors or draw. Even though we haven't really even begun to think about the upstairs yet, I knew that corner would be my space. The desk is new, the vintage file cabinet is the one I found, and the easel is one my mom gave me. The walls and floor will be different but the space the same.

Dispatches from the Kitchen - After Thanksgiving

There are dishes that still need to get done but all the bellies are stuffed. The biggest hit was the homemade apple pie. I couldn't find my leaf cookie cutters, so I went for the cute little squirrel. He says the ending of fall and beginning of winter perfectly. 

Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without some classic green bean casserole, so I made it even though dear hubby and I were the only ones who will eat it. I asked the kids what they were thankful for this year. Damien said he was so thankful to have met friends in our new neighborhood. Aries was thankful that I made devil eggs and Odyn...well he was thankful that zombies didn't eat his brain. Of course Aries said "A Man" to that ..so we are counting it as our Thanksgiving prayer. We still have two more thanksgivings to go to but I hung up my apron until Christmas.

 There are plans to keep this weekend busy, whether that's painting the dining room, setting up Christmas decorations, or enjoying the towns festivities. I love busy weekends - for some reason it makes them feel just a little bit longer.