Christmas Thoughts in April

I am in a never-ending mission or so it seems, to use up what I have accumulated over the years in my craft insanity supplies. I found a partial ball of a discontinued color of South Maid crochet thread. I looked everywhere for more of this red, white and blue thread I could think of and couldn't find any for sale. This is it for my stars in this theme and it should be something you won't find anywhere else. This red, white and blue told me it needed to be stars for a patriotic themed Christmas tree. Does your yarn tell you what it wants to be or is that just me?

Distractable me with many other WIPs all over my craft tables in different project bags had to start the idea right away. I have found 2 star patterns in my stash of Christmas ornament patterns. What you see below are my first efforts.

I found some other colors to make my stars in and they can be made into sets of ornaments to sell at craft shows later this year. Now I have to get stiffening supplies to finish them up and little boxes to put them in for protection and maybe some tissue paper to make the boxes pretty. Getting more stuff to help use up stuff isn't that crazy, is it? 

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

 

A Christmas Quilt

I have long wanted to have throw sized quilts for all the holidays to put over my couch. I thought I would make them myself, but I have no problem showing off the excellent skills of others. I bought this Christmas themed quilt today in Intercourse, Pennsylvania.

Our day also included a buggy ride through the country side and dinner at a smorgasbord restaurant. The ride and the food were both wonderful. It probably would have been better for me to have more ride and less food but that is okay. 

So, how was your day?

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

A Simply Good Time

Because, in my family, bubbles have been carefully maintained for many months, we spent Christmas at my daughter's house and got to spend time with my son and his wife too. 

Cindy has a way of getting everyone involved and this time along with card games like Uno and Tripoli she had chocolate ( one chocolate chip) houses to decorate instead of gingerbread for us all to work on. They were lots of fun, done by nonartists just having a simply good time. 

I do wonder if more frosting and gumdrops were eaten than got on the houses, but isn't that the point?

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Nativity Searches on Etsy, Ebay, Amazon, Society6 and Zazzle

Last week here on the blog I shared some Santa images from Etsy. On Twitter I shared Santa products from other companies where I am an affiliate.

This week the focus will be Nativity products. With Christmas on Friday it may be too late for orders for this year but I like the mood and thoughtfulness these images create in me.  If you do click on links in this post and then make a purchase I may qualify for a small commission at no cost to you except on Etsy where I am just a cheerleader and not an affiliate.

First up is a beautiful tree skirt that I found on Zazzle. I love watercolor art and even though this is a digital design it still has the watercolor look that I like.

Next is a framed print that I found on Society6. We are a weary world and I hope to find small things to rejoice about.

For something to hang on your tree I found a Nativity ornament on Amazon Handmade.

For something to display on a mantel or wherever you might have a bit of space I found this Lenox Nativity on Ebay.

Finally something from Etsy. I am not an affiliate here but I love to window shop.  Isn't this handmade wooden Nativity just lovely? This shop (RETIREDELF) will be accepting orders to be shipped in the New Year. I am glad an Etsy seller has had such a wonderful season.

I hope you saw something you like today and had a gentle reminder why we are celebrating the season and the day this Friday.

Merry Christmas!

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Today in Jackson

Got a new coat and some boots and gloves. Getting excited!

I know it's early

I know it is a bit early to think about Christmas for most of us anyway. I have had a few friends that had all their shopping done by Halloween. There is something I want you to consider as the holidays approach this year and this year it could even be more needed with unemployment so high and struggling families.

Jim and I believe that Christmas is for kids. The thought of kids going without a celebration or even a small gift makes us sad. Nearly every year we find a way to help a family or child. One year the bishop of the local ward told us of a family who couldn't get anything for their kids so we donated to that. We have given to kids and families who struggled at the school I used to work at. Jim has participated in a Secret Santa at the hospitals he works at. One year we donated and volunteered time for Toys for Tots with the Marines. We have bought requested presents for kids on the trees you see in stores and malls as well. It just feels good to know that those children who might go without can get something for Christmas.

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You know it doesn't really take much to make Christmas and the world a nicer place. Try it and you will feel so good!

Just Saying

Merry Christmas to all!

Decorating and Gifts

In our house the major focus of Christmas decorating in years past has been the Christmas tree. For a very long time it was always a real tree. The trip to buy it was a family affair and a couple of those trips were to more than one tree lot until the tree we all liked was found.

Eventually we bought an artificial tree. It is huge! It is maybe 7 feet tall and very full. It looks gorgeous when it is all lit and has the ornaments on it. Being down here in Arizona we are not hosting the big family Christmas anymore and it does not seem worth it to do it all up just for Jim and I.

I don't want to let the season slip by without doing something however. Two easy ways to add some seasonal decor are with wreathes and centerpieces. Even with his long hours we have dinner together every night and I like to set a pretty table.

There are some people we buy gifts for that have every thing they want or need. Giving them something fresh and beautiful or sweet and yummy maybe in a Christmas gift basket is one way to let them know they are remembered and cherished this time of year. I think choosing these type of gifts is part of the holiday fun and I always enjoy it.

I just can't...

That's right.... I feel like the lion in the picture. I usually love to blog each week on the carnival topic chosen by EtsyBloggers Team members. It is not the fault of the person who is hosting and chose the topic either. I have been struggling with this all week. I would get an idea half formed and then realize it fell short of the mark. I can not think of a single prank I was part of in the giving or receiving end to tell about. I feel like such a dud.

I do want you to know that the EtsyBloggers are a great group to be a part of and I encourage you to read other posts in the carnival and even take a look at the archives for some awesome topics and writing.

If you have an April Fool's Day story you would like to share feel free to use the comments to do so. I would love to read them and have a laugh.

PS - gotoscience.com has a fantastic photo gallery and I get to see a new picture everyday on my Google desktop. That is how I found this guy.

Update-I submitted this post earlier for the blog carnival and just this morning (3/29) finally thought of a prank that was great. At least I thought so.

Growing up my son had a best friend and they were always doing some kind of joke with each other. This was especially true with Christmas gifts. One year Sean called and asked if I could make sure that Jimmy's stocking had a chisel in it and if I could please make it a very small one. I complied. On Christmas Day Sean showed up with a gift for Jimmy encased in concrete in a 5 gallon bucket. I don't even remember what the gift was. I do remember the look on my son's face when the chisel in his stocking made sense. Sean watched as Jimmy spent more than an hour to get his gift with the small chisel and a hammer. If I remember correctly, please remember I am getting old, Sean got a gift wrapped in what seemed like hundreds of layers of duct tape the next year.

Technorati Tags: April Fools Day,lion,etsybloggers,gotoscience,photo,photo galleries

As 2007 Ends

My holidays were different this year. For the first time in 31 years I was away from Jim on Christmas Day. He was in Arizona and I was in Utah with children and grandchildren. Of course the one thing I didn't pack was a camera and I don't have any of the picture files that others took yet. Spending the day with the grandkids was fun but I did miss Jim.

I got home the day after Christmas and have spent the time reading constantly and trying to get over a cold and fever that I brought home with me. The fever has broken but the head cold is still there, better but still there. I am proud of the fact that I am coming up on my one year anniversary of not smoking. That means this cold so far has not turned into a cough and I really like that.

As the year ends I don't really have a lot to say. I am still turning over what kind of goals I will set for myself in the coming year. I want them to be realistic but I tend to get a bit grandiose and plan more than I could possibly do and then frustrate myself into doing nothing at all.

Thanks for reading. Comments are always welcome.
Kathy

Almost New Year's Eve

We returned fromChristmas in Utah with the kids. I had a great time seeing everyone- the kids and grandkids. I guess calling them kids when your children are adults is kind of dumb. Any way I really enjoyed the visit.

I've started thinking about the new year - what I want to do and so on. I guess its a little corny but I do have some general resolutions.

1. List new items on Etsy 3 to 5 times a week.
2. Start painting rooms in this all white house. I am so tired of living with white walls everywhere.
3. Exercise at least 3 times a week.
4. And maybe just maybe stop smoking. I am really not sure I can do this one but I am trying to get to a point where I will try.

Jim's birthday (husband) is next week. I want to fix him a nice meal and make a cake. He may want to go out to eat however so I will want and see what the birthday boy wants.