Ta da!  The finished ornament.  Hand embroidery on white felt, stuffed and backed with red felt.  I used the pickup image from Sublime Stitching (great book, by the way), added my own tree and 2006.  I loved making it - super easy, but the embroidery was a little time consuming.  I'm not complaining....just wishing I weren't such a procrastinator.

Busy, busy, busy - that's me.

Today was about baking:  sugar cookies, raspberry spitzbuben, oatmeal lace cookies, brownies and (hopefully) pistachio-cranberry cookies.

I love how this pile sitting on my stairs looks so Christmas-y.  I managed to clean up move the mess leftover from all the crafting - my holiday ornaments (trials and the finished product) and the craft for Jane's Brownie meeting today.  Just tossed it into the sewing room which is in a more sorry state now.  Oh well...

Did you see my new banner?  If not, clear your cache and refresh.  Those little guys are smokers.  I consider them cousins to the Nutcracker.  I may be wrong, but I think they are German.  At least that is where mine are from.  My mom has been giving one to my brothers and I for many Christmases now.  The ones in the banner are only part of my collection.  I love taking them out of the boxes and lining them up on our mantle each year.

This little Santa is one of the older ones.  I love his eyes - they have character.  All of these smokers can burn incense, too.  If you take the top half off, there is a little metal disc to put incense on.  Pop the top back on and smoke comes out of the mouth.  The girls are very concerned about this.  I tell them they are right, smoking isn't good for you, but don't worry, these guys are made of wood.

We have a couple other Christmas collections.  I will share those as soon as the light allows me to get some decent photos.  Happy Wednesday!

The ornaments are finished!  Finally!  I will post a photo in a few days when I know that some have arrived at their final destinations.

I know I said I would get them in the mail yesterday, but I ended up switching gears and changing the whole thing (for the better, I think) so it took me longer to get them completed.  They are all wrapped, packaged and ready to go.  Kate and I will hit the Post Office first thing tomorrow morning to get them on their way.  My apologies to Group 28 for my tardiness.  Procrastination does not pay, I tell you.  Maybe someday I will learn my lesson.

I am not holding my breath.

This is my entry for November's Tie One On.  I made this apron (along with 9 others) for my local spring craft swap.  I loved it so much, I couldn't give it away.  So now, it's mine for keeps!

November's theme was to submit a picture of you wearing an apron and send it along with a favorite holiday recipe (check them out here).   Easy, peasy, I thought.  Well, as always, time got the best of me and I submitted on the last day.  Jane snapped this photo of me in front of one of our trees.  Not bad, huh?

The plan was to have two trees this year:  our standard one with white fairy lights and all the glass and Christopher Radko ornaments I have collected and then a second with the big, old fashioned bulbs, paper chains, popcorn strings and all the wood and handmade kid ornaments including the ones I made as a child.  Did you notice that I said plan?

Here are photos of the two trees now:

Beautiful, fancy glass ornament tree

Old-fashioned, homespun second tree

Yup - thwarted again!  The more kid-friendly version fell.  FELL.  RIGHT AFTER WE HAD PUT ALL THE ORNAMENTS ON.  I know you can picture it....toppled tree, broken glass bulbs, water everywhere, two completely stunned kids, one hysterical woman and one man totally fixated on the water and wood floor combination.  Then it was a long clean up process with lots of tears (mine).  Many of my childhood ornaments broke as did a couple of the girls'.  I am sentimental about those kinds of things hence more tears.  So I pitched it - threw the tree out into the yard and washed my hands of the whole deal.  We had a crap week (found out Friday about another friend's husband dying) and I need it to be over.  Really the black cloud that is hanging over our house needs to move on.

But I got the birthday stuff done.  And the party went well.  Jane was happy.

I still haven't finished the ornaments, though.  But I will.  Today.  In the mail today.

Today is Jane's birthday!  Wow...it's hard to believe it has been seven years.  She started out so tiny - 4 pounds, 13 ounces - and now she is so big.  So big!  She is my sweet girl - really, she is so nice.  She is helpful and considerate, thoughtful and kind.  She looks just like her daddy, but has her mommy's creative side.  She is a great artist and, unlike me, she can carry a tune.  She is funny and good with the puns.  Her smile melts my heart - it is full of genuine, childhood innocence.  She is at such a lovely age, I wish I could bottle it and put it on the shelf so I would always have her as she is right now.  Wishful thinking, I know.  Oh, I love this little girl like no other.  Happy Birthday Sweet Jane!

Tracing +

Cutting +

Sewing =

Wee yo-yo's.

I am home again and crazy busy.  Working on my ornaments for the holiday ornament exchange (supposed to be in the mail tomorrow....).  Still to do:  a birthday shirt, goody bags, presents to wrap, tie one on, finish putting up Christmas decorations, bake a cake, procure school party snack.  Not necessarily in that order.

See you when I come up for air.

Who doesn't like a good swap?  I returned home on Saturday to find this in my mailbox:

This gorgeous felted poppy pin was made for me by Sarah.  Not only did she make this for me, she is kind enough to share her pattern.  You can find it here.  When I first saw it on her site, I knew it would look great on my black and white check winter coat.  But the more I thought about it, I knew that it would be even better on my very own flapper hat.

I knit this in the car while traveling to Chicago for Thanksgiving.  Once again, I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran....love that yarn!  And like the others, this one knit up fast and easy.  Woo hoo!  It is the best color green and fits perfectly.

I was right - they were made for each other.  Thanks Sarah!  You've got me smiling!