Finding the right tree.....

Finding just the right tree can be tricky...so I decided to make a few little ones of my own..

just waiting for the snow to fall...

waterless snowglobes that can inspire your imagination!

A little holiday cheer...

Out shopping/looking in Anthropology and Pottery Barn...nothing came home with me...but it is always fun to see the displays....I hope some of your gifts will be handmade....I often think I cherish those ones the most....

Wrap it up!

This little package is heading out in the mail and another one on order..

if you like it..here is how you can get it..

Avery shipping labels #11005

Studio D {Joann's} Stamp

Ek Sucess Mason Jar Inkadinkado Stamp {Amazon.com}

wrap some Baker's twine around the the labels..

put in a  pretty box and send it off in the mail!

Who wouldn't want a sweet gift like this!

Or...make one for yourself!

Lovely gifts

These are a few of the special gifts that arrived by post from my sweet friend Cindy..

a handmade card, 

a felted pillow she made from a wool blanket, then she sewed the trees as well as the beads on to it...

a thrifted Swiss tablecloth, matches and other mementos.

she wanted me to enjoy the gifts she made me as soon as I got it...

thanks to my darling Cindy for creating such treasured items for me to enjoy!

Knitting....

I have been working on this little scarf for a couple of weeks.

As a beginner knitter, my confidence grows with each row...this is an easy scarf to knit.

I just had to learn to do a wrap and turn {w&t}.... 

once I completed 4 rows which is the pattern,
continue to the desired length,

this lovely scarf will become a gift.

Had you had time to knit or crochet?

Snowglobe...

At the end of the last Christmas season,

I found 3 small Martha Stewart snowglobes..they are perfect in there sweetness.

Vintage....

These are a few of my vintage Christmas balls I found last year at the thrift store.  

I must admit they are getting harder to find. The gold one is broken on the other side,

but I know it still has some life left in it.

I adore this shape! have you found any great Christmas ornaments lately?

Christmas bling.....

Just a little glass Christmas bracelet around a shiny ornament is enough to make me smile....sometimes it is the simplest things that cost nothing at all that are meaningful and fun!

 How are your Christmas plans coming along?

Cookies to share...

Ingredients 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely shredded orange or lemon peel (optional)
• 1 cup coarsely chopped almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Place eggs and egg yolks in the well and stir into the flour mixture. Add butter and, if desired, orange peel; stir until dough starts to form a ball. Stir in almonds.

2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; divide into three equal portions. Shape each portion into a 14-inch-long log. Place logs about 3 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets; flatten logs slightly until about 1-1/2 inches wide. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until firm and light brown. Remove from oven and place cookie sheets on wire racks; cool 15 minutes.

3. Transfer logs to cutting board. Use a serrated knife to cut each roll diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Place slices, cut sides down, on cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn cookies over; bake 10 to 15 minutes more or until crisp and golden brown. Transfer to a wire racks and let cool.

4. Makes about 84 cookies.

recipe from bhg.com

Frosting!

I love using Picasa...then loading it up into Picnik (pro) and sometimes it is just fun to use all that they have to offer..many are free...I found this little Avon vintage dear last week..perfect for what I had in mind... I love the  effect of the snow on the photo as well as the frost...Christa and I share and experiment lots together..and share whatever new things we have learned......have you tried anything new on your photos lately..

Gingerbread house

This is just one of the amazing gingerbread houses that I took photos of at the Scottsdale Princess last weekend..The entire lobby was decked out....the smell of gingerbread filled the air, the fireplace was lit, it felt like Christmas here, even in the desert...hope where ever you are, you are are having a sweet day!

Cherished crafts..

Cindy and I both had a kiln and did ceramics..Cindy still does and I been gifted many of her beautiful works..I especially cherish the Christmas ones I have of hers..happy and colorful, they are such a lovely reminder of our friendship....


adding touches of color throughout the house...vintage balls found while out thrifting!


making new little trees out of chenille stems and vintage spools wrapped in Christmas ribbon....with a cupcake topper......have you crafted anything new? what are some of your cherished Christmas treasures?

sweet needle case gift

A few days ago I received this sweet gift in the mail from my talented quilting friend Alanna...I asked her if she thought she could make one for me...and a few days later I received this lovely gift...as well as some vintage spools...quilted all over in fine stitching as well as my name machine embroidered on the front..this little treasure will be cherished for many years....thanks so much Alanna.....

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars...

I made these bars yesterday using the wonderful homemade jam from my Cindy...This is my styled photo shot on a christmas plate that Cindy made me..am I lucky or what! Jim has approved these bars as totally delicious!


These are the beautiful bars from Heather Bullard's blog found here


Raspberry & Almond Oatmeal Bars

1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/4 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. unsalted butter
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 to 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 jar (13oz) best quality raspberry jam
1/2 c. sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Mix together flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add vanilla and almond extract and mix until blended into dry ingredients. Cut butter into small pieces and using a pastry cutter or fork, mix in with the dry ingredients. Mixture will be very crumbly.
Reserve 1 cup of crumb mixture and add in 1/2 c. coconut. Set aside.

Press remaining mix into the bottom of the pan. Spread jam evenly over the crust. Then top with remaining coconut crumb mix.
Bake for 23-27 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Cut into bars.
Makes 18-24 bars. Enjoy!

A tree for Harry and Jill

This tree represents so much love and hope.....after 2 weeks and 3 days after his stem cell transplant...and most of that time feeling like a freight train ran over him and might back up and get him again..Harry got the good news today that his numbers are steadily going up...he has been able to eat and drink on his own.......so today he got his pass to become an "Outpatient."..... he gets to spend most of his days as well as his nights at the condo that they rented in Calgary for 5 months! He has to go to the hospital every day for tests, etc., then every other day and so on...until mid March! In order to celebrate this wonderful day...our sister Caroline, had a friend deliver one of her Bull River Christmas trees to the condo..Jill plans to decorate it with all the cards they received filled with love, prayers and blessing...What a happy happy day for our entire family and friends!
We are so grateful for this moment!


photo from google..borders by photogene and I....:)

A gift of caring

My friend Shannon gave me such an amazing gift this past weekend! A spa weekend at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel..a jewel in the desert...bliss is the only way I can describe it...dinner out every night, room service breakfast...on demand movies..and the spa...just wonderful...I truly hope that each one of you have a chance to be spoilt or spoil someone with a spa day! Thank you Shannon!












Christmas at the Fairmont..absolutely beautiful! I wish I could of gotten better photos or more of them...but brr...it was so cold..not outside pools for us this weekend! The indoor spa was beautiful!
top 3 photos are the Fairmonts..last photo is mine.

Crafty friends!

My sister Caroline opens up her Log Cabin Studio for 2 weekends a year in December..she encourages her crafty friends to sell their crafts as well..It showcases art, pottery, and all different kinds of handmade crafts..wish I was closer to be able to attend!


In the meantime...my dear buddy Cindy, has been felting blankets and sewing these amazing pillows...well done Cindy..love the trees!...does one have my name on it? :)

All that Glitters

this is so easy..clear glass Christmas ball, fill with a bit of glue and glitter..glue caps on..

 { or if you want to use what is in the inside...just don't make it too heavy}

fill with pearls and pretty things.. dollar store bead garland..and voila...something easy peasy and sweet.

I strung a piece of fishing line between the beads when I hung it up and let the tails drape!

why not give it a try!

My crafts

I made a few of these owls last year as well as the glove and sock dogs...

they look so good guarding my craft room and I wanted to show them off again...

such fun these little things are to hand craft! 

I am working on felting some more brooches as well as another penguin or 2! 

Please have yourself a happy crafting day!

Pom Pom Wreaths....

Oh how happy I was when I found a great tutorial from Koralee on her blog...bluebirdnotes HERE Her wreath was my inspiration...her blog is filled with such joy...this is how I made mine.....




wrap a straw wreath with lace or fabric..then make about 50 pom poms or so...large, small, and in between.....use up all your little stash of wool!
Make something that makes you just smile when you look at it!
Thanks Koralee!

Happy Birthday, Christa

Words can not express this incredible friendship between us....formed out of love and immense respect for each other....you bring so much joy into the lives of your family and your friends. I am so proud to be one of those!


this little cupcake made of sprinkles has a candle lit for you to always have love and light in your sweet life!


this hand knit scarf is on it's way to you...could not wait until next spring for you to enjoy it.


come back and visit us here again...we had such fun my dear friend! this has always been one of my favorite photos of us!