Taaaaaaaaaaaaa Daaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

Oh boy, today was THE day. I finally got to put up not only the Christmas tree but also the other decorations I'd been planning for so long. This is "my" year to decorate for Christmas. The boys and I alternate years to decorate. I've known what I was going to do ever since the summer when I was part of the Jewels of the Sea swap. I decided to do a swap tree. For those of you who don't know the swap deal, it's where someone comes up with an idea for artists, invites them to participate, then everyone makes a piece with the idea theme. Some swaps are one on one, some are make one for every participant. Well, if you recall, I signed up for 8 swaps at Silver Bella! Way too many, not just work wise (that too though) but also I didn't feel that the quality of what I made matched what I received because I was too overwhelmed. In any case I had A LOT of fabulous swap items from SB plus from Jewels of the Sea plus even from SB last year. So I got a pre-lighted white tree, put on the heirloom and vintage ornaments that were white and off white and then went to town with all the gorgeous art. I'm QUITE happy!

I purchased this doll house from one of our shops at The Pink Cabbage. It was already white but with a brown roof so I sprayed it all off white today and glue-gunned the heck out of it with a bunch o' fun stuff. The guys were gracious about it but I could tell their manhood was shrivelling as they took it all in...tough nuts...it's MY year. Next to it is the little glitter cottage I received from Alana George sitting on the pedestal that Lonnie Jenck made for the cupcake she gave me (the cupcake is still out in the kitchen just not on its pedestal at the moment).

I hope that you can click on the photos to get close-ups. If you don't see a swap item you gave me chances are I'm using it somewhere else and I'm going to get to that in my next post, whenever that is. I'm using or displaying every item I received this and last year-so much goodness.

At another angle. It has taken a loooooooong time but the boys didn't even ask about the cupcake charms; they really have come a long way.

I did do some traditional decorating on top of our entertainment center; our collection of snowmen and Santas in greenery, the balance helped.

The beautiful nativity set I showed before plus the addition of a plate/candlestick I glued together holding some of the heirloom ornaments.

Coming in the front door here's the holiday house I made in Charlotte Lyons' class...

...two big ole balls on the chandelier from Bayberry Cove...

...and the vintage heirloom plastic reindeer and elves on the banister.

Outside Santa has taken the place of the flower pot in the swing and...

...the gnome and reindeer share the planter with rosemary trees. I'm not one to decorate all the rooms in the house, just the family room, entry, and porch, so there you have it. I hope I didn't procrastinate so long that y'all lost all interest and also hope if you've not yet been inspired perhaps this will get you going. If not, you must not have attended Silver Bella and we'll just have to see you there next year. Let your hearts guide you through the reason for the season with blessings and gratitude.

The journey to within...

Okay, so I'm back and here's the journey that brought me back. I've been working on the shop getting ready for The Pink Cabbage open house last week, which was a huge success, and to stock up.I'm offering up one of the several vintage dresses I got while I was in Omaha. This one reminded me of Snow White. It's satin with two layers of tulle on top of the skirt. In between the two layers is a velvet corsage sewed in. With the little jacket it's fab.

Found and filled this neat old cabinet with goodies.

Here's one of my little holiday houses that I made after learning how to make them in Charlotte Lyons' class in Omaha. This one doesn't have much restraint!

I'm doing a little consigning for a customer and when she brought me this macrame plant holder (my sister must have made 20 or so during the 70's), I wasn't too sure about it or what to do with it. Then voila! the monkeys decided they wanted to be up where they are comfy and get more attention. I think it's cute.

This is one of my "put togethers" from items I got in Omaha and fun I already had in my workroom.

A few Christmassy littles clustered in waiting.

Another put together from Omaha goodies. Miss Birdie, I call her.

Do you have a bike wheel wreath? Well don't admit that out loud, how embarrassing for you.

Can't take the credit for this idea but just smart enough to copy the idea of sewing fabric on the back of cabinet photos and filling them with lavender. Decorative, smell good to hang anywhere.

And HERE'S why I could do these things. All last week I finally got to unpack all my things from Silver Bella in Omaha. At the same time I took the opportunity to organize my work room. I brought home a large table from the shop so I had enough table top room to get off the floor.

I'm just going to show the top half of my work room because the floor still looks like the floor since I've just made some things and haven't had time to clean up that part yet.

I now have some room for more organizational pieces-yippie!

Plus all my many, many favorite little things that make me smile, remind me of the fab friends who have made things for me, and inspire the heck out of me.

A lot of this happened because I installed shelving all around the top of the room where I could put a lot of my very special things allowing me to enjoy them but open all my bookcases and cabinets for supplies which is what was all over the floor before.

See all these fun, fab things? Me too!

All have some great meaning for me. Beth, can you see I still haven't opened the eggs from last year? I told you I love them just as they are with the wrapping!

And then the areas where supplies get to play with art. Supplies as art, art as supplies. Next you get to see the big project I've been wanting to get to for a couple weeks and finally got to do today!

Time flys like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana...

Yesterday was my oldest son's, Lucas, birthday. TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD. A quarter of a century. Wow. My niece, Maya and first baby love, turned 27 last week. I'll try to avoid all the usual cliques about how it's like yest...but it does go fast. What makes it wonderful is to see how they grow and change into themselves in their own way; finding out who they really are. I'm so proud that Lucas is my son. Lucas, you have been over 25 years of joy to me because I loved you the minute I knew you existed and being pregnant with you was even wonderful. Having you at home in a calm, intimate setting was such a blessing even if it didn't keep you from being all boy and diving off the deck head first over and over at two years old. There's not one subtle or usual thing about you; you are so special and unique, and no dull moments! I swear I believe I remember every day I've spent with you in your life. You have a heart of gold the size of Texas (probably because you were born there!). I love you more than you'll know until you have a child of your own. Until then, know that you are with me in my heart every moment.