progress..

Bittersweet feelings about the holiday being over; relief, joy, warmth, fatigue..

Today it was all I could do to get myself showered and dressed and the little never changed out of her pajamas :)

We had a nice holiday, it was low key and filled with the family and friends we most love. I like that we can have a casual holiday just enjoying BEING rather than all the fuss with formality and dressing in uncomfortable clothes. I must say that we couldn't have asked for nicer weather for Christmas Day.. truly a California Christmas!! LOL

Greg made up for some of his past "lame gift giving", his words.. he

claims he is not a good gift giver. He and Hannah surprised me with a new green iPod Nano!! Up until now I have been basically listening to my music on iTunes on my computer as my iPod was a first generation brick

with virtually no battery life. I am so excited about this new little piece of technology.. I am simply amazed at all it can do!! In addition he loaded up my bookshelf with some new additions from my Amazon wish list. I was thrilled to receive my pal Rut

h Rae's book along with some other inspiring tomes. I have been savoring them each evening before bed.

The best part of the holidays being over (mostly) is that I have some free studio time to create for myself. As I mentioned in the last post, I am working on the "Remains of the Day" class by Mary Ann Moss. I completed my journal cover(s), I made two and helped Hannah stitch hers up. They are all so unique and beautiful and each time I visit the class Flickr group I am newly inspired. I began on my pages but still have a way to go, but I must say I am enjoying the process so much!! This is such a great way to use up scraps of this and that :) and create with abandon.

Happy After Christmas

Yay, Santa was very good to me this year. Amongst the wish list items I requested and received was this fab print my Jennifer Mercede. I can't wait to get a frame for it and put it on the wall my my side of the bed. I also got Danny Gregory's new book from my hubby and the new computer cord that was MUCH needed from my Dad. Santa brought us a Wii (so fun) and a baby guinea pig which Hannah has named "Cookie." I have been very negligent in taking pictures, opting to just try to be in the moment and enjoy spending the days with my family. Tomorrow we are off to see the Nutcracker and spread out our holiday a bit longer. I hope everyone has been enjoying their Holidays and will revel a bit in the afterglow....
Cheers!!
( I promise I will take pictures soon. I have 12 days of goodies to share from my dear pal Martha!)

The one about LolliShopping...

Wow, really sporadic blogging and then this cluster of things to talk about.

I am FINISHED with my Christmas Shopping. Yay!! I am not saying that to rub it in to anyone who has not finished, its just that I really DO NOT like holiday shopping. Before I had Hannah I was so good about planning ahead and picking up things throughout the year and saving them.
That all changed for whatever reason and now it seems I have become "one of those people" who runs around in a panic trying to find gifts. To top it off it also seems that I have become one of "those" parents who waits til the last minute to find "the" gift of the season and then goes into panic mode. I am only going to take part of the blame for that though. Part of it has to be shouldered by Hannah because she is 5 and indecisive and its not really my fault that she waited until 2 weeks before Christmas to decide she wants a Wii and to talk about it constantly.

Fortunately , Mama is good with ebay and despite popular opinion DOES sometimes have the patience of a saint ( I said SOMETIMES) and Mama scored a Wii game system for pretty close to retail. It will be here tomorrow. Phew.

Anyway, somehow I have totally gotten off topic here. I meant to talk about LolliShops and how great it has been for my "Shop Handmade" pledge. I am proud to say that this year I DID purchase many handmade things and I am excited to give them. I can't share those yet because some of the peeps read this blog and I don't want to give away the surprises.

Now that I am done with my shopping, I have had more time to peruse the wares on LolliShops that I am lusting after and I thought I would share a few of them. It hard to pick just a few because daily so many new additions are being added. Lollishops is just growing by leaps and bounds and despite a bit of a rocky start it seems to be purring along like a kitten now. I hope you will check it out!!

First: How cute is this reuseable market bag by my friend Jennifer of Rosey Little Things? Talk about handy and green. I woudl be super happy if this was under my tree.

I am also coveting this CUTE little green flower ring from
Naked Tile. I love green and this is so sweet. I'd wear it alot.


















Ok, and want to talk about CUTENESS?? Check out this adorable deer from Fantastic Toys. I can't even believe a MAN can think up things so CUTE!! Be sure to check out the other sweet things in his shop too. Everything is fab! I think I could keep going but I need to get back on the sewing machine and finish up a colored pencil caddy for my SIL. I said I was done SHOPPING, not creating ;) Hope everyone else is faring well with their shopping as well. There is still time to grab some goodies from LolliShops if you hop to it!!

husband=awesome

Thank You Mr Honey!!!!! I love you :)

On the first day of Christmas...

Our 12 Days to Christmas swap has officially kicked off in the most fun phase with the OPENING of the first gift. Tia, aka Ms Smoochie Lips had the distinction of providing the FIRST gift to be opened. She said she waited til the last minute to make hers because her muse was being uncooperative but she sure seems to have come through in a pinch as she sent ADORABLE ornaments of little birdies in an arrangement in a baby shoe! I think most of the participants have a soft spot for birdies so this was an appropriate gift sure to be beloved by all.








In other Christmas news, I also received my tree topper from the swap hosted by Donna at Under the Red Roof. My partner was the fabulous Lori of Vintage Flair who sent me this beautiful and BIG tree topper. I adore it!

I am also sharing a couple of close ups of part of my "Christmas Faerie" topper so you can see some of the yummy detail Lori added. I keep adding stuff to my tree topper and have not sent it off yet. Lori has been very gracious about this. Thank you Lori! I hope she likes it when she finally gets it.

website update!

Its been a good and productive day ( well after Hannah tried to cut her own hair.. groan!)

I took down and packed up ALL of our Christmas stuff, sewed a bit and mailed the last of the Portals pre-orders. I got all my charms for the two swaps I am in done and packaged up, my bird page done for the Sanctuary fat book at Chubbyville AND I have spent this evening finishing up the much anticipated Banner Fairy pages so you can order blog/ Etsy banners!!

This piece over here is my sanctuary page and I was so proud of it that it is not the front page for my website (temporary) as well. It worked out so well that I could use the eggs as roll over buttons.

Wow, writing this all down makes me see why I am so pooped! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

back to Mac

I was pretty much born and raised an Apple girl, but shortly after I met Greg I was lured to the dark side with a video game that required a PC. Since then I have owned a PC desktop which was replaced with a laptop about 4-5 years ago. During that time I always kept my old Apple PowerBook but used it less and less as I got more proficient with Windows. As Portals grew and my digital graphics increased I experienced (and voiced) more and more frustration with my PC.

Last night Greg and I exchanged gifts and I was extremely surprised to find this in my lap! I am back on a Mac and so far it is great. Its like coming home again and I am sure it is going to mak emy digital life soo much easier. My Dad loaded all the software I use regularly and all of my drivers for my printers and camera and everything before I even got it so that is super cool. Now I have to back up and burn CDs of my photos and things I use a lot (like bookmarks) to put on here.

I am so excited!! THANK YOU Greg ( SHMILY) and thanks Dad!!

Happy Holidays

Wishing my fellow bloggers and friends the happiest of holidays and much love in the coming year!

(please click to see these images full size. you will be glad you did.)

PS.. and the winner is... LORI S-C!!
Lori, please email me with your address and I will mail off this book to you. Happy Holidays!!

unexpected surprises...

I have been dashing madly toward the finish line.. not the finish line of Christmas but the finish line of putting Portals v 4 to bed! And tonight, I am happy to say that the issue (all 44 pages!- our fattest yet) is now safely off to the printer. Soon after I get it back I will begin the binding and mailing but I am giving myself a few days to relax and enjoy Christmas and the growing excitement of our wee one. ( so cute!)

Anyway, I have been fretting about finishing it up and thank god Joleen and I had a couple of virtual head to heads because we nearly forgot two whole articles!! LOL Yesterday, I was scurrying around, wrapping gifts and working like a maniac on my computer while the little napped when a box showed up from Amazon. I opened it anticipating some books I had ordered for gifts. I felt kind of confused because I couldn't remember ordering a couple of them but knew I had been contemplating them because they were on my wish list. Suddenly I realized that someone had sent them to me! They were from my dear old friend Rosemary! What an absolute surprise.. Thank You so much Rose!!

So here is what we got: (sorry about the Amazon tags)

Bernie's book. Just out.
I haven't even scratched the surface!!
I am so excited!

This fun book with all kinds of wee projects to accent
the dollhouse we are building. I know I need to share
some updated pix but it ain't happenin' for Xmas!!


If you aren't familiar with Charie and Lola.. ugh!
Amazing "animation" in collage style.
Not only is it cute but so beautiful and clever.
This will be a fun project book for the little who loves crafts.

Another unexpected surprise came at lunch today. I happened to look over and noticed a woman reading a copy of Somerset Studios' Gallery. I told my Mom that I wondered if she was an artist because she had the magazine. Well, my mom went up and told the woman that her daughter wass published IN that magazine and asked if she was a mixed media artist. I went and talked to her too and was excited to learn that not only is she INDEED a mixed media artist but she lives HERE and she is interested in getting together some time to share and art. I am so excited and really hope that we click and can maybe find some others and start a little art group!!

Anyway, that is my news for today. I am pooped so I am going to turn in and hopefully have soem real eye candy to share soon.

20 questions- Holiday Edition- the contest

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate-with whipped cream and a shot of kahlua. Yum
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Everthing is wrapped.
3. Colored lights or white on tree/house ? White everywhere and lots
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up? Generally about 3 weeks before X-mas.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? kahlua candied yams
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? blue 2 wheeled bicycle with streamers and a sparkly banana seat!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?We open lots with friends and family to be followed by more the next day
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lots of lights, then garland, then ornaments
11. Snow… love it or dread it? I live in CA.. it doesnt snow here but it would be fun if it did one day
12. Do you know how to ice skate? not since the incident
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Last year's favorite gift was a vintage diamond and sapphire "mother's ring" I adore it!!
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with my family
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? YES!!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? having fun with my friends and fsamily on Christmas Eve
17. What tops your tree? a beautiful porcelain starfish with shell dangles
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving - I love the feeling I get when I see someone I love open something I found or made that is "just perfect"
19. Favorite Christmas Song? My niece's new version of Jingle Bells.. "Tinker Bells, tinker bells, tinker all the way..."
20. Favorite Flavor of Candy Canes? ick I like chocolate!

I tag whoever feels up to doing this. It doesnt take long, its only 20 questions. Leave a comment if you do it on your blog and on Friday I will draw a name of those who participated to get this book (new!) (Be sure I can contact you thru your comment!)

its beginning to look alot like Christmas...

We pulled out our dusty holiday boxes and began to dig through them this week. Its been so fun to see the little B so excited and wanting to help. Its the first Christmas where she really "get it" and that makes it so much more fun. We haven't gotten our tree yet. We're scheduled for a Saturday morning trip to go cut one down with some friends but now a storm is expected so who knows if we will get it this weekend. We did put up lights and decorated our mantle so we have some holiday cheer in our living room.

In addition we have turned on some outside holiday lights and I made some holiday wreathes at my Mom's. We didn't have any pine branches available so I picked what was available (alot) and made some fun alternative wreathes.

Yes, there is art in various stages of completion and I finally took some pictures of my 100 squares accordian book so I will upload those tomorrow.

More mail goodies....

Lookie what I got in the mail over the weekend. This lovely ornament was made by the talented and ever so sweet Tracie Huskamp of the Red Door Studio. Tracie and I did a swap and this is what she sent me in exchange for one of the beaded badges I made back in September. I like it sooo much, it almost makes me wish it snowed here!

Also, I was pleased to receive these FUN gift enclosure cards from a mini contest that Leslie aka The Paper Princess had on her blog. They are so festive and cute and they are available in her store, so check it out! Thank You Leslie!!