Best bag ever! aka The every day bag

Let's not talk about how old this post is... let just say that these were once xmas gifts - when I was actually on my game and gave handmade gifts. 

I originally made this bag here and I still love this bag a LOT. So a while back (ahem) I made these 3 bags for my Grandma, Cousin and Aunt 

I switched it up on the blue one and added binding on this version- which I love! 

Both of these fabrics were hand printed .... somewhere... and I bought it at the quilt show in Jacksonville. Love the way they look together!

This one was for my cousin. The fabric is bright and happy and reminded me of her. 

And for my aunt. Blue, green, circles, flowers... all things that when I see I think of her.

Maybe someday I will get a tutorial up on this. It is seriously so fun/easy to make and it is the perfect size for tossing stuff in a running out the door. It isn't meant to be a purse... more like a pool bag or gym bag or I carry to many changes of clothing around because I have kids bag... 

The hard part about making gifts is I want to keep all the things I make for people... now my stripped ones I love look plain and boring... haha

Hannahs gift

We are getting close to the gift giving time of year again. And since I never showed this I thought it would be a good time to show you guys a fun gift I did last year that I would personally love to get. It was for christmas but it would be awesome as a hostess or shower gift as well. 

Glass Etching. Have you guys tried this?! It is SO MUCH FUN ... you will be trying to figure out how many things in your house need a permanent label! 

I also borrowed dads wood burning tool and personalized some wood utensils

And then added in a handmade apron (apparently it didn't occur to me to take a photo of it unfolded) and two screen printed tea towels. 

What's fun about this is you could just buy it all and not customize or hand make anything-- so you don't even have to get crafty to do the same thing for someone! 

Recipe Exchange 2012

We're gearing up for another recipe/ornament exchange so I thought I would share last years invites with you -since I never got them up last year and this years will not be custom made....boo

 

I forgot how much I loved these! Maybe I will be on the ball again next year. One can only hope.

I also put together a cook book for all those who attend. Which is lots of fun to look back on. 

Will you be hosting a fun gathering this season?

 

Happy Holidays

Jess and I hope your last few days of 2012 have been good. We have gone quiet here, choosing like a lot of you out there, to really be present in the moment. 

The main reason I am breaking my silence is to show you one of my favorite things that made it's way into my holiday decor this year. Compliments of my husband. 

See,I went a bit crazy and turned one entire wall in our house into a chalkboard wall.

 I had very definite plans about what I wanted on the wall. 

Life happened. My plans didn't.

I let go of my expectations and got this gift in return.

I came home from work one day to find he'd begun an amazing drawing. Now that it's finished, I am unsure as to whether I can ever change it....

It is a drawing one of our most favorite places on earth.

It is the view we had, most years, from the window of our Gasthaus.

We miss it.

This year we have enjoyed decorating.

Lighting things up.

Hanging out together.

Sometimes doing our own thing.

Pondering over a puzzle. 

(Holy cow Mom, this one's hard)

And grabbing hugs under the mistletoe.

I also managed a bit of sewing. Pulling out some of my hoarded and doing no one any good, Little Folks Voile, now I, and a few other people have fun scarves to help keep them warm. 

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday. 

Fun Gifts

Sorry I am taking so long to get my posts up to date. Poor Jess, she is so impatient  with me. Seriously, she tries hard to help me stay on top of things.

When the kids were small, like my parents before me, we let them open a gift on Christmas Eve. Even though everyone know what the gift was, it was still fun. Since returning to the states, I've revisited that tradition, and which ever kids are here,  they get Christmas Eve pjs.

Micah trying to figure out what all the boxes are about.

I used flannel I found at Joann's. It's surprisingly soft and cosy.
I found some with cute bird on a wire type print for Jess.
You may or may not have noticed that Uber's and Micah's match. There are all sorts of animals on the fabric.

It's cute, and scary, but mostly cute, I think......

Just hangin out.

We bumped our Christmas up a bit so we could enjoy a leisurely day. I made cinnamon rolls the night before and let them do their last rising over night, in the fridge so we could bake them up fresh. I'd not tried that with this recipe and I'm happy that it turned out.

 My mom made this lovely bit of glass for me. She fused and then slumped it. I love it.

It was a fun day watching the boy learn how to open gifts and receiving lovely presents.
 Brinkley tried hard to open everything.

This is my handmade gift from Jess. It is an amazing storage solution, mostly meant for travel but looks great on a shelf too. See the post prior to this for more details. (I got another very cool gift from her and Uber and I will show you later)

Christmas Tour {Corinnea's House}

I decorated a little bit last year but my heart wasn't in it. This year, for the first time in about 8 years, I decorated. I wanted to do more, but there's always next year right? 

 I love chandeliers. Decorating them is so fun. Jess found this garland for me at Michael's, I added some mini glass balls and a pearl garland given to me by a dear friend (thanks Vicki!).

 I bought a tree from Costco this year. This thing better last, just sayin. It comes pre-lit which is amazing. I also received an early gift from my hubby and Jess in the form of a new fireplace surround and mantel! You can see an old version of this area here. Huge improvement no? I kept meaning to do a big reveal but life just keeps happening.

 I love it. 

I love this room. 

No, it's not really cold enough for a fire but I don't care. 

 My tiny German village found a home on the top of my cabinets. I may leave it up for awhile. I'll add green rolling hills when spring comes. 

 I have these cool mirrors gifted to my by my mom in law. Jess accessorized it with my ridiculously heavy glass balls I collected in Germany. 

 I even pulled out the snow babies this year. Anyone else ever collect those? I guess I should have taken a closeup.... they are frolicking on top of the hutch.

 This is a favorite view of mine. I love the layers.

 For my dining room chandelier I placed two dowels across the opening and strung a million balls from them. I may leave these up year round too. 

 This wreath is new. I found it at Micheal's and embellished it with the ribbon and sparkly purple branch things. I strung small snowflake lights through it but forgot to turn them on for the photo. Target had a cute selection of battery lights this year. 

This is my view as I sit here and write. Well, except now my feet are propped on the table and the coffee is almost gone. 

Thanks for taking my little tour. 

Christmas Tour { Jessica's House }

*oops! forgot to post this!*

We just thought it would be fun to give you a Christmas tour of our houses... mine isn't much different from last year but I tried to tweak everything just a little to make it fun and fresh

The biggest change was the ribbon. I went to Michaels in search of the ribbon I bought last year, I just needed a little bit more. Wouldn't you know I actually found it... but I also found this beautiful glitter ribbon. And since it was on sale and the stuff I bought last year wasn't I decided it was be meant to be! 

This stuff is gorgeous, it sparkles like crazy. 

I redecorated my chalkboard wall. There was a slight issue with the chalkboard pens... apparently if you leave them on the wall for over a year they don't wash off... which is why I keep redecorating the same trees, it's not a big deal- it's actually kind of fun- I just wish I had done a better job drawing them!!

We have a cousin (2nd?... not sure) that knits everyone stockings.  Mine went missing sometime after I moved out... I've been searching for it for 7 years (seriously I know that it is SOMEWHERE!!) so I finally broke down and asked and she was kind enough to make and ship me a replacement in less then a week. Which is unbelievable awesome and kind of her. I am no longer the lone stocking-less person in the family (boy does that sound akward).

And just to source a few things- because I always want to know when I see things on blogs

The garland and wreath are from Ballard Designs and is super realistic looking I want more!

The snowflake lights are Smith and Hawkin from Target - a few years back. 

The glitter pine cones are from Crate and Barrel - this year. 

The LED lights on the wreath are from Target - this year

My felt garland from last year was relocated from last year- I think I like it here better!

And my favorite the tree. Which is from Costco and I LOVE it. And yes I decorated it with all the same ornaments as usual we just put the less breakable ones at the bottom. Micah has been doing pretty well with the don't touch command- not that he is perfect or anything!

And since I never send out Christmas cards.... Here's a family shot for everyone!