2011, already?

Time has been flying by and I have been writing post after post in my head, but never finding the time to sit down and actually type them out! I still have Christmas pictures to show, but since it is New Years day (for a least another hour) I figured I would post my thoughts on the new year and come back to Christmas next week.

Seems like since last January life has been happening to me at vortex speed and I am constantly caught off guard- wondering where the time has gone and how I am somehow functioning in the chaos. I have a lists running everywhere- some on paper, some in my head, some here, most lost in the abyss- there are so many things that I want to be and do but without a real plan I am stumbling through even the most basic things.

With all these things in mind I read again about how Ann names here years and suddenly it seemed the right time for me to name my year also. So I began writing another list- one of things I know I'd like to grow in- the list is long with words like content, gentle, still, present, slow to anger, patient... and as I listed I prayed- that the one thing I needed most would stick out. At first I found the idea of picking just one word hard- how could I narrow it down, there were so many ways I need and want to grow, but then it became clear- the one word that stuck out amongst all the others- ABIDE - because if I am not abiding in Him, then none of those other things (contentment, gentleness, patience) would ever be possible. So this year- I will (begin) to learn what it means to truly abide with Him.

As the year began today- with the tearing up of our kitchen floor I found my self praying that God would remodel my heart- scrape up the the old sinful nature that is dried to my heart with years of old glue and make me knew again- and in those moments- in the monotony of daily life, I found God and I sat with Him.

Happy New Year!

and then there were 9

Today 4 of my friends 5 kids came over for the day so that she and her hubby could go Christmas shopping. I decided at about 8:30 this morning that it would be fun for us to decorate Christmas cookies while they were here, so I ran to the store for more butter before my hubby left for work and before our friends arrived. They spent the morning playing while I baked the cookies and after lunch we were all ready to decorate... except one thing- our favorite icing for sugar cookies is a simple lemon glaze, only we were out of lemon juice! Luckily my neighbor saved the day with just enough lemon juice to ice our batch of cookies... the kids were ever so grateful!

Here are some pictures of the kids hard at work... Aren't they beautiful?

And after all that hard work it was time to snuggle up and watch a movie (while I cleaned up the cookie decorating mess and folded that pile of laundry on the floor next to them).
Think there is room for one more on that couch?
All in all it was a fun day and not as hard having 4 more as you would think :)

bag of coal

I saw these bags of coal in the Crate and Barrel catalog and thought they would be a fun stocking stuffer for the kids, but we don't like black licorice and I knew I could easily make my own version of these little bags for only a few cents. I whipped them up while watching Harry Potter last night (I borrowed all the movies from my sister and am having my own Harry Potter Movie Marathon to catch myself up before watching the latest installment) and thought I would share a little tutorial with you all on how I made them, so here goes!

Supplies:
1 sheet of craft felt in charcoal gray (black or brown would work too)
Scraps of white felt to cut out the word coal
ribbon for the tie
embroidery floss
needles
*One sheet of felt makes two bags

Cut felt in half.

Fold over long edge about 1" and cut 10, 1/4" slits evenly spaced across the fold.


Fold in half and stitch up two sides (careful to leave the end with the slits open) with a 1/4" seam allowance.


Turn right side out and lace ribbon through slits like this.

Glue or hand stitch the letters to the front of the bag and your done! (If your really smart you will stitch the letters on before you sew the bag up, much easier that way!)
I am going to fill these with mini marshmallows dipped in chocolate, yum!

the veiw from my window this morning...

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

holiday sewing

I always hate that this time of year there is so much sewing and crafting going on in my "studio" but that I can't share it! I am nearing the half way point of my Christmas sewing (not too bad with still a bit more than two weeks to go) and I so want to show you the things I've been making, but unfortunately it will have to wait until all gifts have been safely given! In the mean time, here is a little peek at one gift I can share... I am stitching up a few ornaments for the Preschool teachers, I got these two done today and will try and make a few more tomorrow before the last day of Preschool- Friday.
These are not my patterns, I printed them a few weeks back from somewhere I can't remember... the cutest little online holiday magazine on someones blog... Oh wait... I think I found it... Oh, yeah! Here it is! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

maryland

I know we've been home for a week now, and I am a bit late in posting these pictures, but here is a brief picture summary of our trip home. I don't have very many pictures because my camera's auto focus has been acting up :(

There were pony rides,
visits with good friends,

and Thanksgiving crafting and feasting.

We went Christmas tree cutting...
(yes, I know it a bit crazy to cut our Christmas tree down 250 miles from our house, but it is a family tradition, and they don't grow "real" Christmas trees down here).

And Addie was baptized. (Sorry for the bad picture, it's the only one I attempted with my finicky camera, my s-i-l took pictures and I have not gotten them from her yet).
It was lots of fun to see family and friends, but as you can see the week went by in a flurry of activities and we did not get to do and see all we had hoped... so, if we missed seeing you this visit, we'll catch you next time we are up!

shop update

I finally updated my shop!
There are a few camera straps, a few art to go sketchbooks and a couple baby blankets. I will have more camera straps, but probably not before the holidays. I'm also going to try making some guitar straps, but also, not before the holidays. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!