Christmas Cookies Are Good For Breakfast!

I love Cookie exchanges!!

(what I'm not going to show you is the ugly mess of a lemon tart I just made! It was supposed to be for my dear SIL's bridal shower. Bummer. I think I will be buying cream puffs on the way out.)

Thankful Monday

I can hardly believe it is already Thanksgiving week! Yikes! (and woo-hoo!!)

And so...

Today I am thankful for all the people in my life who are so supportive, kind, loving, etc. There are a lot of you! People I work with, am related to, live with, am friends with!! I'm pretty sure I would fail miserably without my family, friends, co-workers, etc!

People to learn from, people to lean on, people to comfort me, people to give me advice, people to fix my mistakes, people to tease me(keeps me humble, people to admire! Amazing people. The list is long & in some way, I think includes everyone I know!
My life is not perfect, of course, whose is. If it was, I wouldn't need all you guys!

Thank you for being part of this life with me.

Handmade Holidays have begun!!

One of my favorite things!! I just wish I had more time to really make things--like everyday!! For now, I settle for thinking about making things everyday. Check out Sew Mama Sew's 3rd run of Handmade Holidays...HERE!!!

Happy Halloween!

Finger pretzels. Yummy.

Hope you had a fun & safe Halloween night!! We sure did!

Balloons

Ever wonder how many balloons it takes to fill a bathroom doorknob deep? About 180.
This is where the toilet should be. (there is an inflatable monkey in it)

The sink.

Closing the door was tricky. My cheeks were a little achy for a while after this but so worth it!(This is how my husband tells his dad he's loved!)

(I don't know why the first bit is underlined...wonder what I bumped...can't make it go away!)

200 Cupcakes

Attended a precious wedding last night. The bride was absolutely stunning! The evening was full of sincerity and love from family and friends of bride and groom! Congratulations Danica & Eli!!
This is my contribution. 200 cupcakes!

My good, good friend Shalisa baked half and taught me how to use the decorator bag. She also helped me decorate them. all of them. (Thank you!) It was a little all consuming and I'm glad to be done, but I think I'd do it again. Later. Like in a year.(Amy?)

The table was impressive covered in a mass of cupcakes-the gaps are where people already started eating them (before dinner!)! The room smelled delicious and my house still smells a little chocolaty.

Happy Easter!!

Phone pick of my first ever attempt at hot cross buns. (I used craisind instead of raisinsand added orange extract to the glaze) Yummy!

Wishing everyone a happy, hopeful, generally lovely Easter!!

Another generous blogger!

My computer is back! And I've lost all the pictures and documents that were saved on it BUT I've learned a valuable lesson about backing up! It is nice to be up & running again, though...so, to pick right up--
This is the completely adorable house softie I won from LaBelle Avenue. She makes lovely things and is really worth a cruise around! Thank you LaBelle I love him! Someday I'll actually make a house quilt! I must have a dozen patterns saved--I love house quilts!

Funny Little Valentine

(this was given to me by one of my pre-k students!-with giggles)

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Sending much love!

Deserving of It's Own Post!

This is the mug my first born made me for Christmas!! His teacher is a potter and offered the kids pottery lessons during thier recess time. My son (to my great joy) cranked out quite a pile of lovely things! and so thoughtfully saved his first project for ME!! (the other things, he gifted away to his grandparents and I forgot to take pictures.) It is so fun to see his work improve with each piece...I really hope he makes more!!

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, happy, productive 2009!! with love.

Handmade Beaded Gifts!

Beautiful scissors fob that now lives on my curved embroidery scissors!!

Bracelet and matching necklace! (that I've worn out already!! love this green.) -(that is worn while out-not broken!)

Two lovely bracelets!

(yes, the pictures are awful, but you get the idea!)

Hand Made Gifts

I made some gifts, you know 'cause I told you...but I received some great handmade gifts, too!! I am excited about them, so I'm going to share some of them here! Like this....

Yep..50 pounds of corn flour! And a corn flour cookbook made especially for my family! There are some hand drawn illustrations and lots of blank pages for me to add recipes! I really love this gift!! I've never used corn flour before, but I'm excited to give it a try! Isn't this fun! (and very practical!!) Corn pancakes and tamales coming up!!

Still Christmasing!!

Christmas always lasts for DAYS for my little family! This year we are working on 3 (with a 1 day break in between 1 &2) --3 days of celebrating...it takes even more to prepare! Good thing I love that part too! Both family Christmas celebrations this year were really good. Long, special, fun, somber, busy, restful, etc...fulfilling overall! As for material gifts...both simple and extravagant. A lovely balance for the most part! I'm feeling VERY spoiled! Tomorrow is one more family gathering! The ENTIRE clan will be together. (Just one missing at Christmas today!) I'm very excited for pics!!!

Speaking of pics Here are some of the things I made for gifts!!!

Drawstring bag to hold felt board pieces! (made 2-from Aronzi Aronzo Cute Stuff)
Cloth napkins for my hostess SIL!--these are already on my Christmas sewing list for '09!

And a decorated journal for my artsy SIL! (from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts)

Not pictured...Pillow & mini quilt from Cool boat pants my Daddy made, 2 little apron & oven mitt sets, 3 crochet washcloths, and still unfinished ...A set of 7 embroidered tea towels that I hope to finish by the new year! Whew! I'm hoping to sneak one more lazy go nowhere day before school starts again!

I hope your celebrations were joyful and togethery! Merry Christmas!

Toy Society Christmas drop

Dropped: bench outside the William G Reed library Shelton, Washington
Number of toys: one little sock buddy
Dropped and Made by: Me (Julia)
When: December 20, 2008
And: It’s rather snowy here. I hope someone brings it home soon! Poor cold little softy!

It's snowed an inch or two since the drop and I don't think it's gonna stop anytime soon! I so hope the poor little thing doesn't have to wait for a thaw!!

(I love this!)-Thanks Toy Society -Check it out! so many toys dropped this weekend!

And The Winner IS... ...

Danielle!!! Congratulations!!! You've won my ornaments!!!

Thank you to everyone who came by and entered my drawing!! I was Shocked at the number of comments I got!! I thought up to 50 but over 200!!man! thank you so very much for playing along!!

IT'S GIVEAWAY DAY!!!

**WOW!!! I obviously had no idea what I was getting myself into! Thanks for all the kind words!! and enthusiasm for my humble offering! As soon as I can get it together, I will announce and contact my winner! Yay! and thanks again!

Here it is... I am giving away....







an assortment of handmade ornaments!! Because I love handmade ornaments! The patterns are from various magazines, other bloggers, and crafsters...but I sewed them up with much joy! If you'd like me to send them to you just leave me a comment and I'll have one of my handsome young assistants draw a name by Dec. 7! I will not count any comments after midnight(Pacific time) Dec.3 and I'm sorry I can't ship outside of the U.S. Thanks for sayin' hi!! and thanks for plaing along!! Merry Christmas!

**I almost forgot...Go check out Sew Mama Sew and see whoelse is playing!! fun!!

Advent

I love waiting for Christmas!

I saw this brilliant idea on My Little Mochi and HAD to make some for my kids! super fun. I also was a little bad and bought the beautiful Christmas paper on grocery day. I wanted to get one of everything from the display!

speaking of Advent...when I opened the first box of Christmas junk to decorate my house with it smelled like cookies. I thought oh, no! There are old cookies in here! But.. It was a cookie scented Yankee candle that I hadn't ever lit and forgot I had! Today my house smells yummy!

yahoo

Yahoo! I won a prize! This pretty book! Thank you, Sew mama Sew!
Go check them out!!

Gobble! Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!