August Christmas Continues...

 Every year I stockpile gifts for Christmas as the year progresses.  I keep a cupboard and a dresser just for these gifts so I know where they are come time to wrap and give.  However each year I find myself wanting to do more handmade gifts and every year I run out of time.  So this year I decided August would be my month to make some things ahead and have them ready.  I picked August because I missed July.  ;o)

 Here I am making very simple fabric postcards.  I love to mail things that surprise people when they get them and these postcards just might be the surprise. 

I bought this fabric and knew it would make great postcards.  The sizes are just slightly under the required 4" x 6" postal requirements but I knew how to work that.  I already had a stash of these very sturdy Strathmore watercolor postcard blanks so they became my base.  Then I cut Warm and Natural batting to fit the blanks.  I sewed the three pieces together and it looked too plain.  So I took a green stamp pad and rubbed the edges with the ink.  Now I like the look and consider these done.  Of course I am making more than the three I show in the photo. 
I hope this gives some of you inspiration and some easy ideas for your holiday gift giving. 
Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes.  I have had a wonderful month of celebrating.
Happy week to all and I do pray the weather is kind to each of you...

August Snowmen...

More Christmas in August. These are snowmen ornaments for the elementary school holiday sale in December. I find being prepared can never be too soon as time slips by so quickly.

Made of foam and fabric. They will look so cute hanging on our faux Christmas tree displaying all the ornaments for sale to the first, second and third graders. Parents and public are also welcome to shop after the kids have lots of shopping time to get presents for friends and family.

This is a short quick post as I am headed to our local very small Farmer's Market before I spend my day volunteering at the local Chamber of Commerce hostessing the Visitor Center. I love meeting people from far and near. I also learn something new every time I am there.

May your weekend be full of bliss...

Christmas in August...

Christmas in August. Not so far fetched an idea since the days, weeks and months are flying past so fast. I felt I would work on Christmas in August and this past week that is exactly what I did. My girlfriend came over and we spent an entire day preparing Christmas ornaments to donate and sell at the local elementary school annual holiday sale. It is so fun to watch the kids do their Christmas shopping and we donate 50% of our sales money to the school funds.

We aren't looking to get rich, merely pay for our supplies. These are some purchased snowflakes that we embellished with torn strips of fabric tied in a bow. I know it is hard to see them here but you can imagine how simple these are. We are trying to keep the price at 50 cents each for any of the ornaments we are decorating on a 5 foot tree.

Here are simple ornament balls, plastic so no breakage, embellished with more fabrics and then tied with a loop.

All of this takes a lot of time but we always think of the little first, second and third grade students looking to shop for just the right gifts they can afford. We usually make lots of various items which we plan on family members just loving what they get when they open their gifts. Bookmarks, towels, charms, note cards and tags, ornaments, and whatever else strikes our fancy. We try to cover all genders and ages which can be really challenging.

I also completed another gift item this week so I will share that soon.

The great outdoors is still requiring lots of my time and efforts as the weeding and plantings and yard re-do is taking lots more than I thought. I am grateful our weather has been very pleasant. We have not had any extreme heat unlike so much of the country. I think our elevation and all the pine and cedar trees are helping to keep it cool. We also are benefitting from what is called the "delta breeze".

Now I am off to get productive. I was found at the local Ben Franklin yesterday purchasing more fabrics and jewelry findings.

Wonderful Weekend to each of you...May you be enjoying your days relaxing and being creative...

P.S. Are you working on any Christmas projects? Can you share what they are?

I Have Been a Good Girl...

Hi Santa. I have been a good girl. I believe...oh yes, I believe! Today I am busy baking some desserts to take to friends as we celebrate Christmas Eve with them and their family. Oh and I am definitely baking you some cookies for your long and busy trek tonight. I will also put out a cold fresh yummy glass of milk with those cookies as I know it is your favorite.

I shall go to bed tonight and I will try to sleep but I will keep my ears tuned waiting to hear the sound of reindeer hooves on my roof. It shouldn't be slippery as the rain has stopped for a day and the snow is all gone. It will be a safe landing for you tonight.

I'll be in my warm toasty jammies but I will be peeking out the window every few hours just to see a glimpse of you Santa. I am so excited with the wonder of a child as I await your amazing visit.

Safe travels and a very Merry Christmas!

I do believe in the magic!!!

Merry Christmas...

May you each enjoy today as we wind down to celebrate Christmas Eve. Some will gather with family and some with friends to share this joyous time. Eat, drink and be merry.

Tomorrow may you be overjoyed with your gifts. May you have food a plenty. Make lots of family traditions and memories to last a lifetime and beyond.

A very Merry Christmas to all.

Hello September...

Hello September and welcome. August has come and gone in what seemed like record time this year. It was a very busy month and I enjoyed it very much. Even getting older wasn't so bad. I had wonderful times with family and friends celebrating and enjoying food, laughter, shopping and stories. So now we welcome September. The evenings are getting just a little cooler and it is beginning to feel like fall is in the air.
So with the coming of September I am reminded that Christmas is not far away. Therefore I have begun to work on projects that I always set aside. No photos for this post as dear hubby has my camera with him in Bonneville at the Salt Flats. I sewed some comfort dolls to send to Pat Winter. www.comfortdolls.blogspot.com This is a wonderful effort and you should check it out. Nothing feels better than giving to others.
I had some vintage Christmas stocking panels and decided to make those. I already have plans for them this year. I also have more projects to finish however I thought it was amazing I got this much done.
Now I am on to more projects which I will share later.
Have a wonderful week and enjoy the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Stay safe and healthy.

Snowy Sunday...

This is a picture of Sasha BooBoo kitty. This is not her favorite shot but she did approve my posting of it tonight.

Well today I braved the snow as it was falling to drive down the hill to meet my sister so we could finally celebrate our Christmas together and give one another our gifts. I just did not want to cancel our visit so that is why I weighed the "should I stay home or be brave and leave and hope the snow quits and I can get back up the hill to come home and take care of my beloved fur-child Sasha BooBoo kitty". Thank goodness I was lucky and returned home with no incident of snow on the roads. Actually it turned out to be a beautiful day both visiting with my sister and with the weather. Now as I am watching the evening news...what? No television signal? Oh, of course, it is snowing again!

Of course I did take a few pictures with the fabulous new camera but the multimedia notebook is not home so I am not able to transfer them or upload to my blog. I actually went outside this morning and took a photo of the snow falling and my camera has a "snow" feature so I got the actual snowflakes in the photo as they were falling. Amazing!!! I will show it in future posts.

My sister had a theme to her gifts she gave me and I love them all. The theme was pampering and I am going to get used to this treatment very quickly I think. My feet are nice and massaged, my body is buttered and my senses are peaked and calmed with Ruby Guava scented candle and I am wrapped in a luxurious soft plush plum colored throw. How special I feel. Thank you my dear sister. I love you very much.

Have your best week of January as it is the last week of January. Make time for yourself.

December Snow...

Hello anyone out there reading this blog.

Here in Northern California we have finally gotten some snow. Our weather has been very dry so far this year and as everyone else knows we desperately need the rain and snow for the water table. We have over a foot of very beautiful white snow. Today it is very sunny so all of the snow has fallen off the trees and landed on any driveways or roads to then become ice as it is very very cold. So if driving (which I am not one to do in this weather) please be extra careful since ice makes a vehicle have a mind of its own!

I did decorate an outdoor Christmas tree this year and took this photo of it before the snow fell. So far my tree seems to be doing just fine as the snow falls off of it. Even the bows are popping back to shape. The CD's are twirling and catching all the light they can so they look very festive.

I will try to blog again very soon. Some holiday plans have changed due to life circumstances so we are adapting as well as possible.

Lots of Jolly to everyone!