Merry and Bright

Merry Christmas!!! I can't believe it's almost here! Life's been one long to-do list lately and I'm officially admitting defeat. Christmas has won.

Tomorrow all will be merry and bright and we'll do all of our Christmas-y things and think only of the day. No book deadline lurking in my mind. No thoughts of a house torn upside down. No thoughts of anything but Christmas. I hope.

I really do need the break and I love to think of Mary and Joseph and the angels announcing Christ's birth to the world. To be honest though, it kind of get's squeezed into the day, between a cooking marathon and the family gift opening. A window of time when we go to church and sing not of mistletoe or Santa Claus or Red-noses Reindeer, but of one wee little baby's birth that changed both heaven and earth.
Tomorrow we'll be Merry and Bright. Tomorrow I will tell Jasper of one night long ago when the sky was bright and Mary held her child beneath that one big star.

The Red Thread

Wow. I just finished reading a blog my cousin has set up to share their adoption journey. She and her husband leave today for Seoul, South Korea. They have been constantly in my heart these last few days and I know that God will bless this experience. I know too that they will be wonderful parents. The love they already feel, never yet having held Henry is amazing. It's already the complete and unconditional love of parents. I can't imagine how emotional it will be to for them to meet their son.

Tomorrow is the day, and coincidentally it's my cousin's birthday as well. I'm absolutely certain she consider this birthday the very best ever! A while ago Heidi shared a children's book with me that I just love. It's The Red Thread by Grace Lin. Here's a description of the book.

"There is an ancient Chinese belief which states that when a child is born an invisible red threads connect that child's soul to all those people - present and in the future - who will play a part in that child's life. As each birthday passes, those threads shorten and tighten, bringing closer those people who are fated to be together. This story is not the tale of the legend, but a fairy tale inspired by the legend."

I keep thinking about this red thread today. If you've never heard of this before I really encourage you to read this book. It'll make you cry with tenderness for both parents and child.

Christmas Scrapbook-2007

I took a few photos of a scrapbook I made a few years ago that I thought included some pretty fun pictures. I'm always trying to take pictures of Jasper that really capture who he is at that age or what he's doing. A way of stopping a moment in time.

I tried to create a mix in the scrapbook of still shots of decorations, activities, and Jasper being cute. I also cut up a few special Christmas cards we received and added them to the scrapbook as well. Oh, and a tip- I had the blank scrapbook already made at Christmas so after, when my enthusiasm for the holiday waned, all I had left to do was add the photos and text.

One of the best techniques I stumbled on while putting this scrapbook together was to apply rub-on's directly to my photo's surface. It turned out to be a really nice way to integrate the photo into the page as a whole. I also got my set of gel pens for Christmas that year and decided to try writing right in the book.

Some of my favorite photo opportunities are:
Mailing a letter to Santa
The first Snow
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Snuggled in bed Christmas Eve
Sledding
Holding a Christmas wreath
Throwing a snowball
Making Christmas Cookies

My New Favorite: Elizabeth Hurley Embroidery

Thursday a week ago I was sooo excited. It was only 2 more days until I got to peruse the handmade work of 200+ artists at the No- Coast Craft Show. When I was a little girl it felt like I was at a craft show every weekend during the holiday season (my mother and aunt had a booth at them). I hardly frequent any now.

But I love craft shows. Let me amend that- I love SOME craft shows. Really really good one's like the No- Coast and Craft-a-rama are to me like walking through a real-life etsy and being able to meet the artists, pick up their art, and enjoy being in the midst of so much talent. Some day I think I'd like to take a break from my publishing goals and concentrate on participating in a few shows like these. You know- for old time's sake. I think my mom would be proud I was carrying on her legacy. I never have though- my etsy shop and then word of mouth among friends are the only ways I'm currently selling my work. It would take, I'm guessing a different kind of courage to actually face your potentials than merely putting up pictures and sending a convo or two.

The show was great. I didn't purchase much- I went through the entire show waiting for the one thing that really jumped out and say "buy me- love me- take me home! I knew it immediately when I stopped at Elizabeth Hurley's space. It's this super cute embroidery of an owl. I'm very much taken with the woodland characters that are appearing right now. They're just so cute and nature-y. So lucky girl that I am, I now have my very own owl art. I would have loved to chat a bit with the artist but my son and husband were waiting coats and hats on, and all mittened up by the door ready to go home. Today I had the time to sit and take a look at her other work on etsy and I really enjoyed it. So here's the link if you'd like to see more as well.

P.S. I think that's Joel Dewberry fabric she used in the background. I got a sneak peek of some designs featuring that fabric in orange a month or so ago. I think I need some. Really. Need. :)

Anticipating Christmas with Chocolate and Snow Angels

I've a couple of photos of Christmas Time Art for you today. The first is a photo of the Advent calender I made my son a few years ago. Actually I cut and glued 25 of them that year as a project for my moms group. I did the basic calendar and they added any little things to decorate it with. Like the wreath, buttons, little puffy snowballs etc.

I fill some pockets with candy and then put coupons in the rest. Things like Driving around to look at Christmas lights, Decorate the tree, make Christmas cookies... the sort of things that we all do to prepare for Christmas but this makes it a little more special for Jasper. His favorite though is the coupon good for one cup of Hot Coca with All the Trimmings- which means it has marshmallows AND whip cream. We've learned though, to tell him he can only use it after school. Otherwise the sugar makes him too squirrely in class.

The second photo is an update on the Angels I've been playing with. I was able to do a little stitching here and there and finally got some fabric on those wings. I also added a few muslin scraps and a few strips of cream quilting fabric to her dress. I like her but she seems to need some rusty things. Or maybe I'll just give her a pretty little scarf.

Flipping through the last Art Doll Quarterly I saw a how to article that used paperclay for the dolls arms and legs. I think I'd like to try that. Or maybe just drill through the thread spool and add some wire arms. Not sure yet. :) We got our first really significant snow fall last night and so this morning I decided she was a snow angel. Maybe I could add little snowballs to her gown. Ooooh... or maybe snowflakes to her hair. Not sure how I'd do that but I'll keep you updated! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Disappointed- but dealing with it.

Today's an up and down day. Actually, down then up I guess. It started whenI ran over to my local JoAnn Etc. to buy Ruth Rae's Layered Tattered, and Stitched. I had flipped through it before, loved the book, and keep thinking of it so I figure I should hand over one of my 50% coupons and get me one.

Alas, they had every book BUT that one. On the way out I found the latest Sew Somerset on the rack. Instantly a thundercloud must have appeared over me 'cause I just started grumbling because my last submission wasn't in it. Which is a dumb thing to be upset over- cause they might still use it for another issue. I was just disappointed. Besides- I have a BOOK coming out. Talk about needing some perspective.

It came as soon as I got home. First, the issue is great. I love everything in it. They seem to get better and better each time. If my work didn't get in, then at least it's because they has so much cool stuff to put in. Kind of consoling. Then I checked my e-mail. In it I found an e-mail from my editor with a lovely little attachment that made my heart actually leap. It was my book cover!!!! I can't show it yet but it's bright and pretty and will definitely stand out on the shelf. It's so much better than I imagined.

Down then up. I know as an artist that putting my work out there is putting myself out there. Sometimes I face rejection. Perhaps even a nasty critique or two. But I know it'll be worth it. It IS worth it. Every time I write something that encourages someone else it makes it totally worth it. Putting my work out there is the price I pay so that I have that voice. So that it will be heard. Totally worth it!

From One Holiday to the Next!!!

Like all of you we had an extremely busy holiday weekend. Friday was Cookie Baking Day at my aunt's, and Saturday morning my mom informed us all that it was Decorating Day. So while Jasper and my mother were scouring the storage area for Christmas decorations I got the upstairs holiday ready.

I hung garlands and wreaths and then switched over the fireplace area. This is a focal point in many people's homes. Especially at Christmas! I thought the contrast in colors and decor was interesting so I snapped a few photos to share with you. You'll notice that the basic composition is similar. Two larger arrangements bookmarking a central area. The other difference is the candles. It's a small detail to change them but it really helps to pull the primary accent color up the wall. Creating a larger visual impression overall.

The deep red is repeated in the berry wreaths hung in front of the windows as well as the stairway garlands. My parents have been adding to their Christmas decor each year for years. It makes putting the decorations in place simple. I already know what they have and where it goes.

Which is why I was able to decorate the entire upstairs while Jasper and my Mom did the tree in his bedroom. But in their defense, Jasper did manage to cram on that little tree the entire assortment of ornaments usually left for the 10 foot tree upstairs.

As you can see in the photo I snapped, he is very very proud of his tree! Enjoy the holidays!!!