Vintage Christmas Monday

I was invited to join a Vintage Christmas Monday and thought why not!?
Its not everyday I get invited to do something!

So, here is my first Monday to share a vintage 'something' that is Christmas oriented!!!

These angels have been in our family for EVER.

I don't even know how old they are....I got them because I play the piano......gotta keep the musicians with the musician, right?!


Then, several years ago, I found these vintage carolers and knew I had to have them to go with the angelic band....I love them too!

"Do you hear what I hear?"

dome wear

Here is Ripstick Boy, patiently waiting for Dean to put on his golf hat so they can go play golf.


Here is Dean's favorite golf hat...while goofing around, it fell in some water....


Here is the straw hat Dean was going to wear....before Ripstick Boy said "NO WAY"



Here is the hat WITHOUT the band....or is it the band without the hat?

Either way, it wasn't the best 'look' for the course....



Finally, here is the hat Dean wore to play golf in...


Thankfully, they had much less drama playing golf than they did picking out hats!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Busy, busy, busy!

The last few days have been busy!

Here is the little hootie I made and dropped for my November Toy Society drop. (I made him from a pair of old flannel pj bottoms so he is uber soft!)
I made 2 more just like him....I sent one to Lori for her family to drop and I have 1 other that I'll drop in the future!


I dropped him off at a local library...here he is nestled into some books in the childrens section awaiting discovery!


After my errands, I ran home and did some cleaning and crafting.

I KNOW you don't want to see me cleaning so I'll spare you!

Instead, I'll show you a scarf I crocheted.
Very simple and masculine don't you think?
The color is GORGEOUS...the photo really doesn't do it justice.
Dean almost took it...

It turned out so well, that I made a hugger out of the same color.
Then, I made another hugger and a scarf too...



I also made 3 'french hens' (okay, so they aren't french and they definitely aren't hens....but still)



Then yesterday, I heard the mailman drop something on my porch and was thrilled to see I got a surprise!

I LOVE surprises and this one is the BEST...it is a MUSHROOM ornie from Melinda!

Sweet Melinda was in my Enchanted swap and she sent this to me as a thank you.......how sweet. I ADORE this mushroom. (I hope to have enough mushroom ornaments to decorate a small tree with them one day)


Melinda, you made my day! Thank you!!!

Mail call....

Look at the goodies I was fortunate enough to win during the Hot For Chocolate Apron Swap!

Betty sponsored the giveaway on her blog during the swap.

I was soooooo excited to hear she had pulled MY name!

She chose perfect fabrics for me.....

toadstools



ladybugs,



and polka dots



OH MY!

She also added some needles, thread and a sweet little needle book too!

Thank you Betty!

Squealing like a hedge..HOG

I really did squeal when I got this package on Friday.

It was waiting for me when I got home from work.

I was sooooo excited that I didn't want to open it.
Weird, I know but I LOVE the anticipation of a wonderous goodie!

The wrapping let me know precious things lay inside...amongst the heart confetti and purple shred...



Amongst the layers, were scented pinecones, a beautiful gnome home and a cardinal (see, Peppy?)
AND
A
HEDGEHOG!
Oh!
My!
Gosh!!!!!!

look at that FACE...who could resist that face.
I have GOTTA get me a real one some day....




and she sent me Shamrocks... (I know them as oxalis and have SEVERAL in my yard, how did she know I LOVE them so...?
she MUST have been sneaking around my blog!)


then a little bag of bubbles and shiny things for the 'wee' folks to keep them happy so they will bless my yard with their presence.

I'll put them alongside my toad homes in the garden....or maybe, just maybe, I'll make a fairy house....I've always wanted to make one anyway....this might be just the nudge I need.

Thank you SO much Sandy!!!

Enchanted Forest Ornament Swap

My partner for the Enchanted Forest Ornament Swap loves birds.

I actually had planned on making an embroidered felt bird but then changed my mind and made something a bit more elaborate...a spinner.

It is two sided and hangs from the ceiling.

I used the colors she requested...which were so pretty!
The fabric itself isn't Christmasy but it reminded me of the wrapped candies you get around Christmas time. (Trying to find pink Christmas fabric proved to be too much in little Slidell.)

Close up of the bird...I love how the pattern fell perfectly for its little beak....just a fluke, I didn't try to do that!




and here it is 'spinning' away...it actually kept spinning while I was taking the photos, making it difficult to take them!!!!

one side


and the other...


you can't tell from the photos, but I added little dots of glitter on the letters which is pretty in the light.


To round out her package, I added a true forest occupant...a chocolate ladybug...and some hot cocoa fixins!
The best part? She loves it!

Holiday delivery....

Remember THIS post on pet cozies?





Well, on Saturday, Curly Girl and her friend and I delivered 13 of them to our local animal shelter!

We also took some tug toys I'd made and 2 big bags of dog and cat food.

Leo tried to get in on the action by jumping into one of the bags..what a funny face he is making!!!!

Lucky I saw him.....and didn't carry him off BACK to the shelter where we got him!!!

Hot For Chocolate...

I made Jennifer an apron for the last swap I hosted...the Hot For Chocolate Apron Swap.

I had such fun making this one because Jenn is ALL GIRL and proud of it! She loves stilettos and handbags and fashion.....and of course, romantic nights with her hubby.

She confessed she is a chocolate snob so I sent her these...


and I knew she would love these...even though they aren't chocolate.
She has a post dedicated to the wonder of gourmet candy corn!



I added some other goodies too like hot cocoa and flavored chocolates (which she loves but I'm not keen on.)

Also...a cute chocolate cookbook I found...a pattern for her stash and a copy of a magazine.

She's a model too!

Curly Girl found these cute shoes the other day....while searching for 'appropriate' choral footwear.

You know the type:

Something close toed and SENSIBLE. (hmmm, nope)

Something without a heel. (hmmmm, nope)

Something you can STAND in for 2 hours in a row the first time you actually DO wear them. (hmmmm, nope)

Something you can WALK in, even if you are 11 years old and have never worn heels before. (hmmm, double nope...she clomped like a cow...so delightful)

Something that only cost 7 bucks! CHECK!!!!!

need I say more? ( And yes, if they had them in my size I would have bought me some too!)


After modeling her new shoes....she was only to happy to 'model' this little hugger I made for someone.

close up.....



I mailed it off, to Christine

and...she loved it!

crafting with cats

I didn't have a Thanksgiving apron so made this one for me :-)


the buttons are awesome...they mimmick the little wheat pattern in the fabric...you'll just have to take my word for it since the photo is blurry!



of course....Suki was only too happy to help.......


but LOOK what I caught that stinker with!



One of my mushroom ornies I'd made!

So......I took it away from her....and here she is STARING lovingly at it....she keeps STEALING it!


I guess I'll have to make her one with catnip stuffed inside.

baby goods....and a birthday present

I've been crafty lately, finishing up some baby gifts for my youngest SIL.

Her baby boy came 3 weeks early so I had to play catch up!

Since she doesn't read blogs, I'm not worried about spoiling any surprises:

First, I made this blanket....which I finished before summer ended.



Then, I made this funky monkey rattle.....I purchased the pattern off etsy HERE....and it was totally worth it!

Isn't he CUTE!?



I also made one of the baby towels I like to give....sorry, I forgot to take a separate photo of it.


BTW, If you want to make one, the tutorial is HERE.
They are great (and are inexpensive) baby shower gifts.


After that, I finished up this reversible pillow for a birthday gift...

One side shows a bright eyed kitten:



and the other side shows a sleepy kitten:



g'night kitty!

HOT FOR CHOCOLATE!

Don't I look happy?

Wouldn't YOU look happy in this GORGEOUS apron?



here is a close up so you can drool...wipe your mouth ladies...




And if that isn't fabulous enough....look at all the chocolate goodies!!!



A chocolate cookbook, chocolate and vanilla bean BODY LOTION, 2 packages of chocolates (which I am going to HIDE)...and a chocolate CALENDER!!!

No, I can't EAT the calender (and yes, I checked!)
But, it has interesting chocolate information, tips and recipes....can't wait to use it in 2010.

Donna, I truly love this apron, thank you SO MUCH!