Back in the saddle

What a crazy couple of weeks! The "feeling a bit under the weather" from the previous post turned into a nasty flu that lingered with our whole family for a week! Yuck! Once we were all better, Christmas was only a few days away. Yikes! I had a few days of marathon shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping, and visiting. It was alot of work, but it turned out to be a lovely day. Santa was really good to all of us. The Little Ones got all of their Christmas wishes, and I got some special treats too! I'm most excited about the Photoshop Elements and Bamboo tablet that my sweet hubby gave me! Sooooo much fun! I've got so many ideas brewing for 2008!
I will be adding some new goodies to the shop in the next week or so and announcing some fun new swaps as well!


In the meantime, here is something special that I can't believe I forgot to share earlier! A group of wonderful women from an online art group that I belong to (sneakily) got together and made a baby quilt for my Littlest One. There were 3 of us in the group who were all having baby girls around the same time last year.... and these amazing ladies made us each a gorgeous quilt! Each participant created a block and sent it to the organizer, Jennifer, and she sewed them all together!!! Barb made handmade books to go along with them. So sweet! The quilt is amazing, and will be treasured.


AND, the quilts were published in the Nov/Dec issue of Cloth Paper Scissors!!! The story about them can be found in the "Letters to the Editor" section in the front of the magazine!

This particular issue of CPS, also features some work by the amazing Charlotte Lyons. I finally finished my project from the kit that I purchased from her at Silver Bella. It was SUCH a fun project!!! The finished piece is lovely and fits in perfectly with my holiday items. Here's a peek:


I hope everyone has a very happy and safe New Year!
Hugs!

(Edit: Directions for the Snowman Pops can be found HERE.)

Holiday Home Party

There's a party in blogland! The ever so sweet Karla, is hosting a Holiday Home Party on her blog! She has asked bloggers to share favorite parts of their homes all decked out for the holidays. Visit her blog to see TONS of lovely photos and links to other yummy blogs!

Here are some pics from around my home. I must say that my house is currently a HUGE disaster of a mess.... so, let's just say that you are getting some "close-ups"! Heehee. I really don't know how in the world I will get this place in shape for Christmas Eve (which I'm hosting... YIKES!)


I really don't have much red other than the stocking on my front door, and my big snowman friend. Most of my decorations are in shades of white, glittery, and vintage or vintage looking. I usually keep up my decorations all winter long.


I adore this NOEL garland that I purchased from Michele at the Holiday Gift Show. It is made from vintage light reflectors and looks super cute on this curtain in my kitchen!

Some big gold letters on top of a cabinet in the dining room.

Found these yummy bottle brush trees a few years ago.
And the glittery reindeer?!?!?
My new favorite Christmas decorations!

How cute are they?!?!?!?

They are so cute, that I needed 2 sets... :)
And that big glittery star???
Needed 2 of those too!

Ok... enough about the reindeer... This big beautiful vintage wreath on my mirror was made by the super talented Beth of Beth's Bagz! I absolutely love this. I walk by it and need to pause to gaze at its beauty. Sounds sappy, but I am completely serious. It is that amazing! I will most definitely keep it up long after winter is over.
And here is a peek at my tree. Just a peek... I can't show the whole tree because then you would also see the pile of laundry on the sofa next to the tree.... heehee.

Cookie Swap!

Super sweet Jessi is hosting a cookie swap! She has links on her blog to bunches of yummy recipes that have been shared by her blogging friends. I LOVE baking and usually make big platters of cookies for friends, family, neighbors... and of course, Santa! I actually have a cookie swap to go to this weekend! I still haven't decided what to make, but I am leaning towards these Oreo Truffles. I found this recipe last year and everyone seemed to enjoy them. And they are sooooo super easy!

Easy Oreo Truffles

• Prep Time: 30 min
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 min
• Makes: 3-1/2 doz. or 42 servings, one truffle each

1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely crushed, divided

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

MIX 3 cups of the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese until well blended. Shape into 42 (1-inch) balls.

DIP balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover melted chocolate can be stored in tightly covered container at room temperature and saved for another use.) Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover truffles in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

This recipe and photo was originally published in Kraft's Food & Family Magazine.

(I like to use colored sprinkles instead of the cookie crumbs to top them. I also have used milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet to coat them. I am going to try making a batch with some super yummy Candy Cane Joe-Joe's that I found at Trader Joe's.)

Christmas Angels

Here are some additional photos of the angels that I made for the Gift Show.
These were so much fun to make! I was lucky enough to come upon a bunch of these vintage doll heads... I just knew they would make adorable angels! I used vintage wallpapers from Donna to create their dresses and added German Scraps, tinsel, vintage posies.

You can see all of the angels by clicking here.

Also, be sure to check out the post below and enter to win a FABULOUS ornament from the Gift Show giveaway!