Very Vintage Christmas Swap

My partner for 'Very Vintage Christmas' was the hostess, Heidi at Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly. When I received her profile I knew it was a good match, we had similar tastes in many ways. When her package to me arrived, there was little doubt it was indeed, a good match. So many pretty glittery things for my tree and to decorate with, all in shades of turquoise, silver and pearl. They are packaged so pretty, I love the clear little bags, so much so that I still haven't opened them! For now, I'm enjoying them just as they are, the perfect gift!

We decided to buy a smaller tree this year as it's just Murph and I. Since we had a new tree, we decided to go ahead and buy new ornaments as well. A fresh start for Christmas!
See how well the things Heidi picked out for me fit into the things I'd already found? I think it's a perfect blend. Thank you so much Heidi.

Yesterday I had some hand stitching to do on a project I'm making for Christmas. Not long after I'd settled into my chair this is what I found on either side of me!
Brutus all curled up on the dog bed on the left side of my chair and on the right. . . .
Ezra, my fat cat, decided to curl up in Gracie's bed. Gracie didn't mind, she just curled up behind him. I guess Grace doesn't know dogs aren't supposed to like cats. (And yes, Ezra is bigger than Grace!)

Christmas in the Kitchen

I hosted my very first swap on Swap-Bot recently, 'Christmas in the Kitchen'. The requirements were to make a handmade apron for your partner and to send it along to her with two of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes and a small holiday themed gift. My Christmas in the Kitchen package arrived Friday.
I was so excited with my apron I tried it on right away and even though no one was home, decided I need to get pictures right then! I love this fabric and look at those pockets! Too cute! (Okay, I will admit to wearing it around the house the rest of the afternoon.)
The ties are long enough to wrap around and be tied in the front, which is my favorite! I have such a time tying things behind me.
Can you see the little wreath appliqué she sewed on the the edge of the pocket? Love that little touch. It says Ho Ho Ho on the other pocket.
For my holiday gift, Pat made me two pot holders that match my apron - I'm gonna look so cute this year when I do my holiday baking! She also sent me the bird in the corner. Click on the picture to get a better look, it's very cool. I need to find a special place for it.

Pat thank you for reading my profile so well and sending me such a great Christmas in the Kitchen package.

And now for a dog photo. . .
The minute I am out of bed in the morning, Brutus jumps in and makes himself comfortable! He asking if I could please light a small fire to take the chill off or at least cover him up with the quilt! I know that's what he's saying!

Training

Bryn's laptop crashed a week before he was to deploy - yes the laptop we bought him last Christmas so he'd have a reliable one to take with him when he deployed! It worked out fine, he got a new one, he shipped the old one home and I dealt with Dell in getting it repaired. The only thing Bryn was concerned about were these photos of his team in training before they left. I can see why.
Do you even recognize that as Bryn? It's a very different look for him. I don't think he's wearing his flip-flops.
Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen him wear this many clothes all at one time before! And he looks so serious! (What happened to his hair?)
This one I recognized as Bryn right away! I think he likes that gun! Wait, maybe I should call it a weapon?

Aqua and Red Swap is Here!

This is without a doubt, the very best swap package I've ever received. My partner was Michele at Country Vintage. It's wrapped so pretty, not only is there aqua and red tissue papers and ribbons, but if you look closely there is even a vintage aqua rhinestone button. I so love vintage rhinestone buttons!

Look at all these wonderful goodies!! I LOVE the milk glass bowl filled with vintage red and aqua ornaments, so much so that I changed my dining room linens and well, I'm getting ahead of myself, you'll see that later! There's a box of clean smelling aqua and cream potpourri in the back, some beautiful aqua and red vintage trims, a box of tea - with a charming picture on the box, a mug filled with peppermint kisses, perfect for my tea. There's even a book to peruse while I enjoy a cuppa! See the bottle on the right? Here's a close up for you, cause you're going to want to get close, I promise you.
Look at this loveliness. Michele made this - just for me! Don't you just love it! And look at the bottom, can you see the red and aqua buttons and beads inside? It is so pretty and looks so nice in my studio!
I was so inspired by my wonderful aqua and red goodies, that I had to change linens in my dining room and all the little things I keep there.
I even found a different scrapbook page to display! While it's not aqua and red, I think the black and red works just fine! I think that chair needs a pillow, I'll work on that this weekend.
I moved my lace and button tree from my studio - I never thought of that before. Bryn bought me those three angels for Christmas a few years ago, they are a favorite.

Such an inspirational box! I so appreciate it and you for putting it together for me. Thank you, Michele.

BMT Graduation - The Album

BMT is Basic Military Training. It was just a little over a year ago that Bryn graduated from BMT. We came home from Texas on 10-30-07. I had taken hundreds of photos (no, I'm not exaggerating) but just wasn't sure how I wanted to present them, what I wanted to use with them. As soon as I saw this kit from Carol Wingert, I knew it was going to be perfect. And it is! I've been adding little touches to this almost daily, I know I'm still not finished, but who knows if I ever will be! So I decided to share this with you today in it's present but evolving state.

The left page is a pocket page. Tucked inside are the photos of the very first time we'd seen Bryn since September 11th! We were all so proud of him - you just can't imagine! We were also thrilled he was the Guidon for his team as it made him so very easy to find.

The page on the right, page 3, is also a pocket page. We went to a San Antonio Spurs game and I've tucked programs and things from that into the page. There are also three photos, I've shown you one below.
These are the photos as they are inside the pocket of page 2 - sorry for the flash. This is the Airmans Run. On the back of each photo (There are 3 in total.) I've journaled. There is a lot of journaling in this book and there's plenty of room for it, too.

This is a close up of one of the photos on the right side page, or page 3.



Page 4 is of the Coin Ceremony. Again, ever so glad Bryn was the Guidon, not only was he easy to find but doesn't he look AwESoME!! The Photo flips up to show another photo on the back with some more journaling.
I actually bought these postcards thinking I would mail them to friends at home, but I didn't have stamps and never found a place to buy them! Sorry Lisa and Lisa! It worked out great because look how nice they look in my book! (I promise I think of you both whenever I see them!) I made a pocket with one and added photos and journaling to the other two and tucked them inside. When you lift this page, this is what's underneath.

There are also photos on the other side of the page on top of this one, but I couldn't hold the camera, the page and keep the dogs at bay! These photos were all taken inside Bryn's barracks.

This is 'page 5', a velcro envelope page where I tucked all the information the Air Force sent us, the brochures and schedules. I am so glad to have a place to keep all these things we collected along the way!
These are pages 6 & 7 and are photos of Bryn's actual graduation from Basic Military Training. I have the journaling written and will tuck it into the two little bags on the right side. Once I'm sure I haven't forgotten anything, that is!
This is page 8, a postcard of The Alamo made into a pocket with the brochure and some photos tucked inside.

The right side is the beginning of a tag/flag book! All kinds of room for more photo's. Here's another look at it opened up:
There are a total of 9 tags, which gave me room for 18 more photos and a little bit of journaling!

And finally we come to the last page, the inside cover. (Again, sorry for the flash!) This is probably one of my most favorite photos of Bryn that weekend! I still need to journal this, but I'm taking my time!

Thank you Carol, for such a wonderful kit! I totally love how this turned out and I had a blast putting it together. I love that I still have room to add things as I find them or think of them, and you know I will!

Also, can you see how this inspired me for the cook's journal I posted earlier? Yes, I put this together first and have been tweeking it ever since!

Progress

I need to have a clean studio before I can start new projects, so yesterday I cleaned and organized. It's so easy to let things pile up on the chest or in the magazine rack - anyplace actually. I'm too distracted when it's a mess to get anything done.

You can see Brutus's kennel tucked under the window. I think he likes it when I work in the studio, he always asks to go in his kennel then. Stella will lay on the dog bed outside the door and Grace has a little bed under my desk. I have plenty of company while I work.


I did forget to update the chalkboard! I just noticed it still says October! I'll take care of that today. Murph is going to put up a hook behind the door so I'll have a place to hang my cutting mat before it's ruined.

I may actually have time to sew this afternoon!

A Quote

This morning as I was writing a new found quote into my quote journal I came across this:

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside you body."
~Elizabeth Stone

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Thinking about Christmas

It seems early to think about Christmas, but honestly, that's what I've been doing these last few days. Christmas gifts and Christmas swaps, some of which I'll be sewing and others I'll be cutting and gluing. It's really a good time to start planning. I have Christmas aprons and Christmas pillowcases to sew, a kennel bed for Gracie, a soft fleece blanket to make and a couple other surprises up my sewing sleeve.

Friday and Saturday my friend Lisa helped me plan my sewing projects. I pulled out all of my Christmas fabrics and we matched prints and styles, then cyber shopped for what I needed. I should have packages arriving all week. Today I'm going to put my studio in order. It's always nice to have a clean, organized place to work.

Besides sewing I always make mini-books for my family. Bryn gets one with pictures of Brutus I've taken since last Christmas. Murph's is different every year.

I also make a Christmas album each year. I've been planning that, too. The papers are ready and the album is selected. I just need to sit down and put it together.

I'll spend a peaceful November in my studio, sewing and creating - much like Santa in his workshop! (Wonder where I can get one of those Elves!)