Time to Deck the Halls

The Thanksgiving company is heading home today. It has been great fun, but it is time to get back to our normal routine. I will make a trip to the airport and get back to work. I need to drag out all the Christmas decorations and get busy. It always seems a little overwhelming at first. Once I'm into it, things just start coming together. I rarely do the same thing each year. I mix it up. Each year I tell myself I will go through and weed out things that haven't been used for years and each year I don't get to it. Maybe this year?!? My son is going to have his first tree as an adult. I told him to come pick out some favorites 'cuz Mama has lots to share. I will make sure his box of childhood ornaments is available. He just might want the spinning Ninja Turtle ball !! It will be fun to see what he chooses. It will also be a surprise to see how my husband designs the Dickins Village across our bookcase. He changes the layout every year. I have restrained myself from buying any more pieces or trees. We have a forest of little trees, but as far as I am concerned, that is what makes so special. We have a small Charles Dickins figure that gets hidden in a different area every year and we have a contest to see who can find it. Hopefully we can fit in this decorating between the Civil War game and shopping at Tarte in Sherwood. I am including a piece I made especially to sell at Tarte but, my friend Diane saw it and it never made it into Cindy's trailer! I am happy it will have a wonderful home.

Anticipating Road Trip to Sherwood

Thanksgiving was a lovely day with our family and friends. No disasters or fires. Nothing over or under cooked. No food poisoning. Just nice and - well, I won't go as far as to say relaxing - but nice. Lots of visiting, card games, ping-pong, football and great left-overs to enjoy.

On Saturday, my sister, my cousin and I ventured to Albany to visit Poet' s Garden, Eve Barry Fine Gifts, and Vintage Roost. In spite of the really cold weather, we had a great time. Everyone had something wonderfully warm to drink while we shopped. I found some very sweet little Christmas trees made of an old woolen blanket and a garland that was strung with glass beads, pearls, old paper mache bells and more pieces of the blanket. I think it will be a perfect gift for one of my good friends.

This Saturday, my friend Diane (Molly Mo's) and I will get going early, early to attend the opening of Tarte & Apples and Antiques a once a month event in Sherwood, Oregon. Early buying begins at 8:00 a.m. and we don't want to be late! More info on this event can be found at http://www.queenoftarte.blogspot.com/. Don't miss out. It will be over-the-top!!! Everything vintage, French, frilly and simply delightful. I will be sure to fill you in next week! Oh, by the way I will have a few of my creations there, too! After Sherwood, we are planning to visit another friend that has just opened his shop in Sellwood - Madison Park Antiques. I can hardly wait! Add visiting these shops to your weekend plans. Saturday will be here before you know it!

My Thanksgiving Table

Today, I have the day off. Another thing to be thankful for. I have last minute shopping that involves going to Wal-Mart to look for burner trays that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. They just don't fit. This venture will take place early, early, early so I can get home and start baking and prepping tomorrow's feast. My sister will be coming tonight to spend the night - a new tradition that we started last year. She will help me get the bird ready, combine the dressing, peal potatoes, etc. Then we will have a gin and tonic, some potato-corn chowder, and watch "White Christmas". If all goes well, most of the food will be ready to go into the oven, so all we have to do is set-up the dining room. I have a very small house, so it is always a challenge to seat 16-18 around my table. Another thing to be thankful for -- my parent's dining room table and buffet. My dad was known for adding extra guests on Thanksgiving day, so my mother was very gracious and just added another leaf to the table. At our house, their table can only be expanded so far (small room), so we add a table at the bay window, parallel to the dining table. The kids enjoy sitting on the window seat.

It is important to me to make sure that everyone has a chair at a table, in the same room. I like us all to sit down together, all at the same time, just this one day, as a family. Some where in my head, this was imprinted as the way it should be. I probably saw it in a Norman Rockwell painting. Actually, I think that it has to do with keeping all my "chicks" in one basket. This way, I know that on Thanksgiving Day, for a few hours, all of my "chicks" are safe and accounted for. A big, big thing to be thankful for, not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. I am blessed with a wonderful family -- even those that cannot be in my dining room tomorrow. They are spread across the state, country and across the Pacific. They will be with us tomorrow in our hearts.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and an extra slice of pumpkin pie!

Many Thanks

Wow -- where to begin! It's been such a busy weekend. The Holiday Treasures sale was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who came (even though Map Quest is incorrect). Your support is greatly appreciated. Most of all, seeing you again and having an opportunity to keep in touch. It means a lot to me. It also makes me feel good to know my little treasures are going to great homes to be enjoyed year after year!

Today is my sweet husband's birthday. I usually plan an event with family, but this year it just didn't happen. I have been so busy working at Deepwood and working to make all the seasonal pieces that I didn't do the usual birthday festivities. Don't get me wrong - we did celebrate. We had a great time having dinner with Diane (Molly Mo's) and her family after the sale yesterday evening. This morning we met our son for breakfast at my husband's favorite cafe and a little birthday shopping afterwards. Still, I felt like I had short-changed him this year. I usually try to have little surprises throughout the day. But not this year. I didn't even bake him a cake. How rotten is that?!? He is so, so supportive of everything I do. He never (or at least very rarely) complains when any number of things fall by the way-side when I get involved in the project-of-the-day. He deserves a medal for putting up with my constant state of having something going on - especially this past year. It has been a whirlwind of activity. So tonight I took him to his favorite place for dinner. Wined and dined him and over warm marionberry cobbler, promised to slow down and spend more time with him. We need to see more movies, and go on more road trips. There will always be work and another show to prepare for, but there is only one him. He's the best and if he reads this - Happy , Happy Birthday!

I am leaving you tonight with some pictures from this weekend. Again, thank you all again for making the weekend such a success!

Glitter and Glue and Tinsel - Oh My!

As I have mentioned before, I work at a living museum, Historic Deepwood Estate. Yesterday we were preparing for the annual Holiday Gift Sale to be held on the 16th and 17th (more info under Holiday Events). The cellophane and shreds were flying! We created number of gift combinations that are ready for giving! There are many garden and tea themed gifts, most priced under $25.00! What a gift-giving deal! We also have wonderful chocolates, teas, and lemon curd for sale. There will be vendors selling handmade jewelry, candles, fresh wreaths and more. All of this will be held inside the 1894 Queen Anne home -- beautiful!

As if that isn't enough, I will be at Molly Mo's Friday evening and Saturday for our Holiday Treasures sale. Again, more info and directions to the left in the Holiday Events area. Hope to see you there! I can't wait to see the barn again tomorrow. Diane has created such a beautiful, magical venue. Everything has her special touch! Don't let the weather keep you away. It will be cozy with something warm to drink and little treats to enjoy while you shop.

I am still finishing new pieces to take out with me Friday. They will be hot off the worktable! I find that once I get going on something, I think of something else and begin it. Before either of the two are completed, I think of another and begin it. Right now I have four unfinished assembleges to complete tonight! Why do I do this to myself? I think I have to create what is in my head before it explodes. Instead, my workroom explodes - stuff all over the place. I guess that is better than my head exploding - ha! I finally took time on Monday and swept and put away some of my supplies. Much better. At least I can see the tabletop - in places! Well, thanks for checking in with me. Here are a couple of new pieces that will be at Molly Mo's! Take care.

This weekend brought sad news. A new acquaintance is courageously facing surgery and treatment, an old friend lost her husband, and a sweet family member is slipping away. All of this makes me painfully aware of how fortunate I am and how many blessings I have to be thankful for. I will be with them all in spirit wishing them courage, strength and peace.

On a lighter note, I went to Molly Mo's today to start setting out my creations for the holiday sale this Friday and Saturday. The barn looks wonderful -- and what fabulous things for sale!! You can bet there will be pictures to show you next week! Although adverse weather doesn't usually keep serious antique shoppers at home, we hope it will be a little less wet and blustery this weekend. Lucky for us, the barn has a heater. Cozy.

In closing, I want to express my delight in finding that people are finding my blog and enjoying its content. Here is another little creation! It is joined by three more of its friends at Molly Mo's --- come see them!

It's a day at home for me to work, work, work on making all the fun things that creep into my brain in the middle of the night. When I have a few minutes, like before leaving for work or waiting for the coffee to brew, I stand at my work table and start putting the bits and pieces together to see if what I imagined will really work. Sometimes it is intimidating to have that "blank canvas" in front of you. I just have to dive in and start. Trying one thing and then another until it starts to come together. I love it when there is just one thing, like a old book cover or a picture, that is my inspiration. Then, there are the times when that favorite little doo-dad just won't work. That is when I get hung up trying to make it work. I have learned to set it aside and move on to another doo-dad. Most times that is when the piece comes together. It's like the little Art Fairy suddenly flew over and sprinkled a little magic dust -- Voila! A treasure appears and makes my heart sing! Here is a picture of one of my latest little creations. Have a nice weekend!

Flurry of Mica Flake

This is the beginning of the countdown to my first holiday show - actually the first two shows: Molly Mo's and Historic Deepwood Estate. Both are on the same days. They are listed to the left under Holiday Events. I always have a hard time switching from Halloween to Christmas. I do it, but it is never as soon as I would like it to be. I am guilty of thinking how much more I could have accomplished if only I would have gotten "into it" sooner. It always works out, but until it does, I stress over it. The good thing is, things are finally coming together! Woo-hoo!!!

I will try to post sneak-peaks, but you will just have to come see my creations in person! Must go - can't let the glue dry.

Treasure Hunting

Wow! The weekend has flown by. Saturday, my husband and I went to the U of O football game. Great fun and a significant victory for Oregon. Then, of course, there was daylight savings. So, instead of waking up at 5:00, I woke up at 4:00 -- a.m. Since there isn't much to watch on TV at 4:00, I watched Animal Planet hoping I would doze off for a couple more hours. No such luck. I learned how they train dogs to find leaks in underground pipelines and how to teach your dog to lay down for a belly rub. I didn't know you had to teach your pooch to do this. My sweet Zoe sure has a natural talent for it!

Since I was awake, I got ready and I went to my favorite little monthly flea market. There were all sorts of treasures. I bought little bits and pieces that will give my Christmas creations some extra sparkle! To add to the fun, I ran into two of my fellow treasure hunters. Lots of laughs and giggles. What a nice way to wrap up the weekend.

Halloween was a great success! The party at Deepwood Estate was wonderful and the children were the best. Our son surprised us Halloween night by trick or treating with the daughter of his best friend. He was a banana and she was a little monkey. What a pair! They made my night. Needless to say, she has my son wrapped around her tiny, little finger!

Today is a day of many errands and then try to squeeze in some creative time in my work room. Not many days left until my first show at Molly Mo's on November 16th. I might be in panic mode. Tomorrow we will be going to Eugene to attend the U of O/Arizona State football game. Should be perfect football weather. Sunday I will do some shopping at a flea market. I hope there will be a few treasures that I will have to bring home. Must go and get busy!