1st sign of snow

Waking up to this is fun...just a sprinkling...enough to make you feel like I live in a winter wonderland surrounded by sugar plum trees.  I love the picture I took through the screen...It's like a pixelated winter scene.  

Buy Michigan Now 2011 Gift Guide

If you have a chance, check out the Buy Michigan Now 2011 Holiday Gift Guide.  It's filled with fabulous gifts made in Michigan!  I'm so happy to have been included in the Guide this year with my Michigan and custom state ornaments.  There are lots of fantastic products from our wonderful Great Lakes State and the best gifts!!  It's an honor to participate in this movement where you can help support the local economy and have fun doing it!  And doing it now is more important than ever, so join in!

Getting lost in the leaves

The best thing about the fall....getting lost in the leaf pile...

Fancy gift wrap with the girls

It's not too early to start those holiday projects...such as handmade wrapping paper.

Materials:
Paper-kraft, white, butcher (any big sheets will do)
Potato

Paint (acrylic, poster paint, washable, whatever you have around the house)

Spread out the paper on the table or floor.  Cut the potato in half.  Pour paint onto paper plates.  Dip potatoes and stamp paper.  Couldn't be easier!  Or more beautiful.  The more stamping, the better.  This is especially great if you have very, very little ones.

States in progress

I've been enjoying making these fantastic state ornaments recently.  I can do just about any state...I've never realized that Washington State has a fantastic whale shape--I love it!!  Custom orders for state ornaments available at my Dear Adam etsy shop.  The best part?  Each one is unique!

Kitty needs a new bed

Apparently I had promised Kitty a new bed a long, long time ago and she just couldn't wait any longer.  So I whipped up a little carry-along basket bed for her along with a cushion, pillow, and blanket.   One of the best feelings is fulfilling a promise to my children....Aaaaaah

Tarnish Love

Reminders of a time gone-by of superfluous luxury and romantic extravagance.  Some of these pieces can be found at Vintage Surplus on Etsy.

Zen Farm

Had a productive weekend, I finished 2 advent calendars and went to take pictures of them just a few minutes away at my favorite photo spot--a beautiful farm turned Township Farm Park.  It was very serene there, it was hard imagining it as a working farm years and years ago.  It's now surrounded by residential homes but it's a wonderful place to visit and the best spot to take in the big blue sky.  I especially love the immense Medusa tree and all the brown curled up leaves that rustle under my footsteps.  If everyone had a spot like this, the world would be a more peaceful place.  Nature's beauty can be found just about everywhere, but the advent calendars can only be found here.

Reminiscing

When it's cold and dark outside, I reminisce about long winter days last year and wonder what new projects we'll do this year to pass the time.

The Pioneer Has To Wait

I bought this fabulous colonial/pioneer/Laura Ingalls pattern at a garage sale last year for a QUARTER! and still haven't gotten to it.   I have so much fabric at home so I didn't want to buy any nice new cotton for it but I just couldn't get the blues to match.  Maybe next year.

Folk dance costumes at the International Festival in Southfield

Celebrating fall

Harvest celebrations are the best.  Especially during a nice warm day.  Celebration flags available here.

But first, Halloween costumes

Before I get carried away with Christmas, we have to get through Halloween.  This year, we're playing cowboys and Indians, cowgirls and Indians, that is.  The cowgirl has pretty much been pieced together from various rummage sales.  I'm just adding some embroidery detail to the denim shirt.  The Indian is a bit more time-consuming since it's being made from scratch.  It's about halfway done with all re-purposed leather found in thrift shops and rummage sales.  The collar ribbon is actually Swedish cotton trim.  It's so beautiful and has that indigenous look.  The handmade headband was a thrift store find, too, but we had a great mailbox surprise from a friend with an inspiration from Parenting magazine and some kid-safe "jewels."  So we'll probably make our own, fit for an Indian princess.

Advent calendars, stockings, ornaments

The leaves are turning, the wind is howling outside my window and I have to put on  a sweater to keep warm.  I can feel the holiday season approaching and it's giving me tingles down my back.  It's my favorite time of year and I have a lot to prepare...