Happy Holidays!

From our home to yours!



Don't forget to leave some cookies out for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer!
From: Michelle, Brian and Dyllan Cummings!

Etsy Spotlight 2

A huge thanks to all these ladies for help in making the December Boutique a success! Their donated shop items were much appreciated in our give away bags!
As promised...I am giving away one of my Holiday birdies...and the winner is Wanda Clark!

***************************************
I've put together another Etsy showcase for you to enjoy with favorites from these girls shops!
If you would like to see your shop showcased here...please contact me for the details!

Please ENJOY the following....and be sure to check back next week for a ramble of my adventures...craft making, baking, decorating, baking, sewing, baking...and more baking! I'll have photo's of my cookies, with some tutorials and recipe's to share! Plus my own giveaway's here and there... ;)

Jackie Naples


****************************************
Wanda Clark


****************************************
Elizabeth Bogardus


***************************************
Veronica Noechel


****************************************
Barbara Raidl

The Last Tag...

I apologize for my blog posting lack of, but between prepping for a Holiday boutique (today) and visiting Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas...I've been busy!
Speaking of tags...the one above is the LAST tag. sob! But he has been giving away prizes all 11 days, with today being the last...the more comments he gets...the more he'll giveaway!
Please go here to see how to make this one, complete with your own grunge roses...and maybe you'll win!
Also see the rest of the tag tutorials here!

Off to bake cupcakes for the boutique!...I'll post back here after the weekend with a giveaway!

Etsy Spotlight!

The following 5 ladies have donated wonderful items in the goodie bags for the Holiday Boutique this Saturday and I just want to say thanks!
I'm showcasing favorites from their shop all this month
and January as well to show my appreciation.
If you like what you see, stop by their shop to let them know!

Partridge in a Pear Tree
Holiday card by: Barbara Raidl

***
Christmas Gift Tags by: Veronica Noechel


***
Christmas Bracelet by: Elizabeth Bogardus


***
Vintage Cat Playing Cards by: Wanda Clark


***
Vintage Tam Wool Ladies Hat by: Jackie Naples



Starting February of 2010,
I will showcasing different Etsy shops the 3rd Friday of each month.
If you would like to see your shop here,
please contact me so I can give you the details.

Where have I Been???

Busy busy.
Well we got back from our Thanksgiving road trip on Nov. 28th.
On Tuesday Dec.1st I cooked a full fledged Thanksgiving meal for my small family of 3.
It was my 1st Turkey and everything came out just as planned except for the fact that Brian came home from work sick and could not taste or smell at all.
Then I came down sick too with a head cold that night.
The rest of the week was filled with WONDERFUL leftovers and no energy from being sick.
I posted here and there on FB, Fiskateers and of course on Tim Holtz blog.
He is doing the 12 tags of Christmas and giving away goodies daily!
Hop on over and see his wonderful tuitorials!

*************
I'm all better now and getting back into the swing of things, prepping for a boutique this Saturday and hoping to decorate the house today for Christmas!
I'm behind in sending out RAKS, so if you are waiting for something...expect it around Christmas Day with a few extra goodies added to.... ;)
**************
I have a extra ornament to give away if anyone is interested. (sorry no picture)
I've taken up prodding which is a 1800 century form of rug hooking and have a few leftover from a swap.

If you are interested...let me know here and I'll pick someone before my next blog post!
*************
And last but not least...Congratulations to Sue Kruse of Cottage Way of Life for winning the Acorn Caps!

Till next time...stay warm and creative!
~Michelle

"Furry" Tan Oak Acorn Caps giveaway!

First of all, just wanted to congratulate Mahala for winning the previous fabric giveaway!

The above acorn caps come from a Tan Oak and are the most delightful furry things you will ever see! Perfect for crafting or to have in a decorative dish. The largest cap can measure as big as a quarter! I picked some fresh ones at my Uncles up north and would like to share some with you! I'll pick a winner from this post later this week when I post my Holiday re-cap!

Gypsy Giveaway

The Gypsy Spot is giving one of these away! And after seeing one in action at a recent crop, I'm really hoping I win!
Hurry! They pick a winner on the 1st!

Grace cathedral in San Francisco CA

Here is Grace Cathedral, another amazing church in San Francisco!


When you first enter you can't help but walk the labyrinth. So relaxing!

Then it's the amazing and vast arches. Overlaying each other, higher and higher!
I've decidedI want to do a weekend of visiting nothing but the great Cathedrals in San Francisco. Anyone up for a road trip?


My new favorite place is now Britex Fabrics.
4 stories of absolute sewing goodness.
I bought a few things to share and want to give someone what you see below plus some extra fantastic fabric remnants (not shown)


Congratulation's to Mahala for winning this giveaway!
~ Happy Thanksgiving!

St. Peters Cathedral CA

So many things to see in San Francisco! Driving around there is always a feast for the eyes! We concluded our Sunday by looking for a playground for Dyllan to get his Ya Ya's out. Finding a playground was not so hard as finding a parking spot, but we got lucky and while Dyllan played, I went into St. Peters Cathedral.


(above photo by Brian J. Cummings)


This place was simply breathtaking and just so beautiful!

I could not stop looking UP! as the ceiling was as ornate as the the walls and floor!

Today we are going to Union Square for shopping, photo op's, China Town and riding on the Trolley. Did I say shopping? Yea!
Please check back here Tuesday for a chance to win some goodies from today's adventure!

Holiday Travel

We are on our way soon, to travel up to San Francisco for a few days, Eureka on one day and then to My Uncle Walters place for Thanksgiving! We visited up north in 2007 and you can re-visit that post here.
Do you like this brooch I made? I've been making oodles and oodles for the Holiday Boutique in December, plus so many new things, never before seen in my shop! I can't wait to show and tell!

I hope you all will have a wonderful Holiday! I'll look for some RAK worthy items while in S.F., might even post the giveaway here while I'm there!

Found these festive gems near our local post office. Would have been rude not to take a photo of their beauty don't you think?
See you soon!

You are invited to a Holiday Boutique!

The Goddesses of Craft are hosting a a Holiday Boutique on December 12th!
11:00am-2:00pm
If you live in Southern Ca, and would like to drop by to experience the *Magic*....
~ please contact me for further details!

~*

I will be selling:

Custom craft glitter,

Christmas Birds,

Birds Nest pendants,

Vintage inspired Christmas Trees,

Decorated gift tags,

Scrapboxes,

Glittery mobiles,

Crowns,

Tiara’s,

Faerie Houses and more!

~*

Something New

I recently received these as a gift from a friend and while I am utterly delighted to have them, I've never used this type before and was wondering if any one out there in "blog land" can offer me some tips?
They are applique templates designes by Donna Dewberry for Fiskars ~ to be used with fabric.
My main question is how to keep the fabric from slipping?
Thanks!

The Ties that Bind

My Uncle Bob died recently and I felt really bad I could not attend the funeral.
So when I learned I would be seeing my Aunt Marge (my Mom's Sister) at a Cousins Wedding, I wanted to show my support.
I used a Family lacing card kit (by Cosmo Cricket).
I distressed all the edges with sandpaper and attached the frames with foam tape leaving the top open so a photo could be added. The hardest part was the lacing, but it was worth it and I think it turned out great!
I have a extra kit to give away and if you'd like a chance to win, just post a comment here, (make sure you are reachable) and I'll pick a winner sometime Sunday.
Good Luck!

****(((WINNER UPDATE))))****
Congratulations to Lisa Simpson for winning the Family" book!

Feeling Good

Ok, not really.
Went in today thinking I was going to get the crown for a root canal I had 2 weeks ago.
But no...they wanted to put in a post which required more surgery.
I was not prepared for that bit and started tearing up when they were prepping all around me. Fine during surgery till towards the end when I realized they were stitching me up, not flossing me, cause I saw the NEEDLE and I almost "lost" it.
I canceled my plans for the weekend so I can "hole" my self up in my studio to organize and conjure up some new ideas.
The above is what makes me feeling good. It's from my Fiskateer Secret Sister! Her package brings a "Smile" to my face and a "skip" to my step every time I look at it!
It's all me. To the "T" !
This month is the big reveal and I can't wait to find out who she is!

My *New* Witch Hat!

I finally acquired a "Witch" hat made from my friend Jackie!
I've been dreaming of them for a year now...
Here's the one she made for ME.

I wore it at Halloween and every witch I came across was green with envy.

Jackie has a shop on etsy where you can see all her Millinery delights!
Here are some more Witch hats.....a Vintage goodie....and this darling Faerie Crown!

Halloween Atc's!

I recently participated in another ATC swap with my Fiskateer friends!
I consider every ATC a miniature work of art!



- mine is hard to see- it's the witch (above) holding the jack o lantern.



You can see my witch better here (below) - just click on the photo-
I hung them on a empty wall space like little banners!


Visit more ATC swaps here!
by the way...how do you like my blog's look for November?

Disney's Halloween Treat!

This last October 15, I took Dyllan to Mickeys Halloween Treat over at Disney California. We have been going every year since they started this fun event!
It was just the two of us and Dyllan is dressed up as "Captain Rex" from Clone Wars.

Love the outfits! Caramel Apple and Candy Corn...

Gum drop

Butterscotch

Peppermint

and a cupcake!

we found a cute little pooh,

Handy Mandy

Little Einsteins

always my favorite...the witches

Fro-zone

Mr. Incredible and the incredible baby





A pirate family and their lovely pink chicken? lol!

Dyllan learning from Mrs.Peppermint how to dance to Thriller!

check out those moves!

a talking scarecrow!

more fabulous witches!

Dyllan participating in the parade as he learns to dance to the Monster Mash!



just LOVE those outfits!

found some jedi's...

pirates wharf



Dyllan with Captain Fox!

We used our map to lead us to these various "candy" stations where they gave out the likes of assorted candy, Giradeli squares, apple slices, baby carrots, raisins, and crackers.

The Mad Hatter and his Queen...

another jedi

another Captain Rex?

Aha! Finally a Darth Vader!

The next morning.

After sorting out the Mommy approved candy, the rest filled up 1/2 of out candy bowl!

Hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween! Come back tomorrow for our Halloween feast!