Handmade Holidays... Deck the Halls in Red and White

Last Christmas, simple red and white holiday decor made me swoon... and the obsession cntinues this season. Here are a few of my favorites- 1. Personalized Christmas Stocking by NanaMontana 2. Miniature Bird by doudoubirds 3. Believe Sign by CowCountryCreations 4. Silver Snowflake Embroidery Hoop by sometimesiswirl 5. Hanging Plate by owlcreekceramics 6. Wood Reindeer, White Christmas by SlippinSouthern 7. Folk Art Reindeer by RawBoneStudio 8. Red and White Christmas Ornament by LoveMeOrnamentals

Garden Clean Up!

Have you heard the phrase "Eat the frog first"-- what else could you have to do that would be worse than that? The truth of this makes me laugh-- the energy created by doing the worst thing first and getting it out of the way is amazing! Anyway, I have been procrastinating the garden clean up for weeks and the avoidance of it has really sapped my strength so starting on Saturday, I decided to get to it and finally today, YAYYYYY! it's finished-- all the overgrown dried and dead plants are trimmed back to the ground, every bed raked and 17 wheelbarrows full of leaves and plants have been dumped in the compost pile! It was such a beautiful day (sunny and 16 degrees C) that I also started collecting some fir boughs for the window boxes on the shed and garage...here are some photos of the before and after.

BEFORE and AFTER!
The weather forecast for the rest of the week is lovely so I think we'll try to finish the outdoor holiday decorations before the snow flies... now, which frog will I eat tomorrow?

deck the halls...

Some of my older

favorites are joined this year by two

new stars in blues and greens

and lots of fun pink--

let's put the carols on and

begin to trim the tree!

Blue Christmas, Handmade Beaded Wire Star

Tickled Pink, Handmade Beaded Wire Star
(10% of the proceeds from this star is donated to The American Cancer Society
through Etsy Project Embrace)

Burst, Multi-Color Handmade Beaded Wire Star

(this star is beaded on both sides!)
... perfect for your hostess for holiday parties, your child's teacher, friends or for YOURSELF!

Havin' A GREAT Weekend!

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and mild and I headed to our local garden center for boughs and berries to pretty up our front porch (what do you think of our PINK front door ~ my husband takes a fair bit of ribbing over that door from all his manly friends and just about anyone who sees it, really...poor guy). I've been on the hunt for snowberries this time every year for the past few and I hit the jackpot yesterday ~ bunches and bunches available for the taking (well...buying).

I even had my hubby out helping with the Christmas lights with just a minimum of grumbling ("This is what you consider quality together time????" - direct quote)...anyhow...I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of hours of arranging, bow-tying(?), and lighting the place up in order to attract as much holiday attention as possible. Here are a few photos...

and, on a couple of happy Etsy notes, my beaded star ornament is featured in Friday Finds, Thoughtful Gifts Under $50 - THANKS and whooohooo! It brought enough shoppers to reach my 500th sale!!!! Yay! Thanks so much everyone!