Holiday Rush

Are you rushing already to make all things for the holiday season?
Or rushing to buy all your goods before they sell out?

This year I am trying not to rush, but enjoy the holidays one at a time.
I maybe making orders for others so they get their decorations in time.
But as for me I am making a rule of not buying a single thing decor or gift wise until Thanksgiving is enjoyed and past.

We are relishing in the cold autumn air and feeling the love for Turkeys around here.

My child was off school this week and we did our own school time and craft.
It was a craft I remember making every year in school, a simple turkey to learn colors and placement.
I am happy to have my child now enjoy the simple past time of crafting.

Today is another day off of school and we have a ton of stuff to get done today.
We are a bit under the weather, something like a flu bug bit us and it is icky.
But I must not let it get me down.  I am still needing to organize and pack for my Chicago trip.
Orders from my shop must be sent before I leave on Thursday.  And this house ugh, how is it that just a day of rest makes the whole house turn into the playroom???

So I better get up and move around even though I just want to sit and be waited on ;)

Pumpkin Pie

With it really feeling like fall outside, blustery and so cold it is hat weather.
We are staying indoors and baking, yes you read that correctly. ;)

First my son was so excited to help me mix the ingredients for his gluten free cupcakes.
He did a wonderful job and even helped me pour it into the cupcake tin.

Yum, they come out so moist and delicious.
They are so good they don't even need icing.

While the real cupcakes were baking in the oven my son asked if he could paint.
One of our favorite past times.
So he asked for his favorite color, Orange, and started on a paper plate upside down.

As he continued to look for supplies he got the glue and did a ring around the outside edge and started filling it with cotton balls.
I looked at it and thought this looks just like a pumpkin pie!
What a wonderful surprise his creating led too.  A perfect pumpkin pie to add to our Thanksgiving decorations.

Winter Warmth in My Studio

Today my studio is dark.
Clouds are rolling in, winds are howling and blustery.
Sending the temperatures soaring down...finally.

I lit a pumpkin candle and I am hard at work on sold orders.
I watch the tree whipping back and forth out my window that has now been shut.

It is wonderful scenery to work by.  Studio is dimly lit as to realize how dark it is outside.
The glow of the tv is filling the room and replaying my favorite movie over and over again.
I could watch pillow talk everyday, in fact it played 3 times yesterday as I worked :)
It is such a funny and happy movie with songs I can sing along with and dance in my chair.

Okay back to Santa's Workshop

Woodland Simplicity

My son gathered another basket of pinecones for me on Sunday.

He was so excited to bring them home for me after playing in the park.

I decided I would preserve them in a decorative way, rather than just putting them in a bowl.

I am fond of how it turn out, simple and sweet.

They hang by my front door so as to see them everyday coming and going.

I like his coon skin cap hanging next to them.
My son is obsessed with Moonrise Kingdom, I think an excellent movie for a little boy to love.

For another fall surprise, I went to the mailbox late last night and found a lovely little package awaiting me.

A certain New England blogger took a few moments to think of those of us that don't get  a fall here in the desert and sent an envelope of brightly colored REAL fall leaves!!!
It is the simple gestures that make the best surprises in life.
Something so simple and taken for granted by most made me smile and all those childhood memories of growing up around trees came rushing back.
I lit my warm candles and gazed at my new leaves that were sent with such care.
Thank you!!

Winter Wonderland Model

I couldn't ask for a better model to showcase my hats and scarves.
My sister in Chicago bundled up for the cold outdoors and looking so winter wonderlandesque
Doesn't she look straight out of the roaring 20's

On to more in my studio today.
Yesterday was a great day filled with lovely orders and emails of excitement of their packages.
This really makes me happy to create, to receive such wonderful feedback from my buyers is the best!

Vintage mercury ornaments in the shop today and I am getting more crocheted jars together as we speak.

I have my all time favorite movie on,  Pillow Talk...it always makes me super happy :)

French Christmas

I am in my studio today creating away.
Here is what I have so far....

all available here

November

As many of you know this is my most favorite time of year.

Our month has started with a sick child and family visiting.
Lots of activities to fill our days and nights.

We spent yesterday clearing out all the Halloween and transitioning to Turkey, leaves and gourds.

Do you know how hard it is to find Turkey decor these days?
It is like we go right from Halloween to Christmas.  What happened to Pilgrims and Indians, husks of corn and Turkey's????
I finally stumbled upon the Mother of all turkey's at ZGallerie Yesterday.

It makes the most beautiful centerpiece to our dining table.

We have laid out the table runner of my boy's handprint turkeys and acorns for name cards.

A flameless candle glows under the glass of my collection of pine cones, antique spools and gumballs.

It feels like fall as the scents of our new candles fill the house.
If you love a strong candle go to Bass Pro Shops,  The best candles I have ever had!

You don't even have to light them.  The scent of fresh brewed coffee or warm cinnamon buns and my favorite pumpkin vanilla.
They all come in the cutest  packaging of cast iron skillets and granite ware.

Today our day is just as full as the rest have been the past week and I really need to buckle down and get some work done. 
Our guests leave tonight and tomorrow will be all about getting back in that studio for holiday orders.