I can hardley believe that Christmas is just a few short days away...where did the time go? I have been extremely busy with the kids programs, getting ready for Christmas and dailyl ife. I have been baking everyday since my last post and I'm still not done....4 days til the big day!!!! I have most of the cookies done...1 more batch to go and then on to the candies and nuts and pumpkins rolls and pies....With that being said, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy holiday and remember this...while you all are shopping, wrapping presents and stressing about what present to get each person on your list...take a minute to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas...time with family and great friends and remember those who have passed or those who are ill or less fortunate that us. It could always be worse; be thankful for those in your life and never let a moment go by that you don't tell them so....Have a great Holiday!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Happy Friday..(almost)... I have been so busy this week working and working on things for my open house. I am still unsure of the date:(:(...so many things I want to get done and do before then but I have been working all week and will be up until next Wednesday. Not enough hours in the day for this crafty mom. I had my son, DIL and grandkids this week for dinner. I am having more blocks cut for the Christmas countdown gifts...every seems to like them so far, I just hope that I can sell some>>>hehehe. On Tuesday this week, we had a rare fall storm with 50-60 mph winds that ripped through most of the state in a matter of hours. We were lucky not to have damage, but it looked scary for a few hours. I can't believe that in a few days it will be the end of October 2010...weren't we just celebrating New Year's 2010? I swear the older I get, the faster the years go by before I have a chance to catch my breath. I am a huge picture taker, much to the disappointment of the kids and I always snapping shots of them and my grandkids around the house. I keep trying to convince that some day they will thank me>>>hoping so anyway.
My biggest pet peeve and complaint about this time of year is the retail business....WHERE IN THE HECK IN THE FALL SEASON AND THANKSGIVING IN YOUR DEPARTMENT STORES???
Seems that right after school starts and they clear out the school supplies, up go the Halloween decorations. I have never been one to celebrate Halloween but prefer to decorate for fall. And almost immediately around October 15th, they put the Halloween stuff on discount and bring out the Christmas stuff. Now, I like to decorate and get ready for Christmas just as much as anyone, but how can we just skip over the whole month of November???? Thanksgiving to me is so much more exciting and meaningful than Christmas....its all about getting together and eating....no worries about gifts or how much to spend...just getting together.
Well, enough of my rantings for tonight.
Have a great weekend~~~Happy Crafting
Stephanie

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Happy Hump Day All!!!!
I am so shocked that everyday when I wake up, it is so much closer to the holidays....":):) I have been somewhat productive this week. I got an order for a Relay for Life Benefit this upcoming weekend. I have to do 6 tiles and 10 bracelets....Halfway done with the project today. Yesterday I got my husband to cut some wood for me. I started my Christmas Countdown Blocks, I have 5 sets ready to go for the Open House. I am also starting a new project...I want to give my sister-in-law something completely unique that I know she will love. It's a family blessing calendar. Intended for use in November but I have a feeling that she may leave it up all year. The concept is to write down something that you are thankful for everyday of the month and re read them from time to time. I will post pictures when I am all done. While doing the prep work for putting this project together, I came up with another idea. My 85- year old grandmother has a calendar she's been using for decades for every ones' birthdays. She keeps erasing the ages of them and adds another year...I am making her a perpetual calendar with months of coordinating scrapbook paper for both birthdays and anniversaries. At the beginning of each month, she will be able to take out the card from the envelope and see every one's birthday for that month......Pictures posted when I am done with that as well. Well, off the the cricut to do more cutting....Next week will be picture heavy I think;);)
Happy Crafting
Stephanie

Sunday, October 17, 2010

The best part about Sundays is sleeping in, morning coffee, reading the newspaper with my family and visiting cooking sites and crafting blogs to get ideas....Today was some what productive for me as far as getting things ready for my open house next month. I got the fliers and guest lists uploaded on my computer. I found a ton of cookie exchange recipes to make for samples...hopefully to get holiday orders. And my husband and dad helped me get some wood cut and sanded so that I could paint them for my Countdown to Santa calendar. The weather was absolutely perfect today and it was the perfect opportunity to be outside most of the day. I can hardly believe that October is winding down. I have about 4 weeks til my open house so I will try to get things done in the next 2 weeks and bake in the week before. I have to kick my husband and son out for the day....they will either go fishing or somewhere to watch football. It's quiet here tonight as everyone is asleep early, guess that's what fresh air does to you.
Have a great week everyone and enjoy your family....
Stephanie

Good Evening:

The leaves are turning, the weather is getting cooler, all the signs of autumn are in the air. I know that the calendar is changing due to my instinct to get things planned for November. Cookies, parties, dinners, thinking ahead to Christmas. We have decided to have a cookie party and an open house in November. I am in the process of taking cookie orders, pumpkin rolls, treats, candies and even meals this year. I am hoping to be so busy that time flies and it's the beginning of the new year. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the world keeps people so busy that they forget the important things...family and friends. Seems the holidays are so stressful for families and this year especially due to the high unemployment rate and high foreclosure rates. My hopes for all is a safe and memory filled season. Remember...life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.....hug your family....

happy days

Stephanie

Good Evening All:
I went to the hobby store today...not a good thing for me when hubby is waiting in the car. He refuses to go into that place with me & I could shop in there for hours. I found some beads that my girls wanted to try bracelets and I looked at material in every color, print, plaid, polka dot and design. I was looking for puppies to make a towel, but wasn't successful. Overall, it was a great day here in Ohio. Fall is definitely here, but the weather today was almost summer-like in the mid 70s...Tomorrow I will not be able to be "kraftee" as my dad is moving and I need to help him. BUT....this weekend I have plans to be crafty, sew and be creative. Christmas will be here before we know it....Anyone have anything planned that they are making for gifts? I would love to hear your ideas....
have a great day....
Stephanie

Happy October!!!!!! I love fall....This month will be a busy month for me. I will be planning my menu for the holidays and shopping for all my pantry items. Today I spent several hours looking at fabric and crafty items at my local craft store. I made a fall hand soap bottle and a matching hand sanitizer...can never kill too many germs in the fall....I am planning on doing some sewing this weekend as I will be out of town most of next week. Tonight I will have the grand babies.....yayyyyy me.....My daughters are wanting to expand and venture into jewelery making so I've started collecting items for them. It's nice having a relaxing fall day to just sit and think of ideas.....
Have a great weekend..
Stephanie

Good Day Ladies:
Today was a typical fall day here in Ohio...rainy, cool, windy, leaves blowing. A great day to just stay inside and curl up with a book or a craft project. Unfortunately, I could not do either...I was helping with that part time job still. It should be finished tomorrow...and then off to another job on Monday. I love having some extra cash since my husband was out of work for 3 years, but oh how my crafts have taken a back seat for the past few months. I am still just planning my Thanksgiving menu and Cookie list along with thinking of my new craft adventure...
I hope that everyone is well and that this writing finds them in good health and great spirits...
Have a great day
Stephanie

September 22, 2010

Good Evening Happy Crafters!!!!
Well tomorrow is the big day....1st day of FALL...Oh how I love autumn...The smell, the colors, the sights, the decorating...getting ready for Thanksgiving. Oh and the weather...I love the cool mornings. Today was a non productive day concerning crafting for me. I was helping a friend of my do some packing work at a local factory. I will be helping the rest of this week and all next week...10 hours a day. It looks like my crafting will once again be put on hold. But I am looking forward to buying some new material and supplies so I can keep on working in the garage...My Craft Space.
I love to plan parties and make lists. October will be a busy list making month for me. I usually start making up my Christmas Cookie Lists and my menu for Thanksgiving. Typically, I feed about 30 people on any given holiday and have been known to make thousands of cookies. I love cooking for the holidays and crafting table and house decor to match the holidays. Funny how life comes full circle for some...when all my children were all little they used to love making christmas cookies with me and then kind of grew out of it in their teen years. Then they decided that I went over board for the holidays. Now that 3 of the 6 are out of the house, they are the ones who can't wait for the holidays this year and have put in special requests already. Now they miss my cooking and being extravagant!!!!! And now, it's even better since I have little grand kids running around the kitchen with me.
Have a great day everyone and keep inspired!!!!
Stephanie

September 21, 2010

Well, Hello fellow bloggers. It has been quite some time since I last posted. I guess the only explanation I have is that I was in a craft "funk". I hope and pray that most of my fellow readers will know what I am talking about. There was a time , in the past several months, that I did not pick up one piece of material, look at one pattern, think about one single craft project. I have no reason, just that I felt out of sync with the world and with my abilities. Since that seems to have passed, I started crating again, added a few new creations and became a grandmother. Maybe the grandkids inspired me...who knows....My 2nd oldest son left for over seas, my oldest daughter has graduated high school and left for college, and my oldest son adopted 2 beautiful children and he & his wife are expecting a new baby girl in January. I am excited about all the new aspects of what life has to bring. I will be posting some new pics and promise to try to make the attempt to keep on blogging!!!
Have a Blessed Day and keep crafting.....
Stephanie