the holidays are lovely.

Indeed they are.

Today was our last gathering of 6.  We ate SO many good meals (woah) and enjoyed lots of visiting with family.  Ryan and I were saying yesterday how much we love the Christmas season, all of it.

Of course gifts were given and received, which is always an exciting part of Christmas time.  I thought I might share with you some of the gifts I was lucky enough to receive this year. 

My Mom and Dave splurged and got me this Kenmore sewing machine!!

I am soooo pumped about it, and can't wait to go all domestic on all y'all. ;) 

**you know, my Mom actually remembered reading the comments from my wish list post a while ago and took you readers' advice on picking a Kenmore, so thanks!**

I got this cutie perfume from my in-laws. I love wearing it.

-"Where the Sidewalk Ends" book (an old favorite!) and a gift card to Michael's with which I purchased lots of yarn on Boxing Day! :) (thanks Jackie)

-Apple Mighty wireless mouse for Pink Lady macbook.

-Harajuku Lovers G fragrance. (yes I got 2, lol)

-nerd specs (thanks Dad)

-gift card to Indigo book store (officially my most favorite place to shop ever) with which I purchased a knitting book, and a crochet book.

So it was a fun time!

Another thing I enjoyed this week was crocheting hats for my sister and sister in law.  In fact, I enjoyed making them so much that I made 2 extra ones for the etsy shop! Though... I may keep one for myself (it's not being selfish, it's being practical, I don't have a toque that fits).  But I want to fill the shop up again soon.  I'll have to post photos of the goodies for you.  Oh! and guess what.... I finally gave up (for now) on knitting mittens. So today, I sat down and crocheted my very first mitten, with my own pattern! It turned out nice.... but the next challenge will be to make the other one to look the same. :P I was bad at writing down what I was doing, so we'll see if I can remember my own pattern.

Wanna see something cuuuuute?! Ok.

I asked Maribel of maribel.etsy.com to make a custom made sock monkey for Simon for Christmas! I'm so pleased with how it turned out, and I can't wait to give him to Simon when it comes in the mail. :)

I'll leave you with some family pictures that were taken today.  Sheesh I wanted to take a portrait like this for months, to have as our Christmas card, and today we finally had the opportunity to have one taken.

Had to sport the nerd specs in a few, just for kicks and giggles ya know eh.

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmastime as well, and enjoy your last week in 2008!

xoxo, holly

no more time.

Like come' on right? No Christmas card this year? Again?? You betcha... no time was made for such a photo. :(  Two years in a row.  Maybe next year?  None the less I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a happy happy new year of course! 

I stayed up laaate tonight, finishing some crocheted gifts. (more secrets!) I'm finally done, and I feel soooo good.  I went out tonight, and Ryan and I got all of the "grab box" gifts for the gatherings this week, and I'll wrap them tomorrow. :) It feels very nice to be sort of almost slightly maybe caught up. ha.

I just wanted to share with you some eye candy... from Twinkie Chan!  I've been getting mucho crochet inspiration from her beautiful creations as of late.  Check out these scarves.

love.

Well I hope everybody has a lovely, festive Christmas!!

xoxo, holly berries. ;)

get it done holly by golly!

- post office

- perler bead gift tags

- gifts for S. (secrets)

- find Boney M Christmas cd

- make a Christmas card, and send it off to get printed

- dishes

- clean my desk

- clean living room

- supper

- R.'s hair at 5:30 (don't forget to buy T.'s color!)

- Christmas cosmos with Jenna bean. (I felt like giving that nickname, no reason, lol)

- give knitting another go

- read Velvet Elvis (I've started it a lloooong time ago, but I want to finish it before 2009, lol)

- get enough sleep to do it all over again tomorrow

Friday:

- make sure house is sparkling clean for company

- T's hair

- K's hair

- try to finish alllll the hand made gifts (oy, yeah right)

- go out to buy the rest of the gifts that are needed for grab box, etc etc.

- make dip to bring to the party on sat.

- finish gift wrapping

- sister in law's home for the holidays!

- party on until 2009...

gotta love this time of year.

oh my my...

got my hair cut this morning... not as short as I thought I would go, but there's a few ppl that protested the cut all together, lol, so I met in the middle.  It's fun.  I like it.

I feel like I haven't blogged in a while, this is a crazy time of year....  I'm not feeling very festive all of a sudden... though I've been working on gifts today, so that helped a bit.  We're also going to see my sis-in-law's music program at her school (she's a teacher) so that's always cute and Christmassy. 

I'll share with you a few things I've been enjoying lately:

Toast! Oy... I ordered the catalogue for fun, and I love it all.  The photos in the catalogue are beautiful as well.  Check out the website.

Elsie's class.  There was lots of new tutorials posted today, and I'm going to be busy with all of the awesome projects! Such great ideas. :)

aaand, a recent frustration... knitting! I read how so many gals just picked it up, and are making all sorts of lovely things... and I just can't make a straight row for the life of me.  All I want to make is some mittens to give away at Christmas, but it's proving difficult.... anyone have any suggestions for beginners? (and yes, I've already tried a scarf).

Well. back to making fun stuff!

xoxo, holly

ps. are you feeling festive? Are you all ready for Christmas??

inspired by...

the amazing dessert tables of Amy Atlas.  

Her work is soooo beautiful, and her attention to the slightest detail blows my mind.

I love how well everything is photographed, and the colors are very inspiring.

With the holidays around us, I've had baking on the brain...

bon appetite!

xoxo, holly

feeling behind...

(image from a free card from creature comforts blog)

and check out this giveaway!!  The talented Merrilee Liddiard, is doing a FABULOUS giveaway on her blog.

(photo from Mer's blog)

I'm stoked, you better go enter. :)

xoxo, holly

watch.

this little Swede has an awesome haircut... I thought of it because I'm entertaining the idea of going a bit shorter. :)

While browsing photos, I watched this video, and fell in love. Check it out. (while you're at it, watch the acoustic version of "Be Mine" too... love her voice.) 

xoxo, holly

gingerbread nerds.

Jenna and I got together on Sunday for some fun baking!

which then of course equals fun photos.

They were so fun to make.  Thanks for a fun time Jenna! xo.

and!
hehe, my friend e-mailed me this link this afternoon.  Check out what they are called. ;)

xoxo, holly

it's late.

but I wanted to say hi.

I sent my dad on a hunt for some frames for me. (for fun) and the next day he found the EXACT pair I was looking for. (thanks Dad!) See he's an optician so I knew he could do it for me. ;)

go nerds! haha

And here's my latest elsie*cake online class project: Sculpey clay charms. 

She's wearing the frames my Dad found, lol.

And, if you want a good laugh. Watch this.  I heart Rick Mercer.  It's my favorite Canadian show.

xoxo, holly

ps. You're Fancy is out of neckwarmers!! Thanks so much to those of you who took advantage of my sale.  I can't wait to fill up the shop again soon soon!

painting.

So here's the finished product!  I had lots of fun painting, it felt so good!  

I'm listing the painting in my Etsy, but only for a little while... because I'm kind of nervous about selling my artwork, mostly because I've never done it before.  So I figure if it's still sitting in the shop next week, I'll take it off.  But I'm excited!  i've got other ideas floating around for others! (but when to find the time...)

OooohH! I almost forgot, in light of Christmas fast approaching, I've put most of my Etsy stuff on mega SALE! Check it out, maybe you need to get someone a neckwarmer? Or an art journal perhaps? There's still time, so I figured I would clear some stuff out. :) Merry Christmas to YOU. I love you all. <3

Happy Weekend!

xoxo, holly

ps... Ryan and I found out this morning that we are going to the Dominican Republic in January for a humanitarian effort trip, to help build homes.  I am so excited, and looking forward to it. :) Just wanted to share the news.

good day, 'twas.

Above is a screen shot (via elsie*cake class blog) from the video chat today! It was a blast!  I really felt like we were all a bunch of crafty, super people just hanging out and sharing our creative energy.  (Marlene, I was on the phone with you in the top right screen shot, lol).   It was a great experience.

So with all this creativity floating around... I started a bunch of christmas presents (secrets!), and a new painting!! Oh it's fun to paint again, I haven't completed a painting in probably 5 years.  Ryan and I are just hanging out tonight, and listening to music (christmas tunes, hardcore, and techno, lol).   Here's a shot of work in progress.

I think it'll be for the Etsy... not sure though.  I may have a hard time parting with paintings.... and I've never ever sold any art before, but we'll see.  My mom is the only one to own a painting of mine... maybe someone else would want to own a piece of me?  We'll see.

Goodnight,

xoxo, holly

she's crafty like ice is cold.

*photos with my sister from last night* :)

I'm spending my day creating!  Well as much as Simon will let me in between story times and playing with blocks, lol.  He's been napping well this week, so I'm hoping to have a few good hours. ;)  Elsie's class is having a video chat today, all day! So I feel like I'm hanging out with her today, it's going to be funnnn!

I'll probably be working on some Christmas gifts... so not sure how much I'll be able to post, but it's going to be fun!  Are you making anything today? I'd love to hear about it.   Have you made any tree ornaments yourself this year? I'd love to see! Leave me a link.  Let's craft, and share our inspiration together!

ready, go.

xoxo, holly

feeling inspired...

by Lady Gaga! Not as much the music (though catchy and fun!), as the photos, and the outfits she wears in the photos.   I totally feel like dressing all 80's and having a photo shoot. ...

lovely. inspiring. rockin!

xoxo, holly

Martha is awesome.

love the button wreath!

I admit to being a big fan of Martha's website, and all it's many many awesome ideas.  I can always find some project that I love, or just get tons of visual inspiration from browsing the photos.   Today I was looking for some fun and easy ornaments that a group of friends might enjoy to make together. :)  'Tis the season after all.  (oh I love the holidays!)

oh! and look at this post.   Janel is a sweetheart. :)

xoxo, holly