seeking peace...

lots of big sales this weekend.  but i'm staying in.  i'm turning off the tv.  with all the blaring commercials.  about how there's still time.  to buy more gifts.  you can shop until 1 am or all night long if you wish.  not for me.  i'm seeking peace.  and i'm pretty sure i won't find it at a store.  i'm making little gifts out of leather for my nieces and nephews.  i'm finding time to splash some paint in my journal.  i'm thinking about hot cocoa.  with little tiny marshmallows.  and hanging out with my kids.  watching Transformers and Water For Elephants.  eating homemade pizza.  yes, this is where my kind of peace is.  if you're seeking peace, i hope you find yours too...

number 321...

this one is for my favorite postal clerk, who I have been seeing a lot of lately.  i made it from an old envelope, postmarked 1944 to Cuba, Alabama and I cut out the stamp and hung it from the bottom.  cool.

the breathings of your heart...

i just love this quote sent to me by my blogging friend Ellen.  she's a quote lover, just like me and she takes the loveliest photos.  i made this pink journal for someone i don't know.  there's this thing at our church every year, where you take an ornament off the christmas tree and buy a gift for the person listed on the back.  only, i always pick a tag that has something i can make.  this one was "a fun gift for a 16 year old girl".  i hope she likes pink...  my own 16 year old daughter came up with the idea of using the pink leather for a journal - i only had one smallish piece.  my favorite parts are the quote and the tiny little brass heart that i attached to the front.  i included a few of my favorite supplies, i wrapped it up real pretty and put it under the tree.  i really do hope she fills it with the breathings of her heart...

random snapshot .08

turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  maori proverb

ruminating...

as you can see here, i've been busy creating promised wumpies and bunnies.  the only problem is, my little wumpy got claimed before i even had a chance to sew up his side seam.  maybe it was his greenish, nubby skin or perhaps it was the little green velvet wishing star in his back pocket.  so, i'm sorry to disappoint you, but he has already been adopted.  and my sweet bunny?  well, let's just say, velveteen bunny making did not go as planned.  and that happens sometimes.  you see - as i was creating this little velveteen bunny, i realized that her skin is really quite delicate and that she probably would not survive too long being loved in the way that she deserves to be loved.  and being the perfectionist that i am, i have decided that i cannot send her into the world in such a delicate state.  but don't worry, she will have a cozy corner to live here in the studio.  so, for now i am going to sit down with a fresh cup of tea and ruminate over these cozy red snowflake socks.  when, you look at them you probably think, "oh, what nice christmasey socks".  but i am thinking more along the lines of a christmasey sock monster...  i'll get back to you on that.

black friday and holiday joy...

i didn't participate in any of the black friday activities.  why would i need to.  i have my very own black friday and he's just so cute - right?  no middle of the night shopping for this girl.  nope.  i spent the day with my favorite people - decorating the tree with white sparkly lights and glittered pinecones and decking the halls with boughs of holly - literally - we hiked into our backyard forest and cut some fresh boughs of holly, complete with little red berries.  this morning i woke up to these delicious bagels, freshly baked by Cassidy (she really is an amazing cook).  and as this day unfolds before me - with nothing special planned - i am filled with a deep joy.  love for my family.  happiness.  a calm, that i will try so hard to keep in my heart for the next few weeks...   

grateful...

  ...grateful for the beauty of the world just outside my door and the warmth of the love just inside it...