All is calm, All is bright

The snow these last few days has been amazing. 15 inches was recorded at the airport, and one news channel reported that it was a record for one day's snowfall. Albuquerque is so ill equipped for weather like this - can you blame them for a once in a century type of storm? The city has basically shut down - malls, stores and restaurants are closed, no mail, every major highway closed pretty much statewide. What better excuse than to stay home and stay in our jammies all day:) We are having a little New Year's Eve get together for a few friends from Hubby's work so I am spending the day cleaning and getting snacks ready. Moki's C-Bug spent the night last night and so far the girls have played in the snow, drank hot chocolate, played games, played dress up and watched Harry Potter. Miss S is thrilled to have a playmate after being cooped up at home the last few days.



I have never in the 19 years I have lived in Albuquerque seen storms like this, or icicles like this - the longest is about 2 feet long!

Friday this fantastic swap package arrived from brand new mom Robyn - this was my first private swap and I cannot believe all the goodies she packed into the box!! Fun purses, lots of crafting goodies, goodies for atcs, handmade stitch marker, beaded necklace and dish scrubbies, candy, stickers, and some fabulous black yarn that I will have to make something cool out of:):) Thank you Robyn!!!! I love everything and I hope she gets her package from me anyday!!

Also on Friday I received my Vintage Book Swap package from Jo in Australia. Jo was awesome enough to send another package to me when the first ended up MIA. The book looks fabulous and check out the cool beaded bookmarker. Thanks Jo!!!

I am seriously itching for some crafting. I finished up an apron for a swap yesterday - but forgot to take a picture of it:(. I'm almost done with Hubby's knit hat. I'm ready to start something for ME:) How often I get so caught up in crafting for others that I forget to craft for myself:) Hopefully I'll have lots of projects to show you soon!!! Have a wonderful day!

Holy Snow, Batman

It snowed for about the last 24 hours here in Albuquerque. Here is what we woke up to:

Yes - that says 9 inches of snow. That is on the pavement in the front yard - I'm sure it is deeper in the backyard. Miss S and I have not left the house in 2 days and we are STIR CRAZY!! We have to venture out now to take Hubby to work so I hope the roads aren't too bad!!!

I love it - it is so beautiful and peaceful outside.

Winners!

Miss S drew the winning names for my 100th post give away.....


I don't think I could have made the picutre blurrier if I had tried:):) Our winners are MaryAnn and Marianne:):) Too funny!!! MaryAnn I have your address, but Marianne if you could email me at raeshadrz at yahoo dot come with yours:) I will get something out to both of you this week:):)

Kids Say The Darndest Things Part II

After Miss S and I came home from church she sang Angels We Have Heard on High at the top of her lungs for about a half an hour - however, she sang the chorus as G..l..o..r..i..a, NARNIA!!! She is such a riot. Moki and I sang in the choir today and C Bug helped entertain Miss S. She kept goofing around in the pew though and avoided looking at me at all costs:):) Church was wonderful, and very uplifting.

I finished the second to the last gift today - a scarf for my friend. Hubby's hat is not quite finished so I think I will just show it to him tomorrow and let him know that I hope to finish it this week:) Well, actually I do have a few more crafty things to make for my friend Lisa and her kiddos, but I don't think we will be seeing them until the end of the week so I have a few more days for that.

I finally took halfway decent pictures of my swaps from Amy - here is the Christmas ATC swap. They are all so cool!!


And here are my ornaments from the ornament swap - They are all my favorite:) Each is so different and they showcase so many different techniques.


And my Holiday Stress Care Package arrived from Swap-bot. Every single thing she sent was perfect! And she wrapped it all in green and purple wrappings (my two favorite colors) - here we have Swedish fish, candy cane gift bags and gift tags, post it notes, stationery, tags, bookmarks, Peppermint tea, candy cane socks, snowman mug (one of those cool tall thin mugs), green sparkly ornament, purple and green beads, purple and green thread, rickrack and buttons...I just kept getting more and more excited as I opened each item:) I love swap packages like this:):)


Merry Christmas Eve to you all!! I hope you are safe, happy, and with loved ones tonight:):)

100 Posts!!

My last post was my 100th!!!! Yeah!! I'm so grateful to Moki for introducing me to this fantastic world of bloggers.

So as is custom....leave me a comment and on Sunday I will draw two names and each will receive a little goodie in the mail from me:):)

Kids (and Adults) Say the Darndest Things

Miss S and Hubby were watching Star Trek Voyager today and Miss S said "Where's Jean Luc? Is he on a break?"....my sweet little girl is a trekkie and I couldn't be prouder:):)

After we got home from dinner I had this message on my machine from Moki...."HI, I was wondering what pattern you are using for that thingie you are making." I laughed my BUTT off!! She's at choir practice right now or else I would call her right up and tell her she needed to be a little more specific as to what thingie she is talking about:):)

I finally found time last night to get a little crafting done - two more presents DONE!! This very cool frame is for my sweet friend, Carla.


And this set of JOY letters is for my friend, Lisa. These were both made from kits from Hobby Lobby - I love kits cause they are great for those times when you just don't have the brain power to be creative, but you want to do some crafting:)


Wednesday we had our first really big snow storm in 6 years...about 6-11 inches fell throughout the city. We closed the office early on Wed so everyone could head home. It still took me almost an hour and half to make the 18 mile commute home. I didn't mind - I like to drive slow and steady in the snow and ice and I was rockin out to Cat Stevens. We are expecting another storm this weekend so we just might have a white Christmas here in the desert.


One last shot of Miss S - we called the number for Santa that Moki blogged about and this was Miss S's face when she realized who was talking - Isn't she precious???

Overdue Thank Yous and a Little Craftiness

I have a pile of thank you's that are SO overdue...this is most of them, but I do still have a few that I hope to take pictures of and post this coming week. So here's some thank you's interspersed with a few of the crafty things I have been doing lately - these are all gifts for sweet friends who I know do not read my blog:)

Moki made this beautiful peggy as part of Miss S's birthday present - isn't she pretty? We've named her Angelina:)

A quilted table runner for perhaps my oldest friend - Susan - we met (if you could call it that) when we were three years old and have been friends ever since:) She lives in Silverdale, WA.


Miss S and I did make it to the luminaria tour in Rio Rancho on Saturday night. It was beautiful! There were easily 5000 luminarias. Miss S's favorite part was the face painting:) She got a Christmas Tree and I got a snowflake:) I tried to take a picture of mine but they were NOT pretty:) as an extremely close up shot of my face without makeup could scare the bejesus out of anyone.


I joined the Flickr Fat Quarter swap group and here's what I received for December from Lori...the fabrics are gorgeous! She included some little scrapbooking goodies and a cool notebook she covered - it has a little crochet flower and says "bliss" at the bottom.


LauraJ sent me this as a thank you a packet of zippers that I sent her...funny thing was I admired it on her blog several weeks ago with no idea that it was meant for me:) Thanks Laura!!!

Mary Ann partipated in the Homemade Art giveaway and she is so on the ball that I already got something from her! I plan on sending my items out the week after Christmas. Mary Ann sent this set of three magnets in a little tin - very chic and vintage:) Thanks Mary Ann!


My mom and her boyfriend went to Mexico at Halloween this year - I asked her to bring me back "anything" Day of the Dead...and just look at what she got me! These arrived with our Christmas package from her and she knows me so well:):) These are AWESOME!! They are currently on the Beatles shelf in the office until I can find the perfect spot for them. Thanks Mama!


This apron is on its way to one of my partners in the Swap-Bot Hostess Apron swap - she has in her profile that she likes vintage so I used some vintage repro 50's kitchen fabric I had - I hope she likes it:) I added decorative stitching on the top of the pocket and on the waistband that I think adds that extra needed touch:)


This is the package I received for the Swap-Bot Vintage apron swap - my partner made this apron herself and she said it is only the second item she has ever sewn. She did a great job! She included a potholder, tea towel and wooden spoon. Also two dark chocolate squares that my hubby gobbled up:)


Another crafty item for my friend, Lisa, this is a vinyl rub-on on a glass block, wrapped with a beautiful ribbon and voila - a very cool and different Christmas decoration.


Another ornament from the Holiday Ornament Swap - she did not include her name in the package so I don't remember who this is from but it is a very funky pointy Santa:) I love it. The circle is his tummy - when I first opened it I thought that part was his face and I just couldn't figure it out, but then I saw the two little eyes under the red hat:)

Maggie up for Grabs

I signed up for a trial issue of the magazine Cottage Living - well they sent me not one, but TWO of the December issue:) So if you want one and you are in the US so I can send it Media Mail:) - let me know and I'll send it out to you:):)

I'm here!!

I'm here...really I am:) I have been creating like crazy but it is all secret so no photos for a while on that front:)

Miss S was in our church Christmas program on Friday. She was one of the heralding angels and it was beautiful:) Hubby surprised us both by getting off work a little early so he could be there to see her performance:) I loved this picture of the some of the decorations. If you look really close it looks like the standing shepherd is flipping the bird:):)


My atcs arrived from Selena's Apron ATC swap and boy was I impressed! Every single one of the ones I received are awesome! I hope the gals that got mine like them...I always feel so nervous about my own work when I get stuff like this: )


Two more ornaments arrived from my ornament swap - this adorable little snowman...and dang I can't find the card that came with it so I can't even tell you who made it:(

And this very cool bottle cap ornament - the cap is about 5 times the size of a normal bottlecap and arrived its own little stamped bag. This one is from Joy.


On my list this week: more wrapping, more sewing, girls night with Moki and Nikki tomorrow night, luminaria tour on Saturday night, finish my Christmas cards - they are 3/4 done, but I can't get the motivation to get the last few done, send off the last few straggler packages, thank you cards from Miss S's birthday party last week and clean, clean, clean! As I was telling Moki today, my bedroom has been totally overtaken by Christmas and I almost can't even see the floor:):)

A Fun Contest

I found this on Heather's blog today and immediately thought - what an awesome idea!!

"The first five people to respond to this post (via the comments section) will get some form of art made by me. The only catch, of course: as with most memes, if you sign up, you have to put this in your own blog as well."

What a great way to share our art (and hopefully reduce a little clutter in my own home) -
please only comment if you are going to follow though and do this on YOUR BLOG as well. Be sure I can reach you through your comment so I can get your mailing address if you are one of my lucky 5.

Thanks Heather!!!

Tagged!!

Miss Moki tagged me! (this is the first time I've been tagged - how exciting!!)
So here goes -

SIX WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME

1. I am a coupon clipper - I have stacks and stacks of coupons. Funny thing is I am not a coupon user...so except for the occassional Michael's coupon that I do like to use- all those lovely coupons I waste time clipping just get tossed usually about 4 months after the expiration date.

2. I use the same water glass for days on end. Hubby hates when I do this as I leave rings of chap stick or lipstick on them that I always forget to scrub off when I put them in the dishwasher. My average time using the same glass is about 5 days.

3. I love to make piles. Piles of laundry, piles of paperwork. Piles of fabric. You name it and I probably have a pile of it. Most commonly referred to as piles of s**t by my sweet hubby.

4. I cannot sleep without any covers on me. Even in the hottest weather I have to have at least a sheet pulled up all the way to my chin. I also cannot sleep if any part of my body is out of the covers, except for my head. I HATE to have my head covered. I used to believe when I was little, and I guess I still do, that the boogy man could not get you if any of your body (other than your head) was not covered.

5. I love rats, mice, lizards, snakes, spiders...and most bugs. They are just so cool. Creepy crawlie creatures fascinate me. I used to catch wild mice and garter snakes all the time when we lived in Washington and try to convince my mom that I could keep them as pets in the house. The ended very quickly when one of the garter snakes I captured got loose from its little cage.

6. I am most terrified and grossed out by cockroaches. I have supreme respect for their purpose on this earth but they freak me out. We get enormous ones at work that like to play dead - then when you try to scoop them up to throw them away they magically come back to life. I also swear that there is one that likes to come in my office and stare at me. Whenever I see him I wonder if it is the same one. My worst nightmare is waking up with roaches crawling on my face. When I was about 7 and went to visit my cousins in Florida was my first encounter with FLYING roaches. Disgusting!! One chased me around the kitchen as I ran screaming like a wild banshee. When I was 19 and lived in DC I actually petted a cockroach. It was at the Museum of Natural History and was about the size of a small toy poodle. Can you imagine that thing coming after you??? It was creepy!!

So there you have it. 6 weird things about me:) I tag Ian:):)

And yes, I seem to have survived the week for the most part. My insomnia got really bad this week and I finally broke down and asked my doctor to call in an Rx for me. That really helped restore my sanity.

I spent the best evening I have had in a long time last night with Moki and Niki just crafting and visiting and sharing some girl time. I finally forced myself to come home at about 1:45 am:)

The Week Ahead

is absolutely jam packed, so if I don't post for a few days, just remember that I adore each of you and am thankful for the creativity and beauty you bring to my life:):)
Here's what's on the schedule for this week:
Tonight - Hubby is at hockey so Miss S and I ran a few errands where I promptly forgot to buy one of the things on my list
Tuesday night - Miss S's hip hop class
Wed - Miss S has snack for her kindergarten class
Wed night - Hubby works late so this will be my night to craft and clean
Thurs night - Christmas program practice
Fri night - Christmas program - Miss S is an angel and I am playing the piano for the program
Saturday - ballet class in the morning, Lowe's kids craft club, ATC trade group from 10-12, hip hop performance at 3 and Miss S's 6th birthday party at 6.
Sunday - I can guarantee you that I will be sleeping in and staying in my jammies until it's time for church at 1 pm :)
Sometime this week I have to make the cupcakes for the party and finish the pile of Christmas cards that are half completed, and work on a couple packages that need to be mailed next week. I will be one busy girl this week!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The ornaments from the Cake + Pie ornament swap that I participate in are starting to arrive and I am amazed at each and every one...these ladies are CREATIVE!! These are the ones that have arrived so far -

OH I didn't realize the lighting was so horrible tonight:(:(

From Tanya - the most amazing birdhouse made from an egg shell!!!

A beautiful little notebook from Lacy that will be put to use after the tree is taken down:)

A sweet little owl from Arawa

And this cool grapevine wreath from Alison. Do you think I could have cleaned my desk up a little first? Heck no!! This is my life right now - complete and utter chaos.

This weekend wiped me out. I left the house at 8:15 on Saturday morning and did not return until 6:30 that night. I spent 6 hours crafting at the church with a bunch of ladies, then hit the open house at my favorite local stamp store, did a few errands and almost collapsed upon arriving home. Miss S was such a trooper with me that day! At the LSS she bonded instantly with the owners 7 year old daughter - the two girls had a little make and take table in the back for making snowflakes and they had so much fun together:) Here's what I came home with and the two make and takes that I made.

A gold embossed Christmas tree tag - embellished using the Home Pro machine - do any of you have one?? I think I might just HAVE to get one. The crimped corner mounts and the little stars atop the trees were a breeze to do with that little machine. The Santa Claus is colored using encaustic wax - a new technique for me - fun to do but probably not something I would do again.

Some of my purchases:) The little stamp says "A friend is someone who reaches for your hand but touches your heart"


Some more of my purchases:)


And one more ornament - Em made this beautiful ornament from an antique chandelier cyrstal, swarovski crystals, meal and glass beads. It is GORGEOUS!! And I love the little card she made to accompany it:)


And finally for tonight - I participated in MaryAnn's card challenge and here is what she made for me with the random 10 items I sent her. I love it so much and I think I am going to frame it and hang it in my office instead of using it as a card:) Thanks MaryAnn!!!

And a Thank You

Thank you all for your beautiful comments on my baby girl's kindergarten picture. Here's to each of her school photos turning out just as beautiful:)

Finally - a Beatle-esque post

I realized I have not posted about my beloved Beatles since I went to Ringo's concert this summer...then I further realized that I missed remembering the 5 year anniversary of George Harrison's passing by one day (November 29, 2001). So one day late I bring you this beautiful picture of George. When I think of George, this is always just about how I picture him...hair a little long, mustache, and the beginnings of a fine hippie.

I met George several years ago - it must have been about 1994 or 1995 - I was working at Wild Oats at the time and it was Halloween - I was dressed as Raggedy Ann that year in a costume my mom made for herself for my very first Halloween in 1972. I still have that costume and wear it for Halloween every couple years. But, back to my story - I knew George was in town as he was participating in classes or something at the Aruyvedic (sp?) Institute in town. Imagine my surprise when he showed up in the deli of our store!!! I talked to one of the people that was with him first and asked if it really was George Harrison. He flat out told me no. I then ran to my office and grabbed one of my Beatles 8x10 pictures off my wall, ran back to the deli and approached him. I very politely said "Excuse me, Mr. Harrison, I am a huge fan and I just wanted to tell you how much I love your music. I have all your solo albums as well as all your Beatle's albums. I was wondering if I could get your autograph" (This is about verbatim what I said - give or take a few words:)) He looked right at me, then without a WORD, turned back around and continued to study the deli case. I was thrilled to meet him, even though he did not acknowledge me. I knew he was reclusive and was not particularly fond of his fans. I was a little disappointed though as I was the ONLY person that approached him the whole time he was in the store and what are the odds some crazy 22 year old, dressed as Raggedy Ann, would have a Beatles picture AND encounter a living, breathing Beatle in little old Albuquerque, NM. It makes for a wonderful story:)

My boss ALMOST autographed a piece of paper and was going to take it out to George while he was eating lunch outside and tell him, I hear you have a shortage of autographs and I wanted to give you one of mine.

My Sweet Baby

Miss S came home with her school picture retakes on Friday - finally! It took about 5 weeks to get them and I was so glad we did the retakes!! As goofy as her intial pictures were - these ones just about took my breath away. I still get that little fluttery feeling in my heart everytime I look at these:) I cannot believe my baby is in kindergarten and I do have to say this is about the most beautful school picture I have ever seen:)

One More Crafty Post

Sweet Vallen of Queenly Things sent me a lovely package that arrived yesterday. She had posted not too long ago about some great wrist warmer patterns made with sweater sleeves that she found and she offered to photocopy the pages for me:) Well, not only did she sent lots of fabulous photocopies, but she also sent a pair of sweater sleeves for me to try them out on:)
So - here's what I did!!

I added a crocheted scalloped edge on them, and a little pick button to make them a little more fitted. I also added a little stitch to make them more like fingerless gloves, rather than just wrist warmers.

And here I am modeling them:) I am happy with the result - and they will help to keep my hands warm when the boss is having her hot flashes and has the air conditioner on high in the middle of winter:) Hubby was not too impressed - he looked at me like I'd grown a third head when I showed them to him...boys are so weird!

My Long Weekend...

was absoutely wonderful! I feel like I caught up on five years of much needed sleep. And I crafted until my fingers hurt...well actually just my thumb, cause my nail broke too far down so the top of my thumb is almost raw...it hurts like the dickens!!

Anyway - here are some of the projects I worked on:) I worked on others but they are gifts for friends that frequent this blog so NO pictures of those for now:)

A beautiful set of coasters using Allsorts easy peasy tutorial. I used a bunch of the squares from my Amy Butler Jolly pack and I love how they turned out. I will definitely be making more of these.

Two of three pillows I made - I have had this fabric in my stash for years...they are no longer really my style so I finally bought pillow forms for them, sewed them up and they are going in three different Christmas packages.


Here is Miss S - oops that pajama top is almost revealing more than it should:) The picture is really to show you the store bought holly garland that I embellished to say "Merry Christmas" - I simply stamped the individual letters on premade tags I had, then tied them to the garland with red organdy ribbon. So cool...here is a closeup so you can see the letters a little better.


And finally, I finished my ornaments for Amy's ornament swap. I am also making these for another holiday ornament swap I am in so I have about 10 more of these to make. They turned out really well and I hope whoever gets one in the different swaps I am in will like them:)


I wrapped presents and have 9 packages ready to go to the post office tomorrow!! Once those are mailed that will leave me with only two packaged to finish up and mail off before Christmas. It really sucks having NO family in New Mexico so I end up mailing so much stuff. I am also working on some Christmas goodies for my blogging friends and our family Christmas cards. Moki took the picture and I LOVE IT!!! See a preview below:) I love to send and receive Christmas cards so if you would like me to add you to my Christmas card list, just send me a quick email at raeshadrz at yahoo dot com with your snail mail address:):)