This year turned out to be a "dress-up" themed Christmas.  From the opening ceremonies on Christmas Eve to bedtime on Christmas night, the outfits and costumes poured in...Axel of course was happy to perform.  

We had a wonderful and busy Holiday and are looking forward to the New Year for relaxing and reflecting.  Here are a couple of the dress-up highlights.  Not pictured are several outfits in-between, and an adorable home-made Chef outfit for Axel (I'll try to catch a photo during our next cooking adventure).

...stuffed beaver...

...Woody and Jesse, compliments of ebay...

...present delivering elf, featuring Beaver t-shirt from Etsy...

...under arrest...

...new PJ's, new Legos...off to bed!

This fall I have been many times blessed in creating special projects for friends and family.  Regrettably, I didn't catch a photo of a series of tote-bags created from childhood crib linens, but this week I wasn't about to miss out on featuring another heirloom project.

I received a call just a few weeks ago from a friend of a friend who lost her father this year.  One of his crowning characteristics was his love of picking Pussy willow and Bittersweet.  She had found some fabric and was anxious to have a quilt from it.  Literally a one-of-a-kind piece, I drew this pattern on a piece of freezer paper, ironed it to a stack of fabrics and cut along the lines...the pattern, although a simple geometric will never be repeated in these proportions.

This time of year, with complete "Etsy Flurry", projects like these make it all worth while.  Merry Christmas to all those who have loved, lost, and have "honor gifts" to give this season.

Because America today seems to be lacking in tradition, I am so glad that certain rituals remain...the Church Christmas Pageant.

In preschool, the kids have been practicing their Christmas songs for months all in preparation for last nights program.  I truly had my doubts about our little Shepherd's ability to stay on stage, with relatives traveling from distances between 20 and 100 miles, I was relieved when Axel came through with his "A-game".

Little need be said on the subject of pride here.  For bragging rights in my own mind alone, I will just say that Axel, my precious, ever-challenging boy, managed an hour service, dressed in full costume (he assumed he got to wear his "Max" costume from "Where the Wild Things Are"...boy that was a shock...I let Mrs. Moldstad break that news).

Sometimes you create projects that make you love the craft all over again.  When I got my hands on some lovely canvas fabric, I saw "guitar straps" written all over it!  This year has been quite an Etsy blur and while I prepare for the thousand of Christmas gifts I have mailed, and have yet to mail for all of you, I settle down to begin my own magical planning.  

Just for the books, this years most popular sales are Bracelets and Guitar Straps.  Coincidently they are my two current favorites to make.  One, because I can vicariously place my lack of strumming talent into people who will do something better with it, and the other because Jahred actually makes that product.

There is still time for my US customers to get their gifts before the big day.  Let me know if I (or Jahred) can help you out with a seasonal fav or if you have something else in mind.

to the one turning 5...
to the one who growls most frequently...
to the hairiest member of the family...
to the black sheep of our bunch...
to my best "bed-warmer-upper"...
to my Dads most beloved friend...
to our "dish-licker-cleaner"...
to our mammalian vacuum...
to the one and ONLY Oscar...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  A new bed for you, and a place to rest your ear (until the kid finds out how cozy the "orthopedic foam" is.

Huge snow storm today.  Literally, we are snowed in.  A few pics involving a sled and a snow tunnel.

So I get the crappy picture award...but that was the only thing crappy about tonight.  I was emotionally unprepared, but at the pinning ceremony this evening, the capstone was placed on years of stress and struggle.  It's officially over...or to be cliche...just beginning.

In a strange compilation of "congratulations" and "graduation" Axel couldn't wait to tell Jahred "Happy Gradulations" as he returned to his seat.  Our small little family spent most of the ceremony reading Axels "book of the day," "Mice are Nice," but just because we weren't listening doesn't mean we weren't grateful.  Before Axel was even brought breech into this world, Jahred started his Nursing School journey and as Axel approaches three, there is relief in accomplishment, and ultimately relief in finishing what was a struggle to even begin.

Tonight we rest...happy campers.

So we've been doing some traveling...as this season brings to a 2-year-old many new friends and experiences.  I always say of Axel that "every day is a new day" and truly it is when your eyes are brand new to the world.  

In the last couple of weeks we've met "THE REAL" Curious George in his live stage show, and been introduced to "THE REAL" Santa on Main Street, Hudson, Wisconsin (pulled by his horse named "Lilly"...seriously, could they have re-named her something magical just for one night).  None the less, that's what my Holiday Season is shaping up to, meeting and greeting!

Because the shop is at a steady hum, I haven't had a chance to blog anything philosophical...not that you all expect that...but I have been working on a few of the world's problems in the wee hours (like all mothers do when nerves keep them awake).  Not ready yet to share my solutions to the Mankato State University's Nursing Program, the global economic crisis or how better to sand/salt Minnesota roads...I'll just share a few pics of our recent fun.