:: Happy New Year

Hope you all have a Safe & Happy New Year.

Isn't this banner the cutest?

You can find it at Bekah Jennings.

Of course you can't start off a new year without a calendar.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

I just love this illustrated calendar by Corella Designs.

Here's another cutie that caught my eye. Anyone a Rabbit?

This is your year, you can find this calendar at Eden Creative Studio.

How about this simple beauty from Redbean Designs.

See ya next year!

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: let there be white

In honor of the snow we still have on the ground I've collected some white lovelies that could fill my home with snowy white year round.

Love this coral lamp by Horchow.

Tea anyone? A cute tea time inspired lamp by Anthropologie.

Now this....is just plain fun by ZGALLERIE.

Need a hand? How about some interesting hand bookends by Plasticland.

I've got to get my hands on this one....

I love this twig hat/coat rack also by ZGALLERIE.

So what do you think?

Could you add any of these finds to your decor?

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: a project & product review

If you guessed a macro lens in answer to my question yesterday, you would be 100% correct. Though I thought of asking Santa for a new camera, I decided to stick with my Nikon D80. It really is a great camera, and I owe it to myself and it to figure out all the ins and outs of it before I move on to something newer and greater { I have been looking at the new 3100 though....nice }. I just can't upgrade yet...I haven't even given this camera the chance to do all it can do...I'm actually quite amateurish when it comes to my camera I have to admit.

This is a close up of what I've been working on over the Christmas break. One of my presents from Papa was this book " Doodle Stitching- The Motif Collection " by Aimee Ray. I love this book it's chock full of the cutest embroidery designs. This is my version of one of her embroidery patterns...though mine is a little wonky because I didn't trace it onto my fabric and just winged it instead,  I changed up my colors a little too. Still it has been lots of fun getting out all of my embroidery supplies and playing around. I now have this book by Aimee Ray on the way as well " Doodle Stitching - Fresh & Fun embroidery for beginners ", when I went over to amazon for the link I just had to add it to my cart, I just love her designs what a talented lady.

On another note, but still a product review I now realize, since I'm kind of reviewing the book above which I absolutely give 5 stars. I purchased the new Liquid Pencil by Sharpie today. I'm thinking this is Pen/Pencil is an absolutely fabulous idea.

It's quite amazing....liquid graphite...erasable...permanent in 24 hours...I couldn't wait to get home to check it out. 

OOooh, it writes like butter....soooo smooth...so far so good.

Oh my, it erases like a dream...can it really be the perfect pencil????

Ummm....that would be a big fat NO.

As I continued to write, the wheels came off. It started to skip, and hardly had any ink or graphite flow at all. Now, unless I just happened to get a dud set these pencils did not work as I had hoped they would. I was so excited at first because it truly worked like a dream and it was smoother than any pen I have ever used before, then nothing....skipping and almost illegible. So boo hoo for the perfect pencil, they should have worked on it a little longer before bringing it to market. I may give it the benefit of the doubt and another try....after all it was perfect for a few sentences, if I do and it works better I'll let you know until then...this one is a DUD....sorry Sharpie {I really do love your products}.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying all of your Christmas goodies as much as I am. If you have used these pencils with greater success than me I would love to know, I really do want them to work as they should.

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: can you guess?

Looking at the photos below, can you guess what I got for Christmas?

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: snow day

This is what I was up to yesterday.

Yep.... making snow angels &

playing in the snow with my little wrens.

I could hardly keep my eyes open the snow was so bright.

How Miss P held her eyes that wide open I'm just not sure, 

mine were burning like crazy.

Thanks Aunt Tiff for the fun pics.

My wren's couldn't stop eating snow long enough for a photo.

They kept running around screaming "Free Food"

Here's my sweet sis Tiffany and her dog Howie, 

isn't she adorable all bundled up like an eskimo. 

We had a fun time building a fire and sitting out in the snow,

It was just sooooo beautiful and perfect.

Howie had a grand time pouncing through the snow like a deer.

I also spent some time photographing the birds outside of my window.

I love how pretty the birds look in the snow covered trees.

Ahhh....snow days....gotta love em'

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: White Christmas

We all dream of a White Christmas, and for us it finally happened in 2010. They say it hasn't happened in North Carolina in 40 years. So the last time it snowed on Christmas Day was the year my hubs was born, and well me, I've never seen one. Although I do remember it snowing once Christmas Eve on the way to my Great Grandma's house. Anyway....isn't it beautiful. I shot this photo on the way to the in-laws on Christmas Day.  I love this old school house turned home...I really need to go by one day and take actual photos when I'm not driving by in a car.

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas, I know my family did. My parents and my sister and her husband came to stay with us on Christmas Eve, and we had a little Christmas Eve Fun-Due party. We had lots of fun eating, laughing and watching some movies together.

My sweet little Wrens on Christmas Eve in their new Christmas pajamas. It's our little tradition that every year on Christmas Eve they get a special pair of Christmas pj's. My favorites are Nick & Nora's, I love these sock monkey and snowflake one's. I fear we may be getting a little old for matching pj's, but until they don't expect it anymore, I'll keep buying them. Thanks Nick & Nora for always coming out with the cutest vintage inspired Christmas pj's.

I have so much more to share, but for now I'm going to go back to hanging out with my awesome family. My sister is still here thanks to the snow, and I'm going to go enjoy every minute of our time together. I'm so thankful for my family.

Come back tomorrow, I have lots more to share with you.

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: Merry Christmas

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and thank you all for your wonderful support here on my little ol' blog. It means so much to me that you take the time to visit me and comment. I've made some wonderful friends, and I truly treasure each and every one who visits. I can't believe I'm coming up on my one year blogiversary soon, it has been a fantastic first year, and I love this blogging community.

Now, I'm off to do some cooking, wrap some more presents and get ready for this wonderful whirlwind of activities. 

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: what are they you say...

Well, this is my latest project. Remember the craft show I spoke of in my last post, well... I made up these little lovelies to act as hat displays for my little knit hats. I actually think they are really pretty all on their own, and right now that's how they look sitting on my shelves in my studio.

In theory, this is how they are supposed to work. So I hurried and rushed to get these little guys made up to take with me to the craft show Saturday, and guess what... I never even made it. I just didn't feel ready. A girl has to be up for these kinds of things, and with everything else I had going on I just couldn't take the time to go. 

Now, all of this crafting has me thinking up all kinds of ways I can use these little decoupaged balls. First of all, I'm going to be making some Christmas ornaments just like them for my tree {if not this year, then next.} Secondly, I kinda like them as a topiary of sorts, and I may flip the pots and do a double version as a unique accessory. I can actually see a pair on my mantle in my keeping room after the holidays.

You see, the ball is supposed to be the head, and well...the pot is a simulation of a neck. I searched online for mannequin heads and never found anything I liked, so this is what I came up with. That said, it's probably cheaper to buy one of those styrofoam heads for like 3 bucks on ebay, but I couldn't do it....I wanted something different. Do you know how expensive styrofoam balls are these days? It's kinda ridiculous, a large 7" ball is something like $12, and in my book that's kinda pricey for a craft object, luckily I got mine while AC Moore was running a sale on them for half price. Still...add in pots, spray paint, and a dowel rod and it added up pretty quickly. Three dollar heads might have looked good with this treatment. That wouldn't work for me though because I needed different sizes. Most of my hats are for babies & children, and a child sized mannequin head is not easy to find.

Don't you think it's kind of cute on it's little stand, I think I could even do this with them if I dressed up the base piece with some routing and paint, the possibilities are endless. I'm just in love with the papers I used, I think they just look so interesting glued on all willie nillie. Gotta love the Graphics Fairy, she is so amazing for sharing all of her amazing ephemera. I simply printed off the papers that appealed to me, took a ruler and tore off half inch to one inch strips, I then proceeded to glue them on with a mixture of good old elmer's glue and a little water. My little secret is that I left on the plastic covering that came on the ball, this gave me a smoother surface to glue to, not sure how it would work if you were gluing straight onto the styrofoam...I'm guessing not as well.

So, are you ready for Christmas?

Well, I really thought I had it all under control, but the closer it gets the less I feel so. It seems like I'll never be done, there is always one more gift to buy. I'm feeling a little scroogy these days. I love giving gifts, but I'm not thrilled about having to do Christmas shopping this late in the game. I would much rather be sitting around drinking cider, listening to Christmas music, and making little crafts. 

What's worse, I feel like I'm completely caught up in the exact thing Christmas is not about...commercialism. 

Okay, so maybe I'm not a Scrooge...

I'm more like Charlie Brown.

:: peace, love & hugs ::

Carrie

:: vintage bottle brush trees

My second vintage holiday crush is on these fabulous bottle brush trees.  They are so precious and whimsical...I've just got to have some. I so love these vintage cuties they are going on my list of things to be on the lookout for when I'm out thrifting. These of course are ready for you to purchase if you are so inclined, just click on the link below the picture and off you go the the lovely etsy shop from whence they came.

        

:: Saturday Finds ::

:: Saturday Finds ::

:: Sweet n' Shabby Roses ::

:: Dusty Lorraine ::

Thank you all for the sweet comments on my ER drama. Miss "P" is doing great and that scare is behind us...whew. I hope once again that this post finds you all in good health. Now I'm off to get ready for a craft show tomorrow... I'm never quite ready for these things. Wish me luck, I'll be up bright and early tomorrow morning... 4am to be exact { uggh } did I ever mention I don't do mornings?

:: peace :: love :: hugs ::

Carrie

:: thankful

Today I am thankful. Thankful that my sweet little punky is feeling back to normal after a big scare and a trip to the emergency room last night. We weren't sure what was causing her severe, doubled over and crying stomach pains...this definitely wasn't just a stomach bug.  A trip to the ER was in order. This in itself frightened my baby girl who had never been before, and didn't know what to expect. She really doesn't like to go to the doctor at all.

She was a super star though, a little frightened for sure, and for someone who hates to get shots she did fantastic when they inserted her first IV ever. Some IV fluids, and a little pain medicine and my girl was back to her normal self, and able to get some rest. Next on the agenda was a CT scan, she drank her big cup of dye like a champ...I'm sure I would have totally struggled to get that stuff down. Hours later they took her for her scan, and again she did fantastic. We waited together for the results, we played games we talked and laughed, what a relief to see her get some relief. I hate being sick, but it's a hundred times worse watching the ones you love suffer. {my heart goes out to everyone who is ill and suffering, I pray for them all}

Good news...there were no abnormalities, everything was fine in that sweet girl's belly. I was so worried that she may have had appendicitis. We were both very relieved, she was especially emotional. She was happy and sad at the same time {the pain meds were wearing off} I explained this to her and we continued to laugh {and cry}. We were both ready to get home to be with everyone else.

Today we woke up to a snow day which was a blessing since we got in so late last night and everyone was waiting up for us. Really there wasn't too much snow, mostly just ice. We'll take it though, I love when my babies are back home with me. We've had a wonderfully lazy day, and I've been watching the birds outside of my window partaking of my seed.  I snapped this photo of our state bird this morning, I think he is quite appropriately cloaked for the season don't you.

So in my Thankfulness...

I ask you to please take a moment and join me today to say a special prayer for all of those who are sick and suffering that their pain may be eased and that those who take care of them may be blessed with strength, courage and compassion.

We can never value our good health too much, it is absolutely our greatest gift. Thank you Lord so much for my families health.

 peace, love & good health to you all

Carrie

:: vintage putz houses

Hello there my sweets. Hope you are all doing well. I've been to0 busy once again to get here, and today I have a sick child at home...don't you hate it when someone is sick and you can do nothing to help them. My sweet Miss "P" has a little stomach bug, and I can't stand to see her feel so bad. She's resting now on the sofa watching some of her shows, so I thought I would slip away to share some of my Christmas crushes with you.

I adore these vintage Putz houses, and would love to have a collection of my own. Maybe after Christmas I can start my collection for next year, because right now all of my extra cash is going for gifts, and I don't mean gifts for me {this is very hard}.

Aren't they just the sweetest thing. I'm especially fond of the turquoise and red ones, I just love that color combination. Of course I would be pleased as punch with any of them.

I could live like a queen in this sweet Christmas castle with it's lovely white bottle brush trees. That's another crush for another day...bottle brush trees.

You can find the lovelies pictured above at these shops Vintage Junk In My Trunk, bubblepipe vintage, nina in ruffles, and efinegifts.  All of these etsy shops have lovely vintage Christmas decorations, you should check them out for yourselves.

For now, I'm off to snuggle my baby girl who needs some lovin' from her Mama.

:: peace :: love :: hugs ::

Carrie

:: a doe, a deer

A doe a deer, a female deer....This is my little Miss "P" donning her sweet little reindeer face for her performance in "A Christmas Wizard of Oz". I had a lot of fun doing her makeup, and we found this great tutorial on you tube HERE, it was a great help, and the girl who shares it is the cutest herself..  Doesn't she look like the sweetest little Doe?

Here she is before the show with her fellow reindeer, aren't they all so darned cute. This was a great performance by all of the kids at her elementary school, and the sets were amazing. The playbill wasn't so bad either, since yours truly designed it {aren't I awful...getting my little plug in for my contribution}.

Here they are during the performance...I must add that these are evil reindeer hence the forlorn look. In this adaptation, the "Evil Reindeer" are the equivalent of the flying monkeys of the original. 

Here they are taking their bows. I love the excited look on Miss "P"s face, I would have to say that she quite enjoyed all the applause. She's definitely my little ham. I can't say enough about how well this play was put together, every year they amaze me with their great sets and costumes.

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend. I have one more performance to see tonight, and in this one our own sweet Papa will be singing. He's the one that gives my little ones the courage to go on stage...he's where they get their haminess so to speak. It certainly doesn't come from me, I'm more of the behind the scenes gal. I'm so proud of them both. I'm sure I'll shed a few tears this evening at Papa's performance at the Nativity...he's warned me that it's very moving.

For now though, I'm off to watch some football and knit up some Christmas gifts.

:: peace :: love :: hugs ::

Carrie