Joy to the World!

Each year I am taken aback at how much commercialism is taking over Christmas.  I see more of Santa and Rudolf than I do of Christ.  I am trying to keep Christmas more spiritual this year...taking the focus off of the presents and putting it more on keeping the Spirit close, spending time with my family, teaching and testifying of Christ and the important role he has in each of our lives.  

I found this quote (again by Thomas S. Monson...he IS my favorite!) and I think it really helps put the entire season in perspective

 

 "...Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas."

I truly hope that all of us can keep the spirit of Christmas near and put Christ back in the center of Christmas where he belongs.

To celebrate the true reason for this holiday season, I am highlighting my Nativity Set. 

Joseph, Baby Jesus, Mary

 Angel and Sheep

 

  The Three Wise Men

Merry Christmas everyone!

You're a mean one...Mr. Grinch

I am going to start spotlighting my work...this week's star is:

THE GRINCH

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a Grinch on your tree?  I originally came up with the idea a couple of years ago.  I made a bunch of them for some guys I used to work with.  I was getting so sick of them complaining about Christmas that I decided they were all a bunch of Grinchs.  I found some black foil wrapped candy labeled "coal" and put it with each light bulb.  

I had some neat requests at the Salt Lake Family Christmas Gift Show I did about a month ago...

Personalizing the Grinch ornaments!

I can put the name of that little stinker in your life right on your ornament!

If you want to order one for Christmas,

click here

Merry Christmas Everybody!!

It feels like Christmas!!

I love this time of year!  It has always been a tradition of mine to decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  It's almost as if you can touch the magic in the air with your fingertips.  LOVE IT!!  I am so excited this year!  I will be participating in the Battlecreek Boutique next weekend Dec 1st through the 3rd.  I had so much fun at their fall boutique, and I can't wait to see how their Christmas boutique turns out.

...Speaking of boutiques...I just took the kiddies over to the Christmas Craft an Gift Show at the Spanish Fork fair grounds, and I saw my two most favorite people!  Kendall and Ruthie Therkelson, the owners of Lacie's Sweets!  They were some of my very first "craft fair" friends and they truly are the sweetest people in the world.  

I hope you all had a wonderful Black Friday, as for me I am looking forward to a White Christmas!  (he, he, he, thanks for the joke Nephi!)

Attitude of Gratitude

I can't believe how fast Thanksgiving crept up on me!!  This whole month seems to be just a whirl of events and it's barely just half way through.  I am a purist when it comes to Thanksgiving.  I know some people who jump right from Halloween to Christmas...not me.  I insist on giving Thanksgiving it's proper dues.  So on that note, I want to share a little something from one of my favorite speakers of all time...Pres. Thomas S. Monson:

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

Let's all remember to keep a positive and uplifting spirit near us, especially during this time of year.  I'm so very grateful for so many wonderful blessings in my life right now.  I pray that you all have an enjoyable holiday!

Also, if any of you are still in need of some ideas for your Thanksgiving table decorations, I am selling my Thanksgiving set on Etsy for $35...get your orders in by Tuesday in time for Turkey day!

Inspiration...well, sort of

I love listening to music while I am creating!  My most recent discovery is...

MEAGHAN SMITH

She is amazing!  I love her quirky style and old fashioned feel with just a twist of funk.

You all really must check out her videos on YouTube.

I am working on some new watercolor prints for Christmas...any suggestions??

Is that Christmas I smell??

It's in the air!  Take a big whiff!  Christmas is nearly here!  To celebrate I have thrown together a cute little Christmas light bulb set...

Presenting!

Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elf, and Rudolf

Introducing....(drum roll please)...Ellie, the little girl Elf!

*So Cute!!*

I had some cute custom requests...A family set!  The mom and dad as Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the kids were the boy and girl elves.  I was able to personalize them and everything.  I could totally do the same thing for you!

ALSO!!

Here is some Christmas glassware I created

 

I had so much fun this weekend at the Salt Lake Family Christmas Show!!!  I will DEFINITELY be doing this show again next year!  Here's a picture of our booth.

This is Carrie Pike (the cutest little ball of energy you will ever meet!).  She makes "Carrie Bears".  The most adorable things ever.  She makes keepsake bears out of clothing from loved ones who have passed on.  I loved working with her! 

 Here is a custom order I got at the show this weekend...
A MINI Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Love them!!!

Please be sure to check out my Etsy shop to make these sweet little diddys all yours!

Oh "Watt" a BIG Weekend You Have!

So, perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment but I am doing TWO craft shows this weekend.  The BIG one...the SALT LAKE FAMILY CHRISTMAS GIFT SHOW 

will be Friday the  11th through Sunday the 13th at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.  Adults are $9.50 per person but this is good for all 3 days and if you go to the website you can get a $1 off coupon.  Kids 13 and under are free.  This is huge!  Hundreds of vendors with pretty much EVERYTHING you can think of!  This will be epic people! 

The second show I'm doing is on Saturday only.  The Oh So Sweets Fall Boutique up at the Davis County conference Center in Layton.  Admission is free for this one...the first 50 people will get a gift basket, and there will be a raffle for a bike...and Santa will be there from 12-1, so if nothing else you can bring the kids for a little early Christmas fix.  

Come on down for some girly-girl fun or bring the family for a nice day out.  Get your Christmas shopping done uber early this year!

Hope to see you there!

Oh So Sweets Holiday Boutique

If you live in Davis County, be sure to check out the Oh So Sweets Holiday Boutique at the Davis Conference Center on Sat. Nov 12th!  

These guys do such a great job and there will be door prizes!  Plus it's free.  What more could you ask for eh?

Come get some Christmas shopping done and see my uber-fun booth!

On a side note--I'd like to point out that my bloggity-blog has had over 1000 hits!! Thanks guys!

Battlecreek Boutique! It is SO on!!

Nathan and I finished setting up my booth for the boutique this weekend.  I had to make my own backdrop and I must say, I did a fantastic job!  It took me about a day to get the frame together and then sew the panels to cover it.   Then I pretty much stayed up all night getting everything wrapped and tagged.  I think it turned out pretty darn good...if I do say so myself!

 Here is my finished booth--Woot

 If you come look for my CUTE booth

 I love doing this stuff!  Aren't I AMAZING?!

 

My little hubba bubba

Be sure to come to the PG Rec Center!!  Thursday through Saturday!!  We saw some really awesome vendors setting up and it looks like it's going to be a great show!

I'm branching out

I know you all think that the only medium I know to work in is light bulb...BUT here are some original watercolors I have done that are now available as prints at my craft fairs (I might be putting them on Etsy--keep posted and I'll let you know!).

Halloween 

 These prints are all 8"x10"

Halloween Sampler

"Trick or Treat"

"Stay for a Spell"

"Happy Halloween"

"I thought I'd like to be a witch, so I tried it out for a SPELL"

These prints are all about 2"x3"

"Bats all Folks!"

"Be-Witching!"

"Bubble bubble Cauldron Co."

"Ghouls just wanna have Fun"

"got Candy?  Trick or Treat"

"Happy Halloween"

"Bugs & Hisses Happy Halloween"

"I do believe in Spooks!"

Christmas

These are 8"x10"

Christmas Sampler

Watercolor gift tags

These are about 2"x3"

"Believe"

"Dear Santa, I can explain..."

"Joy"

"Oh Snap!"

"Merry Christmas"

"Noel"

Chapeaux Tres Mignon...Ooh La La!

The other night I felt the urge to heed the call of the mighty flow of creativity.  I was able to make each of these in only about 20 minutes!  I had such a blast (Nathan and Katie gave me quite a bit of artistic assistance).  I really wish I had thought of this idea ages ago so I could try to sell some of this stuff earlier.  I might have to figure out some ideas for Christmas or New Years, and maybe Mardi Gras...hmmm.

 

The real kicker is that these were made from scraps and stuff I had just lying around!  Sweet!

Let me know what you all think!

Enjoy!