As the New Year approaches,

I find myself thinking of the past year 

and wondering what happened? 

It wasn't the best of years 

...I think we were all struggling to keep it together. 

I'm not one to make resolutions. 

I never keep them;

then, feel like a failure because 

I didn't keep any of them. You know the drill 

.... lose weight, exercise more, 

watch less TV, and on, and on, and on!

This year I've decided to not make the usual 

New Year Resolutions. 

I've made what I am calling my 

'How I want to live my life in 2010!  

Probably the same as resolutions ...I just think it sounds better!!!!

SO HERE GOES!

Live Life More Simply! 

Keep life simple.

Life doesn't have to be complicated!

Buy Less, Spend Smarter!

Before buying anything; I will consider ...

How much does it mean to me?

Will it substantially benefit my life?

Does it support simple living?

Shed Stuff!

Every month, I will throw out at least

50 items! If they are reusable, donate them!

The house will thank me and my heart will be lightened!

Be Kind To The Earth!

Reuse, Recycle and Reclaim.

If there is anything that I can reuse,

put it in a 'Re-purpose Box'  in my studio.

Recycle anything that I can possible recycle.

Try to buy more earth friendly products and

take those darn reusable bags with me to the store!

I'm forever forgetting them at home!

Slow Down!

I will slow down ..rushing revs up the stress

levels and leaves little room for simple pleasures.

I will walk slowly, breathe slowly, drive slowly

and eat slowly. In Thoreau's words,

I will begin to 'live deliberately,' enjoying

every morsel of life.

Once A Month, PAY IT FORWARD!

Once a month I will do something kind for someone.

Be Kind to Myself! 

This one is a hard one!

I'm so hard on myself! Always questioning

myself, doubting myself! Get rid of all those

'little voices' in my head telling me

I'm not good enough, talented enough!

Ease up a little, after all there is only one of

me and I don't want to leave this world

thinking I was never good enough!

Be More Creative!

Allow myself to be more creative!

As I travel through blog land, visiting new

and wonderful blogs. I find myself questioning

my confidence, my talent, my accomplishment's.

Wishing that I could be as talented as those I

visit, all while secretly wishing that I too

could obtain my full potential and

accomplish my dreams.

I want to be an artist.

I want to be creative.

I want to be one of those talented blogger's

I visit each and everyday!

Deep down in my heart I'm a little jealous of

these wonderful people ...wondering what the

creative secret is?

I suppose there are others out there;

questioning and wondering! The fear of

failure, the lack of belief! Why is it

we never think we are good enough,

never talented enough, always comparing

ourselves to others?

Sometimes I think I get in my own way!

I suppose I need to just get out there and DO IT!

I want to reclaim my inner self; I want to put aside

the negative images that swirl within my head!

Each of us holds a talent, we just have to find out

how to obtain it and not compare ourselves to others!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

WHAT'S ON YOUR '2010'

LIST OF THINGS TO DO?

A BIT OF HOLIDAY CHEER ...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A BIT OF HOLIDAY CHEER....

FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS!

'Our Tree'

'A Few Adored Ornaments'

 

 

'Some Holiday Vignettes'

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY!

 I WISH YOU MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS;

AND PEACE AROUND THE WORLD!

SOME HOLIDAY REDO!

MAKING HOLIDAY HEAD WAY!

The tree is decorated!

The snowmen have taken their place!

The Fairies are in their place!

The cards have been made and put in the post!

And ...there's been a bit of hot cocoa and crafting!

There's even been a room redo ....

 

This room is our upstairs TV area. As you can see; this

'area' is one long room. It houses a TV area,

a dining area and the kitchen!

See this old couch! I hated this couch!

It's not that old, but it was never really what I

wanted; and....the back cushions were terrible!

See! Cute Little Sophie is saying 'what's up with this couch?'

There's even a matching old chair and ottoman!

And ...yes! There's knitting!

There is always a project or two hanging around!

NOW, I have this!

A brand spank'n new chair and couch!

Here's the new couch! Sooooo, much

more comfy! Dear H and I agreed on this set.

It's Micro-Fiber with the look

of old worn leather!

Bonus ...both ends open into recliners!

Dear H is very happy with his new recliner chair!

I wasn't looking for recliners, but sometimes

a girl just has to give in!

Now, I am VERY HAPPY with the new room redo!

Even got a new carpet out of the deal!
 

 Now I'm off for a bit of crafting and a bit of

last minute holiday knitting!

 I hope you are making headway on your

holiday to do list!

OMG ...is it really the FIRST OF DECEMBER?

Really ...are you sure?  I keep checking the calendar!
It keeps saying it's the FIRST, but I still don't believe it!
(Even Santa looks like he's behind in his TO DO LIST!)

 But, see! There it is! Right there ...in black and white!

DECEMBER 1st!

I know I just had turkey ...because I have turkey noodle soup

by the container full ...so I know we just had Thanksgiving!

But, the FIRST OF DECEMBER! Well now, that's just

not right. It's too soon! There is still so much to be done

before the BIG GUY arrives on his sleigh!

There is knitting to finish, sewing to finish,

ornament making to finish, shopping to finish,

and baking to finish!

The list could go on and on!

ONE ITEM THAT IS FINISHED!

Dear Daughter's quilt is finally done. 

Isn't it beautiful?

It looks like 'Neapolitan Ice Cream'.

Lot's of pinks, browns and black

I sent it off to

The BackPorch Quilter's for quilting and

we received it back this past Saturday!

BackPorch Quilter's, they

do such a beautiful job with

putting quilts together and quilting it.

We chose a really nice swirling pattern

for them to use on the quilt. It

turned out just gorgeous!

One item I can check off that ever

growing list!

Dear Daughter and I have also been busy

doing a few holiday crafts.

Here is one we just finished!

We made this cute Advent garland!

(The 'Merry Christmas' banner I already had!)

We made this ....

I made the little felt pockets. Not my

idea ...the sky would fall if I could

ever design something so cute.

You can find the idea and pattern at

Allsorts. She has the cutest blog and

the cutest ideas!

Dear Daughter painted the wooden

snowmen on the garland. They turned

out so cute. It just warms my heart to

see her crafting! Makes a mother proud!

We added touches of black gingham and

red stripe ribbon to finish off the

holiday garland!

(FYI ..the snowman garland was purchased at Micheal's for those of

you who might wish to do this project!)

I'm off to get busy and check off some

of those unfinished items from my list!

I hope that you are making better headway

on your TO DO LISTS than I am!

CHRISTMAS .....COUNT DOWN!

CHRISTMAS ….ONLY 44 DAYS TO GO!

Oh my! Where does the time go?

Christmas ….already?

I’m making my list and checking it twice …

1. Wrapping paper bought – check
2. Christmas gifts bought – check
3. Christmas card supplies bought – check

HAVE A GLASS OF WINE!

4. Make Christmas cards – working on it
5. Make ‘Felt’ Cookie ornaments - check
6. Finish making gifts  – check

HAVE ANOTHER GLASS OF WINE!

7. Finish Advent Calendar – check
8. Finish two Holiday Table Runners – check
9. Finish two Holiday Wall Hangings – check

….PERHAPS .... ANOTHER GLASS OF WINE!

Now, where was I …OH!

I was making my list and checking it twice.

Well, now I've forgotten what I was going to write on my list.

  Must be the wine?

*****

Actually, Dear Daughter and I have been

spending a few afternoons ‘crafting’.

Here’s a peek at one of our projects.

We’re making these adorable felt Christmas Cookies!

They look good enough to eat.

 

Don't they look SCRUMPTIOUS?

 

Best of all they are ZERO calories!

 

And, donuts! I can smell them now!

*****

I’m not quite sure why we are doing this;

other than we are having fun

and we will be adorned with admiration

on Christmas Day as everyone exclaims

‘Oh, what cute little package decoration’! 

You know that holiday syndrome

…you want everything perfect

and you want to DO IT ALL! 

Why do we do this to ourselves? 

I’m still trying to figure that one out!

All I know now, is that Dear Daughter and
I are having loads of fun!

...and, that means the world to me!

A BIT OF GHOSTLY VIGNETTES...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL WHO VISIT!

Here are just a few of my ghostly vignettes. I do hope you enjoy!

HAPPY HAUNTINGS!
*****
JUST A NOTE - I posted lots of fabrics on my Etsy from my latest stash busting crusade. I do hope you run on over a take a look! I'll be posting a few more things later this week or next.