Christmas In July

A bit of Patriotic-Christmas-in-July!

Happy day to you all!

As I blog today, it's very hot outside in the Panhandle, but inside the Christmas music is playing, the air conditioner works hard, and I am designing new ornaments.  It's that time again to start creating ornaments for Christmas In July, and for the upcoming holiday season in my etsy shop.  I've got lots of new Sugar Plum Ice Cream Cones in the works.

My little guys love to help out when I get out my ornament supplies.  I've learned to give them a tray of extra items of their own to work with.  If I don't, they are going to be getting into my decoration supplies.  I love that they want to be involved and creating though.  They add their own "boyishness" to their own creations, and we initial and date them, then add them to the tree each season.  Their progress shows in their ornaments as their eye-hand coordination and maturity grows, and our tree has become similar to a special type of scrapbook of ornaments that only comes out during the holidays!

This year I've tried to make ornaments in many different colors.  The green is selling out first, and I'm out of green, so will be making more soon!  Green is a traditional Christmas color, but it doesn't stand out on a tree as well as other colors often do, so selling lots of green this year surprised me, but there is a lot to say about tradition!  I still love to decorate a majority of my home in shades of red and green for the holidays.  My favorite holiday decoration is holly and ivy.....a fine example of traditional holiday colors.

Until next time!
-Rebecca

Martial Arts Ornaments!

I am a firm believer that amid all the "pretty and sparkle" on the Christnas tree, there should be a yearly ornament for each of us to remember the year by.   My two little guys (ages 10 and 6) participate in TaeKwonDo.  They work hard and love their sport.   We found a gem of a studio in town, (Colbert's TaeKwonDo Academy).   My husband and I love that they're learning self-discipline, respect, and self-defense in the midst of their fun!

This year my children's ornaments have been my little secret, in order to surprise them Christmas morning!  They are time consuming, but I enjoy making these Personalized Martial Arts Ornaments.  They are just five and a half inches tall, and hang on the tree by their cute little clothes hanger.   What better way to remember their 2010 year of TaeKwonDo!?  I am sure they will cherish these ornaments and memories on their own tree when they are adults with their own children!

I added a few of these ornaments to my etsy shop.  I guess others were searching for Personalized Martial Arts Ornaments also, because I haven't stopped getting requests!

Best Wishes,
Rebecca

Pink German Stars

Imagine a full Christmas Tree of Pink German Stars floating by clear thread, looking as though they are suspended in mid-air!   Magical!


Pink German Stars.  I have done these stars in every color, except pink, until now.  I'm not sure why I haven't ever made pink before, but now in celebration of Pink Saturday,...here they are!  They won't be my last!  I've just added them to my Etsy shop, too.  

If you love Pink, drop by and visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday.   Beverly is all about pink, so check it out!   (She asked that we share a favorite recipe also, but honestly, my cooking isn't my strong suit.   I'd rather eat these paper stars!  He he he!)

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to blog again before next Saturday.......  Where is the time going!?


Warm Christmas Wishes,
Rebecca

Oh My Stars!

It's the week of Thanksgiving and I'm cooking, cleaning, blogging, and making stars!  Well, it wouldn't be a holiday at our house without these geometric sparkles at each table setting.  I place one at each table setting (this year in festive fall oranges and browns) to decorate the table.  They make wonderful bowl fillers too.  One bowl in the center of our table will overflow with German Stars.   (I'll take photos of Thanksgiving table settings and post that at a later date, but due to time limitations right now, I'll post a few other German Star photos).

I started making stars for a dinner party about five years ago. I needed a bit of sparkle on a budget.  Yet, I wanted something for each guest to bring home to remind them of our time together. Since then, they've become a tradition in our home.  They are the favorite place setting decorations, decorative bowl fillers on the coffee table, and Christmas Tree Ornaments (my favorites!)   We hand them out to the teachers, Sunday School teachers, friends that visit our home to show them they are a star in our lives!
I've made them for wedding favors!  White is a very popular star color this year, as that is what I've made the most of! Strung on clear thread, they look as though they are floating in mid-air.

One of my friends calls me every year as she decorates her tree, to tell me that she has just put the German Star that I made on her tree!  She remembers this star ornament had time and love put into it so it would match our dinner party decor years ago.  She remembers the laughs we had at dinner, and the quality time our families shared together.

A German Star......light-weight, geometrical-origami-magic, created in a rainbow of different colors.  And when they are glittered, they are like a little bit of heaven!

Sugar Plum Cone Ornaments!

It's been so busy at our house, that my crafting time has been limited, but I did get a few things made in the past few weeks and I wanted to share.  They're so cheery, that I have these little cones hanging all over the house.  I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet and I'm already thinking of Christmas Ornaments, but they're so much FUN!  And before we know it, those Christmas cards will be arriving in the mail again.....it's right around the corner!  I just can't wait!

I have fond childhood memories of cranking the homemade ice cream maker! Sugar Plum Cone Ornaments bring back those memories. These zero-calorie cones were made with the thoughtful suggestions from my professional ice cream crew, (my two little guys).

The countdown is on.  Just over a month left to plan, create, and prepare!  Are you getting ready for Christmas?

~ There's Nothing Like A Homemade Christmas ~

Painting with Brenda

My dear friend, Brenda (from www.BrushedByAnAngel.etsy.com), is a wonderful decorative painter.  She makes beautiful ornaments, decorations, wall hangings, and more.  In fact, if it stands still long enough, it will likely get a coat of paint, a cute little face, or a beautiful rose added to it!

Brenda recently mentioned she could teach me to paint.  (I had attempted before.  Sorry Donna Dewberry, but you helped very little on my past attempts!)  Brenda was optimistic and with her encouragement.  I agreed to try again.  Time flies when Brenda and I chat on the porch swing.  Well, if the worst that could happen would be us spending an afternoon together laughing and chatting, and I might learn to paint a simple shape,  then I'd take the chance!  Brenda got the brushes and acrylic paint ready!

I did it!  Snowman Sled by Rebecca

I was stunned to see my first project when I arrived.  A painted sled  awaited me.  Brenda gave me a book to choose an idea of what to put on it.  The ideas in the book looked difficult.....a santa face or a snowman face?!  How was I going to do this?  Brenda was still looking optimistic as she put the sled in my hands, so I didn't share that I  actually thought I'd return home later that day with something that looked like it was  from my son's kindergarten art class!  It was my first real painting class after all!

Brenda is quite a teacher.  She has taught many projects to her local artist group.  She gave me a list of necessary supplies and explained painting terms to me.  She taught in an organized step by step manner and explained as she went.  Brenda slowly worked the techniques, like shading, and then had me practice the same.  She has many painting tricks from her years of experience, and is quite happy to share them, unlike many crafters that I've met who know, who guard their craft closely!  It was a pleasant afternoon.  And like time chatting on the porch swing, the time sped by!

I got home that evening and amazed my family with the sweetest snowman face painted on a sled wall hanging.  Brenda taught me to create eyes with a lively little sparkle, and make a unique grin for my little snow guy.   My snowman actually resembled a snowman!  Just like it was supposed to be!  I have much yet to learn, however, I'm not intimidated by the mighty paint and brush anymore.  The next time Brenda happens to mention "You could paint that",  I might even believe her!  In the meantime, I'll be practicing my painting and probably running to Brenda for help with the right techniques and tips often!

Check out Brenda's latest.  She's filling up her etsy store for the upcoming holidays.  She does beautiful work.  You are invited to view her etsy store and blog site!   She has a tutorial on her blog about how to paint a light bulb Santa!  It's fascinating how it progresses from a burned out bulb into such a jolly character!

www.BrushedByAnAngel.etsy.com   and www.BrushedByAnAngel.blogspot.com
Make sure you leave her a comment and tell her where you read about her!

(Isn't this a fun ornament?!)   www.BrushedByAnAngel.etsy.com

www.BrushedByAnAngel.etsy.com

90 Days Until Christmas!

Time is flying by.  I can't believe it's already late September and next month we'll have even less warm sunshine in our days along with the earlier darkness each evening.  (Yes, even here on The Gulf Coast we get cold weather and freezing nights as we get deeper into Autumn).


90 Days until Christmas!  I love it.  It scares some, but it inspires me!  I want to get out my fabric, ribbon, needle and thread and start crafting like crazy for the full countdown!  


I'm currently working on Quilted Ribbon Ornaments.  I keep saying that I'm going to use all my ribbon up, but as I go I need this or that to finish the project, and honestly, my ribbon boxes have not shrunk at all. The inspiration continues though, and I have many handmade ornaments to show for it.  


The Quilted Ribbon Ornaments are constructed by folding and putting together many cut pieces of ribbon or fabric.  Each piece is pinned in perfect position with care into a styrofoam ball.  Each ornament takes 70 to 90 straight pins.  (I definitely recommend using a thimble!)  


Here are a few of my latest additions.  They really pop against a Christmas Tree.