house wren studio

remembering christmas

      

Each year when we unpack the ornaments, there are glimpses of Christmases past when the girls were little. It gets harder and harder to sharpen those memories, layered so deeply, and I will always miss those babies in my lap, thrilled, exhausted, recharging for the next round.

 

Christmas week goes by so fast- the whirl of it all is a little dizzying, too wonderful and vast to view at once. Like the big bear hugs my dad used to give us, the holiday seems to wrap itself tighter and tighter around us until we're ready to dissolve with joy. As the girls get older, it's no longer about Santa and his toys, but the gifts are even more important in the sweetest way. Each has become a master Santa trying to divine the best secret gift for her sister, boyfriend or parent. The thoughtfulness and love that goes into their choices for each other - and for us-  is just amazing, so creative and adorable. I think being part of that dear and generous affection is the best gift - only outdone by the gift of time. The hanging out, just being together, jammed into the too-small couch, squeezed around the tiny kitchen table or hovering near the magic stove. It's crowded and cozy in here, elbow-to-elbow, so merry and bright. Nothing more to wish for. It's all right here. This. is. it.

   

 

Celebrating family is the happiest way to end a year and then to begin a new one too. From our house to yours, wishing the same for each of you. xoC

hey, santa!

Thanks for stopping by! (Click image to enlarge.) Wishing everyone a safe and cozy Christmas. And a very happy birthday to Andy and Nicki!

xoC

backstage

I feel a little like this worried Santa asking his buddy, um, are we supposed to be ready now? Because I'm not. Dashed off to town this afternoon to get some red hots for gingerbread men buttons. Sold out everywhere I went- which was 4 shops, markets and groceries. The man at the dimestore candy counter suggested red Tic-Tacs. Mmmmm, gonna pass on those, but thanks. More white icing I guess. Hoping everyone is better prepared than I am. Just send over your extra red hots when you're done, and those silver dragees too. From one Santa to another, thanks! xoC

gift tags for you

 

On the off chance that some of you are as far behind in holiday gift wrapping and giving as I am, here are some little tags I made for you (personal use only, please). Not enough time for work or shopping, but I sure managed to play with my red buttons! Click on the image to enlarge it, right click to save and then print on cardstock for your kraft-papered boxes or simple gifts. A little red string, raffia or baker's twine + a pretty tag and it's all done- or I should say, just starting, as is the case here. Happy holidays everyone. Thinking of you! xoC

treetime

 

Our Noreaster hit late last night with sleet and ice. We could hear it slamming against the side of the house like someone was throwing handfuls of nails at a metal dartboard. I got up to look outside and opened the window to get the cool, wet air indoors for awhile. It was kind of exciting. First thing this morning, up-and-at-em Andy suggested we get out to the tree lot while the rest of the county slept and surveyed the ice storm through their windows. Um, okay, that sounds like a good idea. He watched me tiptoe around with another cup of coffee, looking so un-ready to do much more than gaze out the wintry window, like everyone else. I mean there was no one out, not even the squirrels or birds, nothing except for a few hard-working plow trucks. Finally he announced that heck, he'll go get a tree and bring it back. How hard is it to pick out a tree these days, they are all perfectly grown, right? O, yay, thanks, sweetie! And I'll clear a space for it. And brew another pot of coffee. And find the treestand....

So we have a tree, all set up and indeed, perfectly shaped and standing straight as a pine soldier. I always think we should just leave it that way, bare, unlit, a huge air freshener and tribute to the quiet forest. But we have so many decorations. And of course, we must make lots more. It's what we do- a handmade Christmas tradition since the children were little. Yes, we are a crafty bunch through and through. One of my favorite gifts ever is this stack of handmade ornament boxes they made for me over 15 years ago. Using recycled cartons all painted up with their artsy, homegrown snowflake pattern, they even lined them with plush white lamby fabric scraps. I love them so much- and aren't they just so cool, so contemporary? My crafty, clever, little loves, and the dear man with a fine plan. It's a wonderful life ....snowed in with coffee and crafts. And a slowly warming tree. xoC

decoupaged holiday saucer

Our holiday decorations are still all tucked away. I can't imagine when we will have the time and space to get them out- maybe after Mo arrives home tomorrow, weather willing. We have enough decorations for our whole block I think, but it's always the ones we make each year that I love best.

This little saucer was in the drawer I keep for tiny trinkets that I am reluctant to really pack away. Looking at it now, I see that it is one of those easy crafts we all appreciate this time of year. I started with an old glass saucer and did the same thing I did here once before. The saucer is a beautiful demi-tasse size antique with ripples in the glass and tiny chips around the edges. No cups or finger bowls, but a stack of them at the thrift shop gave me lots of options. For this one, I trimmed out a copy of an old postcard. With Mod Podge I centered the image in the round of the saucer recess- on the back face-up. Then I just added a second round of gold tissue the same way- face-up on the back. When it was all pressed into place- wrinkles and all, I trimmed around the edges of the plate. I like the wrinkles, they add to the quirkiness and age of the whole thing. To make this into an ornament, twist a wire loop and tape it to the back with another paper layer or two decoupaged over the tape. A final layer of Mod Podge is a good idea as a final sealer. This kind of craft is perfect for children. Take those holiday artworks or their letters to Santa or a copy of their holiday photo and try this on a larger glass plate. Each year you can add to the collection and soon have a plate-rack full of memories. xoC

I just updated the shop to include noteflats with envelopes of 2 of my collages. The kits are nearly sold out-thank you!- trying to decide if I should make more. More on that later.

city sparkle, crafty magic

Being in the city on Saturday was so refreshing. It's easy to forget what that energy is like, a giant snowglobe of whirling activity. I had to rush from Grand Central to Tinsel Trading to set up for my class, but this is what I passed on the street.

 

And then at the store there was more sparkle and shine.

 

Inside it was cozy and festive where we sat around the big table and sewed felt ornaments. We had such a good time, cackling like Christmas hens and left with warm holiday hugs, feeling the kinship of new and old friends. Off to the next great adventure.....and another class TBA in January. xoC

   

saint nick night

I was checking up on my friends in Omaha this morning and saw Teresa's post about her effort to comfort her family with the traditions of the season. She wrote about St. Nick Night which brought back a happy memory for my family too. That was one of the traditions we picked up from friends in Chicago when the girls were little. Putting their shoes by the door with the promise of a little surprise the next morning seemed such a gentle celebration of excitement and holiday anticipation. And one year, it was the memorable tale of the season for us.

Mo was three that year. After dinner, she watched her sisters each bring down a pair of shoes and set them by the front door. Fascinated, perplexed, she asked Why? An excited Erin explained the reason- St. Nick would stop by late that night and leave a treat that they would find in the morning.  Mo spun around and rummaged in the closet for her snow boots and put them next to her sisters' shoes, much larger versions of her own tiny feet. We went on about our evening routine, Mo playing with toys while Erin and Maggie did homework in the kitchen. Suddenly we heard little footsteps going up and down the stairs- more than once, up and down, up and down. We all got up and went to see what the little mischief maker was up to. And there she was- putting the finishing touches on a tower of shoes, every pair she could locate. She lined them up two by two from the front door to the kitchen door. The delight in her face completely revealed the logic of her plan- no need to even give it words. Yep, let's put out every shoe we own! Why stop with one or two? You just never know how generous the guy might be, right? Let's find out!

That dear little pixie with her wild plans and big ideas, always surprising us with something. Our favorite St. Nick Night ever. It was so nice to remember that today. Wishing you all a cozy weekend of holiday celebrations, of any size or sort- where those you love stay close, the very gifts we cherish most. xoC

(P.S. forgot to mention that my December class is tomorrow at Tinsel Trading. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and say hi. We'll be in The Store Across the Street, making felt ornaments. I think the class is sold out, but the store is so, so fun to visit. A snowy Saturday in Manhattan at Christmas-time, kind of miracle-ish on 38th Street. Come see.)

a dip in the road

Well, the kits are all lined up and ready to go. Lovely bundles of materials piled in sparkling stacks, all ready to go but for the pretty packaging I ordered to finish them up. That part is lost on the delivery loading docks a mile or so from my house. All that distance and then just lost on a truck or something. Maybe it went to someone else's house. For days now, I have gone out onto the porch expecting to see that essential parcel there where it should have landed when the driver threw it my way. I had faith that if I waited a bit longer it would come, but after lengthy inquiries, the package is officially off the radar. I must make other plans and adjust. Done.

Sometimes it seems like no matter how one goes about life, it just works against you. I parked my new car on the edge of the lot for weeks, so careful of its new shiney outside and then, wham, I dented it myself, opening the door of our other car beside it on a windy day. I was kind of asking for that, and we laughed that it was fitting that I was the careless-door-dinger. But there are also situations out of your control that pop up, catch you by the toe and pull you down a rabbit hole- deeper ones. There you are, looking around in the dark, wondering how you fell in- and then how do you get out again. Do you holler for help, cry in the corner or figure out how to climb out? I'm not talking about packages and shipping now. One of my sweeties has spent the last week battling her way out of one of those frightening life-lesson tunnels. A nasty, random incident dragged her into a nightmare controversy about integrity- unwittingly, unfairly, undeservedly. Without much assistance, she had to find her way back, gingerly pull herself through the mud and climb out of the hole. She had some help from those cheering her on at the edges, in the sunlight, near the top, but it was all on her in the end.

I took the package off the list of worries, bigger things to fret about at midnight. Wise papa Andy said we would just have to have faith that the truth would win, that fairness and right would triumph as it should. At midnight, it was hard to believe that, by morning, a little easier, as each day wore on, I had thought about little else. At last, I can say that it looks as though he was right. She's okay and the truth won out. If faith was only going to work for one out of two, this was the one that mattered.

Back to kit-shipping- the adjusted version. Exhale.   xoC

P.S. of couse, as I finish this, the truck is out front. Package is here- along with one meant for a neighbor!

amy's house

Judging from all the nice comments and emails about the Westmoreland story, most of us seem to have enjoyed happy childhoods full of memories we treasure. If only that could be the case for every child, in every home. Amy and Rich Powers have decided to become foster parents and I can honestly say that there is not a bigger heart overly full of love, kindness, patience and smiles than Amy's. I am so proud of her and Rich for taking this on, for loving and comforting the little ones adrift in the crazy world they were born into. I hope it brings them joy.

Diane and I are hosting a blog shower for them- which means that we just extend our Evite to those who wish to help cozy up the house for their children. Amy has a cheery, colorful room started up and most of the things they need, but there are plenty of extras we can fill in for their new arrivals. If you would like to participate, just email me or Diane -DWells(at)awhimsicalgarden.com- and we'll get you the details. And thanks to those who already signed on, this is going to be a lotta love headed their way- thinking there can't ever be too much of that!  xoC