Thankful

Christmas Eve Day is here and we are finally settled into our new home. Most boxes are unpacked and I can say that UN- packing is a whole lot more fun than packing. There's a feeling of accomplishment when you can break down the box FOR THE LAST TIME and throw it into the recycling bin at the dump, oops, transfer station.

I've got a ktichen with a workspace that flows, and counters that are half done, but I guess with concrete it takes a month to cure after its made. Butcher block on the island. In the distance is the mosaic I posted part of earlier. It was a colossal error in measuring (ditzy kitchen planner lady) and because of that it has overflowed it's original boundaries. It's still pretty though.

I have a pantry. And lots of room for the dozens of vases I can't seem to be able to part with.

We even have a tree and little lights in the windows.

We will have a white Christmas after all. This field behind our house is now covered with snow and we have a houseful of family: kids, grandkids and dogs (4). Family traditions. I am hoping the same is in store for all of you reading this post, well, maybe not the 4 dogs! Peace to all.

STITCHED

My friend and fellow Frayed Edges member Deborah has created a video for one of Alma Stoller's STITCHED series of workshops. If you've never taken an online class, this would be the perfect series to start out with. I looked at the long list of offerings and, believe me, there's something for everyone. Of course I'm VERY biased, but I think Deborah's is the best. Here's a little information about the series:

STITCHED is a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 talented fabric artists. Students have access to all 20 workshops and can choose to view and work on the projects any time of the day, any day of the week. Registration opens on Dec 1 and the workshops kick off on Jan 1 and run through June 1. Registration is only $89. Deborah is teaching a workshop titled, "Branches, Buds and Blossoms: A Botanical Fabric Collage." She includes videos on selecting fabrics, adding surface design, composing and improvisational hand embroidery.

Above is a sample of her work. I happen to love it. If you can, zoom in on the picture to see all the details.

New Windows and Gingerbread Houses

Here are two of the three window boxes lining our garage. I can't tell you how patient I have been, wanting to do this the minute we had vertical walls! There's someting about green greens and red berries that makes me so happy. We move into our new home this coming weekend. Even the thought of moving boxes one last time and unpacking is not so overwhelming. I've loved the whole process of building. Everything has gone so well, probably because we have a great contractor, and I can check in every day. Always there are questions.

We've been carrying on with our annual holiday preparations and one of them is getting together with friends to make gingerbread houses...this year is our - yikes!-31st year! That's a lot of houses, trains, lighthouses, you name it, it's been made. This year we added a fish to the lineup:

A lot of time is down time, like when you are in charge of holding the roof until it is firm enough to add the next piece:

and there are engineering feats that just never work out:

like the adirondack chair that never was. On the other hand, there's beginner's luck with this perfectly constructed, first house.



And always, there is wine and lots of smiles shared with good friends and family. Good holiday tradition.