Swell Stitches

And The Winner Is....

Well, actually ... winners!  I decided that since I made such a large amount of the trees that I would give away to two people!  Before I announce the winners, though, I want to thank each and every one of you for commenting and for your sweet thoughts about my trees!  I was so excited to hear from so many of you.  And I looooved hearing about all of your favorite Christmas songs!  I actually learned about a few new ones from you-all that I'm really excited to check out. 

Now, without further ado, the winners are.....  Jennie and Two Crazy Crafters!!!!  Both of these winners have some really fantastic blogs which I've linked you to through their names.  Check 'em out!!  Also, I will email both of you in just a moment so that I can get your mailing addresses.  I really hope that you'll like the trees! 

I also didn't want to leave you-all today without another project that I finished up recently.  This is a sweet little Santa bluebird that I cross stitched and then mounted onto a foam board to create a Christmas ornament.  I also trimmed it in red rickrack.  I love me some rickrack! haha 

In the Spirit of Christmas...

I have decided to do a giveaway!

I just finished a gorgeous batch of bottlebrush trees.  I bleached and died them and then adorned them with snow glitter as well as beautiful pearly beads.  Some of these are going to Brook Owens for a holiday swap.  However, since I made so many I decided to give a couple away to one special reader. 

So, if you would like one of these sweet little trees to adorn your home, just leave a comment.  Since I'm a huge fan of Christmas music, please tell me what your favorite Christmas song is.  I love so many, but one that always makes me happy and I tend to whistle all day long once I hear it is It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas sung by Bing Crosby.  I adore Bing Crosby.  I've been completely addicted to Channel 120 on XM Radio which is temporarily Bing Crosby Christmas Radio.  It actually plays his original radio show from the 40's.. only Christmas ones.  So cool!

Anyhow, I look forward to knowing what songs you-all are listening to this Christmas.  Please leave your comment by Friday and leave your email address so that I can contact the winner for her mailing information.  I plan on picking the name randomly and will ship the little trees out Saturday morning. 

Let it Snow!!!

I have just had one of the most thrilling nights of my life!  It snowed!!!!  I know that may not be a big deal to a lot of people, but where I live.. Southeast Texas.. it snows once every 15 years or so! lol  In fact, I only have seen it snow once other than tonight since I was born!  It didn't snow a huge amount, but what little it did I just loooved!  It was so exciting.  I felt just like a little kid.  I walked around my apartment complex taking pictures all night.  For just a moment I felt like a total dork.. until I noticed how many people were doing the same thing!  There were people throwing snowballs at each other and everything!  I've never seen that before! haha  Well, I have a few photos that I really want to show of my snowy winter night.  I hope ya'll like them!

Here are a couple of shots of the snow all over my car!

Here I decided to make a snowball.. too bad I didn't have anyone to throw it at!  Where are you when I need you, Brook?!

Here's a kid's little toy car I saw covered in the fresh snow

Ever see a palm tree with snow on it? 

Footprints in the snow

Some of the foliage around my apartment complex dusted in fresh, white snow

This is just a shot of the snow in the dark night sky... I tried to get a better shot, but this is the best I could get.

Bobbins Galore!

One of my early Christmas projects this year was a huge batch of bobbin ornaments.  I actually intended to list them on Etsy and try to sell them... but I procrastinated as usual and it just didn't happen.   So, I decorated my pretty little pink tree with them!  I really love how it turned out.  This tree emits the prettiest, soft glow at night.  I keep it in my bedroom close to my bed. 

All of the bobbin ornaments .. or spool ornaments if I were being particular.. are handpainted by me and then adorned with various ribbons and trims.  I also affixed a beautiful, pearly snowflake to the bottom of each ornament as well.  You can see it in some of the pictures.  Well enough gabbing.. on to the pictures!!!

I love Shiny Things

Especially on my tree at Christmas time!  I had a really fun weekend with one of my best friends and her cute little boy.  We went to Sugarland, near Houston, TX, which is next door to where she lives.. and their City Hall/Town Square is sooo gorgeous!  They have beautiful lights and decorations everywhere as well as a huge Christmas tree in the courtyard for City Hall.  There's a beautiful, jolly Santa statue and there was even a jazz band playing holiday tunes.  On the 20th they're going to show a Christmas movie under the moonlight.  I was so excited when I heard that.  I am definitely going to go.  Then, when I found out that the movie showing is It's a Wonderful Life, I just knew my Mom would want to go.  It's her favorite Christmas movie of all time! 
Well, I took tons of pictures over the weekend and I just wanted to show ya'll a couple of them.  Also, I want to share some of my favorite ornaments off of my Christmas tree.  I hope ya'll like them.  Oh... and just so ya'll know, the elf is my absolute favorite!  He's so cute! 

The Most Wonderful Time of Year

As much as I LOVE Christmas... that's not what I'm talking about.  I'm talking about highschool football season!  Even though I graduated highschool in 2002 from West Orange-Stark, going to the Mustang football games is one of my favorite things to do.  It's always so much fun.. the atmosphere of the band playing.. yes I played clarinet in band and even some in college..  the stadium lights and all of the people you rarely get to see all laughing and talking and catching up on things.. and most importantly the ever-changing group of boys out there playing on the field.  Despite the fact that I don't know any of them personally anymore, I still know their brothers or cousins and horror of horrors one day their Moms and Dads.  I grew up believing in Mustang pride and tradition, all thanks to my Mom.  Our school has a winning football team.  We are ALWAYS district champions.  We always go to the playoffs at least two or three rounds.  We're always state ranked... usually in the top five.. sometimes just the top ten.   A tradition like that is something to be proud of.  Well, throughout all the years I accumulated several tee shirts since they sell new ones every year.  Over the years, some of them no longer fit or have holes or tears or they just aren't my favorites anymore.. so, they were just stuffed in a drawer nearly forgotten.  Well, I decided that I wanted to do something that would allow me to appreciate all of these shirts for many, many years to come.   Instantly, I thought of this... a tee shirt quilt!  It would be perfect!  I could lay it out at the warm games to sit on and during the cold games in playoff season it would be perfect for snuggling up and blocking cold winds!  So, I researched tutorials, gathered my shirts and got to work.  I was so happy that I was even able to use some of my senior shirts which were special to me.. one of them even has the entire classes signatures screen printed on it.  I put that one in the middle since it's my favorite of them all.  Well, enough blabbing.. sorry for the whole novel I just wrote!  Here is my tee shirt quilt.. my Mom is the crazy lady all bundled up in it.  This was at a coooold playoff game just two weeks ago.  I'm really thrilled that I'll have it for many playoff games to come!

Winter Yumminess

Every year during the cold months... well I guess I should say days since it's rarely below 70 here... my Mom cooks up a huge stock pot of steaming stew just chocked full of delicious vegetables and tender stew meat.  It is one of my favorite things in the world.. talk about comfort food!  Well, yesterday my Mom whipped up her first stew of the season.  It was soooo good!  I think it was one of her best stews ever.  The craziest thing about her stews is that they always seem to be even better reheated the day after.  Well, that's definitely true of this stew.  I heated some up at my apartment today and it was so soothing after coming in from the cold.   Nothing is better than a steaming hot bowl of stew.. well maybe a steaming hot cup of cocoa with marshmallows.. but that's for another day!

And, yes, this photo was taken with my brand new camera!  yay!  I'm so in love with it.  Turns out when my Mom bought my camera for me a couple years back she purchased a replacement warranty.  I got to walk in the store and pick out a new one!  So awesome!  My new camera is fantastic.. it has 10.2 mp and tons of awesome features.  It is a Sony and has the touchscreen just like my old one.  It really is nice.  I love you, Mamma!!!  Needless to say, I've been having fun playing with my camera.  So, here are a couple of pics I took of my yarn wreath I made a while back.  I know the lighting isn't too great.. but it was nighttime. 

Next up.. my amazing Mustang Football tee shirt quilt! 

Happy Crafting everyone!

Happy Birthday Brook!!

Today I would just like to say Happy Birthday to my best crafty friend, Brook!  I hope you have a fantastic birthday, Brook!  You certainly do deserve it.  I found some beautiful vintage birthday card images for you.  I hope that you enjoy them!