Potions

 Thrift store finds repurposed for Halloween. Step right up to the bar and have some potions!

The glass bottles were a dollar each, the labels $2, the black bottle was $3, the led lights $1. Not bad for the whole display. The Day of the Dead planter was from Trader Joe's.

Pop Culture Tree 2023

 The Pop Culture tree this year was on a revolving stand, one side mostly The Nightmare Before Christmas and the other side Harry Potter themed ornaments. The middle strand of lights went out halfway through decorating so I replaced them without knowing they were garish LED colors. Went forward anyway since Christmas was fast approaching!

Star Wars tree

 One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching "The Empire Strikes Back" while we decorate our Star Wars tree. I collected my first ornament for it in 1997 when Billy was born. He did the ornaments and I did the lights on this one. I know this may not seem Chritsmas-y to some but we love it! WE also watch Die Hard in Christmas Eve. 

GlassTree

 Oh my, I found this beautiful blown glass tree at the thrift store today for $3.50. It is so much more beautiful in real life and the ornaments reflect up from the mirrored base. 

Easel Card

I love this easel card fold, it's easy to do and adds a bit of fun. When I was a kid I always loved cards that were a little bit interactive, and really loved the ones that had cash! My Grandmothers and Aunts used to tape quarters inside and it was like we won the lottery.  
 

Santas

I keep saying that's enough decorating but I don't seem to listen. The Santa tree is a revolving music box playing "White Christmas". I can't remember where I got it but I've had it for a long time. The ceramic Santa is Hallmark Santas of the World- England. Love it.

 

Arteza Advent Calendar

 This is everything that was inside this year's advent calendar by Arteza. I "had" to open everything, the box was taking up too much room. That was my excuse, anyway! It was a good value because it was on sale, otherwise I probably would not have ordered it. While a surprise is always fun, some items I wouldn't have purchased or already had. Ready for my new year goal of trying out more artwork!

Kitchen Tree

A happy little Christmas tree in my kitchen/dining area that features mostly gingerbread, cookies, cupcakes, and other sweets!

 

Ornament Jar

An easy and beautiful decoration, a tall glass jar filled with blue, white, and silver balls and ornaments. It is so much prettier in real life!
 I stocked up on the clear balls in the after Christmas sale at Joann's last year so this was a very inexpensive project, already had tons of glitter.

Angel Card Project

 This is my first batch of cards going out for the Angel Card Project. I hope that I can bring a little bit of cheer this year to someone in need of a lift. Please check out their website HERE for more details. Send one card or many, if you are able. You don't have to be a crafter/card maker, any kind of card would be more than welcome, I'm sure.

Tree For Hawaii

 There were so many Christmas ornaments that I bought over the years in Lahaina so decorating the tree this year was so bittersweet. I wish the people of Lahaina and Maui peace, love, hope, and happiness in the coming New Year. I also pray that the land stays in the hands of the people of Lahaina, like it was before. 

Globetrotter Beaches

 Finished another 1000 piecer, this one is by Eurographics.

More Puzzling

During the past year and a half I have become quite addicted to jigsaw puzzles. They are so relaxing and I love listening to either an audiobook or music while I work on them. They also remind me a lot of my Dad, we always had a new puzzle when he came to visit me and I think of him with each new puzzle I start. All but one of these (the sewing room) is a 1000 piece. A few I have purchased at thrift stores and usually have really good luck getting complete ones, but three of them were missing just one piece. Ack! Reminds me of when we were young and my sister would take one piece so she could put the last piece in at the end.  

 

Puzzling away the Pandemic

Completed my fourth pandemic puzzle, this one a 1000 piece from Ravensburger. Lots of challenge on this one, especially the different windows. I have a holiday themed one ready but don't want to take this apart quite yet!
 

Quarantine Day 28

A beautiful Spring day, in stay at home mode, quarantine Day 28. So saddened to have lost music legend John Prine, passed away from complications due to COVID-19. He has brought so much joy to my life since I discovered him through my sister, Kathy. 
Thanks to Google Play I am able to hear his albums today in loving tribute to him, the first four records so far. I find myself smiling often as I listen, he had a unique way with words and had such a profound understanding of people and the times. A born storyteller. I found out that his father was a tool and die maker, just like mine. 

top down day

Day 26 of quarantine and stamping is a wonderful outlet, helping to stay busy and send some love on to someone in need.

This is part of the new release from The Greetery, called Top Down Day. If you have a convertible it would be an awesome day to go out for a ride. Nobody is worried about how your hair looks right now :)

Little Robin Redbreast

These cute cards were made using the Hunkdory "Little Robin Redbreast" kit and sample patterns in the magazine (from Great Britain). I've never done one of these kits before and it was fun and will go to my collection of cards to pass out at the assisted living center for the coming Christmas 2020 season.

Eat What You Love

This is another useful cookbook, your favorite foods made lighter. I couldn't resist picking this up at my old library for 50 cents. Breakfast and muffin recipes in this one are pretty good!

On Vegetables

If I could recommend a vegetarian cookbook above all others (except maybe Mark Bittman's, which is also very good), it would be this one by Deborah Madison. You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy all of these recipes, there are so many marvelous ideas for sides and entrees here. You can find a super cheap copy on ebay through some of the Goodwill Industries stores or at your local thrift shop, which is where I picked up mine for about $3 or $4. Well worth it!!

Rose gold skies

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
The sky was so breathtaking this morning, turning the front of the house a rose pink color. Nice to see that sun making an appearance! Days like this get us Pacific Northwesterners through so many wet,  gray days.