Merry Christmas!!! The holidays bring lots of excitement, wonder and magic, and this Christmas was no exception. Of course there are several Holiday traditions I cherish, such as dressing up and going to High Tea and celebrating with loved ones, but this year making gifts was at the top of my list. I must say that Aaron surprised me with several beautiful handmade gifts including a fairy tale and this incredible shadow box. I am so lucky!!!!

He also wins boyfriend of the year award for subscribing to Felissimo's 500 pencil project. A set of 25 colored pencils will arrive every month for the next 20 months!!!! Here is the first set!
I made Aaron a shadow box in this display case. Two wax rabbits in a thistle grove...

Great Gifts for the Holidays

Christmas is almost here!!! I thought I'd share some amazing and unusual finds if you still have to do some last minute shopping...

I love these shadow puppets by IsabellasArt. I assure you they will conjure magic for every bedtime story!

French enamel plaques and this fabulous faux bois box from Duchess & Bird.

And for the guys on your list, check out these amazing screen printed ties from Toybreaker on Etsy!

With holiday install wrapping up at work, and Thanksgiving rapidly approaching I remembered (with a twinge of panic) that I needed to fill the advent calendar for Nad and Mi before December 1st. This is the third Christmas I've filled the calendar for the girls, and I have no doubts that it will continue to be loved and used until it finally gives out. It is after all only made of paper...

I love the idea of a tiny surprise waiting to be discovered. As a child, the anticipation of what I might find tomorrow felt like a best kept secret. As an adult I love to share in this excitement with Nad and Mi. We try to fill the calendar with something other than plastic junk with Hannah Montana's face plastered all over it, so I picked out some alternative treasures:

*glow in the dark wind animals because Nad is all about animal facts

*chocolate coins, a holiday must and favorite of both girls

*wooden necklaces to string, because above all we girls love to craft

* puffy butterfly stickers

* rubber stamps (of animals)

Our advent calendar was made of large matchboxes cut in half then compiled into a "chest of drawers" like format. Its was pretty simply and fun to embellish. Here are some other great advent calendar ideas I love...

from purlbee

from country living magazine

from canadian family

Really, the sky is the limit. This would also be a great thing to do with a partner too. I made a birthday advent calendar for Aaron and he still looks at it 3 years later.

The Holidays are here at Anthropologie! Paper poofs tumble overhead. Look closely; I am in there somewhere!

Funnels holding handmade ornaments sprout from wood stumps...


Little lamps on birch trees light the way for customers...

snowballs for sale, 5 cents each...

How many inches of snow this year? And a Holiday window to come....

Christmas Giving

Photos of girls who had a wonderful Christmas!

I made Aaron a paper magnolia. Inside the pod little curls of paper with written sentiments are tucked into each well. A few red berries unfolded from their hiding spot revealing little pictures or writings. I also painted this miniature for him...us as two rabbits.

Aaron did a beautiful job wrapping my gifts!  My favorite present from him is this bowl made of red and yellow winter leaves.

Christmas at the Napa House

Napa house is adorned in festive greenery, lights, and all things Christmas...

Our advent calendar, full of little goodies to enjoy the whole month long.

Beautiful bough of bay leaves and oranges atop our tea cabinet.

Our mantle, with stockings made from vintage blankets.

Our little Christmas tree in jewel tones!

Holiday Craftacular

PCM's Holiday Craftacular was this Saturday and I made all kinds of winter inspired miniatures to sell. I make paper shoes of all kinds, and love the few I made for the show. I also crafted my miniature scenes atop vintage teacups instead of inside domes.  This one of the woodland squirrel was loved by many and found a home.

I love these queen bee shoes. They stand quite a ways off their pedestal and seem to be teetering on these delicate dried blossoms.

My business cards presented on a bed of moss.

Woodland fairy slippers on a real dried mushroom.  I love these!

My First Holiday Show

A week from tomorrow is the Holiday Craftacular show hosted by the PCM. My first craft show coincided with their first ever Craftaluma last spring. I am excited to be participating in a holiday show and have lots of new work to sell. Come by handmade gift for the holidays and support crafters!!! My friend MJ will be selling her adorable paper chair mobiles as well as the cutest paper chair ornaments. I will be selling my miniature worlds in vintage teacups, gocco tea towels and beautiful hand-painted paste paper as giftwrap as well as many other paper treats! Come by and say hello!