The Advent-ure Continues

still  Adventing away...

in little ways!

WIP Wednesday: Make Fake Cake

Advent day 11, I am chipping away at the gifts to make list.
And because life is uncertain, I am making dessert first.

I wrapped my first gift today. I am looking so forward to zero wrapping at the last minute.
I hope I can manage it!

Made It Myself Monday: Making Stuff Is More Fun Than a Barrel Of Monkeys

Advent Day 9.
Today, I played.

Fashion Friday: Buy Me Indy Gifts...

Personal Advent: Day 6

click on the pictures to go right to these shops.

 Okay, it is more blessed to give than receive...Especially if you are receiving mass produced goods from China because your loving family isn't as crafty as you are (Not talking about anyone in my family...of course.).

So, sometimes taking a few minutes to decide what you'd like to get can be practically altruistic. I mean, it will save the loved ones stress, better for our fabulous craft community, and 90% of the time these come with Far Less Packaging. So Go On.. Update your Etsy Favorites, email them to "Those Who Need Hints". They will be grateful and in one more small way,

You'll be a better person.

Thursday Tutorial: The Banner of Thankfulness.

please feel free to click on the pictures to make them Much Bigger.

Here's a little tutorial and downloadable free banner for Day 5 of My Personal Advent.

Why so early? Well because by the time it seems more apropos, I expect that we all will be up to our eyeballs with far more urgent stuff to do.

So I suggest, that if you have kids that craft, maybe you could make this together. And then way ahead of the game you can talk about what You Are Thankful For. And then by the time the big day rolls around and the family and friends are there and there is so much cooking and stuff to do...

you and your kids will have already reflected and that will feel great.

And if you don't have kids, make it by yourself and get done twice as fast!

 Fold the pages of a small (no longer read) paperback book

back and forth in half inch creases, fan style. You'll need 11.

 

Staple in the very center.

Trim the ends like in the picture, both curving in the same way.

 Open the fan and glue the straight side together to make a star shape.

 

 click below:

 Free Thanksgiving Banner Download

Then print and cut out or use a big punch (mine was 2 inches, scalloped).

I used tacky glue to put the letters on the front of the stars

I used a punch to put hole through one of the points of the star.

Then I threaded it all together with a large needle, threaded with old seam binding.

straighten and hang...

Happy Day 5.

I'll be off for the next 3 days I think.

Catch up on Monday!

Wisdom on Wednesday: Still, The Meters are Running

Bring your desires down to your present means.

Increase them only when your increased means permit.

-Aristotle

Advent Day 4:

Laundry and leftovers.

Every day can't be amazing.

OH- and that book?

Here's a site the publisher set up:

Show Off!

Thrift Tuesday: Made In Japan and Made by Hand

Here is what I have been thrifting up lately.

Vintage ornaments and baubles and gee gaws. Lord, where is my hot glue gun?

These are begging for up-cycling. Re-glittering. Joy to the world.

Soon.
I just need to work on the housekeeping end a few more days. Then I'll get out the gift wrap and bits to make better bits. Gift-worthy bits. Inspirational bits.

Oh, Change of Subject!
Hey... Anyone want to come to my book signing in Tuolumne County?
It's Saturday, at Lunchtime at the Mountain Bookshop in East Sonora.
There's nothing like signing books in the town you grew up in...( She says like she even knows when this is her first- EVER!)
I wonder if I'll see any long lost pals?

Hmmmm.

Advent day 3:
Go Ahead and Stock Up.
Buying gift and thrift puts us ahead of the game.

Made It Myself Monday: Lists and Wishes

I worked on my calendar and my "To Do List" yesterday.
I scheduled my annual "Sisters In The City" shopping day with my sistyuglers.
I scheduled The Annual Tree Hunt.
I scheduled the pre-tree cleaning spree.

 Tiny felt tea set.. a finished gift. The buns are the size of a pencil eraser.

I still want to schedule a Holiday Ladies Potluck Champagne Brunch and Glitter Soiree. (A day of making tiny gifts, tags, doing some wrapping... But Very Sociably.)
and, of course, Teen Dude Gift Creation Weekend.

But those are all I need to feel happy celebratory and chock full o' good cheer.

I made my "what needs finishing" list (3 items)
and "still to make" list. (5 items)
I compared it to my "folks who need gifts" list.
Any Folks not represented on the first two lists are being put on
the "local-indy-etsy shopping list". And there we are.
Less mess, less stress.

And I celebrate Day 2 of My Personal Advent by Putting The Halloween Away and making green tomato chutney which can make a lovely hostess gift, gets rid of those tomatoes, and is awesome on a grilled cheese sandwich.

Green Tomato Chutney

12 cups chopped green tomatoes
1 and 1/2 diced white onions
4 granny smith apples chopped/ peeled
2 cups raisins or currants
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp salt
1 stick cinnamon
1Tbsp ground ginger
2 1/2 cups cider vinegar

Place all items in large heavy bottomed pot and bring to a boil. lower heat and simmer uncovered for 
over an hour until thickened. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
Can be canned in sterilized jars with a 10 minute water bath process.


Use my Labels for cuteness.

Welcome, November

Well, here we are.
November.

There is so much to do. I still need to scrub the zombie blood off the bathroom floor. There are 3 weeks until Thanksgiving, 8 until Christmas, and our family celebrates Hanukkah in there too.
But wait!
I want these weeks to be filled with fun and warmth and creativity.
I want to make sure I spend great time with my friends and family, and I want to be present, in the moment, not just rushing through the motions of togetherness. My intention of finishing all the handmade gifts by now has NOT materialized, but I do have several started and a few really close to finished. Handmade Holidays and supporting local and independent merchants is still a top priority for me.  As is creative reuse, and all that jazz.

It occurs to me, That This Will Take Some Planning. So, today I start my Personal Holiday Advent.

Today is Day 1.
List and Calendar Day.
Itemize, Prioritize,  and Realize:
It's time to pick the best, and chuck the rest.

Inhale. Exhale.
Go forward in that right frame of mind.

Sugar Skull Party

Last weekend I had a lovely afternoon decorating Mexican Sugar Skulls with some crafty ladies.

Sugar Skull are treats that are offered to the returning spirits on Dia De Los Muertos, which is November 1st.

The week leading up to The Day of The Dead is celebrated  by creating alters in the home with photos of the departed, and special food. Candy and toys are offed to the spirits of lost children and adult spirits even get mescal and cigarettes.

 We celebrated with champagne and chocolate fondue for the living.

The sugar skulls were easy to make with a mold I got as a gift from  this site. They have many more molds and I may need to add to my collection. Because easily I can see this becoming an Annual Tradition.

Blogger is breaking my heart and not letting me upload all my pictures today... So Go to my Flickr to see more!