it was a month of custom catch-ups...

You all know how my Septembers, Octobers, and Novembers work... for months I'm in mad preparation for my Open Houses and Christmas markets, and it's pretty much all consuming. By the time December hits, I'm still riding the wave somewhat, and it's the time to create for family and friends. Usually by then, a few requests for custom this and thats have rolled in. I've learned (the stressful, hard way) not to take on anything extra after the market season is finished, in order to be able to take a breath and enjoy Christmas with my family. Well this time around, the orders came in as usual. There weren't a lot, but they were still waiting for my attention.

Well, most of January passed in the blink of an eye before I even realized it.

Towards the end of the month, I managed to find my inspiration and get to work. This is one of the orders that was for Lisa and I'm so pleased with how it turned out...

Hooray for crossing an order off the list!

my Tuesday timeout...

It was a little of this and a lot of that today, with mailing packages, stopping to get a flute fixed, shopping here for a zipper and there for scrapbooking tape...  and then heading over to my kids' school more than an hour earlier than I needed to actually be there by accident. *SIGH* Really? Wasting time this close to Open House? Oh well, at least I got a break from the painting that's covering my table and knocked off a few levels of angry birds on my phone... before I realized my mix up! Thank goodness Robyn was around today... he went back at the scheduled pick up time for me so I could keep painting. My hero!

So anyway, here's a little peek of what's on the go right now... and a couple of little finishes too. I love it when finishes are a part of my Tuesday timeout!

Nativity pieces in assorted stages of detailed-ness...

Snowmen napkin rings...

Box tops waiting to be sealed... I love these and they're really popular. One year a woman bought about 10 of them to be gifts for her women's Bible Study group... perfect!

...and one of two sled ornaments...



it's almost painting time...

The pine is prepped, the designs are transferred... I'll be in the shop on the scroll saw if you need me tonight!

(We'll see how long I last... it's pretty cold out there!)

today's to-do's...

Two more days 'till Campbell Valley's Country Celebrations... so today I'm painting signs!

Well, that, and quilting a couple of last minute pieces, pricing everything that's not nailed down, hauling out the display stands, packing the baskets and bins, praying for sun, and running errands all over town. You know, the usual.

great words to live by...

Thank you to my sister-in-law Melissa for this sign order! Sorry it took so long for me to finish up for you, but it is on its way!

Blessings,

~Kimberly

Last chance for my little giveaway...

Scroll down about three posts to enter... I'm drawing tomorrow afternoon sometime!

And this is what I've been up to this week, in preparations for this weekend's sale out in White Rock. None of them are finished quite yet, and I still have plans for a few saltbox scenes... we'll just have to see how this evening goes!

Blessings,

~Kimberly

Oh, and the two trees beside my fireplace in my last post belong to my girls... their ornament collections are growing!

I can't resist one pic this morning...

recipes & reindeers

I have a couple of minutes of downtime this evening (surprisingly!) and would like to share some of our favorite Christmas recipes. I have these goodies packaged and ready for the sales...

Nuts & Bolts

2lb salted peanuts

1 box Shreddies

1 box Cheerios

1 box Chex or Crispix

pretzles

hard cheezies

2c oil

2 tbsp worchestershire sauce

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp seasoning salt

(use up to 1 1/2 times the amount of the

spices if desired - I do!)

Mix spices and oil.

Pour over cereals etc.

Use large baking pan.

Bake at 250 for 2 hours, stir every 15 minutes.

Whipped Shortbread

1/2 c icing sugar

1c softened butter

1 1/2 flour

Combine and beat for 10 minutes.

Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet.

Bake 350 for 15-17 minutes. Divine!!

Breton Brittle

28 Breton crackers

1 c butter or hard margerine

1 c packed brown sugar

1 1/2 c choco chips

1/2 c chopped pecans

Overlap crackers in foil lined pan.

Do 4 crackers across, and 7 down.

Stir butter and brown sugar over heat till boiling.

Pour carefully over crackers.

Bake 400 for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.

Scatter choco chips over crackers and let sit till spreadable.

Spread to cover. Scatter with pecans.

Store in fridge. Break into pieces to serve.

~~~

...and... nearly finished are the adorable rocking reindeer. Love these guys! Hmmm... maybe I should name one Ruldoph! Once their twiggy antlers are in place, they'll be ready to rock!

Goodnight!

~Kimberly

Santa is in the building...

A couple more projects to hit the "done" pile... and what a PILE it is! You should see my living room!

The advent calendar... the trunk of the tree is a box to store the pieces until they're hung... (sorry, I see the pics are a bit blurry)

And two of the snowman wreaths...

Later today I'll post the rockin' reindeer (just have to quilt their little "saddles", and add the twiggy antlers), and also the baked goodies and nuts&bolts... if you're lucky, you'll even get the recipes!

1 more day 'till set up!

Stressfully yours,

~Kimberly

Crazy busy!

...finishing up lots of odds & ends. I had a very good weekend, project-wise, despite not a good day at the Christmas fair. I'm still not feeling 100% and I'd love your prayers on that one. This cold/flu has really settled into my neck below my left ear and just won't let up! I'm getting quite familiar with the tylenol/ibuprofin combo in order to get through the day. I know, I know... go see a doctor... one of these days I will! Anyway, with a big woo-hoo for me, here's what I got finished up this weekend...

*Three new candleboards (remember, the other two were round with stitcheries?) These ones have mini quilts on them and I looove them! I have one set aside for ME!

*Two prim rocking chairs with little seat covers. I might have to keep one of these little guys...

*Two of four gingerbread saltdough garlands with coffee stained ties and rusty bells...

*Some of the awesome wooden crates Robyn built. I use a small one for my Gooseberry cookbooks...

*Eight snowmen sleds... looove this design!

*Eight mini boxes..."the best gifts come in small packages"... absolutely a best seller, no matter what surface I paint it on!

*Two Santa frames... I am a Santa gal!

*Two of four snowflake and star grungy candle mats with candles... sooo fun to make!

And now, I need to get crackin' today! On my agenda...

4 gingerbread ornies

3 snowman wreaths

2 rockin' reindeer

1 custom sign

and a partridge in a pear tree!

Blessings,

~Kimberly

tole painting 101

Today was the painting class... I think everyone had a good time and is pleased with her project!

The group... Moira, Lauren, me, Andrea, Melba (aka Mom)...

The projects...

And a little bit closer...

~~~

And now I , my blogging friends, am off to bed, even though I'm in a sale on Saturday and I'm not quite ready! Can you tell from my pic that things have not improved health-wise? Robyn and the girls are out at my parents for dinner and I am home to completely rest my voice. It's looking like it's almost time to head to the doctor... say ahhhhh!

Goodnight!

~Kimberly

it's painting time!

About a year ago, I was approached to have a little painting class for a few ladies. This is the group... my Auntie Moira, my cousin Andrea, my mom, and our friend, Anne. I've painted with my mom and Andrea a few times in the past, doing large scarecrows and Santas, and also a nativity set.

A closer look at the project we did... when they were completely finished, our Santas had either a jar candle, mug, or tin of candy canes sitting on the base.

Didn't they do a great job? Today we're going to do a Christmas garland, similar to the fall garlands I did in September. I will post pics of our day either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Have a great Thursday! (...and how's everyone feeling? I wish I could say I'm on the mend, but it just ain't so!)

~Kimberly

Ornaments galore... for sale!

I'm going through everything to see what I have on hand for my upcoming shows... 7 days of sales in total! I am so not ready...

At this point it's pretty slim pickings... but I thought I'd show off some ornaments anyway in case anyone is interested. They're much more mailable than anything else...

I've painted for many years now, since Emily was really little. She and Julianna have grown up with a very busy mom and I'm thankful for their, and for Robyn's, patience! (You should see my living room right now... literally knee deep in stuff!)

Be thankful today,

~Kimberly

Yay! Back in business!

So I think I've figured things out, although I now have to use another program to import my pics... what a pain! And I am so not computer savvy! But I suppose I'll manage! At least I'm posting again!

My Saturday was spent in my sweats and full out create-mode. I was so not a pretty picture! It was wonderful! (Thanks Mom, for taking the girls!) I was able to do up two of these sets... they each consist of two runners (one square, one rectangle), and a large pillow for the sofa. I painted the panel in the middle of the pillow with holly and a ho-ho-ho, and the runners are machine quilted. Now, I need to go find some pillow forms to stuff them with! (The vintage Santa border fabric is my favorite in the world! I've had it for quite a while, so I can't pass on any buying info this time. I am such a Santa girl, and he's always been good to me!)

And here is one of my flannel quilt and pillow sets all done. The other one (black) is still in the works but shouldn't be too long in coming.

That's it for now... the pics seem really dark to me, sorry! I will post again today... feels so good to be back at it!

Blessings,

~Kimberly

...and the rest of the day was just as great!

I finished up these pumpkin stair sitters this afternoon, and also two more frames (like in my giveaway), and three more fall garlands.

Thought I could show off this fall stitcherie and my favorite mini dresses...

and then I would end with some tiny stitcheries.

Have a great evening! I'm three hours behind a lot of you, and it's still bright and sunny outside. Summer lingers on...

~Kimberly