kidding around

My head is spinning! How about yours?

I can now officially say that the workshop is closed. All my handmade items are complete and I feel really good with what I have accomplished. Like for so many, this time of year can be crazy and if you work in an industry that benefits from Christmas spending it’s even busier. I was able to juggle baking, cater parties, be a mother/wife, and playing Santa’s elf…this took a lot of strategizing and now I am ready to read a book, watch movies and do nothing…but I will have to wait until AFTER Christmas. That’s okay, like I said… I am done!

Oh, I do have planned some ornament making with the kids for family gifts, but this will be an event…something I am looking forward to and not fitting in at odd hours!

Okay, on to my gifts.

I made this suitcase for Ellie thinking she needs something when she spends the night at a friends. I loved making it and was completely inspired by this talent. Can I tell you how tricky it can be? Not easy and I have a new appreciation for those that can pull it off with no wrinkling and odd cut shapes.

Below are some pencil rolls for the kids. I’ve made several of these and my kids finally get one for their very own! Maybe this will solve some of our missing pens and pencils…nah, probably not!

Thanks to “the Small Objects” stacking tree tutorial, my kids’ teachers have something thoughtful to put on their desk.

AND gingerbread caramels that are heavenly. These caramels were fun to make, but be forewarned, it takes a lot longer to reach 248 on your candy thermometer.

Nope, I didn’t make these dolls. I had on my list to make Ellie a doll for Christmas, but got realistic and decided to buy her and Penny these sweet girls. I found them at a shop that sells a bunch of Fair Trade items. To erase the guilt, I hope to make some doll clothes with Ellie over Christmas break. I’m thinking she will think that is just fine!

Thanks to this blog, I have kept to my handmade gift list (minus the doll, yikes.)! It’s nice to feel slightly accountable to a whole slew of crafty blogs that are making Christmas so very personal and handmade. Hurrah!

I’ll be posting Christmas shots for the remainder of the month- just images, no words until the new year.

Merry Christmas!