Friday, December 31, 2010

New Years Resolutions, Hello 2011

Every year I stop and reflect on all that has happened and all that I want to make happen in the New Year.  My ritual has evolved over the years, I used to write a single sentence to myself with a resolution that I wanted to keep, such as "fit into jeans from 5 years ago" which never seemed to happen.

Now that we have a little guy we choose to stay in on New Year's Eve.  Honestly I never really cared for going out and celebrating with everyone, although I do love the fireworks that Philadelphia puts on at midnight, but I don't love the drunken guys shouting in my ears or the frigid night air.   So I take New Years eve as a moment to settle in with a nice pot of tea and 2 sheets of paper.  One is to write a letter to my little guy about all the things that have happened in the past year.  We are only on year 2 of this tradition but I hope to carry this through as something that I can give to my son when he is older.

The other sheet is to write a letter to myself about all the things I want to accomplish in my New Year.  Last year that included starting my own business so I could continue to stay home with my son.  This year this happened and so my new letter will have to include new goals and hopes for this coming year.  I never place any time constraints but I find that at the end of each year the things which I have written down have almost always come to pass.  The simple intention of setting my place for the new year makes these things stay with me and happen.

This year I think my letter will start off with some more business plans and some personal plans as well like a nice vacation to europe and maybe another little person in our life....so tonight I will be dreaming and kissing my sweetheart a midnight.

What are your New Year's dreams?

Lovebird steals a kiss by Baby Jives
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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Holly Day Silhouette Ornament

When I was a penniless art student I started a holiday tradition with my family and friends. Each year I would create a handmade ornament for all the special people in my life as a way to celebrate and remember that year.  Now every year I love more than anything taking out those ornaments that I have created myself and collected from other artists over the years and decking out my tree with memories.

This year I am adding one more memory to my tree, a silhouette of our little guy - and I may not want to put this one away come January...or February...or March.  I've made one for our tree and then one for each of the grandparents because I know they'd love to hang one on their trees too.

Now go take a profile shot of someone special in your life and follow along with me to create a wonderful holiday memory....



Step 1.  Take a photograph of your someone special in profile and if you can include a little bit of their eyelashes it will be perfect.  Print it out - mine was approximately 3 inches tall - then glue your image down to a piece of black cardstock and use your exacto knife to cut around the image as shown above and then curve the bottom to finish.  You can remove the photo if you didn't use too much glue or simply flip the image over and use the other side to display.


Step 2. Cut an oval out of medium weight cardstock.  I actually used an empty breakfast bar box (which my son is addicted to, a memory for this year) but you could use decorative cardstock for something fancier.  


Step 3. Create your scalloped base for the ornament.  Lay your image and the oval you have cut out on a piece of cardstock and draw a scalloped edge around the oval.  I love the imperfection of a handmade edge - just go for it.  Then cut out the edge with an exacto blade.


Step 4.  You are almost done!  Glue down your profile to the oval and the oval edging (if you made one) then down to your scalloped base.  Now take a micro-hole punch and punch a hole in the center of each scallop.  Then choose a nice piece of ribbon, embroidery floss, or yarn (my choice) and weave it through.  Finally tie a knot in the top and you are ready to hang your new memory on your tree.

Enjoy, this is part of the Holly Day Blog Hop from Etsy Moms - leave a comment on this post and read below to find out how you can win a basket full of goodies from Etsy Moms!

And now continue on the Holly Day blog hop with a post from Baby Swank...
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Etsy Mom Holly Day Blog Hop


Check out all of the fabulous holiday-themed projects, gift ideas, and more from our wonderful EtsyMom Blog Hop Contributors from around the world!!
Here's how it works:
1. Hop through each of the blogs listed above to get fabulous holiday inspiration and leave a comment. If you are starting at a blog in the middle of the Hop, start back at the EtsyMom Blog. You may have to scroll down a bit on the blogs to find the Blog Hop posts as the week progresses.
2. Leave a comment on the EtsyMom Blog post between now and December 11, 2010.
3. Enter to win our giveaway by doing any of the following. For each thing you do, you will be entered into the drawing one more time:

~Leave a comment on the EtsyMom Blog post between now and December 11, 2010.
~Leave a comment on the Holly Day Blog Hop posts for any of the blogs listed above between Dec 5 and Dec 11, 2010.
~Join the EtsyMom Blog email list (fill out the form in the right hand column).
~Become a follower of the EtsyMom Blog! Just click the "Follow" button in the lower right column.
~"Like" the EtsyMom Facebook Page.

Share about this Blog Hop on your own blog, posting a link to this page.
Share about this Blog Hop on Facebook, posting a link to this page.
Share about this Blog Hop on a message board or forum, posting a link to this page.
To let us know you've done these things, please come back to the EtsyMom Blog post and leave a comment for each thing you did.
Sorry - you cannot enter the giveaway here on my blog.

On December 11, 2010 we'll choose a winner using the Random Integer Generator from random.org. The winner will receive this super sweet gift basket full of handmade holiday goodies, including:
a pair of Turquoise Earrings from
http://www.stoneymistdesign.etsy.com/
a lampwork bead bracelet by
http://handmadewhimzy.etsy.com/
sterling silver and Swarovski pearl/crystal holiday earrings by
a cream colored cotton scarf given by
http://www.zoegirldesigns.etsy.com/
a raincloud ornament from
http://www.etsy.com/shop/babyjives
a matching splat mat and baby bib from
http://www.babysindulgence.etsy.com/
two pair of earrings from
http://quirefly.etsy.com/

a gift pack of over 30 pages of vintage paper ephemera by
http://www.etsy.com/shop/countrychiccottage
a lovely sustainable stocking from
http://www.rikrak.etsy.com/
a set of holly jolly gift tags from
http://cinnamonspice.etsy.com/
a set of toddler pajamas in a style of the winner's choice from
http://heatheregley.etsy.com/
a $15 gift certificate from
http://camelotstreasures.etsy.com/
A gift certificate from
http://babyswank.etsy.com/

A Custom copper heart necklace from
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ct2designs
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