KNEE HUGGER ALERT!

It looks like my Knee Huggers have invaded my kitchen and taken up residence under my little tree!

SLEIGH DECORATION

Bought this sleigh at the thrift store last week. Yesterday I threw some stuff in it and like the way it came out!

DECORATING

I started my decorating this week. I like Christmas decorating because it gives me the chance to do a "Spring Cleaning" in the Fall! I also like to change up my decorations each year, by not putting them in the same place. It adds more interest, I think.

Here's a few of my change-ups. This is my Kitchen Tree. If you look carefully you'll see some vintage kitchen utensil ornaments by Midwest of Cannon Falls. I love them! The only change to it this year is the fence box it's in. I picked it up at a thrift store this summer and knew immediately what I would use it for!

The top of my china cabinet. The Peace box is new this year.

I had moved this table from one side of the living room to the other and decided to just fill it with a hodge-podge of stuff. I filled the white house with an assortment of, mostly, wood figures.

My collection of Christmas books sits on the cabinet in my half-bath this year.

I love the spine of this red and gold book!

On the windowsill of the same bath is a snowman banner that I made, and my roly-poly Santa!

MY CRAFT FAIR REPORT

Well, folks, here's my report on the craft fair I did today. All I can say is, "not a good one". Just chalk it up to "the experience was useful". My Katherine went with me and we got set up, no problem. They had teens helping to carry stuff in. Here's my display:

 That's me on the right:

 Our table was in the back right corner which, I soon found out, was a problem. The kitchen (serving donuts, burgers, etc.) was on the opposite side of the room, along with a bank of nice sunny windows - that was the high traffic area. My side didn't have windows (the windows you see go into classrooms). These were my corner views:

I started out optimistic. I truly believed I was going to make a killing, especially after quickly walking around the hall and seeing that no one had items similar to mine. The hours were 9-3 and by 11:30 I had only sold one item! So I started marking down items and put up a SALE sign, but to not avail. All total I sold seven small items for a whopping $23! Didn't even make the $50 registration fee.

Katherine walked around a lot during the day and said that she noticed that people weren't buying much and, at the end, that all the tables were still full of items. She gave me a nice compliment and said that she thought (not because I'm her mom) that I had quality crafts.

I don't know if I want to try again next year, try a different craft fair, or just sell on Etsy. Only time will tell!

TURKEYS, TRINKETS, AND BANNERS

It's that time of year again . . .

A couple of fun finds at the thrift store this past week:

I'm planning on making a Christmas banner using my vintage hankies. I scanned them, and a few floral ones, too. I'm sharing them with you in case you would like to make your own banners! There are 7 Christmas designs and 5 floral. These are PNG files and are 1000 px wide. Enjoy, and feel free to share them, too!

THRIFT SHOPPING

I've been out and about recently and here's a few things I brought home with me.

I was so happy to find another little English Cottage item. This is a small canister that's only 3-1/2"/9cm tall. It's about the size of a coffee cup so I don't know if it's from a child's set or not.

I was surprised to find these hadn't been sold before Christmas. And I was very happy to find them at 25% off!

I've been (inactively) looking for a toy iron for years and stumbled on one last week. My toy ironing board finally has a mate!

This is how we measure snowfall in Boston:

HAPPY NEW YEAR + THRIFT STORE FINDS

I hope you all have the best year ever in 2015 - stay healthy, happy, and blessed! My mo-in-law gave me these two vintage noisemakers for Christmas - love 'em!

Went to the thrift shops yesterday and the day before. Here's my loot:

A vintage stocking of felt ($.25), and a vintage box of some ornaments ($.60). I just wanted the box!

Craft snow, a few cards, pale pink beads, green wired tinsel, recipe card dividers, a small Santa, small glass bulbs, and an empty Victorian Trading Company soap box (which may end up in a swap this coming year!).

A pretty Happy Birthday vase and an assortment of cookie cutters.

I may sell some of these on Etsy this year. I haven't sold a thing in about a year, so I need to hop back on the bandwagon!

Once again, everyone, Happy New Year!

MORE GIFTS I MADE

Here is another neighbor gift. This petite little girl needed some glitter and wings, and now she's happy as can be!

I made two of each of these, for the high school special ed. teachers and the office secretaries.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

CHRISTMAS IN THE BATHROOM

This is the top of the cupboard in my half-bath!

I made these two deer crafts using an empty ribbon spool (2-1/2") as the stand. One for my sister and one for my neighbor!

"CHRISTMAS IN THE KITCHEN" SWAP ITEMS

We're all children at heart and when we get a package in the mail it's so exciting!

My swap partner this year was Dorothy of Hens Rule, and we're also Facebook buddies! Here are the wonderful presents I received from her:

When I opened the Priority Mail box, this was inside.

And inside that box was all of this!

Let's go through them! These are photos of what she made. The other goodies you can see in the photo above.

Pretty, pretty tag with velvety rick rack and a vintage wreath!

This monogram S is so "perfect" that I thought she bought it - I love it!

This is so serene and I love that I can keep it up all winter!

Pretty in Pink is this shaker decoration! Perfect!

A cute tart mold serves as a home for Santa!

Do you believe she actually made these cupcakes? They're gorgeous!

The recipe for sugar cookies and an adorable pic on the back!

A whimsical candy cane ornament!

Dorothy, you went above and beyond the call of duty - 

thanks and thanks again!

Here are the crafts I made for her: