You Can Win This!!

With the holidays just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to showcase some quick and easy gift ideas you can give to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and oh yes…even your family! You can enter to win eBooks from http://www.youcanmakethis.com/ and learn some fun new techniques, tips, and ideas not only for the people on your list, but also creative ways to decorate your home!

You Can Make This has created a free download for some fun gift tags. Each of them coordinate with ideas found as part of the DIY Gift Giving Series videos that can be found at www.youcanmakethis.com/blog , as well as designs and patterns found at http://www.swakembroidery.com/ and http://www.youcanmakethis.com/.

You can also enter to win hundreds of dollars in gift certificates just for watching the videos that are part of the DIY Gift Giving Series and answering a question on the You Can Make This blog!

And thanks to Courtney at You Can Make This, you have chance to win one of two giveaway bundles! The giveaway bundles include instructions for making the Kimberbell Kids 24” Doll and “Gift-Giver” Patterns. These are the perfect toys to make every little ones eyes light up on Christmas or any morning!!

To enter: leave a comment on this post - it's that easy! You can also earn extra entries by tweeting or blogging about this giveaway and coming back here to give the info in the comments.

Giveaway ends: December 21st, 2009. Two winners will be chosen at random.

So what are you waiting for??!! Comment and enter to win!

Sunrise, Sunset

Have you ever heard this song from Fiddler on the Roof? I know I've heard it sung at weddings, where the moms and dads are wiping their eyes as their babies fly the coop with their beloveds... and I felt my first sunrise, sunset moment yesterday, oddly enough, at Target. I was perusing the little girl Christmas skirts when I thought they seemed a little small for my almost-five year old, so I made my way to the big girl section. *sob*

It was such a surreal moment walking amongst the bigger sizes, the clothes that were no longer child-like, but rather more grown-up, realizing that my baby. is. growing. up.

"Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears"

Yikes... slow down December!

I can not believe we're already in the second week of December! Yes, my tree is up and decorated, but there is so much more to do...
1. Shopping (of which I've done nada, zero, zip, zilch)
2. Sewing (ditto on the aforementioned nothingness)
3. Socializing (which dessert did I say I'd bring?)
4. Stocking-making (one of these days we'll all have coordinating stockings!)

Yikes. I have so much to do and so very little time.
And just a quick survey of all you fabulous women... how much does your dh help you when it comes to Christmas? Does he help decorate? Does he remember to get stocking stuffers for St. Nick? Does he get gifts for the family? Does he prepare any food for the holidays get-togethers?
Just wondering. No reason.
*ahem*
Now where are those little elves?

This Ain't no Judy Garland...

it's an Advent Garland! I finished this late last night and snapped some pics tonight with just the light from the Christmas tree, so bear with me! I used Jenny's pattern over at AllSorts, with just a few modifications... I wanted to get it finished and up before Advent was over, so I didn't embroider the numbers - instead, I just wrote them on flower paper punches and hung them with embroidery floss. I'm not in love with it like this, so I will add those embroidered numbers before next Christmas rolls around! I also took a not-so-smart shortcut with the buttons - I glued them. Yep, I admit it. I glued them, and thus had a difficult time wrapping the floss around them! Last time I'll make that mistake... dangit.

I strung the garland on some leftover handmitt yarn, and added some fabulous felt beads from Handbegh Felts on Etsy. I have some leftover beads that are destined to become little Christmas bracelets for some special little girls in my life... *sigh* a craft for another day!Shortcuts and all, it turned out pretty cute - I've filled the pockets with chocolate so far, but they're only one Etsy shopping expedition away from being filled with some cute little clay creations! Maybe something like this in honor of this fabulous gingerbread house?

Seriously... how could someone not like Christmas?!
Oh. And Elf on the Shelf is a big hit. Stories to come!