We're Off to See Martha!

My partner in crime, Daniele, surprised me by getting tickets to see Martha this week. How nice is she?! A while ago we had talked about whether we should take a trip this week but that plan fizzled and we left it alone... or so I thought!

We're leaving tomorrow to shop at the outlets in Tannersville. Hopefully I can finish up a lot of Christmas shopping. We'll stay overnight in Secaucus and then zoom through the Lincoln Tunnel to get to Martha's studio for the taping of the live Thursday show! The show is about holiday parties so we were instructed to wear either a cocktail dress (sorry, don't go to many soirees) or some black pants and a solid color dressy top. Needless to say, since I stay at home, I don't have many nice clothes and therefore had to purchase some. Hopefully the outfit will pass inspection. I was excited to find out that one of the guests on the show will be Emeril Lagasse!

Hopefully we'll have some time after the show to see some of the sites of NYC at Christmas. I'd at least like to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. I'll post some pictures later in the week if I get any worth showing. One thing is for sure, we're lucky to have husbands who look after the kids and animals while we go on these short excursions every once in a while. (The last one was October 2008?)

2009 Holiday Open House

My friend, Daniele of Thistle Farm, and I had an open house at my home this past Thursday evening and Saturday. In addition to my jewelry and Daniele's pottery, we both made cookies for cookie platters: linzer cookies, kolachki, snickerdoodles, pecan tassies, chocolate dipped shortbread, snowballs, and three kinds of biscotti - amaretto, almond chocolate chip and cappuccino. (There were more but my mind's a little fuzzy tonight.) Daniele also made her infamous cinnamon rolls.

Thank you to our friends who were able to stop in. We appreciate you doing some of your Christmas shopping with us!! We enjoyed chatting and having some wine/coffee/eggnog with you and catching up. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Now Showcasing...

I bought a "showcase" spot on Etsy for today so I was busy all day yesterday adding items to my store. I remembered why I am really bad about putting stuff on-line. It takes so long! Maybe it's just me, I don't know. It didn't help that my computer was acting like an old lady. I also have some gripes about Etsy's user interface for all of this but I guess that's my past career butting in.

Anyway... long story short. I've got new things in my store!! Yeah! I hope to be adding more this week so stay tuned and thank you for checking in. (I promise, my next blog won't be so whiny!)

Pheasant Under Grass

This site is a new one in our neighborhood. A few weeks ago my husband and I saw this guy right at the side of the road and we stopped and gawked at him while he ignored us and pecked at the ground. Unfortunately, I had no camera that day. I had never seen one before and was astounded at the many vibrant colors he had. I don't think I've ever seen white that bright.

On Friday, I had to go to my son's school for a recognition ceremony and on the way down the hill I saw him again peeking out from some tall grass. This time I had my camera! I backed up the car and snapped a few quick pictures. They don't do him justice however.

Sweet Bead Studio Giveaway!

Help Cindy celebrate being published in the latest edition of Easy Wire magazine by visiting her blog and entering her generous giveaway!

Endicott Teachers' Association Fall Craft Show

Just a note to let you all know that I'll be at the U-E craft show this November 7th from 9AM - 3PM. I will be located in the gym at the LWW (Linnaeus W. West) school. In the spot behind me will be my cohort in crime, Daniele Vick of Thistle Farm.

It will be the first time I have showed at this event. I hope it will be a good show and there will be plenty of shoppers trying to get jump on their holiday purchases!

Save the date and I hope to see you there!

It's Fall Y'all!

I wrote a poem a few years ago after seeing two leaves swirling in my yard as I was driving up the street. I don't know why this image struck me so. Perhaps it was because there were leaves all over the place yet only the two leaves were in this updraft. Anyway, I finally figured out a way to incorporate this poem in with a quilted mixed media wall hanging. It's my first project of this kind and I was happy with how it turned out!