My Christmas inspirations

For the last hour, I have had 6 kids in my home, and I have hardly seen or heard them. Amazing.

I am in my kitchen, listening to Christmas tunes and baking.

Thinking about the Christ, and Christmas and the glory of the season. The song playing that has made me think the most is actually not a Christmas song, but somehow made it onto my Christmas playlist. The song is, "Let Me Rediscover You," by Down Here.

 I love that band, and somehow this non-Christmas song, makes me think about something I love about Christmas. We get to be excited about Jesus again. It'politically correct to talk about Christ and we are all awaiting a celebration of the Saviour born in the manger. It is such a magical season, filled with wonder and twinkling lights----and I love that I get to know HIM all over again.

Another great Christmas song by Down Here is," How Many Kings?"

 And amisdt this I am dreaming of Christmas crafts I can't wait to get my hands onto.

If you are on my Christmas list, I hope that I do not share anything that spoils Christmas for you. I love making special things for special people for Christmas. I mean, I LOVE IT!!! I don't know if the people I give them to love that I make them stuff, but I sure love making stuff for people. In fact I have several projects completed already that fill me with joy and excitement. It is a time of year that I try new things and experiment. A couple years ago I used my cricut to make 16x16 tiles with verses or sayings on them. I have made scarves. I have made scrapbook type things. Last year we made deer jerky and smoked salmon for the men in the family. I made cowl neck scarves and touqes (even a couple mother daughter matching ones).

Last year with my husbands family we started doing home made stocking stuffers. We draw names, but give everyone a stocking stuffer too. Some of the home made stocking stuffers were bookmarks, CD's, time spent coupons, paintings!!!, meals in a jar, and calendars. I love it!

This is a selection of some of the ideas and crafts that I have been looking at. May you be inspired, as I have been !

This awesome leather cuff idea  

came from my friend Amy (it isn't her tutorial, but she shared it with me) over at Polkadot Pear.. She has so many ideas that I want to try. I did make the Sewn Paper Book Cover that she has a tutorial for too.  Amazing. So fun, easy and inexpensive!!

I have been seeing these Christmas subway style art pieces all over pinterest and I am intrigued by the idea. Simple, beautiful, and everyone would love it (I think so anyways). 



Don't these slippers make you happy. I have never made slippers, but I think I want to try! So darned cute!!

Another thing I am thinking about- it's been years since I made an afgan.

I may have already attempted some candle making this fall- thanks to a friend giving me all her supplies. These are not mine, but I did really enjoy making some.

These are another thing I got to play with this fall- home made bath bombs- again thanks to a friend giving me her supplies :) Mine are pink, but awesome all the same!

These rolled flowers are soooooo cute and incredibly easy too... I have so many dreams of what I can do with these beauties!

Honestly- aren't these the cutest things you've ever set eyes on! My heart is giddy when I look these amazing scrap fabric tutus!! Gush.

I think that's all, well there is more but that's all I want to show you tonight. Happy Christmas Crafting!

Musical inspiration for those long days/ weeks/months!

Yes, it's harvest. And as I have previously stated, I have a love/hate relationship with this season.

I am exhausted. I am worn out and fighting a cold. The novelty of harvest has worn off for all of us... the kids miss dad and I see it in their behaviors. They are tired of me... tired of hearing my voice and playing the way I play. They are fighting with eachother and are testy. I think that at least one of them is fighting some sort of illness- but nothing has broken through yet.
Oh and did I mention that every year one of my children decides that this is the season when they should rise ridiculously early. This year it is Levi who has decided that 5:30- 5:45 am is a good time to be awake for the day! I am tired.

Music speaks to me and often lifts me up out of the dumps when I am grumpy. This harvest season, the CD that has been most inspirational to me is, "On the Altar of Love" by Down Here.  Down Here is a band that I have loved since I was 19 and feel like I've grown up with them. We had their very first demo album from when they were still students at Briercrest and we have every album since. My husband even sang "Calmer of the Storm" to me (along with 3 other guys, singing to 3 other girls) about a year before we started dating. We were given this new CD for our birthdays from a couple really good friends who happen to be family (love you guys!) and this CD has spoken to me through this very dry and difficult season.

Check out these 2 songs which have carried me through this past month. "Living the Dream," and "Rest."