by lynn krestel

the stockings were hung.....

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.....

 

merry christmas to all... and to all a good night!!

favorite things

 (these elves were my great grandma pierce's) 

merry christmas!! we are snowed in today - hopefully we'll get together withour family by the 26th. the snow has continued to fall - but has slowed us all down. gives the four of us time to be reflective, play a few games, and rest. it has been a blessing in disguise. 

i wanted to share a few of my favorite things....

 

  

and of course my hubby and girls!!

       

blessings to you!!

i'll see you in the new year!!

snowed in!!

  i stepped outside my front door tonight -haven't been out  all day... snow has fallen about 12 inches in the last 24 hours. no problem for most of north america - but here....we heard that for all of vancouver - 22 snowplows. the main roads are plowed and salted but no side streets. so mostly, we stay off the roads and wait....

i love to peek out at night - the snow sparkling by the streetlights, all is quiet.

 

silent night, holy night

all is calm, all is bright

round yon virgin, mother and child

holy infant, so tender and mild

sleep in heavenly peace

sleep in heavenly peace.

blessings to you this christmas.

..remember the One for whom we celebrate the season!!

happy holidays!

   i love this time of year. i love decorating the house and the tree, baking cookies, the music, i even love the shopping and the wrapping!! it just seems that christmas really slipped up on us - wow! only 5 days to go...

we got snowed in on wednesday - decorated the tree. this year we decided to get a real charlie brown christmas tree. it is beautiful!! we love its personality!

     

my oldest took this picture after i picked the girls up in the middle of the day - the hills and bridges here in vancouver make it sooo difficult to navigate. most people just 'hunker down' - as my sister would say and just stay put.

 i have almost finished five custom orders this week, i will be relieved when they are on the way!!

then, to the baking, cooking, and finishing touches to a few handmade gifts!

stay sane - savor your family -revel in the season!!

   

evil mouse!!

  on saturday my niece was an evil mouse for her ballet class' performance of the nutcracker...i sadly was not able to go - but wished i was there all day!!

she is confident and charming - and takes her role very seriously! we are so proud....

also - happily the memento jewellery is selling on etsy!! the pieces are unique - one of a kind (ooak etsy talk!!) it keeps me a bit distracted from getting my stuff ready for the holidays - but makes me happy too - that others trust me to create for them!! 

 one more thing...a shout out to rochelle!! how ya doing!!? my sister says you've been following my little blog!! thank you! i'd love to have coffee sometime!! 

modish - giveaway

 don't forget to check out modish again today - their final - humongeous - giveaway is posted.

i donated a merry merry charm necklace - see it in the picture!!?

community

i've also joined the american craft guide community - be sure to check them out!

ornaments

   

i joined a handmade christmas ornament swap - hosted on swap-bot - i had to make 10 ornaments. so i decided to make some little glass soldered pendants with retro christmas images.

i kind of had trouble shipping them off!! they were perfect on my vintage trees on the fireplace mantle....

 

giveaway

if you like a giveaway - and who doesn't like free stuff - handmade stuff by indie artists - unique and beautifully made - check out modish.com. you have to follow the directions on the site to enter...

modish is a daily blog celebrating handmade crafts, the indie designers who create them and the shoppers that buy them. i check in several times a week .

i donated a 'merry merry' necklace for one of the giveaways this month - i don't think it is part of this first one - but i'll keep you posted!!

 

more vintage crystals

   

i just had to share more of these vintage crystals... i am loving them. they are multi faceted - the sparkle is amazing!!

there are beautiful crystals made currently - but the vintage ones have unique shape, cut precisely - and i love that they have their own history. i envision ladies in the 30's, 40's dressing up, wearing these same sparkly treasures!!   enjoy!!