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Last week my task for myself was to get my house decorated for Christmas.

I usually do it Thanksgiving weekend but since I was gone that weekend it didn’t get done.  Then I had my little Christmas show to do and then….it could be put off no longer. 

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed decorating this year.  I got a little weepy at times because it was the first year that I didn’t have my kids involved in any aspect of it and there are so many thoughts that run through my mind as I open up the boxes that contain years of treasured memories.

Even with those glistening eyes I enjoyed it all as I tinkered about here and there with a smile on my face…adding a touch of this and a touch of that around our home!

We love cutting a fresh tree each year.  The more natural the better and this year’s is natural and beautiful.  I love the little hidden cones that are on it.

I took advantage of a bit of inspiration and I made this canvas.  Mr T made a 20″x28″  frame for me, I stretched some heavy  fabric over it, put a light coat of a greenish paint on it, cut the letters out on my cricut, used my special Boho Glue to put them on {much like Mod Podge}, covered the whole canvas in the glue, roughed up the edges a bit with black paint and hung lights behind it.  I really like it. 

These clothespins are glittered and ready to hang the Christmas cards that come in the mail.

Our 2011 Christmas tree…I took this the night we put it up.

I tend to have a lot [piles] of these ruffles ‘laying around’ and as I was looking at them yesterday morning I decided to try to create a cuff with them.

With the ruffles already made, I sewed the layers together added a piece of jewelry and it literally just took minutes.  It comes together with a tied bow, which is not very convenient but I do like the look of it…for now anyway.

I’ll have to try to find a better option for that…maybe a small piece of pretty elastic…is there such a thing as pretty elastic?…guess I’ll add that to my fancy clip~board shopping list for the city.

I’m wearing this sweet cuff right now {as I am decorating my house for Christmas and listening to a wonderful Pandora Christmas mix} and I love how pretty and feminine it is with a touch of vintage tatted lace and rhinestone jewelry.

For that one special ornament that you purchase for a family member or yourself, it doesn’t get better than this.  

An heirloom~quality, one-of-a-kind Christmas ornament made just for you!

Custom ornaments $25.

it’s not too late

One of the things that I really enjoyed was being with friends.  There are so many great vendors and shoppers that I call friends {my parents even came to this one to see me! …way to go mom and dad, thx!}.  Some of the friends who stopped by were Boho Gals…ladies who have participated in one of my Boho Art Retreats.  I love all of these growing friendships and look forward to opportunities to connect.

Here are a few of the pictures that I took over the weekend…all from my booth.

It was perfect timing.  I was hoping to get some of these made anyway for this weekend’s show so this motivated me.

I painted the frame from the needlework and added a RED chalkboard to the inside of it.

These bags usually have just a painted label on the front.  They are a nice, deep bag and fully lined, often with vintage barkcloth.

I found the perfect RED paint!  I’m painting a fun little {Ethan Allen} cabinet that I also bought that day.  All of these goodies will be for sale this weekend. 

A winner has been chosen for the charm give-a-way.  Comment #10, Carole! 

I don’t say it often enough but I really love your comments. There are so many thoughtful gals who visit me here regularly and your sweet words often make my day!  thx.

These are definitely my most popular charm right now.  They are so perfect for any age.

I made these all the same because I LOVE red polka dots but I also do custom orders of any color.

Today is dedicated to creativity. 

It feels like a breath of fresh air. 

I really didn’t realize how much I need it!

As I’ve been getting ready I’ve also discovered a new paint that I’m in love with, Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint.  I find that I want to paint everything.  Unfortunately, for now I only have one color and one of the {only} disadvantages of living rural is that you don’t just go to the store to buy such things.

Please come by and say, “Hi!”

I took the girls over this morning to meet Mr. Chrome.  I’m not sure that they understand how exciting this is but I have a feeling they’ll figure it out.  I hope they figure it out.  They actually haven’t been ‘figuring it out’ on their own so I’m hoping that having them near this Big Boy will encourage them.

I left them there.  It makes me sad to have them gone.  You would think that I would enjoy the freedom of not having to milk every twelve hours but I’m not enjoying it at all.

I will, however, look forward to little ones in the spring and lots more fresh milk.

This would be a great place to mention that I love my car!  It’s the perfect car for me.

Last month I attempted to bring Chrome’s scent home on a rag.   It’s a great trick to use when the girls don’t have a buck around but it wasn’t as effective as I had hoped.

Mr. Chrome

I didn’t mean to take a blogging break over the past week and a half {or so}.

I’ve been busy getting ready for winter, submitting info for a magazine article, working towards a new website, making charms…and then there was Thanksgiving.

I picked out a somewhat nice RED for the barn.  I would have preferred a real [brighter] red but I’ve seen enough pink barns that I feared choosing the wrong kind of red would give me a pink barn.  That simply did not appeal to me.  I played it safe and it’s a nice red!

I’m so thankful for some of my favorite guys who have helped me get my goats inside for the winter…my brother put in many Saturdays and built the main structure, my dad helped with a variety of things and Mr. T has put in countless hours.  thanks guys

The snow was falling hard as we were moving them into their new home.

Milking inside that night, where it was dry and much warmer,  was so wonderful.  It has felt very luxurious {if that’s possible} after milking outside for several months.

We’ll probably have to wait until spring to get it all finished {and cute!}.

I wish this was still the scene out of my living room windows.  We lost all of our snow last week.   so sad    Now I have to start wishing again until it comes back!

There is still a give-a-way going on.  Click HERE and leave a comment with that post for a free custom charm!