Indulge Your Shelf

It's the last day of 2015 -- seems impossible to me, but I'm grateful for another fresh start!  We have had cold cold cold cold cold weather this week; today it snowed all day, although very little accumulated. Can you see the snow falling? One of my Christmas gifts was an amaryllis, which has bloomed just in time for the new year.  Isn't it gorgeous? We haven't been doing much of anything since Christmas; mostly staying warm indoors, and a lot of television, and movie, watching! It makes me so happy to see my son relaxing on the sofa; he's home for another week then it's back to school -- and I already miss him! My latest project: I'm FINALLY altering that globe I bought at the thrift store about 2-1/2 (or maybe even 3) years ago!  I started with dictionary pages, as you can see.  Since this photo, I've added layers of other papers.  I'll show you as soon as it's done; I've worked on it for a little while each evening this ...

How was your Christmas holiday weekend?  Ours was quieter than I might have liked, due to the frigid temperatures that kept us huddled under blankets indoors, with the TV on.  No snow, either! Snow makes it so pretty you can forgive the freezing; it's kind of like an even-exchange. one of the trees at The Broadmoor Oh, the sun was shining and the outdoors looked so inviting -- up until you stepped out and the arctic-like wind hit you.  We attempted one walk with Snoopy on Christmas Eve afternoon, and the poor dog was pulling the leash to hurry us home!  Who could blame him?  The wind was cutting through my winter gear and by the time we'd gone around the block I was numb from head to foot.  Not pleasant.  Most of Christmas weekend it was 12 degrees, but with the wind chill, the feels-like temperature was -6. On Christmas Eve morning we went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  It was a lot of fun to join in on the movie release excitement...

Some scenes from our tree: Merry Christmas to you all, my blogging friends!   I hope your holiday is warm and wonderful!

Today was our department's holiday luncheon, and I made everyone a tag as a little gift.  It was so much fun to create a stack of tags! Here they are, just before I put a white seam binding tie on all of them. And here's a close up.  I love that little girl image! Because I didn't want the boys to feel left out, I made these tags for them. Here's one I made at the very end, from leftovers and another really great vintage picture. I could do this all day, couldn't you?

Have you ever made a pocket letter?  Maybe you've seen them online recently -- it's a creation made from ATC-sized cards that fit into a nine-pocket card holder page.  I made my first ever one for a swap hosted by JoAnne  via her group on Flickr.  Since my partner, Sandi , has received it, I couldn't wait to show you; bear in mind, they are notoriously difficult to photograph! I used a pale red page imprinted with Christmas sheet music and delicate stamped florals.  I decorated with mostly silver and white vintage elements. Each of the tiny white and silver tags has a Dynamo-stamped cursive letter, spelling out Joyeaux Noel.  Above, the  top row of pockets; I added a silver doily, a sparkly sequined flower over a sweet image of a little girl cutting paper.  I included a vintage beaded flower spray. The tags on the second row spell Noel; in the center pocket, a sweet image of two children carrying home a Christmas tree and some bo...

You asked to see the finished fabric book, and here it is!    I used the Merry Christmas embellishment JoAnne gifted me in the Pocket Letter Swap on the cover!  Page by page:  I love this page, with the different shades of green.  And buttons!  I like the way this vintage spun cotton angel pick fits with this fabric picture -- the girl is putting one on top of the tree. I've filled the pockets in the book with Christmas-themed tags I've been collecting over the last few years; it is plump and full of texture and beauty!

I received my Christmas pocket letter swap from JoAnne , who is the swap organizer herself.  It's lovely and it will inspire you: There's the 9 pocket page, full of little cards and gifts, and the two large handmade tags hanging off the left edge; she also included a note on a card in a pocket (top left) and a sparkly Merry Christmas embellishment!  Here are the cards, one by one: Vintage style Santa scrap A postcard on thick paper, and a beautiful, snow-kissed poinsettia flower embellishment  Cheery red twine on a vintage ad  Sweet white bottle brush tree and base  This one is my favorite -- look at that snowman pin!  I just love it!  A candle-lit tree  Vintage image on a textured card  Frothy trim/lace on an adorable card Silvery-blue vintage pick What a fun swap this was!  And, how lucky am I? I feel thoroughly spoiled with vintage Christmas goodness!