Merry Christmas!

Whatever your holiday persuasion, I hope it has been a merry one. I hope that you have spent your time surrounded by friends and family, basking in peace, joy, fellowship, and lots of yummy food. I spent the last few days making a mad dash to clean the house, wrap presents for E & L, and help prepare food for Christmas lunch with family.

During that time, I gave little pause to the crafts I intended to make for everyone. I'm disappointed in myself. I didn't even get half of them done. Okay, so I didn't even get 1/4 of them done this year. I'm sure glad I painted the North Pole ornaments several months ago. I have a dozen half finished sock monkeys waiting for their arms, ears, tails, and faces. My pigs are all cut up and waiting to be put together. The ornaments are only missing the hangers. *sigh*

I have a Christmas party on the 29th so now that the mad rush is over, I can get those ornaments finished up.  The pigs are just not happening this year. My hands are hurting just thinking about them. The monkeys will get done over the next couple weeks. The girls loved their Christmas presents. They especially enjoyed the computer, even with the crap ton of limitations and rules I put in place. Yay for parental controls!

My brother's Christmas has not been quite so happy. His mother-in-law passed away in the early morning hours on Christmas Eve after a near 8 year battle with cancer. She was an amazingly strong woman to have fought as long as she did. My sister-in-law is not in a good place right now, but she has my brother, her brother, and her father as an incredible support group. I think knowing her mom isn't hurting anymore will comfort her once she is able to deal with the grief. What is hurting them the most right now is that the baby is due in 2 months and the kid will not get to know his maternal grandmother. E & L took the news better than I expected. The visitation is Friday.

So the dishes have been washed, the left-overs put away, and the house put back in order. We are leaving the decorations up until after New Year's Eve like usual. The girls are in bed. I'm trying to decide if I want to spend the little bit of money I got from various relatives on more craft stuff, on the holiday clearance for little gifts next year, or on a camera. I have tons of craft stuff but I have staples that I run out of often and the girls are constantly raiding my hope chest for their own devices. The clearance gifts from last year pretty much saved Christmas this year since my parents had little money for gifts this year (Most of the gifts we did buy this year were either put on layaway for several months, came from a thrift store, or were purchased in January 2012.). My camera went missing over the summer and I didn't get one for Christmas (Mom forgot I wanted a replacement and got me a coat instead, although the coat was more a need than a want.). Decisions...

At any rate, I hope your holiday is restful and peaceful. I'm already eager to get the kids back in school and myself back to work. Have a fantastic rest of the week!

Love is love, no matter the back story. <3 DS

Books by the Banks Part 2

I am geared up and seriously ready for tomorrow's Book by the Banks: Cincinnati USA Book Festival. As a reminder, it is 10am-4pm at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati and admission is FREE!

I will be wearing an "I'm a friggin' fantasy writer"-type brooch for giggles and grins. Check it out:

Rainbow Dragon Brooch

See you tomorrow!

Love is love, no matter the back story. <3

Homemade Holidays Part 5

I got into the crafting mode again tonight (yes, I know I'm supposed to be writing but its the holidays man... I'm like a freaking raccoon OH SHINY!!!!!!). I found a very cute snowman set up and had to give it a try. And then I modified it to suit my own needs. Check it out!

Homemade Holidays Part 3

I had to switch gears for a while since my family just had to have the dinning room table, so I started making ornaments and crafts with pipe cleaners. Check out what I have so far after the jump!

Homemade Holidays Part 2

I literally spent all day working on the last three sets of ornaments and a couple angels. I started out with wanting to make a set of Alice in Wonderland inspired ornaments. I finished those and made a run to the craft store for more white paint when I decided to give a Wizard of Oz set a try. While doing the Oz set, I decided a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory set was needed as well.

I'm sure others will come to me over the next few days but I promised my family I would let them have the dinning room table for a few days. What other sets can you think of for me to give a try? Keep in mind, it would have to be something that I have read/watched AND enjoyed.

Check the pictures below for the three sets I finished today plus a couple angels.