My goodness but the holidays can take their sweet time getting over! Well, when you have to spread the one day-Thanksgiving - out over 3 days because of family work schedules it sure can! I am grateful this year for my family, for the custody issue being settled in my son's favor, for the grandchildren's smiles that wake me every morning and for the few precious hours I get alone to bathe, stitch and/or create.

The day before Thanksgiving the children were out of school and preschool so I took them shopping with me to the local Goodwill. They each got a toy for being good while they were there and allowing me time to find a few special items. One of the things I have learned is I should never go to a thrift store looking for specific items. They will never have what Iam looking for. If I go open minded and willing to be pleasantly surprised I will almost always find a treasure. This time I was lucky - struck gold, so to speak.

We were able to find these 4 pine cheese boxes, in 3 different sizes. The largest (oriental wok set box) 7.5" tall x 16" across. The other 2 medium ones are 5" tall and 6 " tall x 15" across. The smaller one is 5.5" tall x 11" across. I love the smaller one because I don't often see them in this size and I have been hoping to find one for holding my crazy quilting/sewing charms in. What made them such a good buy that day was that they ranged from $2.99 - $3.99 EACH and I got them 1/2 off because I am a senior citizen, lol. Finally, age had its benefits. What a bargain!

They are perfect for button boxes, for storing garden seeds, hiding chocolate in, or for holding any number of small crafting items. I usually paint them, and put a crazy quilted top on them. I will, on occassion, line the lid and/or the bottom inside. It really depends on the condition of the box and what I plan on putting in it. I give them as gifts to friends, donate them for fundraising purposes to groups I belong to for auctions and raffles.

I am thinking of combining my two current button boxes into the one largest box I just found. That will give me the "Walk In The Park" box to put more flower seeds in (I have one already but it is overflowing with vegetable and flower seeds - needs to be thinned out like my garden, lol).

I think I will use the box currently holding my colored buttons - my "Denim and Lace" cheese box - too hold just my ceramic and Fimo type buttons in from now on.

These are jobs for after the first of the year. I just get a warm tingly feeling thinking about the possibilities though. What about that material I dyed at Indigo Days at Table Rock Llamas? It is just waiting to be worked up into something lovely. I've been wanting to do an underwater themed CQ for sometime now, hmmmm. The possibilities are endless.............sweet dreams.

Today I finalized what I will be sending out in my Secret Santa package for someone in CQForNewbies. I had a lot of fun selecting what I hope will be welcome additions to this lady's stash. I will post a picture of it later after it has been received and opened by the recipient.


I also attended BGD Grace's preK Indian PowWow (Thanksgiving) presentation at her school. I am concerned that the school's are getting away from even naming these actual holidays that are universal to Americans by names other than what they are. What is politically incorrect about celebrating Thanksgiving? No matter, the program was delightful and Grace was especially animated throughout. Her spirit of the wind ribbon dance was very sweet. We enjoyed a sumptious feast of homemade goodies afterwards with the other class members and their families. It was cute to see her in an Indian outfit. She is a child of many costumes. She has been known to be a Dalmation, Barney, a clown, an angel, a cowgirl, or one of her 2 favorites - Broncos Cheerleader or a Princess.






I also set aside some ornaments that will either be traded at my EGA chapter's ornament exchange this coming month or be sent as thank you's to some very deserving ladies I think have gone out of their way to help me and others this past month.

The 2 white ornaments are Hardanger on linen done with fine metallic braids and beads. The Santa Stocking is beaded on perforated paper and backed in felt.


The ornament below is also Hardanger on linen but is done in Perle Cotton with a metallic paper lining. Silk Ribbon rose by the hanger. It is backed in the same metallic paper. This was stitched by my youngest daughter, Amy.

The First Day Of My Blog Life

Today I am taking a great leap of faith by believing that I can accomplish this blogging task. I thought it would be a good day because I have things I'd like to share.

I received my first ever Christmas Cracker through CQI - one of the CQ groups I belong to. I do not know who it came from (but she lives in Indiana according to the envelope). I am evidently not going to know until Christmas Day when I open the envelope. Christmas now seems VERY far away.

I sent a Christmas Cracker to Lisa B. from the same group. I cannot reveal the contents until after Christmas. I did enjoy putting it together though. There were minimal requirements as to what should be included and then you were free to add to that if you so desired. As this was my first time for this type of Swap I tried to be generous.

Here is a picture of the Cristmas Cracker I sent to Lisa.