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Sunday, December 31, 2006
Finished some Projects
I've been a busy girl the last few days. The above image is a scherenchnitte folk heart that I finished for Valentine's Day. I plan to take it to Market with me and offer it for sale. My boss is going to allow me to sell some of my work at the candy stand. I really like how the red velvet paper shows off the cut work. I left the bottom open just in case someone would like something written in there. It's a very classy piece.
I've been making a few cards to sell for Valentine's also. The first card is a hand stenciled Sweethearts card. I found the stencil idea online but the layout is all mine. As far as I can tell, each heart says what a real Sweetheart candy would say. The card is blank inside and comes with a matching envelope.
Finally, I finished a scherenschnitte card. The rose was cut from thick paper and placed on a pink background. I colored the cut areas of the rose leaves with a silver/pink pen and drew leaf veins on the leaves with a silver/green pen. The card background is mulberry paper that I wrote "Love" all over. This card is also blank inside so the sender say whatever is in their heart. I'm impressed with how well it turned out.

I'm planning on selling the cards on Etsy to raise a little money to buy hubby a nice Valentine's Day dinner. I guess I need to start selling cards.

I'm also working on a redwork design for my daughter. I'm making her a pinkwork hearts cat that will be sewn into a sachet for her room. It's been years since I've done much embroidery, but it comes back quickly. My mother loved to do embroidery. Every dresser in our house was covered with a dresser scarf that she embroidered. She was really good and when she taught me to sew she stressed that the back should look almost as nice as the front. I still have some of her embroidery that I use on my dresser. Someday, I'd like to pass not only my mother's linens to my daughter, but also my own.

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posted by Angel at 12/31/2006 01:34:00 AM ¤ Permalink ¤ 3 comments
Friday, December 29, 2006
Reflections on the Holidays
I had a really nice holiday this year. On Christmas Eve, we had wine and cheese, watched Christmas cartoons, and at midnight went to the New York Wire Company in York for the steam whistle concert. The concert is really cool. About 30+ years ago (I think) some guy was working on Christmas eve and he decided to play Christmas carols on the plant's steam whistle. When he retired, his son took over the job and every year there is a concert. Santa comes to visit, everyone is in a good mood dispite the cold, and it's just a festive thing to do. I will admit, the sound of the steam whistle is a little eerie (some would say creepy). You can hear the whistle for miles, it's just really cool. So, if you are ever in York, PA on Christmas Eve, check it out.

Christmas day was spent at my Mother in Law's. She decided this year to do a roast beef instead of the traditional Turkey dinner. I got car sick on the 2 mile ride over to her place so I had to watch what and how much I ate at dinner. My contribution to dinner was a green bean stir fry and chocolate. Princess had a wonderful time spending time with her aunts and uncles. Santa left a guitar at Grandma's for Princess. She's now determined to learn the guitar.

Everyone enjoyed the present I made for them. I knitted/crocheted dishcloths for everyone. It was something small and it gave me a chance to practice my stitches. It was also something everyone can use.

The photo at the top of today's entry was taken at Market about a week and a half ago. I was photographing my decorating at the candy stand and ended up taking a picture of myself. I think it's kind of cool. Just had to share my reflections in chocolate picture.

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posted by Angel at 12/29/2006 05:04:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 1 comments
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Happy Holidays

From our house to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. May the return of the Sun bring light to your life.
 
posted by Angel at 12/24/2006 10:19:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 1 comments
Friday, December 22, 2006
Blessed Solstice

Solstice Greetings to everyone. May the warmth of the newborn sun melt away all the cold in your life.
 
posted by Angel at 12/22/2006 12:33:00 AM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Making a List...Checking it Twice
No, I don't' officially work for Santa. I'm making sure I have all the cards sent and all the presents bought. I think I'm finished with my shopping now. Yeah! I love to shop, but I hate shopping this time of year. I hate the crowds. Now I just need to wrap gifts and finish a doll.

I found out today, I'm a chocolate snob. I found myself getting irritated while filling the order for a gentleman who "doesn't understand all this fancy chocolate stuff, give me a Hershey bar any day." I didn't show my irritation to the gentleman, but inside I couldn't imagine not wanting to try something new. I guess I'm just too adventurous. Not that there is anything wrong with a Hershey bar, but when you have the opportunity to sample gourmet chocolate--you sample.

Since I have been sick, I haven't had any caffeine. I know, it's hard to believe. I'm one of those people that runs on coffee and soda. Well, while I was sick and couldn't keep anything down, I didn't have any caffeine for 3 days. During that time, I think I also got through the caffeine hangover. I don't seem to need it or miss it. Will I go back to drinking coffee, probably someday. I just want to bask in the fact that I defeated my biggest addiction for a little while. And for those who were wondering, yes, I am still hyper and chipper without my caffeine.


 
posted by Angel at 12/21/2006 02:34:00 AM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Slowly Returning from the Dead
I'm in the process of returning from the land of the Dead.  No, I didn't take a trip to the Underworld to deliver holiday cards to the undead.  I've been sick.  I'll spare you the gory details.  Let's just say that the local stomach bug hit me hard and knocked me for a loop.  I spent Friday night on a date with my husband at the local hospital's emergency room.  Hubby was amazing and sat with me all evening while I slept on a plastic chair and he was forced to watch Holiday Cartoons.  We originally planned to spend the evening eating gourmet food and sipping wine (company holiday party) but instead I was ill.  I'm back on the road to recovery and I go back to work today.  Yeah!  By Christmas dinner, I'll be back to my old self again. 
 
posted by Angel at 12/19/2006 10:55:00 AM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
I Recieved a Present in the Mail
About a week ago (ok, I'm a little behind), I recieved a wonderful gift in the mail. It was a nice suprise after a hard day of work. I picked up the box that the mail lady left beside my front door and hurried inside to open it. Wrapped in blue strip tissue paper was a lovely doll to hang on the tree, three feathers from Treewymn's parrot, and some digital art from Treewymn. Thank you so much! I love it! Treewymn was my swap partner for the Tree Doll swap in The Goddess Dolls group.

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posted by Angel at 12/13/2006 10:44:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 0 comments
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
A Moment of Calm

Since I was diognosed as a pre-diabetic I have been working with a wonderful dietician. We have been working on improving what I eat, when I eat, and why I eat. She has helped me in many ways and I'm thankful for getting to work with her (I would not have been able to accomplish what I have without her). For the holidays, I made her a little scherrenschnitte picture. It's a birdie sitting on some plants. I cut the picture out of dark blue paper and mounted it on a handmade paper background that I then sponged with the blue. I love the look of it. My dietician was thrilled with the picture. It's just nice to share something I love so much. I'm glad she liked it.
 
posted by Angel at 12/05/2006 10:59:00 AM ¤ Permalink ¤ 1 comments
Friday, December 01, 2006
Welcome Pineapple

When I'm not sugared up or caffineated I like to do Scherenschnitte. Scherenschnitte translates from German into "scissor cutting." It's a folk craft that dates back into the BCE's in China and spread throughout the world from there. Almost any culture who had paper and sharp shears or knives has a form of scherenschnitte. I live in Pennsylvania Dutch country and in centuries past, it was a major craft around here. Sadly, there are fewer papercutters. I learned to do scherenschnitte a few years ago at a Girl Scout's Leader Weekend. I learned using these little scissors, but I found that I have better control with my exacto knife. Like many crafts I do, I find paper cutting to be very relaxing; however, I tend to only work on a project in the evenings when the sugar and caffine are out of my system. It's an exact craft and shaky hands are a problem.
I'm impressed with how nice the pineapple turned out. It's just a simple pattern I found on a no copyright clipart website and I made a few modifications on it before I cut it out. I'm planning on selling it at the etsy shop.
 
posted by Angel at 12/01/2006 12:10:00 PM ¤ Permalink ¤ 3 comments