On the First Day of Christmas: Castiel

So it's not the first of December.  And it doesn't fit the song.  Or ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  Unless I continue to 21. 

"21 Chocolate Covered Cherries..."

I may actually do this.  It could be a new tradition.  A post a day at Christmastime!  ANYWHO.  This weekend, in spite of my very best intentions, I got NO sewing done.  (Tissue bodice admiring, yes).  That doesn't mean the weekend was totally wasted!  For example, yesterday I made another ornament for my tree.

May I present to you, Castiel, Angel of the Lord:

Since it's quite probable you have absolutely no idea who that is...Castiel is the angel on the tv show Supernatural.  His besties are Dean and Sam:

Dean and Sam need to be little clothespin ornaments too. Yes?

If you look to the right of Castiel on my tree, you might recognize those two... It's Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Complete with sideburns.  *swoon*

Or do you prefer Colin Firth? (Who doesn't?? No really.  I'm curious.  Who prefers the remake over the BBC Pride and Prejudice?  Anyone?)

Before Dean and Sam, I must, MUST, make Mary and Matthew:

*Swoon* again.

These are my favorite ornaments to put up every year.  I have 8 now, including little Castiel.  I used the templates from the Martha Stewart website.  There's also a video clip of the Christmas special segment where she and a coworker made the little ornaments.  One of my very favorite episodes of Martha Stewart; I still have it recorded on VHS!

I also made my Christmas cards this weekend and sent those off to the photo lab.  I love to send Christmas cards, even though I rarely get any in return. WHY don't people send cards anymore?  It's such a sweet little cheery envelope in my mailbox in December. 

You know what we should do??  We should have a bloggy Christmas card exchange.  Quick! Somebody make a yahoo group and we can all enter our mailing addresses and swap cards.  Let's do it! 

And now it's Monday again.  SIIGHHH.

toasty

As long as I'm bundled in the covers that is! It's been FREEZING here. (And yes, I'm kind of a wuss about it.)

I uncovered long enough to photo some more gifties though! First, a set of candy cane stripe tea towels, embroidered with this fabulous design from Urban Threads:


Aqua and red are one of my absolute favorite color combos!! I added aqua rickrack and grosgrain trim. The top towel has the Toast embroidery, and it's coordinating towel just has the trims. It's hard to see in this photo, but the lettering says "Feelin Toasty". Here they are tied with ribbon for gifting:


Ten years ago or so, I used to make spool & clothespin dolls when I did the local craft fair circuit. My favorite was always a Wizard of Oz set. I wish I still had one to show you! They always sold out and I never did get around to making one to keep. I do have some holiday dolls left, I'll have to dig some out and snap a few pics for you.

Anywho, I was so happy to see clothespin dolls emerge again last holiday season over at Alicia Paulson's blog (as Santa Lucia dolls). JennyB at Allsorts has been crafting some especially cute ones recently too. They've got my creating juices flowing, so Lu & I did some clothespin doll crafting this weekend! Here's my first finished dollie. Don't you love her big spotted bow and scottie dog dress?

"Dolly Shannon"

Today I'm trying to finish up work on a table runner for my mom's dining room table. (Yup, another Christmas gift). I sort of procrastinated on this thing, and I'm down to the wire (but the end is in site!) I'm going to stipple quilt it this afternoon, but here it is basted:



I used a jellyroll (my first!) It was a real time saver! I can see lots more jellyroll projects in my future! The prints are from American Jane "Recess" by Moda. I wish I had a yard of each of these!!

Ok, off now to run to the post office. I missed the mailman by thismuch this morning. Doh. Still have to get my Christmas cards in the post!