hodge p o d g e

I really still cannot believe that we are well into the holiday season

and as a woman at the post office this afternoon sweetly reminded me,

"Christmas is just over two weeks away."

I've decided that this year will not be the year that all gifts are handmade and lovely. 

not the year for a plethora of homemade cookies and candies,

perhaps not even the year for strung popcorn.

I just don't have it in me this year. 

Although, I did have it in me last year, 

and if you're looking to make some beautiful gifts for the ones you love,

you might consider one of the following ideas.

layered floral notecards

chalk clipboards

christmas music

orange slice ornaments 

applique throw

tin can planters

fabric covered notebooks

covered coat hangers

appliqu'ed table linen

china transfers 

sewing bag with fabric corsage 

lavender bags

wired button decorations

teacup plants

storage jar labels

So, I was at Michael's craft store last week, running in to grab a package of candle wicks, and knowing that I only had 15 minutes at a maximum until I had to be back in my car and headed towards Brooklyn's speech therapist.  So, I'm in the store and the Christmas mayhem is on a heightened level. There's people swarming the isles, digging feverishly through overfilled bins, bumping into one another without reaction or any sense of common courtesy. I hear babies crying and children being reprimanded, and while standing in the check out line; next to an end cap piled high with every kind of artificial pine product you could imagine, I was reminded of what Christmas is not supposed to be. 

am I right?

what in the world people? 

So back in the comfort and security of my car,

I vowed to ensure this be a simple, and lovely Christmas for my family and I.

One thing I did decide to do, and the reason I was at the store that day to begin with, is to make more of these vintage tin candles. I made them as gifts last year, and they turned out beautifully. I think they are even better this year, seeing as throughout the year I was able to save enough odd, half burned candles to melt down and refill all of my tins and then some! 

repurposing candle wax...

 reminds me of this movie.

have you seen it?

 if not you should.

so here are a few pictures that I managed to take while pouring candles the other morning.

please know I had both Brooklyn and Bella helping me in the kitchen that morning.

 old odd candles, ready for a new life!

Now onto the next topic of discussion... I'm so lucky to receive the sweetest and most thoughtful comments from my dear readers of this little blog. Honestly, you all couldn't be nicer. Thank you for that. Last week, I received a comment asking whether I would be willing to share a "home tour" with my readers... My initial thought when reading this request was, "No way!",  followed by lots of nervous laughter. But then the more the thought  resonated with me, the more open I became to the idea. You see, I'm very much  that creative artistic person that is never really done with anything. My home might be decorated, but to me, it's never quite right, a bit unfinished. Does that make sense? So, in the past, when the thought of sharing images of the interior of our home, I've decided against it, because I wanted everything to be just right prior to doing so. Here's the thing... Its never going to be exactly the way I want it. I realize that. And even though it isn't perfect, it's home.
Another bit of information that I now realize I might never have shared with you, is that we moved into a larger house about six months ago.  So as a precursor, a sort of safety net for my own piece of mind, things are still coming together, a work in progress so to speak.

Another side note, the images that you see and my style of home decor might not suit you.

I understand that. 

Although, it does suit us. 

We love our home. 

We love being home. 

We  wouldn't want it any other way. 

So without further ado, here are a few room of our home I've not shared before. 
A peek so to speak, the full blown tour will just have to wait.

living room

entryway

winter wreath

hallway

office

little boys bathroom

hall closet, untouched for authenticity.

and just for kicks, a few pictures of my darling boy to make your day.

xoxo c