No, it's not yet Spring. Only in my heart.

This is my desk of late - tea, fabric swatches, transfer pencils, glass pane, spring hoop and the like.  What you can't hear is the awesome music from the Importance of Being Earnest soundtrack.  I think I've mentioned it here before, but have I conveyed the sheer inspiring awesomeness of it yet? :D  Quite in love.

While I'm here, can I ask what the date is?  Oh, January 4.  Then my next logical question would be - where is the snow?  How can the chickadees be singing?  The sun shining, and the ground thawed? In short, the entire world looking as if it were at the Spring Masquerade?

I rather look on it as my own personal miracle.  Here I am, romantically determined to live in this tent all winter if I perish in the attempt, and the weather itself is laughing at me, telling me that my mule-headed theatrics are entirely unnecessary.  I could be buried under feet of ice and snow, my wood wet and caked with frost, my feet perpetually numb and my furniture frozen from condensation.  To tell the truth, that's rather what I, in moments of weakness, was expecting.

How well our God is able to take care of us!  Even in the worst conditions our human minds can imagine, He has to power to give us strength, hope, and trust in Him.  He has control over every element in our lives - yes, even the weather can work out according to his plan.  And when He see fit to  give us something even better than we even dared to ask, why are we surprised?

After all, every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with who is no varibleness, neither shadow of turning.

I wanted to share this recent acquisition with you - I've been looking for the perfect one for years.  At last, I found it!

 The perfect size, the perfect colors.  And with the perfect design.  ♥

Also, I thrifted this little rotating rack - the perfect way to display my button badges and mirrors!  Don't they look cunning with their little shining round fronts and rustic packaging?  

I always thought that I didn't care for button badges much - they looked cheesy, and the political campaign and corny phrase stigma often associated with pinback buttons didn't add to their charms.

But I had a change of heart coming, and if that's what you currently think of them as, so do you!  They're round. cute factor.  They're shiny. major cute factor.  And you can put anything you want on them!  endless cute factor! =D  

Just for fun, go take a look-see at my current collection and tell me your favorite.  For extra credit, tell me what you would like to see on a badge or mirror, and your wish might come true!  I'm thinking of some fun new designs to add, and your idea might become reality.

And lastly, here's a sneak peek at a bit of my embroidery - as soon as I get some decent pictures, you can see it in full;)

Wonderful Wednesday, friends!

Wall Tent Christmas

It was a rather quiet Christmas for us this year - my Dad had to be out of town, and we missed him terribly.  We didn't really have presents, parties, or decor - but the vital ingredients - thankfulness, togetherness (in spirit), and remembrance, were all there, making this a truly beautiful and memorable Christmas.  

You don't need anything but each other to have the perfect holiday... as long as you've got that, you have everything.  And then look around!  How much more do each and every one of you have in addition to the essentials?  You can't even count them.  I know I can't.  And I am so thankful, not just for the multitudes of blessings showered on me, but the privilege of watching God work His providing care in my life.  He has never let me down.  Not once.

It was a different kind of Christmas, too, with the fact that it was my first wall tent Christmas!  The first Christmas spent in my own little home:)  

On the eve of Christmas eve, my littlest sister spent the night with me, and we had a marvelous time. As evidenced by these photos.  Candlelight, warmth, hair curlers, cozy darkness, beloved Christmas music,  hot coco and oranges, and Petrov added to the festivities.

 

My mom embroidered this beautiful Idaho bluebird for a dear friend.  I just love the excitement and secrecy of a wrapped-up present!  Especially when it's tied up with string...

Christmas Eve morning the girls butchered four of our Khaki Campbell drakes.  They were delicious. My barbaric and talented little farmgirl sisters salted down the lovely skins and put them in the rafters of their treehouse to cure... I believe they plan to make hats.  Maybe.

Later that day, we went over to visit Tasha's family.  Played the traditional and delightful game of Risk, nibbled on delicious treats, and had a wonderful time all around.  

Also got the traditional picture taken, which we forgot to do last year!  

Aren't we a nice looking lot? :D

Myself, Aubrey, Alex, and Tasha

Betsy-Tacy  &  the boys...  

...And the whole motley crew.

Christmas day was shared with some other dear friends, feasting, talking (ahem) napping, and playing four founds of Pictionary, among other things.  North Idaho Pictionary, that is... we have our own version;)  Christopher, Matthew (Ani), Aubrey, and I also played some mean fooseball... at least they did.  I won one round:(

I hope your Christmas was filled beauty, togetherness, and Joy at the coming of our Savior!

~Me~

P.S. I also hope you can forgive me for the prolonged absence of my promised hair tutorials... I have no excuse to offer.  Good excuse, that is...goodbye forever. :)

ten thousand stitches.

Well, what an unexpected surprise!  No sooner than I pulled out my embroidery for the first time in months and stitched out two little projects, than a special order for a set of seven Sunbonnet Lassies was set in my lap, whipping me into a stitching frenzy!

For the last four days, this has been my lot...

 ...And a very pleasant lot indeed.  Not counting my hands, which are starting to feel much like I imagine a vice would.  I alternated stitching with some wild piano playing, which gave some blessed relief;)

Also enjoyed were my all-time favorite period drama, Wives and Daughters, the Lux Radio Dramas Quality Street and Destry Rides Again, and lots of Christmas music...

Have you discovered/enjoyed any good films or music lately?  Do share!

 And at last, the wonderful feeling of a good job accomplished.

The customer requested lots of greens and yellows, along with a vintage-inspired color palette.

Now available in the shop as a custom set!

Now, on to sewing and last-minute gift crafting!  I'm hoping to get a tutorial for the twisted hair style from my last post up before Christmas, too, as it would make the perfect holiday 'do.  

Oh, dear.  I shouldn't have said that.  Now I really have to get going to get this all done in time!

Getting out the drawing board

It's been much, much too long since I got out my embroidery... time to do something about that.

Be on the lookout for the results of my latest foray into muslin-stabbing!