Dear 2013...

Here is my very own and favorite New Year's tradition: on December 31st, I pick a pretty stationary and write a letter addressed to the year that is about to start. I begin with "Dear 2013" and proceed to write about all the wonderful things that have "happened" during that year and that I am grateful for. Of course none of these things will actually have happened yet, so the letter is ultimately a list of my wishes for the new year.

Floweret Christmas Wreath

This has been a very busy pre-holiday week but I am proud to have squeezed in my Christmas Wreath! I couldn't have done it without the loving help of my husband, who diligently cut leaves and flowers while I sewed them. This project was very fun to make, as each completed piece of the puzzle made me jump with enthusiasm and kept me going. I have a small door, so I made a small wreath, but you can adapt the design to whatever size you want, with bigger pieces, more flowers, you choose it!

Christmas Card - Reindeer

This is my Christmas card design for 2012 - in line with my reindeer obsession phase. And I should clarify that, "Feliz Natal" means "Merry Christmas" in Portuguese. As I am from Brazil, most of my holiday cards go there.

I love the simplicity of this card, and how the solid lines and colors really catches one's attention. I suggest you do the writing or stamping first, because that's where you are most likely to make a mistake (trust me, I went through this). If you need reference, draw a light line with a pencil and erase if afterwards. Then glue the parts of the reindeer together before gluing the whole thing to the card. The heart and nose are made of red felt and everything else is just plain card stock paper. If you want to give it a try, feel free to use this reindeer template.

Ho Ho Ho I'm painting again!

Last time I painted anything was in 5th grade. Our art teacher made us reproduce, with our various skill levels, the famous Van Gogh's Sunflowers. I believe I did a pretty good job, for an 11 year-old, and my master-piece still hangs on a wall in my parents' home - though not in a prominent location. Since then, my paint has expired and my brushes have disappeared.

Who Doesn't Like Cookies and Knickknacks?

I'm the biggest fan of knickknacks - it's actually one of my given nicknames - and I am a strong advocate of their importance and utility. Nevertheless, I've had these Christmas cookie cut-outs for years and had never used them. It's one of these things you buy because you think they are essential, that it's something everyone has to have. But the truth is that they are only essential if you actually use them! So, this weekend, I decided to prove to myself and to the world just how much I do need my cut-outs. 

Chit-Chatting Tree

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my little home! This year I decided to upgrade our Christmas tree from paper to fabric. I flirted with the idea of finally getting a real tree. They sell them on every corner of my neighborhood and the smell follows you everywhere. But then I remembered my newly made commitment to craft and came up with a yo-yo tree instead. It looks beautiful and gives me that wonderful sense of ownership and accomplishment that we crafters know so well.

The Arts & Craft Movement???

Was I the only one who had never heard of the Arts & Craft Movement from the 1800s? The story is quite fascinating, and yes, this is the opinion of a History enthusiast. But what do you think?

Rudolph's Red Nose

I had a reindeer obsession week. I think it's a great obsession to have... very productive anyway. It started with a felt ornament, moved to a card and landed comfortably on my living room pillow. Then, to finish it off, I had to watch Rudolph and Herbie!

Crafting Some Dinner and a Pie

Thanksgiving is a new holiday for me and I am still trying to get used to it. My first experience, 3 years ago, led to turkey on the kitchen floor before it ended up in sandwiches, soup, pasta, salad, and whatever else we were eating until the meat just started smelling weird. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Brazil and we typically reserve the turkey extravaganza for Christmas Eve. That being said, my husband and I decided we would always celebrate Thanksgiving with a culinary experiment, and be thankful for whatever comes out of it. 

So, when do we have time for our hobbies?

I believe time is the most precious asset of a hobbyist. Since my last/first post I have been eager to start my next project, but a busy week just won't let me do it. And having to wait for the weekend to arrive again is just so stressful! I thought hobbies were supposed to relax us!

I have seen it my whole life, at home. I mean, the lack of time for the things we truly enjoy. My dad is probably the greatest hobbyist I have ever known. Everything is of interest to him and he is always working on multiple projects at a time. The fact that he has two jobs and many other commitments doesn't seem to stop him, but it sure slows him down. He always finds time, but is far from being enough. So, when do we ever have time for our hobbies?

All-Purpose Drawstring Bag

I was one of these crafty kids that would take every opportunity to start a little project and let creativity flow. I was convinced that birthdays, X-mas, Eastern and every other special occasional existed just so that I could hand-make something for someone. And I always did. Whether I did it for the pleasure of creating it, for the smile on the recipient's face, or simply because I was seeking for compliments, I still don't know. One day, I will probably discover it's all of the above.