Portabellopixie: December 2009

For months we've been working on different Christmas goodies, and it looks like they are just going to all hit at once. :) That's just fine.

First, my freebie ornament pattern for this year. Have I ever talked about how much I love ribbon? After fabric, it is probably the crafting supply I have the most of. Spools and spools of it adorn my studio. I'll take pictures one day. Anyhow, ribbon was the inspiration for the ornament this year. Candy ribbons to be precise!

Please consider this me and the fam' showing up on your doorstep with cookies and carols (or at least the next best thing) to thank you for the support you give my business and for the friendship and happiness you bring me through this blog. Truly, thank you. I hope your holiday season is going splendidly and this little ornament bring you years of memories!

The link is over in the sidebar under the free projects section.

These are super fun to make and go together quick! (If you choose to add the blanket stitching to the borders, it will add a little time, but if you make them without, it's literally about a 15 minute project.)

I like them both, here is one without the blanket stitch border, all uber Christmas, pepperminty:

And one with the blanket stitch border (took about an hour extra)

I did them while watching for the first time ever, (?!?!) It's a Wonderful Life.

OH my. I cried such a good cry. I think I may be the last person on earth to have not sat down and watched it all the way through (I had seen snippets and always thought it was depressing) but in case there are others out there, I totally recommend it. I've watched it twice since and it will be joining the yearly traditions.

It is joining the ranks of Scrooged. I know - comPLETELY different. But I LOVE Scrooged. It's a bit irreverent, which probably shouldn't be a good thing, but it makes me laugh like a hyena every time I watch it and I always cry at the end. The very end, with the music and Bill Murray dancing in that hat - please at least listen to the song "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" on my sidebar!

Speaking of - my holiday blog music is back on the sidebar. You just need to press play!

Next - there are several new goodies on the website to help out with last minute gift giving and wrapping.

First, gift tags! Dustin and I started these weeks and weeks ago and spent nights and nights hand punching the holes.. LOL Here they are, I hope you enjoy them! Each package contains 20 green tags and 20 red tags.

To go along with the tags is a nice fat assortment of ribbons (maybe use them for some Candy Ribbon Ornaments?) A bag stuffed with 12 yards of highest quality grosgrain ribbon.

If you like a more packaging style, try out the sticker labels. Each order contains 18 red and 18 green.

I have had so much fun putting together packages with these ribbons and tags. Do you love to wrap your presents? It is as much fun to me as the actual shopping for the present. I will lay everything out and put on some music or a movie and go to town. Here, look:

Look how pretty everything goes with my gift boxes! Yeah, it might have been on purpose.

If you are in need of a few stocking stuffers for a crafty minded person, here are some fun crochet trims that we put together. Each baggie contains 19 different crochet trims ranging from cherries and strawberries to flowers. They are perfect for embellishing projects, I have used them on garments, quilts and cupcake pincushions!

Speaking of cupcake pincushions, how about a kit? We've put together two different "flavors" if you will, and throughout the end of the year (or while supplies last) each kit will come with a FREE cupcake pincushion pattern. The kit includes everything to make the cupcake, stuffing, trims, interfacing, fabric.. You will need scissors, needle and thread.

Orange Cupcake Kit

Bubblegum Cupcake Kit

And while we're at it, while supplies last on these little kits (we only have about 50 of each) we'll throw in a FREE cupcake pincushion pattern with each kit purchased. No code needed, it will just come along with the kit.

And if you are in the mood to make up a batch of cupcake pincushions for gifts this year (with those crochet trims, eh?) here is a nice bag of scraps to get you going.

Both Ginger Blossom and Farmers Market are discontinued and are becoming harder to find. These bags are stuffed full to the brim with those collections, so this would be a great way to get a bit of the lines if you'd like to before it's gone for good!

All right-whew! I know that's a lot for one post. I truly hope you all are enjoying the season! It has been the year of new ornament for me - that's up next. Stay tuned.

First, allow me to share a bit of our Thanksgiving festivities! Since we are back in Missoula now, both Dustin's parents and my mom and siblings are in the same town as us. We ended up hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 15 guests and had 19 people total in our home. It was great! We pulled out two huge tables and rented some linens. My mom and mother in law handled the turkeys and I took care of the sides. (my favorite part!)

I got this tablecloth at a thrift store with matching napkins for $3 a few years ago. I know.

And I'm of the opinion that a table decor can't go wrong if you include chocolate. Yup. Take that advice to the bank, I'll stand by it to the grave. These cookies are care of costco, mmm...

OK, on to the winners!! Seventeen winners in all! Thank you again so much to everyone who volunteered prizes and to everyone who visited the sponsors and entered to win the prizes. I truly hope this brings some holiday happiness to everyone and we'll do it again next year!

Look for your name and then the instructions for how to redeem that specific prize. There are only two prizes that are to be redeemed directly through me. Happy shopping everyone!