At the Last Retreat...

Well, not the LAST retreat, but the one we last had at the beginning of this month..

I made 20 Christmas ornaments. Sure, it's only October, but when we woke up that Saturday, there was 3-4" of snow on the ground and covering the cars! So, Christmas ornaments it was!!!

This was my "station". What a mess, huh? But, I played here for four days. Made a mess. Tidied up. Made

another mess. And so on, and so on. You get the picture.

I wasn't the only mess-maker though. Kay quilted - to my right. Judy sewed and cut out lots with her Cricut - across from Kay. And Janice - well, Janice did LOTS of things. - SHOPPED AND SHOPPED AND SHOPPED at the local quilt store, made a complete wedding scrapbook for her co-worker, scrapbooked, sewed, ironed, etc....

So, here is a photo of my new entry way ceiling. It's tongue and groove pine planks. Off the subject? Well, NO.

These are the little end cuts from when I installed the ceiling. Cute, don't ya think?

If you remember, last year, I made Christmas ornaments out of scraps. I have a ton!

So, I packed up a handful and took them with me. Along with an assortment of holiday paper, stamps, buttons, paint, Mod Podge, ribbon, etc...

Christmas Joy.

Warm Holiday Wishes.

Crinkle-torn-stamped tissue paper.

A Warm & Friendly Wish for a

Very Happy Holiday!

I Believe in Santa.

(The "dark" metal charm reads - Believe)

Merry Christmas.

Crackle finish Vintage Ad paper.

Love Stamp.

Crackle finish Teddy Bear stamp.

Naughty or Nice? Yes....

A favorite re-make from last year.

I Believe in Angels.

Lots of glass glitter, buttons, and fiber.

A Holiday Classic - Don't Peek til Xmas.

Let it SNOW!

In classic black and cream.

Who doesn't love a Snowman?

'Tis the Season.

Glass Glitter. Looks just like a sugar cookie.

Tinker Toys!!! Just what I wanted!

Crackle Finish vintage Ad paper.

Believe in Christmas Magic.

Dear Santa, I WANT.

Oh, come on. What else? Isn't that what all letters to Santa begin with???

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world,

and behold, everything is softer and more Beautiful.

Star Light, Star Bright -

A Wish for Peace on Earth Tonight.

Layered paper stars.

Christmas Cheer.

Another crackle finish .2 cent stamp.

Happy Holidays.

December 25 Postcard.

Crackle finish tree stamp.

Last but not least -

SNOW!

That's it so far. I still need to drill the holes for the ribbon hangers (thus the "blank" areas at the top of each ornament), but wanted to share.....Maybe a bit prematurely, but ... oh well.

I've been asked by more than a few people if these are for another swap. Not this year. I'll be keeping these for the family tree.

You see, I swapped last year in an online ornament exchange and was less than thrilled with the majority of what I received. Granted, it's the thought that counts. But let's be honest here - it is my blog after all - with all the talent and great ideas I always see out there in blog land, and man-o-man there is talent galore, I truly did not expect to get a 1" styrofoam ball covered in dollar-store glitter with raw wood toothpicks poked in them, or a knotted (not knitted or crocheted, mind you) piece of yarn on a hook, or a bell cut out of waxxed paper - and only waxxed paper. Can anyone say...KINDERGARTEN?

I should have learned my lesson from a few years back when I did a 50 holiday card swap. Oh well....I'm still hopeful, I guess....I still have visions of opening a swap-box and being excited!!! Has any body else out there  been bummed-out by an exchange? Or is it just me???

Happy Monday!

*** Updated on 11_09_2009 Just linked up to "I Can Make That" Party.