This is my Christmas present from my sweet, growing up too fast Jacob boy. He could not wait until Christmas to give it to me. The frame is his masterpiece, a school project that he accented with cats, of course. I just LOVE it!

Phil & I went to town today to meet up with Libby and while we were gone; the spirit of Christmas entered Jacob ( so he says ) and when we walked in the door, he had made a Merry Christmas banner and hung sparkly lights everywhere he could think of. I just love colored lights and how innocent he still seems when he says he " got into the spirit". Long may that spirit live!

Tomorrow is the winter solstice and marks the shortest day of the year and the gradual transition to longer days. I love winter. I revel in it. I like it best when the days are cold and crisp but I will take it however it comes. It is a quiet time for me. The hustle of the shopping season is nearly over, it is not quite time to get ready for the big 2010 shows and I can slow my pace, watch a movie, read a book, think, breathe, be. Happy Winter Solstice!

I could not resist posting this picture of Zip, the young yellow lab that lives across the street with Henry and his family. Zip is full of energy, loves to play, is a tiny bit shy and just loves to escape his yard and head right over here to mooch. I just adore him and he will come into the house or studio if he is invited. He is just curious but is pretty sweet and gentle around things. Of course, all this visiting makes Henry very mad and nothing I can do will make Henry un-mad. Guess he will just have to bite his mad spot and I will just make sure the porch light is off and Henry can't see over here when Zip visits.

The Shop Christmas Party

We had a holiday party at Fiesta Jalisca in Hadlock to tonight for all of us at the Bead and yarn shops. Good food, great fun, wonderful company and now I feel like the holiday season has begun! I loved the gifts everyone gave me, especially the Dove chocolates from Cathy P, which have helpful little lifestyle suggestions from Martha Stewart! Haha - now I can indulge and wonder about improving my Christmas centerpiece through the addition of birch bark! Really, just who was the genius that came up with the combining of Martha's hints and candy wrappers!? The ornaments from Kathy were stunning and I will post pictures of them soon. right now I need to turn Martha's candy wrappers into a quilted table cover! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

New Charm Masters

These are new pieces, some still waiting to have the final finishing touches added to them, that need to be cast. Looks like this next year I will have a jump on new charm designs. All the masters are made in copper and then cast into sterling or white bronze. White bronze has been an interesting material to work with; very similar to silver yet it has a slight yellowish cast to it that reminds me of old ethiopian coin silver. I also like red bronze but do not have much finished work in it yet. Other new pieces not pictured here that are mailing to the caster tomorrow. I should have new designs finished for both Tucson and lots more for Bead & Button in June.

Something to Crow About

... or is it my time to be an old crow? A picture from my birthday party.

These are two shots of our Christmas tree just put up tonight by Jacob and me. We had a technical difficulty at first in that our trusted tree stand leaked like a sieve so we had to dash and get the LAST ONE IN PORT TOWNSEND this afternoon. After a challenging switch, I think we have one of the prettiest trees ever! I was also amazed that the tree cost so much less this year. Must be due to the economy and tree farmers thinking people would not buy one this year.

This year at Christmas I am also remembering my mom and still missing her very much. I just wish I could hear her voice one more time and ask her the things that a daughter asks of a mother. Once again I would listen to her and wish that she would never leave and let me alone be the adult.

There is also the lightest dusting of snow on our porch right now, like sugar on a cookie. Perfect for tree decorating time!