Wish List

So if you are out there wondering, "Just what should I get Stephanie for Christmas," you have come to the right place! While my wish list is much longer (and grander) than what I have here, these are a couple of things I would just loooove to see under the tree come Christmas morning. 1. Felted Coasters from rosetutu I love the floral motifs she adds to the coasters, and I orchids just happen to be my favorite flowers. ever. 2. One of the Symbiosis zippered pouches from UnikatHK. I really love the yellow one pictured, but honestly I'd love it in just about any color! 3. Absolutely ANY skein of super bulky yarn from beeskneesknitting. Anyone who even slightly knows me, knows that I love yarn. I don't even need to have a project in mind, if I like the yarn, I want it. This is no exception! 4. Last but not least, a sugar and creamer set from whitneysmith. I do not drink coffee (in fact my hot beverage of choice is rose hip tea) but I love this set. I figure I don't really need an excuse to want it, it's beautiful and who doesn't want beautiful things on their table?! I already own one of her red dogwood plates, and it is gorgeous!

So there you have it.  A short but wonderful list of things I would love to find under the tree come Christmas morning. Have your own Christmas wish for under the tree? Let me know, it might inspire a second (or third) list!

Oh, and obviously, Happy (early) Thanksgiving! :)

It's About That Time!

Yes that's right! I'm having a sale over at the Etsy Shop! From now until December 18th I am having a Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale on every item in my shop. Here's the deal: Buy 2 of whatever you like and then pick a 3rd item of equal or lesser value for free! Instead of purchasing the 3rd item, simply leave me a message in the 'notes to seller' during check out saying what it is you would like for free. It's as simple as that. Happy Shopping!

I Have a Secret Talent

Actually it's not that secret and I'm not that good, but I just love to knit. I learned how to last year and I haven't looked back. In preparation for this coming winter I've made myself a tam (slouchy beret actually). My very long hair is actually quite wavy and I get sick and tired of crappy looking hair from being out in the snow. As long as no water touches my hair I'm usually okay to be out in public. :) I'm hoping this hat keeps my hair nice and dry. If not at least I'll (hopefully) stay warm. Or look cute. I'll take 1 out of the 3!

If you like the hat and want to knit one for yourself you need to go here and click on the Gretel pattern. Or if you are a member of Ravelry you can get it there. (just search for Gretel) 

I'm in Love (part II)

Today my second package of Red Flannel Elephant cards arrived in the mail!!! :) After receiving my first set I knew that I would have to make a point of getting every other card offered, because these are some of the most beautiful illustrations I've come across. I now own all the cards you see to the left, plus just about every other card in her (that would be Gretel Parker) shop! 

She slyly added a cute new card, 'Wheely Bird', which I will own at some point. (He's the adorable yellow bird with blue wheels pictured below.) Okay maybe she didn't slyly add it, but I'm glad she did because now I have an excuse to purchase more of her cards at some point!

Do yourself a big favor and check out one of her two shops (if it they aren't already in your Etsy favorites!) 

This is where I live

Ahh...perhaps I should clarify. There is what I live NEXT to. (A girl can dream can't she?) This is what I like to refer to as the 'back half' of Valley Forge. For all I know it could actually be the front half, or the right half, etc but we discovered this section earlier this year and lovingly refer to it as the back half. The reason I've decided it to be the back half is because it seems that far fewer people are found in this area. Most people tend to flock to Washington's Headquarters as well as walk the main path up near Varnum's Headquarters. During the summer, and even now there are tour busses in the popular areas, so we went on a mission to find more secluded walking paths for our two dogs. The beautiful home I like to pretend is mine is actually the Knox Estate. Down the road from this home (and the beautiful but tragically left to fall apart green house) is a single lane covered bridge that leads to a beautiful walking path along a river. In the summer this is usually quite full of people, but come autumn it dies down to just a few walker/joggers. This is where we chose to spend most of our Sunday:

It is probably the last time we'll be down there until spring, so until then I think we'll walk around the old Farm house (which I must sadly report is not listed on their website). I suppose I will have to get back there a.s.a.p. so that I can post some pictures of it on here. It is sooo pretty, and you can easily get to the Mount Joy trail from it. Okay, enough of Valley Forge. I really need to find something else to obsess over, as I have blogged about the place at least half a dozen times now! Hope the rest of you had a fun weekend! :) 

Christmas Cards and Love

I'll start off with Christmas Card news. (It's been a LONG time coming.) There are currently 5 Christmas Cards up in the shop -3 designs, with 2 sets being offered in 2 color choices. I really really like them, and am happy to have finally gotten around to photographing them! My personal favorite is the green and peach mistletoe ball. Look for them here, and check back for a few more designs I have in the works. (Did you think I could resist making a bird-themed Christmas card? No!)

Okay onto the longggg overdue post about the beautiful housewarming presents that Mitsy sent to Lee and I! She sent us a lovely card, and two packages. I received a growth necklace on organza ribbon (soooo pretty) and she sent Lee a little felt-house keychain. Of course she didn't have to send anything, but she did it because she knew it would make us smile. But how could you not smile upon opening a package with those happy boys and girls smiling up at you! It's impossible. I should know as I have 5 of these happy people hangin' around the house with me! Thanks Mitsy. You already know that we loved the gift, but I thought I'd let everyone else know how much they were appreciated!! :) If you've never seen her work, you had better check it out right away. I've been on a personal mission to own a necklace in every color, so you might want to get your own before I take them all. :) 

Dinosaurs can be Cute

I have been working tirelessly on some Christmas cards (you will see them by the end of this week) and was really getting sick and tired of it! I have had this idea to do some dinosaur prints for my animal series and it seemed like the best reason to take a break on the cards for a little bit! I think they turned out pretty darn cute:

I was trying to pick a favorite earlier, and after staring at them for a bunch of hours I think my favorite is the  Stegosaurus.  

They come in the blue, pink, orange, and green that you find me using 9 times out of 10. Why I am so easily amused by these simple little drawings I will never understand! Anyway check them out here, and if you feel so inclined, let me know what you think!