Elf Yourself

I know you've gotten those "elf yourself" videos from your friends! If you click on the link above (title) you can see the one I did....using son, hubby, me and daughter! But most importantly, will anyone watch "It's a Wonderful Life" with me this week????

Diva Christmas 2007

Somewhere deep in the "liveable forest" is a group of friends that call themselves The Dirt Divas. It can be difficult to get a photo of them all gathered in one place at the same time. Below are two attempts...but as you can see the attempts do not show everyone. This first shot was taken by me. And yes, they are often seen wearing the official headdress. This photo was taken immediately upon their sitting and talking time...which follows their standing and talking time. This period often lasts quite awhile. As you can see they are very classy. They are having champagne with their Fritos. Below you can see that one of the Divas has escaped....lured away to another function with other people....in this case family....children home from the mission field in Argentina. But the others go on and try to enjoy themselves and a photo is captured by Nancy this time.

See the empty place at the end. How symbolic a group they are. Merry Christmas!

Good mail!

My good friend, Nathalie sent me the Moravian Star ornament above in a beautiful handmade Christmas card last week. I, of course, tried to make one, too. Mine is below. I am only showing mine so she can see it. I have the basic concept down, just needs "refining"!!!! Diva party pictures....NEXT post! I gotta get something done here.

Chicken Enchiladas

This is something that I like to make and take to people that are in need of a meal brought in. My friends also like it....so I made it for dinner last night when the Dirt Divas came to my house for their annual Christmas party.

Pictures from the evening will appear in the next post...but for now, here is the recipe:

Chicken Enchiladas

1 chicken, boiled and deboned (I just buy a bunch of breasts and boil them)

Chicken broth (just need a little, save some from boiling)

1 can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup

8 oz. sour cream

4 chopped green onions (I never have these)

small can of Rotel tomatoes (chopped) (I always double this recipe, so I use a regular can)

1 lb of cheddar cheese (grated) (buy it grated)

1 pkg corn or flour tortillas (I use flour)

salt and pepper to taste (I seldom add)

Combine chicken, soup, sour cream, green onions (optional), drained Rotel tomatoes and enough broth to mix well.

Put a small scoop of mixture on each tortilla and roll up. Place seam side down in a baking dish (I usually spray dish with Pam). Pour leftover sauce over all and top with cheese.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serves 6.

One thing that never appears with the recipe and I think it is a crucial part..... before you fill the tortilla, dip the tortilla in picante sauce (I use Pace, but any will work). Just submerge that thing in a bowl of it and yes, your hands will be messy....then fill the tortilla. This keeps them soft! (the tortillas, not your hands)

It's yummmmmmy! All you need with this is a salad!

Christmas, Christmas time is here!

A few more pictures.....I spend days slowly putting it out and I must tell you that this year, I left a lot in the attic. But it's okay.... I'm feeling good about "paring down" .. is that spelled right? It is... I just looked it up. See my Rebecca Sower vignette hanging there? I put all 6 of them on the tree. No, I haven't made more. Why do you think I would have gotten that done? I'll do it tomorrrrrrrrrrrrrow! I should maybe put some crochet or "snow" under those above? Hmmmm.... we'll see.. I got those angels on Ebay a couple of years ago. I just love them!! The house is a replica of the one on It's A Wonderful Life. What was the name of it? Be the first to name that house and I'll send you a surprise! I'll post more later. I realllllllllllllly must go shopping today!!!!

What I like about MY Christmas stuff!

This is in the dining room....I love these silver trees...bought 5 of them at Thad's in Old Towne Spring, TX a couple of years ago. Put some of my little houses underneath 3 of them here. I have these little pipecleaner gnome people there, too. Those arrived inside my china hutch when I bought it from my boss back in 1977 after his wife died. The white house in the glass dome....got two of em at Walmart last year for under $20 each. The small dome with the tree, I got it at The Nutcracker Mkt in Houston in 2006. I made the Christmas banner last year....strung it on a jingle bell swag I had. I'll put some more up tomorrow. Do you like my black background? I can't decide....and I'm not too crazy about my banner right now (at the top of the blog)....maybe I should use an antique postcard.... too much to do.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas!!! I got this darling ornament in the mail a couple of weeks ago from Natalea... my Silver Bella buddy! Isn't it sweeeeeeeeeeet?! I hung my ornaments from the Aquabella Ornament Swap at Silver Bella today...on my great tree from Urban Outfitters. It's hard to get a picture that does them all justice without just doing a close up of each one. They are all beautiful!!!!!!! Do you love the Urban Outfitters tree? It was originally $48, but I got it when I stayed at the Galleria for $28! That was what just over a week ago. They only had 3 left at that store..but you might try online. It folds up, too. Has a bird on top!!!

If you like graphic downloads....

Lisa Vollrath has a great offer on her site right now. If you like free jpegs of "our kind of stuff", be sure and visit her site. She is giving us 45 images over 25 days, you will just need to publish her link on your blog or a group list!

Gettin Ready!

This is one of the vignettes I did in Rebecca Sower's class at Silver Bella. I plan to make some more, with some of my old postcard images....maybe later today. Don't you love these!!! If you haven't visited Rebecca's blog in awhile, you need to get over there. She's uploading a new idea each day called Christmas From the Craft Room.

The Galleria

I've been wandering the Galleria in Houston since 1972 and I'm quite sure I've never taken a picture in there before. So above are some shots of the Christmas decorations. In the middle one that is water coming down! It's so beautiful in there and I can't visit without remembering what it was like to go there alone as a 20 something year old girl and not knowing a soul in Houston. I had just moved here to work. I did know the parents of a good friend and had stayed with them a couple of nights while looking for an apartment. Oh how my life has changed since 1972 when I took that step of faith and moved to the big city to work. God has richly blessed me.

Below is a picture of my son and his girlfriend. We were at the same party in The Galleria on Friday night. That's DH in the tux on the left in the background. Picture of the 4 of us to come...when someone sends it to me!

So today I need to remove the pumpkin from my front porch and start pulling out the Christmas decorations! It was still November when I left last Thursday! We stayed at The Westin Galleria Hotel Thursday and Friday nights! So I shopped Thursday, Friday and Saturday! Had parties on Thursday and Friday nights..... I still have tired feet.

Glitter Houses!

I love glitter houses!

This is the first one I've tried to make on my own. Yes, it has a giant bird on top and a rather large Christmas ornament hanging above the door....but it's a fantasy thing.

While waiting at the hairdresser's on Monday, I flipped through the latest issue of Better Homes & Garden and I think I really need to subscribe to that next year. If all the issues are as good as this one I am missing out. Anyone a subscriber? Anyway, as you could guess, it has glitter houses in it and templates! You can download them here.

So I cut them out and then found this one at Michelle White's blog! So mine is a blatant copy of her's. Her house is much better, you must go visit it. I reduced the template she gives a link to on her blog...to 75%...in case you are wondering. But I have a lot of stacking boxes and so I need different size houses. The bigger my houses get the better those red birds are gonna fit.

Oh...and her link is in her comments section...the template is from MemoryMakers Magazine.

Off to vacuum glitter.

Inchies Revisited

Back to Quilt Festival for a moment.....I never uploaded this picture of Fabric Inchies! Can you see it? Click on the picture and it will enlarge right before your eyes! I love inchies. I can't do the fabric ones very well...but some people sure can. I think I'm going to pull out my paper inchies and do something with them. Wouldn't it be fun to do Christmas inchies!!! Then you could make a card with them. You could scan them and then play with them digitally .... then print that out .... glue them to something. It's endless! I've inspired myself.

Tradition

This is how I spent the day after Thanksgiving 2007..... being a member of an Aggie family. and... to add the frosting on the cake.... Aggies won 38 - 30! If you don't know who they played.... that's okay...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.

May all your talk be peaceful!

Black Crows

Just a few more days before black crow gets packed away! Since we are going to my sister-in-law's for Thanksgiving dinner...he can stay out all week! The tile and granite guys are finished...except for installing the granite soap dishes in the shower and putting the shower head handle on...I guess they thought I'd turn the water on if I had it. But the painters arrive tomorrow...when will it end??????????? I only have to take two dishes for Thursday...green beans and that sweet potato dish...the one with pecans and brown sugar, vanilla, etc...that is practically like dessert! Here's another picture from International Quilt Festival. This was taken at the Artgirlz booth ...you can see their stuff at Artgirlz.com. Last year I bought "a good bit" of their stuff. Have I made any? Well, actually I did make one paper doll. But I have the cone kit....and MANY of those little felt balls. I love it all so much that I can't decide what to make and so I just look at it occasionally. It's a sickness.

Last Minute Christmas Gifts!

Look at this site!

Tile, granite and grout Friday!

Nothing much harder than having to pick a grout color, is there? The shower looks good! They are scheduled to install the granite countertop this afternoon! Can't wait...especially since I hardly remember what it looks like. We are also doing the counters in the other 3 bathrooms! Pictures will be posted! You didn't think I could post and not mention Silver Bella again, did you? These are my goodies spread out on the table for friends and family to see. Isn't it grand!!

What a Difference a Week Makes!

Look at me! I'm making a pin out of crepe paper to wear. In case you don't run in "my circles" that is a Make and Take table. Smiley face here! It was Candice Carpenter's Booth! Thank you, Robyn!!! A week ago today I left for Silver Bella! I simply cannot believe that it's been a week. I still must echo the words I'm reading all over the internet that it was one of the best experiences ever. Now remember we are talking about paper art, glue, glitter, old paper, giggling, eating, SHOPPING, talking non-stop and rhinestones and sequins. In THAT world that I try to live in often, it was the best weekend EVER. I must point out that I flew to Omaha not knowing a soul at this event. We have been on our own little yahoo group for awhile now and so I did know through reading a few emails the girl that was going to sit across the aisle from me on the plane...hey Jennifer Stewart! ... but other than that I had no clue who I would be visiting with. And I must add that Jennifer is so sweet and we had a great visit and got to meet 3 other Bellas on the airport shuttle to the Hilton! The restaurant picture is the first night in Omaha. From the left it's Heidi, Janey, Natalea, Jessi, Tiffany, Pam and Sharon. I spent most of yesterday finishing my class projects and will upload them later today! Be sure and visit the other blogs I linked to on here and see their awesome pictures!

Silver Bella Exists!

I love everything this woman makes! She's from Tennessee and is so sweet and humble. I had two classes with her at Silver Bella last week and they were both wonderful. Here is what we made in one of them.

Be sure and click on it so you can get a bigger picture. Those are glass bevels...not flat. If you aren't familiar with her....it's Rebecca Sower. Go visit her blog!

Yes, it was everything I had hoped!

It was wonderful!!! Here I am with 3 of my new friends....Sharon, Natalea and Janey. Don't forget your a href stuff Sharon and Natalea! I will also post more later today...

Pardon the Interruption!

Hold my place.........I'll be right back! Until then... I'll be here: Silver Bella!

Triptych Quilt

This is a triptych done for St. Mary's Catholic Church in Amarillo, Texas by quilt artist Terry Hancock Mangat. You can google her and see more of her wonderful work. This is beautiful. It was hanging at the International Quilt Festival in Houston last week.

Back to packing for Silver Bella!!!

It's THIS WEEK!!!!

Silver Bella is THIS WEEK!!!!! I finished my aqua/silver ornaments for the swap I signed up for at Silver Bella. Thank goodness I only signed up for one swap. I made stockings out of wallpaper. Sewed them up on the machine and then painted them aqua with alcohol ink, put glitter on, rubbed some snowflake rub-ons (hope they stay), attached tinsel at the tops, sewed buttons, tied bells, cutout vintage girl and used a glue dot to put her in. Too many steps!! But now they are packaged up and look oh so festive! So the most important thing is taken care of. Now...what in the world am I gonna wear to Vendor Night? Guess we should've voted for pajamas after all. Noooo...it's junk gypsy...but it will be fun. Lots of lace, jewelry and jeans..and boots. Haven't really decided if I'm taking my boots....I do not want to take more than two suitcases to this. I'm so stubborn. You can look up gypsyville.com if you don't know (and want to know) what I'm talking about.

Quilt Festival, quilt festival, quilt festival! Always a highlight of my year! It's a day of seeing so much of the things I love to make and hold. Just being around this kind of stuff energizes me. And Virginia and I attended for our 21st time!!! It is a day we get to just hang out and visit with each other, handle beautiful fabrics and then walk away, drool over ribbons and dig through piles of "stuff". You should've seen us digging in a bin of ribbons and trims that were $2 a bundle. Of course we are very selective and limit ourselves to 3 or 5 bundles. We know our limits. I'll upload some more glimpses into our day over the next few days. I have to be getting ready for the granite and tile guys to show up Monday morning and take over my life for a couple of weeks. And...this time NEXT WEEK...I'll be at Silver Bella!!!! There's a link on the left here. On a much sadder note....please say a prayer for my dear friend Nathalie . Pray for strength and comfort for her and her family as they deal with the murder of her sister this week.

It's Quilt Festival Time!

BOO Banner from last year....... last year...