December crafting

Looking at me at the dining room table last night, as he washed the dishes from the meal that Gillen made, Nicolas pointed out a trend of mine. Every year, no matter what is going on in our lives, I come up with some brilliant homemade gift idea for Christmas, usually about two weeks before it needs to be given. I put on my favorite music, take over the dining room table, and go into the crafting zone.

This year, I had only a few days in which to go there, in between visitors. Gillen joined me for a while and made some more ATCs and Jesse came for a bit. But for the most part, they were left to fend for themselves. I did manage to wash and hang some laundry and take a few things out of the fridge. But that's it.

Last year, immersed in my passionate creation of memory games for my nephews, I even gave away my rare ticket to Cirque de Soleil in order to craft at home alone. I don't even know if they ever played with them. I hope so, but even if they didn't it was worth it. It's not as if I'm really good at this but the process feeds that obsessive, creating (more pronounced in December) need.

I only made one present this year. I wish that I could post it here, but the recipient, if she isn't too busy crafting herself, may be reading.

I think I may have finally realized that I need to start crafting/creating in a space set up for it all year. Nicolas agrees. I wonder if he'll be willing to help me build it? ;)

Gillen wanted me to post a picture of the ATC that Mindy made when she was here. He traded for it and is so excited about it, with good reason.

Here are my Christmas wrapping bags, that will hold the handmade gifts that I bought and made (as well as a few small "Apple"s :) They are handmade fabric sacks that are tied at the top with beautiful yarn, and then will be reused again and again. My crafty friend Helen made them for me for my birthday and I love them. She even used thrifted fabric to make them. She calls them "Evergreen Bags". They will be available on etsy next year. Check out her other creations - especially the stockings made with wool she got at the thrift store and then felted.

Here is some of the luscious paper that was brought to me by Danielle and her family. Huge sheets of it! I had to take a picture of it before I could start cutting. I'm looking to the evergreen bags to balance out my enormous paper usage of the past few days.
In the few minutes I was able to grab to check in on my favorite bloggers, I saw lots of amazing creativity. Check out Molly's stockings and aprons.

I cleaned the table last night at midnight. My friend Flea (Felicia:) is coming with her family today, and for the night. Tomorrow we go to Mindy's for the weekend and then I host a cookie swap here. I'm thinking crafting is over for the year.