Doin' stuff

Well, we are, but we're not really doing a lot right now for Christmas.  I don't know, I've been in a bit of a funk that I am trying to pull out-of, but there is a lot to be done on the homefront, a lot to do at work (with people breathing down my neck... not the most effective way to motivate me, I tend to dig in my heels).  BUT these pictures have been sitting here in this blog for a little bit so here we are.

ANOTHER (yes, I haven't stopped yet!) messenger bag!

MORE stamping:  we got some towels together with stamps this year instead of prints.  I think because it requires a lot less set-up, but in the end are a ton more work.  However, this is something I can do when the kids go to sleep for a bit.

The mushrooms are mostly Owen's design, a few he even carved.

An inspired by Jess Brown and various ETSY sellers but there is no way we are putting out $80 for those cuties rag-doll.  Grace goes in different directions between loving and torturing it.  She either carries it around with her, and sets her up for all sorts of lovely parties and she gets to wear clothes (or all the clothes) OR she doesn't get any clothes and get's all tied up in knots because she is weird.  I made the arms and legs a little too skinny, next time, maybe doubled, but the body size etc... all work for me, I love that she is big and huggy, and can be carried around well enough.  Plus after some pretty sack like clothes, I figured out how to put together a respectable dress.

WE DID IT!  Okay, more accurately:  BRIAN, DAD and RYAN (and a little bit of me) DID IT!  Over Thanksgiving, after all the turkey was eaten and the dishes cleaned up and Mom and I took the kids out for a little excursion, the cabinets were raised to the ceiling and we put in a shelf underneath for added storage, removal of dust trap and a little more counter space (shelves are high enough that the kitchen-aid can actually fit underneath!).  We used some "deco" shelf brackets underneath after endless going back and forth.  They aren't my favorite solution, but the solution that both Brian and I could work with.  They are a little bouncy though.  WE still need some caulking and some paint and a little bit of quarter round around the top that is not likely to get done before Christmas, but VOILA!!!

aaaand more stamps and some pendelton wool to make some trivets / mediocre in terms of insulation pot-holders (sorry).

Okay, and that is my procrastination for the day.