Holiday Fun | Bead Happily Ever After

It’s Just Around The Corner!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by crystal

The calendar says . . . it’s August.

Little Bear says . . . “It’s a beach day!

Crystal says . . . “Woo hoo! The new Hallmark Christmas Ornaments are in the stores”! 🙂

I know! I’m a big kid . . . but I couldn’t resist this Fisher Price Jet Plane.

My kids had the full-sized toy years ago and spent many happy times playing with it. When I spotted this Hallmark ornament version recently, the memories came flooding back, and I just couldn’t resist buying it for our Christmas tree. December 25th is around the corner ya know!

Of course, I’ve hardly ever met an ornament I didn’t “need”.

Please click here to read the whole sordid story!!!! 😉

Hugs,

Mrs. Cottontail, I Presume

Posted on March 31, 2010 by crystal

What’s 5 inches tall, sewn entirely by hand, and wearing a purple vest?

That would be “Pamela Cottontail” – a little bunny I just finished. 😉

Years ago, I used to make a lot of these for craft fairs. Lately, I’ve been having a yen to sew something, and since it’s almost Easter, I decided to pull out my old design.

My sewing machine is currently packed away, but no matter because I especially love to sew small items by hand. What fun I had making this cutie, again!

Her buttons are vintage Swarovski crystals in a beautiful multi-color effect called “Vitrail Medium”.

“Pamela” could use a brother or a sister, but I’m afraid I’m out of time to provide one by Easter.

However, after this short spell of sewing, I’m inspired to make another one (or three) for next year! 😀

Is there something that you used to enjoy that you’ve been meaning to do again?

She Loves Her Peeps

Posted on March 18, 2010 by crystal

Marshmallow Peeps – you either love ‘em or hate ‘em.

There seems to be no in-between.

Our daughter LOVES them.

She lives overseas and she can’t find Peeps there.

Last week, we noticed that the Easter Peeps were back on the shelves of our stores. We also saw small “plush” peeps for the first time. We decided it would be fun to send both items to her! 🙂

I don’t know if you do much shipping to Europe. The priority mail flat rate box costs $13.45, which seems pretty expensive for the size of it, but money is no object when you want to surprise your kid with something she likes, right? 😉 We figured that one sleeve of candy peeps and the little plush peep could ride together in that flat rate box, and we were excited at the thought of our daughter opening it!

The Best Laid Plans . . .

We didn’t actually have a flat rate box at home. No problem though; we’d just wrap up the candy and the chick and make a mailing label. Sir Beads would get a box at the post office, pop the items in, and the package would be on the way. It sounded like a good plan but . . .

Have you ever made a cross-country trip with your family in a very crowded car? You know – a trip that leaves you all rumpled and in desperate need of a comb when it’s over?

Well, we’re afraid the plush peep may be limping and woozy once he is sprung from his cardboard traveling vehicle. Sir Beads said legroom was pretty scarce with that sleeve of marshmallow peeps in the way. He barely got the box closed. Thank heaven for good tape. (The next size flat rate priority box would have cost a whopping $43.45 – way too much to mail just a few dollars worth of items.)

So now, we’re crossing our fingers that our daughter can perform some sort of resuscitation on the little fella. Maybe a session with the hairdryer on low, or a few strokes with a soft hairbrush. I’ll let you know!

In the meantime, if you love Peeps, they have a website that’s a Disney-esque paradise of color and excitement! You can tour the factory, read about their history, find craft ideas, even recipes! Click here to see it.

Hugs,

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight . . .

Posted on December 25, 2009 by crystal

I found this vintage trade card and thought it captured the magic and wonder of this day so well. 🙂

I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it . . .

and may we all have a bright New Year filled with love, peace, and much happiness!

Have Some Tea with Me?

Posted on December 23, 2009 by crystal

Hi Kids 🙂
I’m taking a “tea-break” so I thought I’d stop by to see what you are up to.

Are you relaxing, with your feet up, yet?

I didn’t think so.

Here, we’ve been immersed in shopping, cleaning, wrapping, cooking, and decorating. And, just in case I get too caught up in all this lovely Christmas reverie…. there’s the ever-present hamper of laundry to bring me back to earth (and also prevent me from getting too cozy in a chair just yet!) 😉

Would you like to see two of my favorite/most cherished ornaments?

This little angel was made for me by a very dear friend, many years ago.

It’s crocheted with thread and is so very delicate in person. Maureen spent hours with a very tiny crochet hook to create this treasure for me. I remember the moment I opened the package and caught a glimpse of it amidst the layers of tissue paper wrappings. I was overcome with tears of joy and appreciation.

This next little fella is 38 years old! Sir Beads-A-Lot and I bought him in 1971 for our first Christmas as husband and wife.

In those days, unusual ornaments such as this were not widely available. The concept of buying a single “special ornament” was just coming into vogue. Most of us bought ornaments by the box – usually a dozen glass (or satin) balls, or ovals with pointed ends. Even Hallmark wasn’t selling special ornaments at that time! It wouldn’t be until 1973, that they’d introduce their first collection of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments (12 yarn figures and six glass balls).

We were lucky to find “Mickey Mouse” at a Christmas Shoppe in downtown Boston one blustery winter day. “Mickey” is special because he was unusual for his era, but mostly because he symbolizes our first Christmas together, and our first year of decorating a home together. You can imagine how carefully I pack him away after the holidays are over each year. 😉

Oh darn, my tea is all gone – I need to get back to being an elf! It was so nice chatting with you, though! What are you doing today? I’d love to hear what’s up in your corner of the world. (Please tell me that I’m not the only one with lots to finish before the 25th.)

Hugs for all,