Dear Kids,
Sir Beads and I would like to wish all of you who celebrate Christmas – a very merry one!
And may every one of us have a new year filled with peace, good health, and much happiness! 😀
I’m going to take a little break during the week after Christmas. I’ll be back early in the new year, though.
Hope to see you then!!!
Hugs,
Sir Beads-a-Lot and I have an occasion-filled few weeks between the end of July and the end of August. First it’s his birthday, then it’s my birthday, and then it’s our wedding anniversary – all within a four-week span of time!
He’s a very thoughtful guy and I’ve received some wonderful gifts in the 38 years that we’ve been married, but none of them meant more to me than what he came up with for my birthday last month . . .
It’s been a very busy summer this year, and when all of a sudden it seemed as if my birthday was only a few days away, I told him not to fuss – that I didn’t need a gift this time.
He took me at my word – sort of. When he came home from work on my birthday, he put this on the table.
I protested that I didn’t need a gift this year. He answered that it was “just something small”. So I admired it unopened as we ate dinner, and then suddenly a card and a 2-person birthday cake appeared!
The card shows Mickey and Minnie (who have always been our favorites!!!). They’re looking at the stars, arm in arm, and the verse is: ”I thank my lucky stars each night . . .” Well of course I loved that!
If you read this blog, you know that I also love ornaments (See the story here). I was delighted to open the gift and find not only a new ornament but also to discover that it was Mickey and Minnie!
Seeing it immediately brought me back to 1971 – our first Christmas as a married couple and the year we bought our first special glass ornament together. It was a little Mickey Mouse that we found during the Christmastime bustle at a department store in downtown Boston. Ever since then, we carefully put it on the tree each year, and then carefully pack it away after the holidays – it means a lot to us.
So I must give Sir Beads much credit for tying some of my favorite things together with some of our most treasured memories, and creating such a nice surprise for my birthday!
You can probably guess what’s coming next . . .
I just can’t resist! 😉
Birthday Card – a few dollars
Cake – 5 dollars
Hallmark ornament – 16 dollars
Choosing the perfect array of thoughtful birthday gifts for your wife –
Priceless!!!
Sir Beads, if you are reading this, I thank my lucky stars each night, too! 😀
Here’s the 4th and final part in the series on handmade ornaments that my daughters and I have made over the years.
Category 4: Mixed Media
There’s a real smorgasbord of styles and techniques in this group, including applique, embroidery, beading, plastic canvas, general crafts/glueing, and knitting! The icicle, candle, and lollipop were made by my girls when they were in grade school. The mini stocking – one of my favorites in this group – was knit on regular knitting needles, and then transferred to “tiny needles” made from round wooden toothpicks and beads! Notice the little red bird with a strand of the yarn in his beak.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as I have enjoyed presenting it. I encourage everyone to make a few Christmas ornaments each year. It’s amazing how quickly your collection will grow! There’s no need to make complicated designs. Simple is always beautiful. Before you know it, you’ll have a “family heirloom” kind of tree!
In case you missed the earlier parts of the series, here’s a quick photo recap . . .
Part 1 Cross Stitch
Part 2 Embroidered Felt
Part 3 Fabric Ornaments
Part 4 Mixed Media
Merry Christmas!
