Christmas Stuff

I'm afraid I don't have anything new to show you this Sunday; I took a little time off to play with my family.

Yesterday, we busted out the boxes marked "Christmas Stuff". Hooray!

 I made a special place to display my favorite kid-made ornaments. I love them so much!

 The mantle was dedicated to all things Santa.

 There may have been an interloper here and there.

I made these little houses 3 years ago. You can make some too.

And what Christmas village would be complete with a giant red bear?

 It's a well-known fact that Little Red Riding Hoods are especially fond of Christmas.

Today we'll go chop down a tree and decorate it all up before College Girl has to go back to school this evening. Then it's back to our regularly scheduled arty shenanigans. I really like my life.

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Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything thy goodness sends.

.............................

I've got the menu planned, it's the standard traditional fare. Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, lots of pie. My brother and sis-in-law are bringing the mashed potatoes and candied yams. My folks are bringing the drinks. College Girl will be making the deviled eggs, and Boy Kid will be making the leaves on which we'll each write three things we're thankful for. Then we'll throw those leaves in a basket. At dinner we'll pass around the basket of leaves and take turns reading the one we pick while the rest of us try to guess who wrote it.

Unlike so many Thanksgivings I have experienced in the now-distant past, there will be no raised voices. No feuds. No fists, no malice, no belittling comments. No drama. Any tears will be caused by joy, laughing too hard, or chopping onions. More than all of my many blessings, I am so grateful to be able to spend this day with my wonderful present-day family.

Whether or not you do Thanksgiving,

what three things are you grateful for today?

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Another Merry Trio

Yay for white beards!

This trio of Christmas cheer, along with yesterday's trio,

will be available in the shop tomorrow.

Sunday, 5:PM Pacific Time

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Pre-Sneak-Peek-Peek

I just couldn't wait til Sneak-Peek Saturday to show off this merry trio. 

I was inspired by vintage Roly Poly toys like these I found over at Lapin and Me.

Aren't they cute?

I've got a trio of a different sort in the works today,

so I'll be back again tomorrow to show them off as well. 

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Today's Table and My Favorite Number

Truth be told, this is actually yesterday's table. Today's table is empty except for that roly poly trio up top. I'm hoping to have them all done by today's end. I've been enjoying making some completely sculpted pieces on account of Dylan has been up to his elbows making ornaments (like that forest of tree-hatted Santas) and fulfilling orders that he hasn't had time to pay attention to the new designs waiting for his magical sewing and stuffing abilities. I don't need Dylan's awesomeness to do straight-up sculpts though, thus a trio of all-clay cuties is keeping me out of trouble. I like to work in threes. It kinda drives Dylan crazy because I never just give him one new thing to make. Even if I do give him one new design, I usually want three of them so I can make variations on a theme. I guess it's my way of reigning in some of my creative impulses. If left unchecked those impulses would start way more than they would ever finish, and have me bouncing all over the place. Come to think of it, I just put together my new work schedule and I'm working in 3 blocks: 9:am-Noon, 1:00-3:00 and 6:00-9:pm. Of course, I make the schedule so I get to change it however I like.



How about you?

What does your work schedule look like?

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Reminding Myself

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Today's Table

Here's a little peek at today's goings-on.

I gotta make some sort of schedule today too. I'm sort of all over the place lately creatively and mood-wise, and having some sort of parameters helps me reign myself in a bit. Time management is a always a tricky balancing act when you work at home. And balance is always a worthwhile goal, don't you think?

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Today's Table

One of our favorite collectors commissioned a portrait of her funny little dog, Harvey.

Here's Harvey in real life, posing with his favorite toy--

And here's Harvey a la Cart Before the Horse--

I had my doubts about incorporating that blue stuffed lamb, but ended up loving how it turned out!

Hopefully Harvey (and his person) will like it too.

Now I'm turning my attention to other things on this morning's worktable, like these roly poly starts.

Contrary to their initial appearance, they won't end up being snowmen. At least, I don't think they will. Sometimes my plans are thwarted. I may be steady and reliable, but my creations are fickle beasts.

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Filling in the Bubbles

We're all bona fide here on the ole Cart now! We vote by mail here in Oregon, that's why we don't have to wait for tomorrow's official Election Day.

Not to be all bossy or anything, but please don't tell me who you voted for. Wasn't there a time in the not so distant past that people could have differing opinions on this and not get all crazy?  Then again, maybe that's just selective memory on my part. Either way, that doesn't seem to be the case right now. I'm finding the political atmosphere so stressful this year! Worse than ever before. I can only imagine how much more stressful it would be if I were to subject myself to television, with its non-stop incendiary political talk and ridiculous campaign ads inundating the airwaves. I'm hoping people will simmer the heck down after Tuesday, but I kinda doubt it. I promise not to call you mean names, no matter whom you support. Hope you can do the same. I think there is way more common ground here than we are lead to believe.

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