Christmas Store - Spruce Grove Gallery

I have a table at the Christmas Store.

• Tree Scent Ornaments - add essential oil to the felt to give your artificial tree a seasonal touch.
• Oil Diffusers in Travel Case - stitched felt applique designs stored in a plastic travel case
• Fabric Coasters - 4x4 inch coaster set of 2 in cotton/linen fabrics - some have been stitched 
• Bottle Bag - A tall bag to carry a bottle to an event - be it wine, vinegar, flavored oil
• Book/Craft Bag - a bag to carry and protect your current read - can be used for needle project
• Brooches - Stitched felt ones as well as shrink plastic designs
• Needle Cases - Containers to safely carry your applique and stitching needles
• Post It Note Holders - 3x3 notes tucked into a sleeve with photo - just tug on the tab to pull out
• Magnets - My watercolor art printed onto photo paper made into magnets set of 4

Family Christmas

We celebrated our family Christmas on January 6-7-8 2023.

We rented a ranch house so most of the out of town folks could stay for the weekend.  

The weather was great for driving - the sun shone and the highways were dry.  The place was still decorated for Christmas.  There was a large tree and fire place mantel had seasonal decor.  The house has 6 rooms with their own bathrooms.  We visited, played outside, prepared and ate food, enjoyed our potluck supper on Saturday evening. There was enough time to touch base with my siblings that were there.

I believe we were just about 30 for supper which was wonderful. 

Mom was not able to leave hospital to be with us. She was close so with the use of Face Time and 2 Ipads we were able to each have a bit of a visit with her a few at a time so she could recognize those she was seeing.  Thanks to those who made that possible.

There was turkey, brocolli salad, pyrophy (perogies), holopchi (cabbage rolls), tourtiere (meat pie), brussels sprouts and asparagus. Homemade buns made by nephew.  Wild cranberry sauce which is what we grew up with.  Baked and mashed potatoes. Yummy gravy!

A chocolate torte, fruit salad and much more.

I brought my famous Caramel Popcorn for snacks.

It was a great weekend and the first with out Dad who passed in May 2022.

We have been so blessed to have our parents for so long and be so constant in our lives.

I received food gifts for Christmas which are always appreciated.  I  have come to appreciate linen tea towels so those will be great.  Watercolor paper will be used in my family cards this year.

The yellow sunflower bowl will live on the dining room table for a while.  The silver trivet fits in really well with  my silver tea pot and accessories. This beautiful teapot ornament was part of my gift with the sunflower bowl.

I was limping around that weekend because on my way to wash my car on Friday, Jan 6th something happened to my right knee but more about that later.

Watercolor - Birthday themed cards

I worked on some more cards for upcoming birthdays.

I am not choosing to put greetings on my cards these days but the subject matter helps to communicate the sentiment.

I created birthday candles on this one.  I put an odd number of them.  These were penciled in then traced with the black marker then colored in bright colors.

I drew various patterns on the candles.  Some were made with the black marker and others were added once the first wash was dry.

Once the candles were dry then I added some spatter with orange and blue.

The paper is 140lb rough water color paper trimmed to about 4.00 x 5.25 inches.

Mouunted to Tango Tangerine card base with a quarter sheet insert on the inside with a white envelope!

The cards above are based on a similar process.  The one on the left is presents on a Pink Passion card base. The one on the right is balloons on an Elegant Eggplant card base with a wrap of purple crochet thread wrapped around the accent layer and tied to the front.  These will go in the stash for the summer birthdays coming up.

It was a good idea to create watercolor cards this year.

One Thousand Gifts - Session 5 - Empty to Fill

I am leading this bible study tonight - One Thousand Gifts Bible Study - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.
Seven of us met tonight to share and learn.
I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratitude.

Session 5 - Empty to Fill

Ann relates an experience where she is asked to return to a place where her panic attacks occurred years ago.  Has she grown enough to go to this place open handed to give what she has learned through Eucharisteo?  She agrees to accompany the youth group to the downtown mission for a night of servicing others in need.  There she meets a man who is at the mission.  He has had a tough life but he recites Paul's lament of doing what he does not want to and cannot do what he wants.  A short while later, he asks "Did I get it right?"  He wants to be a blessing.


We are given gifts not to hoard them and keep them to ourselves but to share them, pass them on, and keep the flow of grace moving.

Let us use the opportunities available to us to share with others, to encourage others, and to stretch ourselves to give freely of the gifts we have received.

I gave each participant one of these photos to place on the fridge, bathroom mirror or some place else they will see regularly.

A little thank you and reminder of the bible study

Countdown Calendar - Christmas & Birthday

I made more Countdown Calendars as I sold out at my last sale.

I chose a Bethlehem image from a designer paper for thei Christmas side. I placed a strip of yellow card stock for the days remaining.

Again, these have birthday/celebrate on the other side.  I chose Bohemia DSP featuring a large dragonfly.  I added a light blue day remaining strip.  Blue marker.

Gift designer paper with green, red and silver.  I chose a red patchwork designer paper for the birthday side.  Ivory strips with Brilliant Blue balloons with hand drawn strings.
A red marker with this one.










I put my Nativity on the Christmas side and printed on photo paper.

The birthday side features my balloons in blues.

With a black dry erase marker.










This one has glitter paper from My Minds Eye with MS snowflake punchies.


The birthday side features a designer with circles and swirls.

Blue dry erase marker.

Designer paper with ornaments, gifts and silver accents.

I chose red and white polka dots paper with MS silver sticker paper with hand drawn strings.

With black dry erase marker.