Choose How You Live and Love

Mr. Happy Man from Matt Morris Films on Vimeo.

When I found this documentary I couldn't not share it. It's the absolute perfect film to set the mood for a holiday focused on love. Love thy neighbor. Love thyself. Love thy world. Choose to see the positive; to live a life filled with love and kindness. Now that's the kind of Valentine's Day message I can really get behind.

Happy love day all.

till next time,
-Kate ♥

In The Works...

...and on my table. Every time I glance down at the pretty violet colored ink stains on my hands this afternoon I can't help but smile with my whole heart; thinking of how this bright and colorful order of folded lace doily note cards will soon be dry and headed off across the country to serve as favor tags at a loving couple's wedding. It's just such a remarkable thing to be able to create something from nothing. Something that will carry a special role for a truly lovely occasion.

Yeah, I'd say the month of love is off to a great start ♥

So in Love

What is it about women and our adoration for all things miniature? It seems as if any ordinary object can be made absolutely adorable by shrinking it in size. Ever notice when you're in line at the checkout that all those little doo-dads by the register are tiny? Tiny containers of breath mints, tiny notebooks for your key chain, mini erasers shaped like a house. If they were normal size half of us wouldn't even look, but somehow tiny almost always equals cute.

Maybe its a maternal thing. Babies, kids, puppies, kittens - all tiny. All cute. But whatever the reason I honestly don't mind because I'm too busy being smitten with those tiny cute things.

above: Small Scalloped Tags

With Gratitude

I'm feeling the Etsy love right about now. Especially since my Woodland Gift Tag Set was featured in yesterday's Etsy Finds email geared towards a DIY Holiday wrapping experience. Which, you all know I love.

Crazily enough though, I almost missed the inclusion all together. I spent the night at my sister's house, which I looove doing. I'm sure for her it gets tiring, but for me I just love waking up to her busy house with kids running about, eating breakfast, and getting ready for school. But, with all that activity I chose to rather quickly scan my morning emails and I almost missed that one of my handmade goodies was featured in the Etsy Finds email. Needless to say its been a very happy day with much to be grateful for. And with tomorrow being our American Thanksgiving gratitude sounds just about right.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love most.

til next time,
-Kate ♥

Bad Days Don't Last Forever

Yesterday was a no good lousy terrible horrible rotten bad day. I woke up tired and stayed that way all day. So, when I pulled my car into the driveway in the evening and backed into the garage frame smashing up a section of my little car I shouldn't have been too surprised, but I was. I even had a good feel-sorry-for-myself cry while I took off my coat and boots in the back hall.

But, the nice thing about bad days is that they don't last forever - just 24 hours to be exact. And they are often cured by a late night cup of hot cocoa and an extra two hours of sleep the next day. These two things will prove to be a sad girl's life saver. Well, that and extra marshmallows.

Brown Paper Packages

It snowed here the other day. It melted when it hit the ground, but still...it snowed. I love the snow. I can't imagine having winter without it; the two are synonymous. For me they have to be, because if winter's not cold then what would happen to all those cozy indoor holiday traditions? Would they loose their magic? Because they do have have it. There is a tiny bit of magic woven into the fabric of our holiday traditions.Holidays can bring about a lot of pressure. Scheduling in your family time with your spouse's family time, digging out all the decorations that don't seem to be in the same spot you put them last year, frantically trying to finish up all those handknit scarves you're giving to all the women in your family, mall parking - 'nuff said. But the thing about all of those stressors is that, when you live in the moment, you'll find they're really part of the joy of the season. We can't manufacture time, but we can make something out of it.One of my favorite things to do is to weave some of that magic into each and every gift I give. I may not make all of my gifts by hand, but it doesn't mean I won't spend hours dressing them up and grooming them just so. Most people see gift wrapping as a tedious chore that's rushed through the night before, but not me. I cherish that time spent wrapping. I see it as a luxury; a chance to sit and immerse myself in the moment. I get to re-look at my purchases and envision how their intended recipient will use it, wear it, love it. I get to surround myself with my favorite things - scissors, paper, glue - and turn a white shirt box into a masterpiece. And that smile that lights up someone's face before they've even unwrapped their package - well, that's just plain old magical.

For more handmade holiday traditions, including cute printables and yummy recipes galore, take a wander through some of my EtsyGreetings team member's blogs by clicking either arrow above.

til next time,
-Kate ♥

Pink Confetti and Elephant Dreams

Things are busy busy here in my workshop. I've been filling one custom order after the next and, seeing how winter wedding season is almost upon us, many have been of the snowflake variety.

Last night I worked in to the wee hours of the night getting this fun confetti order ready to ship out in the post today. Don't you just love those sweet colors?! And, so focused on my snowflake crafting task was I, that when I finally drifted off to sleep I dreamed of cutting happy little pink snowflakes to throw up in the air at an elephant parade. Sort of like this one, and this one, oh and this one too only brighter and in the daytime ♥

Wonder what dreams may come tonight...
elephant dream by ybryksenkova