It's true. I can just tell.

Holiday Wishes...

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday filled with loved family members and treasured old friends, hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows, overflowing stockings and way too many orderves, snow days and functioning heaters, and new gloves and cashmere socks...or at least a few of the above. I for one had no homemade marshmallows or cashmere socks to speak of, but hey, a girl can dream can't she?

Anyhow, I just wanted to share a little hello and this adorable picture I found mingled in on facebook somewhere. I know my December blogging was a bit of a crap shoot on here. It's a crazy month for a card maker, but I'll be back in full swing this week. So, until Wednesday, stay warm and share all your love.

-Kate

Ring Ring, Ring Ring

I am so in love with this hilarious telephone from Vintage Marmalade. Okay, so it doesn't match a thing I own, but its just so wonderful and quirky. I swear I could design a whole room around it. I can picture it now, all white and mid-century modern with a few splashes of primary red here and there; just like a little peppermint candy. Ugh, love it!

A Fine Frenzy

I'm not really a huge Christmas music kind of gal. I find a good portion of it over the top and just plain over played, but all the same I thought I'd look for a non-cheesy holiday song to share for this morning's Monday movie. And when I stumbled across A Fine Frenzy I knew I had found myself a new musician to love. So, today I've grabbed two little movies for you. Granted, the first up isn't much of a movie; more like a song with a backdrop, but hey, it's a lovely song and if this is considered Christmas music then you can sign me up. Here's hoping you enjoy them both as much as I have this morning...





Good right? And can we just take a second to swoon over her cameo ring?! Love love it. I'll have to hunt down a cute one for myself on Etsy this week.

Wrap It Up...

It's been all snowy and blistery this week making it hard to get out and pick up the rest of my Christmas necessities. So, I've been focusing on all the little things I can do to be prepared for the big week while snugly tucked away inside: like making chocolate covered pretzels to go in those cute holiday gift tins - that is they will go in the gift tins when I get a chance to pick some up; pulling out all the decorations and twinkling lights that I could find to make my house bright enough to direct airline traffic; re-assembling the wreath I made last year after I found it smashed and crammed and all out of shape stuffed into a dark corner in the back of my attic - I swear I put it away last year with lots of love and care...really I swear! And, hands down, my favorite part of buying holiday gifts - wrapping them. I know a lot of people look to gift wrapping as a dreaded chore, but not me. Afterall, I do love a pretty bow.

So, today I've gathered a few of my favorite wrapping techniques to share with you. Hopefully, it will help generate some ideas of your own. Because, afterall, wrapping a gift in a proper box with holiday paper and a bow shows you spent time on it, put care into it, and the person lucky enough to open either that small secret Santa gift or a luxurious cashmere cardigan will feel quite loved and special...and isn't that what it's all about?

1. If you're getting a gift from me this year (or any year for that) chances are it's going to look like this. There is just something warm and familiar to me about gifts wrapped in kraft paper, topped with organic decorations like pine cones and branches and a little woodland inspired gift tag.

2. peony bow: A bow shaped like my favorite flower?! Seriously, do I even need to share anymore? And if the bow proves way too tricky for your little fingers then use some double sided tape and a real flower like shown here.

3. I've been dying to take a go at these fabric envelopes, but my sewing machine is on the fritz and really who has the time to hand stitch anything these days?

4. Love love this idea from Real Simple! Use your printer to decorate your own gift wrap with a special holiday message. Just be sure to wrap the paper on a bias to give it that fun look. Or try this adorable calendar wrap idea, shown above, that's along the same line.

5. Not good at tying bows? Grab some fat ribbon and knot it. It will look just as pretty and no one will be the wiser.

6. bowtie pasta bow: Wrapping a gift for the cook in the family? Add a little whimsy and grab some bowtie pasta and plain string from the kitchen cabinets and decorate away.

7. shopping bags re-purposed: Feel like being eco-friendly? Use your old plastic bags to wrap a present in a fresh way.

8. Use this tutorial and try your hand at making your own wrapping paper. Trust me its easier than you think.

Most importantly, just remember to have fun with it. Giving a gift can be so much more fun than receiving one.

wishing you all a warm and cozy weekend,
-Kate

Snowy Day Inspiration

I just love this picture. Isn't it adorable?! It remindes me of just how much love our holiday letters really do carry with them through the post. Plus, it's perfect for a day like today since it's such a bright and snowy afternoon here in Buffalo. Big fluffy snowflakes are falling outside my window and I almost wish I was sitting in one of my favorite coffee spots sipping hot cocoa with melted marshmallows and pretending to peruse an Art Voice while actually watching all the people hustle by with their heads down and hands snugly tucked away inside their pockets. But, then I remember that in order to get to that coffee shop I'd have to be one of those cold fast walking people. So...I think I'll make my own hot cocoa today.


image found here

The Dog Ate My Homework

Oh dear neglected blog I promise to never leave you again for quite so long. It's just that my laptop was out of commission. Which meant all of my pretty pictures and interesting links were as well and I didn't want to write a post about not being able to write a post. And then for the better half of last week I was so used to not writing and editing pictures for here that I seemed to forget how to budget my time accordingly. So, now here we are two weeks later and I'm all full of excuses.

I have learned a valuable lesson though about the importance of having a back-up. And I'll be looking into online bookmarking sites like tumblr and we heart it this weekend. If anyone has had any experiences with either one please send me an email or leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. And I promise not to be a stranger again : )

lots of love - Kate


image found here