Last Minute Gifting

So i was done with most of my shopping, until I realized I was one present short. I scoured the stores for something my grandmother would like for Christmas, and soon came to the realization that not only does she not NEED anything, she wouldn't want most of the things I almost bought for her. I looked high and low for a nice wreath she could hang on her door year round, and came up empty handed. Then I found this tutorial: http://www.incolororder.com/2012/12/guest-post-holiday-wrapped-wreath.html. I made a quick trip to Joann's, and came home with this:

A short time later, the strips were half done and half ironed.

I wrapped the wreath while watching old episodes of Supernatural that i picked with my eyes closed on Netflix.

All in all, a super simple and cute wreath idea. The only thing I'm not 100% happy about is the way i tied the bow, but thats on me, not Jeni lol. I'm just not good at tying them I guess. I'll give the wreath to my grandmother today, I hope she likes it!

Happy Holidays! (hey, i'm trying)

So, here I am to prove that I have been working on things, even though i havent been posting. It seems like everytime my browser opens, I get more stories, more photos of last week, and sometimes its just too hard, too empty to post on such trivial stuff as sewing and holiday whatnot. I guess I just feel incredibly hopeless about it all. Hopeless, and eternally sad, sad beyond anything I've ever felt. I was a senior in high school on 4/20/99, the day of the Columbine Shootings, and though it affected me then, this time, it affects me so much more because I am a parent, and I can't fathom having one of mine gone, in a blink of an eye, to have all that hope and wonder and promise just...gone. Okay........enough of that. I have so much more to say, but not the eloquence to say it right. I finally made a Christmas Quilt, something I'll pack away on 12/26 (seriously) and wont pull out until next year. I'm looking forward to cuddling up under it and watching Elf for the third time this month :).

The backing is a couple yards of some seriously cute fabric i found at Joann's.

Ah yes, the Frosted Pumpkin Christmas Sampler. Yep. This is how far i am. I love it, but i am running out of time! Maybe I'll finish it for next year?

And, some mini trees for your viewing pleasure.

Tragedy

I was going to share pictures of my new quilt and other holiday things i was working on today. Instead, after a day spent wrapping presents, I turned on the tv at 230pm, to find a horrific situation being reported on out of Connecticut. I stood frozen in disbelief, tears streaming from my eyes. That some one could heartlessly kill so many innocent people is just... well, I dont really have words for it. I was supposed to leaving to pick up my own children, one a 4th grader, the other a kindergardener in just 10 minutes. After sitting in my car outside the school for 30 minutes listening to various radio reports on the shootings, I am almost numb. The kids who get picked up by cars line up along the fence as they wait for the person who will take them home, and i couldnt help counting them as they stood there, the first 20, and just thought- even one, THATS too many. My 6 year old asked, after I gave him the abridged version, "Well, did the police kill the shooter Mom?" I told him yes, that he was dead, and then told him, it doesnt even matter, because it wont bring back or change what has happened, and that is the real tragedy. My thoughts go out to all of the families that are dealing with this, and though i have no words of comfort to give you, I wish you emotional healing and closure, because that's all i can hope for.