I've been a bad blogger.

Me: "I'm sorry for not blogging in six days."

You: "Just don't let it happen again. The holidays are fast approaching and there are projects to be made and inspiration needed to keep us from being swallowed whole by the chaos."

Me: "Four days MAX from now on. I promise."

You: "As long as you make up for it with some eye candy and good links this week."

Me: "You'll get so much eye candy, you'll need to see a DENTIST!"

Well, I'm glad we got that out of the way. It was getting awkward. The sweet package shown above is for the dear Elsie Flannigan on her birthday this November 19th (wink, wink). No telling what is inside yet. It is the prettiest version of something I've ever made. Its a small, beautiful secret.
Sebastian has discovered where we keep the acrylic paints. After a few days of him walking around with the blue and green bottles in his hot little hands, I decided to get out the precautionary paint gear and help him prep one of my used canvases that won't be displayed anywhere, ever. He told me that he is focusing on handmade gifts this Christmas and didn't want to wait until the last minute to get them all done. Well, he didn't exactly say it but I know he's thinking it.
I've been letting deadlines and projects stress me out way too much this month. I've decided lists aren't as helpful to me as I'd like and that I work best in large blocks of time rather than twenty minutes here and there. I need to get fully submerged in a project before I feel like things are happening the way I want them to.
Brett has been great about entertaining Sebastian this week when I've needed that extra time. We've been playing inside a lot now that the dark evenings have joined us. Its changed our whole routine but its becoming familiar again and we're finding out how much Sebastian likes us in his room. In order to get a little outside time, we bundle up around 10 a.m. and go for a walk or play in the yard until our fingers turn purple. This boy loves to jump in my leaf piles and just lay there. Sounds like a good stress reliever to me.
The November Paper kits from Red Velvet Kit Club are being snatched up little by little but there are still some left in the Etsy shop. I have to brag on my Design Team and Dina Wakley for how many ways they used the goods in this kit. See for yourself here.
I've been updating PonyParty with some holiday goodies and my latest finds. We've joined the Poppytalk Handmade market again this month and couldn't be more excited about being a part of such a creative gathering of goods. If you're leaning towards your own handmade Christmas gifts but just don't have the time to make it all yourself, you're bound to find something there. I have to limit my browsing time because there are so many beautiful pieces being featured.
Speaking of lovely things, this is the new wintry scene paint-by-number for our entry way. I got an e-mail from Kari Ranstrom saying she had this piece that I might be interested in and it turned out to be perfect. We did a little trade and three days later, we were both happy girls! Even though the official start of winter is weeks away, its been so cold that it feels like Fall has officially left the building.
I'll be back on Thursday with pictures from Kansas City. Elsie and I are taking a road trip to see Silje and do some shopping/fun work. I'm sure we'll have stories to share.
Thanks for coming back even when I've been missing!

~Rachel