The Peeps visiting me for a Snowbird’s Song, came bearing gifts.  Lori Oles created this gem for me from rough cut garnets and vintage treasures.

For the tweets and gifts , I hand dyed fabric bags, and placed them out on the seats the night before the party like hanging stockings on the mantel on Christmas Eve.

Just like dozens of jolly St Nicks working their magic, the joyful Peeps over-stuffed the bags with delightful gifts.

There was an array of hand made gifts, treats, mini kits, art supplies and more.  Generosity times ten.

Gail made these itsy bitsy stocking brooches.

Terri made multiple versions of this cottage tree ornament for everyone.  This is the one I received.

Our Southern belle friend, Lulu gifted everyone with jewels and beautiful baubles.

This is the special one she made for me.

My Sis, Terry also brought jewelry.  Hers was sterling with genuine stones, Nora chose moonstone earrings that matched a necklace she had brought with her.

Terry brought a special gift for me, my favorite chocolates, from See’s.

She also brought a gift for my husband, a wooden golf cart handcrafted by her husband, Dale.  The tiny wheels actually turn, this is adorable.

I was blessed to get many special treats myself.  Like this nest filled with felted eggs from Kim.

There was so much generosity flowing my way that I wanted to savor the packages, and waited to open them after everyone had left. This sachet and bird are from Maggie.

 When the guests were gone, the house was feeling empty and lonely.  I cheered myself up by going through the thoughtful gifts and finding the perfect spots to use them in my home.  This pearl encrusted nest from Suzanne went with my nature inspired tree.

The chocolate bar shaped Oklahoma was a perfect fit for my belly… and the ornie that Teresa gave to me with it went on the tree in my studio.

Jeannie gave me this hat that fits like a warm glove, ideal for cold, Kansas winters.  

Jane knows my love of hats, and brought a bag filled with vintagey floral ones to play with.

Carol gave me luscious supplies to play with too.  And European chocolates.

Connie and Nancy brought a pumpkin festival of bath products that I am working my way through and enjoying this autumn.  

Linda gifted me with lavender honey products that look really pretty in my guest bath, but I think I will set them aside to use in late February when I need to remember that winter is not forever.

And was gifted with vanilla scented creams to brighten the holidays.

Tami crafted this pink reindeer diorama that now sits on the table next to my cozy chair that I watch tv from.

Across from me on the coffee table, I keep this creation from Lesa.

Seriously, the generosity the group showed to each other and to me was over the top.  I did not get photos of everything, and hope that I don’t offend anyone by not posting photos of the bounty they provided.

But after seeing the warm hearted sharing, I do not think that they are the types who would be upset.  These gifts were given for  heartfelt reasons, not done to show off.

Nora hand wove this bracelet, and every time I wear it, it will feel like an embrace from my friends.  

All of the presents, for the group, for the door prizes, and the personal ones for myself were greatly appreciated. 

We had enough door prize donations for everyone to get one, plus grand prizes, and a few more rounds of gifts from the prize table, so that some people got more than one.

Beth’s traditional needlework apron is always a coveted prize.

The excitement from the Peeps who give the presents is equal to those who get them.  I love the ones they give to me, but the biggest gift of all is the generosity I see them sharing with each other.  I am quite appreciative with the jovial atmosphere and happy gift giving between them.

Thank you, all!

 

 

 

 

This is Lori Oles’ take on our first class of the weekend, Lesa Dailey’s “Seven Swans A Swimming”.  And as With all of her projects, it has her own spin on it.  

Here is how Lisa Phillipi finished hers, it is tucked away with her other completed projects and they all look so pretty together!

This swan was not easy.  I did see some struggles in the early stages, but it looked like everyone got through it, at least to the point where the decorating could be finished at home.

As I watched them work, I was struck with what a feat of engineering this was for Lesa to create.  It was not top heavy, it stood up nice and tall, and there were many steps to get through.

Seriously, that woman goes beyond artist, to designer, and creative engineer. 

I find her extremely impressive.

Thank you for the challenging, gorgeous class, Lesa!  

A Snowbird’s Song isn’t all gluing and foofing.  

We had a couple of parties too.

The first night, we gathered for homemade, French bread pizza, cupcakes and caramel apple sangria.

Terry made the cupcakes and people were still talking about them days later, they were so good.

Jenn Hayslip led us in an adorable make and take.

Darling!

Terry and Lori made up some appetizer trays while I baked Brie.

Good friends who help out over and above what was asked for are a rare blessing, aren’t they?

After eating and make’n take’n, we had a diorama Swap hosted by Tami.

We even had Randy play Santa so the Peeps could whisper what they wanted for Christmas into his ear.

Saturday night was dinner, shopping, and sparkly wine.

Dessert was cake truffle eggs and white chocolate, coconut nests.

After that was some shopping.

My garage got a makeover for that night.

It was festive and full of good deals, pretty things, and vintagey wonderfulness.

I will miss having the room this pretty.

No worries about that yet, for now it is still set up…

Which maybe was not the best thing on a snowy day when my car probably would’ve enjoyed being tucked into a warm garage.

Oh well, sooner or later, the carriage will turn back into a pumpkin.  

Next time, I will have photos from the classes.

Our gathering last weekend was so much fun.  I hope the Peeps enjoyed it as much as I did!

My studio was all gussied up in advance, happily awaiting everyone’s arrival.

Instead of tablecloths, this year I use brown paper and painted on swirls of blizzardly snow with white birds.

I don’t do centerpieces, the tables are full enough with lamps and supplies.  I did add some birdies wherever I could and tucked the washy wipes into pretty containers.

The name tags were hung on a straw wreath, wrapped in batting and lace.  It was hung on the treat cabinet door and did double duty, as a way to hand out the tags and a decoration.

The tags themselves were a two-fer.  Once the event was over, the name could be removed and the wreath brooch could be worn as a festive lapel pin during the holidays.  It was made from a 1950s tinsel garland, a bit of the “good stuff”.

While the end of October is pretty early to decorate for Christmas, I was happy I had done it early.

I have never been a procrastinator, but this year I was even more on the ball than usual.

Which was very lucky because I was hit with a stomach bug that knocked m flat on my back before the event.  Maybe it was more like a bug hitting a windshield and I was the bug.

Knowing that the rooms were ready, the food was prepped, Randy and Terry were on the way, I told myself to not worry, just sleep it off and quarantine myself for 24 hours.  I made all sorts of plans for the worst case scenario.

 If I didn’t get better in time, my friends could teach my classes, my family could feed everyone, I could go to a hotel to keep anyone else from getting sick.

I was able to relax and rest knowing that not only was I prepared for guests, I had the world’s best helpers to take over for me if needed!

The rest helped, I was out of bed and back to myself in no time.  No one else caught it, so it must have been something I ate.

Building my kits and making examples early in the summer was a blessing too. With all that happened to our family in the last few months, I could never have been ready in time if all of that was still waiting to be done.

My world is much more serene if I plan ahead and am ready before scheduled.  I was able to not only have the unexpected recovery time that I needed, I was able to look forward to welcoming everyone instead of running myself ragged until they got here.

Also, I owe a big thanks to my teachers and helpers who I knew I could count on to be wonderful!

And they were, I was thrilled with the whole weekend.  With their help, it was the best!

Also, a big thanks to my Peeps, It was lovely to have them come to visit me in Kansas. I’ll have more photos of the event itself next.