Wrapping Up The Holidays

For the most part, I stuck with her color scheme, but tried out some variations here and there

One last post pertaining to the holidays. These are so absurdly adorable though, I hope you won't mind!

I love giving handmade gifts and try my best to make special and personal things that people will actually appreciate or use. This year, along with some homemade marshmallows, caramels, and spiced bourbon, I picked out one of Alicia Paulson's felt ornments to make and include for each family's gift. It was one of those projects way down on my list that I'd always wanted to try but never gotten to before. Then, just when I was looking for something handheld to work on as I studied for finals before the holidays, I remembered them!

The red coat is by far my favorite. Now I just need one in my size.

I've got to say, I invested a lot of time in these little ornaments as each one progresses in a number of steps, but in and of themselves, no one technique is too complicated. Because of that, I think a beginner or more advanced stitcher could make and enjoy them. I drool over just about everything Alicia Paulson puts out into the world and have to give her big gigantic props for writing such clear and full instructions for these! Job awesomely done.

The key is really in having some patience and working on them a little at a time. And if you're making a ton of them like I did, you may also need patience from the rest of your household for overlooking the little pile of supplies that appear and grow next to your spot on the couch...

favorite finds from great etsy shops!

now that all the christmas gifts have been given and got, i can finally share with you some of the Etsy items we gave and received this year! You could say that Etsy saved our Christmas this year. In part because I don't have a lot of money right now, but i love trying to find unique and personally meaningful things for each person! I also felt good about buying on Etsy because I knew that with every dollar spent, it was going straight to a handmade artisan such as myself, someone trying to get by on their own wits and creativity during not so bright economic times.



one of my personal favorites is this scarf from greenolive. i definitely crossed into coveting territory when it came to this scarf i'm afraid to say and brought it up ever so casually in conversation preceeding christmas way too much, haha. it was so fun to open the present as well: the seller had included a complimentary handmade felted flower pin that matches the scarf perfectly. A fun surprise and the perfect accessory for my winter threads.



These are a pair of elegant and so very gorgeous calla lilly earrings which i gave to my mom...and briefly considered keeping for myself! I purchased them from Khristinne's Unique Handmade Jewelry on Etsy and hope you check out her shop because she has so many intricate and beautiful pieces to offer. Each one seems to have a story to tell, a personality to spout which is a quality I appreciate most about individually handmade items.



one more item which i didn't even know i was looking for until i ran across it in a search of men's items on Etsy was this really cool cotton polo shirt by Vital Industries. For the most part, those selling and buying on Etsy tend to be women and it is rare that i come across really neat items made with the male in mind. Vital has a great selection for both genders and they were so fun to buy from..always refreshing to find nice people out there! I love love love their screenprinted designs and have them on my own (completely rhetorical because i am so very much BROKE!) i want list.

i hope you take a moment to check these guys out or mark them as a favorite shop because they all have very finely made items, friendly service, and speedy packages which are a delight to open (after doing alot of shipping and handling of fine art, i have a kind of big hang up about properly packaged packages!).


on a closing note, do you like the new magnets in my shop? I was really pleased with how they came out and will have more to add in time. otherwise keep your eyes peeled later on in the week when i should have some new linen dish towels ready as well as a sneak peek for a new item coming to geschichtenvonkat.

zoë wishes you a very merry little christmas—and chanukah!!!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:1-14, KJV

a sigh of relief and contentment

so last night was the holiday party/trunk show/everything but the kitchen sink soiree and we had so much fun! I loved the experience of meeting so many new and interesting folks from around DC, setting up my wares to share, and eating way too many mini brownies. I'd say the event was definitely a great success and a good experience for me to have as my first attempt at in-person selling as it was very relaxed, no pressure, and lively atmosphere.

so glad i can take a break from sewing my fingers to the bone though, i must admit. still, i will use my christmas break to work on the quilt for my niece. it's so lovely in a creamy white and calico rose with ivory satin binding. the back will have embroidery work with a lullaby and nature/farm themed vignettes to complement the roses and that our family comes from a long line of sturdy german farmers :) i'll have to post some images once i get enough work done on it to share and here's hoping the lack of a definitive deadline should keep my finger tips from cracking and peeling any more!



before fully giving in to the holiday break though, i need to head to the post office and ship out the last of the christmas orders. i would so much love to stay in bed with piles of blankets and tea, my cat, and a good book, but duty calls and i'll soon be off to the post office in georgetown.



this too shall pass, as my mother would say. i'll spend the rest of this week photographing all the new pieces which i made for the show, baking up a serious christmas cookie storm, and wrapping all those gifts i bought on etsy. i am so excited to see people's faces when they open them!! apart from the midnight candlelit service, those faces are pretty much my favorite part of christmas.

Mister postman look and see, do you got a letter in your bag for me?

Deliver the letter, the sooner the better!

i'll be adding a handful of new items to the shop throughout the week so keep your eyes peeled! today i've posted two new letter sets, one (pictured above) which is vintage themed and another which is christmas themed. each listing has detail pictures of each envelope showing the custom liners. these make great stocking stuffers or a small but special gift for creative friends—especially those you wish you'd hear from more often ;)