Xmas Decorations on The Cheap

I'm in tempoary housing right now and all our stuff is in storage. We had hoped to be in a house by Christmas, but that is not happening. So, no tree, as we don't have any ornaments. We have tons of Xmas decorations in storage, so I didn't want to buy any more, but I did want to do something to celebrate the season

First, I bought a fresh evergreen wreath with pinecones from Trader Joes for $12. TJ's is one of the things I love about California - they started here and are now in many states, though not Colorado. I'm glad to be back in the land of Two Buck Chuck (their signature wine, $2.00 a bottle, which is actually called Charles Shaw), great, cheap cookies and many other gourmet foods at great prices. Cleo is crazy about their cat food and has gained weight (a good thing as she is usually too skinny).

Anyway, I hung the wreath on my wall above the couch and it was nice, but a little dull. I tucked in some glitter snowflakes that I had, and it looked better. Yesterday I made a paper chain, just like we all did in grade school, but out of vintage music sheets. I added a few cards I had made and the wall looks nice now. Then today I took a walk around the lake near my place and the city was trimming the spruce trees. I asked for the clippings, and of course they were glad to let me have them. I just laid them on the coffee table, and added some ivy and some other greenery I found on the property. As a finishing touch, I added some bronze wired ribbon and glitter leaves that I had bought previously, intending to use for gift wrapping. I also put some greenery outside in the planter by the front door.

So our little place is ready for the holidays and I hardly spent anything.

Xmas Ornament

I'm feeling better (Finally!) so made some burlap runners today. Then I decided to do a just-for-fun project. I saw an ornament on Brag Monday from Graphics Fairy that I just had to try myself. I used the same image as Gail from Little Beach Designs, but I changed up the colors and techniques. Last week I found a neat fabric shop that was fun to rummage through and I found some rayon seam binding and some crochet trim. Neither was new, but looked like they were and they went with the color of the image. Very easy to do and nice, as all our ornaments are in storage and we won't be in a house by Christmas (Maybe next Christmas???).

Made it to California

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, it has been a crazy month with the move to California. I wanted to show this cookbook my friend Lainey made me as a going away gift. She is a talented baker who once had her own bakery and these are her best cookie recipes some of her own and some from her German grandmother who also had a bakery. She collaged every page in this lovely book and it it something I will always treasure.

The move has been very stressfull. First the packing and loading of our things, then a 4 day drive from Colorado to California with Chip and I and our two cars and our cat Cleo. We originally stayed at an Extended Stay America (or as Chip called it "The Discomfort Inn"). It seemed like a nice place from the website, but when we got there found out it was less than promised. Rock hard beds, stinky halls, and just a little seedy. Then we found out buying a house would be way more complicated than we thought. The area we found that we liked has mostly short sales and it takes a long time, with no guarantee you will actually get the house in the end. Add to that I've been having some health/pain issues and, well, it was not a good time for me. I was homesick and starting to think it had been a big mistake to decide to move to California.

Then things got better. We managed to find a much nicer, temporary furnished place in Orinda, which is a lovely community. We are in a nice small apartement that is part of a larger, single family home. It is surrounded by oak and pine trees and there is a lake nearby. We are very lucky to find this place, as we might be here a while while we buy a home. We did find a place to buy, made an offer and are hoping for the best and working on plan B if it doesn't pan out.

Meanwhile, Chip and I went for a drive last Saturday. It was raining and we set off for the little nearby town of Crockett as Chip had heard there were antique stores there. We didn't find any, so moved on to a the very tiny town of Port Costa. We were driving down the street and I was about to tell Chip to move on as there didn't seem to be much there when I saw a very cute storefront that said "Theater of Dreams". I had Chip stop and got out to investigate. Turns out it's the studio of Wendy Addison, the well known collage artist. She does a line for Tinsel Trading and was in the "Where Women Create" book. What a lovely surprise to find this place which just happened to be open that weekend. I looked around at all the beautiful things and actually saw Wendy. I bought this lovely Xmas piece and since all our Xmas things are in storage, it's so nice to have.

Today I went to a sale called "A Paris Flea Market" in Livermoore. A group of talented ladies have a sale once a month with all things shabby and chic. I bought some things and inquired about selling there. I hope that works out - it would be nice to have a little space, and do shows once a month. I'm not up for a full time thing (like The Barn), but once a month would be nice.

So things are looking up, Chip is settling into his new job and I am starting to feel better. I am trying to remember to be grateful for all the things I have in my life, a loving husband, friends and family, and not worry about things that I don't have.