merry christmas!

too all of you!

first day off school

We celebrated our first day of Christmas vacation (I am now off with my kids too ....yea!) by making our gingerbread house of the year.  

My daughter and I usually make one every year.

Here is this years creation!

the pickle!

The tree is decorated, the presents are wrapped.  Its time for the pickle to get unpacked...

On christmas eve, after the kids go to bed, while the kids are sleeping, we hide the pickle in the tree.  

The pickle is an old german tradition.  You hide the pickle in the tree.  The person that finds the pickle in the tree gets a little extra present that year. 

Of course, I never know who will find the pickle, so I have to buy an extra present for everyone, or sometimes I make it a present that the whole family can enjoy!

A couple years ago, when I was I in Germany, I bought both my kids a set of pickles, or Weihnachtsgurke, for when they are old enough to have their own trees.  

This set has three different sizes of pickles.  

As the children get older, the pickle gets smaller - so it is harder to find in the tree!  

It always happens the same way every year....  The presents get torn apart.  They play with those toys.  

....Then they remember they have stockings! 

Then there is another pause after the stockings are emptied!   

....Then they remember the pickle!!  Oh what fun they have trying to be the first to find the pickle!

I haven't decided what this years gift will be yet....hmmmmmm....

new batch of jewelry

Here is a new batch of jewelry that I made last week.
I find sweet words in old books that have special meaning.  
I put the words on pretty papers and put the papers between two pieces of cut glass.
I then wrap the glass with copper tape.  I paint the copper tape with flux.  
This helps the solder to go where you want it.  I solder silver around the edges of the glass to seal the tiles together.  
It takes a while to get the hang of it.  
When I started making these, I botched quite a few charms before I got one to look good!  
You top it off by soldering a jump ring on the top (for me this is the hardest part!). 
They are a really sweet gift for a friend or family member! 

all that glitters...

Today I found a wonderful gentleman selling beautiful jewelry.  
Off to the side he had a pile of "junk" jewelry.....to me the very best kind!
Jewelry that is broken, missing parts and pieces, the lone earring missing its partner...the necklace that is missing some stones or clasp....
I love this stuff!  I break the backs off the earrings or cut the necklaces up into parts.

They make wonderful rings, magnets or additions to other jewelry.
Here are some shots of my beautiful "junk jewels"!