My Christmas list:

What's on your list??

Everyone loves a parade!!!

Especially at Christmas time! This is the City of Richardson annual Christmas parade where every group, yes, EVERY group in Richardson is represented. Every Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Adventure Guide, Band, Gymnastic team, dog, pony, old car club, new car club.... Get where I'm going?? This wonderful event takes hours and hours and hours to make its way through town. What you can't tell by the photos is the temperature, a big ole 30 degrees. Oh so cold. Luckily Mr. Race's band was in the "first wave" and we were in the car by 10:00 after getting there at 7:00 for the staging. Whew, what a day!
Race is the kiddo in the middle. The one in a hoody only. I have no idea where his coat was.

I love chocolate and peppermint!! My favorite treat is a Hot Fudge Sundae made with peppermint ice cream and hot fudge. YUUUMMMMMM!!!

These little bitties did not disappoint!

Good luck finding them. I've only seen them at JoAnne's fabrics.

My yearly dilemma....

White lights?
Colored lights? I always go with the color. It is just my more layed back, playful style. Oh how I wish I could be the elegant sophisticated "Snow Queen" of the white tree, but alas I am meant to remain the ever crazy "Queen of Hearts".

It is good to be back with you. I've started my new job. It feels like I've started a new life, but I think I am back in my bloggy groove. Thank you all for your loving comments. It is great to be missed.

Both photos from "A Fairy-Tale Christmas" by Karen Anderson

If diamonds are a girl's best friend,

Then what would that girl's dream job be??

I know, but I can't tell you yet! To be continued....

Interested?

To Tweet or not to Tweet?

I don't get it it.... How to Tweet??

Help, me!

Please!

I've an account I don't know what to do with.

How do I post it?

Where to post it?

How do I "Tweet"?

Help!

It can't be hard.

Please, I can't be left behind......

As I layed down last night after a full day in my studio,

My mind so cluttered from creating,

I craved a little "white noise" to settle my thoughts....

I left out a few Blessings in my previous post....

Thank you, my wonderful blog friends! Thank you, for so many thoughtful and inspiring comments. You are a Blessing to me!!!

I am so glad I sound positive because I actually feel like Lucy looks!! It is funny because my husband keeps getting on me for being so negative. I tried to explain to him the difference in being positive and living in La-La Land. He didn't find this funny. We have had six weeks now to digest, grieve and get over the shock and fear, and I think we are both a bit relieved by the whole ordeal.

Have a wonderful weekend, my Blessings! I'm back to my sewing machine.

xxx kim

Angela Henrie has posted her November give away. It is a most beautiful sentiment of Blessings. November and December are certainly the months to count our blessings, but this year they have a whole new meaning for our family. My traveling man recently found out his position in his company was being dissolved. Effective immediately. No warning, no negotiation, no explanation other than economy. The news came on the very same day our oldest son received his acceptance letters to both the colleges he really hoped for. On the same day I had finally decided to take my designs to the next level. My man has never had to look for a job. Not ever. He went straight out of college into his field because of lifelong family ties, and from that job into his present position (the one that is no longer). This was a division that my hubby was hired to create and take national, which he did and did well. He thought he would be a part of this company until he chose to retire, so to say he has been in shock is an understatement. My Job for the past 17 years has been CEO of our household. I have many, many hours of volunteer work, Junior League, NCL, PTA President, Auction boards. I have taught parent/toddler art classes, and made divine purses, but how viable is this in today's economy? Long story short, we have come to a crossroad in our lives.

Our Blessings are becoming more and more evident every day. They come in small forms of phone calls of support from people we have not seen in years expressing so much love I can hardly fathom. They come from the communication between my hubby and myself that had all but died out over the past few years of his traveling. What we originally thought a tragedy has somehow taken our relationship to a new level. They come from the gentle push that God gave us in his timing. I think sometimes something has to be bad enough to bring you down to the point where you can see it as a Blessing. When things are always good and easy (though this is certainly a blessing in itself) you don't always recognize the real Blessings in your life.

We have decided to take the twenty years of experience and exposure that hubby has earned and start our own business. Why not? Hubby can do everything he has been doing for someone else on his own. We have tossed the idea around so many times before. The economy has to come back at some point, and we will be ready and waiting to take it on. I am still terribly worried about my youngest child's private school tuition and College and the likes, but I strongly believe in Fate. It is time and I feel Blessed beyond words that we are able to take the leap. Blessed that we have a loving family to support us. Blessed by our friends who have been so encouraging. Blessed, in all honesty, by the strange shocking reality that everything does happen for a reason, and yes, when one door does shut another will open (even if it is a little rusty!). I am Blessed we have talents we recognize, and the opportunity to let them shine.

Visit Angela Henrie today and let her know what a Blessing she is. She is so generous, talented, loving and infectious in her spirit. I have been Blessed by her blog friendship.

Coming Soon....

If you are in the area on November 12th & 13th, please visit me at the Shelton Commons!

My best Halloween costume attempt was the year Tripp was 10, Callie 7 and Race almost 2 (8 years ago). Callie was Angelina Ballerina complete with home made nose, whiskers, ears and tail. She swears I made her carry the book, so everyone would know who she was. I don't remember that part, but I probably did.

Race was a little red devil!!!

I even made them each a matching candy bag.

Tripp was the Headless Horseman. We made his pumpkin head out of paper mache and a beach ball. The thing he is carrying is a lantern on a stick.

I'm not so good this year.... Race is a Clone Trooper from Party City, I don't even know Callie's plans yet, and Tripp is visiting his camp friends at the University of Arkansas. It's their Homecoming this weekend, and he's there for his official "campus visit". I don't know which is scarier, my house in these pictures before I worked on it or the fact I let my high school senior (yes, this innocent, young headless horseman) go on a college trip, not only for Arkansas' party weekend but also on Halloween! BOOO!!!!

Happy Halloween, Y'all!!

This mess, believe it or not, spells

P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S!

I love the creative process. I have all the time in the world to imagine what I want to do. I am constantly sketching designs, making lists of materials, searching for the inspirational eye candy, pouring through my treasured trinket stash. Is this why the only time I actually get anything accomplished is in the wee hours of the morning?! From this point on, I am only working set work hours. Well, after today, maybe. I'll be at Race's school all day for their fall festival presentations. Have a super day before Halloween!!

Pleeeaaase don't forget me.....
The good news about my absence, I am busy, busy working my fingers to the bone. My hands are a strange shade of purple, brown, yellow from dying leathers and lace. My poor fingers are calloused and raw from beading. Though this picture is old, I have all new designs almost ready for my trunk show next week. I can't wait to show them to you, and guess what, I will be adding a second blog in November to showcase and sell them to you, my friends, just in time for Christmas wish lists.

Welcome fall.

image: Eddie Ross

My mister is in Oklahoma for the start of deer season. Have a told you he's a hunter??

I think this would be his dream bed in his second childhood.

I stumbled upon Hiccupings this morning. What a bloggy find!!!

I also found my would be dream rooms while I was there.

I am okay with this one as a grown-up.

All pictures from Hiccupings.

Pumpkins are beginning to arrive.

They are finding their places.

Fingers are burning in anticipation.

Gertie has returned for her midnight tea.

Bats have been caged,

but are trying to get out.



Spiders are creeping,



Goblins are smiling.



Heads are shrinking.



Ready for the frolicking sugar frenzy to commence!

My Holiday Trunk Show is less than a month away!

I am not ready!!
I need some major inspiration...

... this will help!

I can't wait to get out in my yard this weekend to pull all the weeds trying to take over my beds, trim the ivy, prune the topiaries and finish out my fall color. What are your plans?

I must admit I live in a very masculine house.

Yes, it is warm and cozy.

Yes, I do love its Texas, country style.

Yes, I did love my grandmother's leggy, Edwardian tufted, red upholstered chairs. They added a bit of femininity and formality amidst the deer mounts and elk.

My husband discovered much to my dismay that they are not recliners.

Here are a few of my favorites that I have invited to my poor chair's funeral.

I'm hoping some will decide to stay.