Christmas Presents and Yet Another Snowman

Happy Sunday everyone.  I wanted to share another snowman with you.  This came from the same snowman craft themed magazine last week's terracotta pot snowman came from.  This one was designed by Pat Olson, which I spotted immediately when I saw it in the magazine.  I have painted many of her designs.  They are fairly easy and are just adorable.  I had some spindles so I adapted it to the size and shape I had.  I thought the arms were too long at first, but then I kind of liked the awkward look.  I try not to go for cookie cutter perfection but I like to put my own sense of whimsy on the projects I do.  I am still working on a snowman garland.  Hopefully, I will have a breakthrough on that soon! 

I also wanted to tell you about some of my fun and useful Christmas gifts.  I got a new camera which I love.  It is a Nikon Coolpix.  I have found it easy to use right out of the gate.  I took the above picture with my old camera to show you the straps I made for my new camera.  My old camera still works but it is a Vivitar and takes AA batteries.  When I bought it, I had no idea that it would eat through batteries like a house afire and I would soon be battery poor!  Anyhow, my new Nikon has a rechargeable battery and I love it.  I decided to make a couple of straps to make it feel welcome!  I may just make a new case for it because the case it came with is kind of plain and boring. I am thinking of joining a Friday night sew-in sponsored by Crafty Vegas Mom, so that may be a good project for it. 

This is another favorite Christmas gift I received.  It is a Babycakes pie maker.  What a blast!  I have made blueberry pies with a homemade butter crust and raspberry pies with the Pillsbury pie crust from the refrigerated section of the grocery store.  Both were awesome.  I am making apple pies this week.  My husband has even gotten in on the act, helping roll out and cut the dough.  It really is fun. 

The homemade glaze I put on the pies brought them over the top to a-may-zing! 

You know how much I LOVE snowmen right?  Well, the teacher I work with and I have become very good friends and she knows me pretty well.  She gifted me with this beautiful lamp this Christmas.  I love it.  It sits on my front entry table so everyone can see it when they come in.  She took me to a craft shop that she visits several times a year over the summer.  They have so many wonderful things that I would love in my home, I found myself secretly glad it was over an hour away, otherwise, I might spend a small fortune there!  That is where she purchased this lamp on her next trip there after she took me.  It looks wonderful with my ever-growing snowman collection. 

We got a little dusting of snow here, but the weather continues to be baffling and completely unseasonal for this time of year.  I hope you all have a wonderful week and a healthy and crafty end to this January.  Take care.                    Nancy