My favorite Christmas things....

The Christmas spirit was a little delayed here in our household this year.  With the amount of orders my studio had and my lack of energy due to a little bun in the oven, the decorations took a bit longer to get up.  I didn't put out everything I usually do, just some of my favorite things.
So here they are, just in case you care ;)

When we were first married, we made a rather expensive purchase on a sentimental nativity scene.  I have fond memories of setting up and playing with my childhood manger.  So I knew I wanted to get one that had a story and that we could pass onto our kiddos.  However, this nativity scene is not "kid friendly".  Oops, wasn't thinking that 9 years ago.   We purchased it from an elderly man with Alzheimer's from his quaint studio in Maine, were my hubby and I met.  I had my eye on it for years and we finally bit the bullet.
I'm so glad we did!

 I have a LOVE for all things vintage...
to tablecloths, salt and pepper shakers, artwork and in particular Christmas ornaments.  When we were first married, we didn't have many ornaments besides the hammy downs from Matt's childhood.  We had the typical cookie ornaments, nursery school crafts, and a collection of tacky crystal angels and snowmen.  I knew I had to add to these, so went to a local antique store and stocked up on some vintage balls.  Some have broken since then (insert sad face) due to a fallen tree in our first apartment, but most are in tact.

1. Typical school craft

2. A sweet blue ball with applique

3. An intricate ball with great detail

4. A garage sale find... love these little people!

5. I try to buy an ornament from each place we visit. This one is a Murano glass ornament from Italy.

6.  The ugliest beaded ornament from Matt's childhood. It always makes it's way to the back of the tree.

Those are just a few of my favorites that decorate our tree!

Here are some other Christmas decorations that
I have collected over the years.

 I love those big vintage lights, but don't have the guts to string my house with them. So instead of outside,  I use the bulbs as a centerpiece on my dining room table.  The stockings are a fave of mine that I found for $2.99 each from Christmas Tree Shoppes.  The salt and pepper shakers were a gift from the hubby a few Christmas' ago...I LOVE them!

 

And a few more favorites....

We both love nutcrackers so our collection grows each year.  I think we need to slow it down a bit because our small little cottage can't handle my collecting obsession.  The vintage blocks with Merry Christmas on them is a 'must put out' decoration, just too cute to keep in the box this year.

There's a short tour of my home this season.  Looking forward to heading down to Philly to visit my family this Christmas.  Have a blessed Holiday everyone!

Check back for my attempt at peppermint bark and sea salt caramels!

I've failed...well kinda.

My cooking challenge went on hiatus as soon as I started feeling nauseous, exhausted (like the kind of exhaustion if a mac truck ran you over), no appetite and basically plain ol' yucky. 

You mothers all know what I am talking about...

Yes this all means....I am pregnant. This is my first, so I have no idea how this all works. I am just going with it, day by day.

I fee like life stopped for 5-6 weeks.  I have a wonderful hubby who took/takes care of me and my every need (even at 3am when I wanted nothing but Cheerios).  Now at 13 weeks, I am feeling somewhat better and may even try to attempt my cooking challenge again. I make NO promises.  But the doc says I need to eat and gain weight. 

My blogging took a back seat as well.  Holiday orders are out and being delivered as I type, so I can breathe again and enjoy this pregnancy!

Here's how we announced it to our friends! Enjoy :)

Maisey's announcement

Be patient....

Hello everyone!  

I am just sending out ANOTHER, yes another, annoying reminder that my production time is extended to 3-4 weeks due to high holiday order volume. 

I just ask that you be extra patient during this time, pretty please! 

 Sending emails asking for updates just sets me behind in the studio...I often spend more time answering those status update emails then in the studio making your necklace. SO keep in mind the production time and know that it will ship within that time, no doubt about that!  

To sum it up: 

Stop asking where your order is or for an update :)  

It will ship out within the listed production time, I promise.

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{November 22nd was the last day to order for guaranteed Christmas delivery. 

Orders placed after that date will arrive in the first two weeks of January.}

Old windows

Confession: 

I  have an obsession with old windows.

As I cause a traffic jamb on the side of the road, shoving them in the back of my jeep, I feel giddy with the possibilities.  Even though most of them collect in my shed, much to my husbands dismay, I do eventually use them when I feel inspired.  Here is proof that it's totally worth the honks and evil stares from those cranky drivers.  

Sunflower wallpaper applied with decoupage

My feeble attempt at stained glass

Whimsical wallpaper for laundry room

Freehand attempt of stained glass with lead paint

In the Summer, I did a u-turn for this beauty!  What to do with this one?!?  I have a vision to put it above my fireplace once I get sick of my botanical prints.  Not sure when that will be though.

I'm in love with this HUGE window!

So as this amazing window sits in the shed for the winter, I decided to get my hands on a smaller window that is just too cute for words.  No picture of that because my shed is too embarrassing to show you all, but this is what I hope to create with my next 'trash to treasure'.

Now, mine will be a bit different.  I hope to remove the glass panes and put mesh or screen on the entire back for my ever growing collection of earrings.  I haven't decided if I will do a shelf of not, we will see how ambitious I get.  Look for photos of this project soon, but not too soon :)

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Do any of my fantastic readers have other creative ideas for old windows?  

I would love to hear!

Holiday Deadline!

Hurry...go tell your MIL, hubby and sister that Magpie Designz holiday deadline is November 22nd.  Sorry husbands, but November 23rd is one day TOO LATE.  I wish I could make exceptions.  Trust me, I get pathetic stories for a good month after my deadline, begging me to make just that one exception. 

Production time is 3-4 weeks during this peak holiday season.  Please, please plan accordingly. Now I am begging.  Also remember that the postal service is busier now too, so packages may take longer to be delivered. 

You've been warned.

Happy Holidays!

Emily

Oh Pottery Barn.....

I have always been fascinated with lamp making. It's a mystery of where this passion came from but I was determined to create my very own jug lamps.  I found these lamps in the Pottery Barn catalog and fell in love.

However, I couldn't justify the $139 EACH price tag. SO I had to figure out a way to create them myself. After searching on Ebay for a bit, I came across some clear wine jugs.   I paid $12 for the pair (yeah, I know, a steal!) and then made a trip to Lowe's to pick up this lamp kit.  

Lamp kit from Lowe's

It was much easier then I thought to wire the lamp. The instructions were super easy to follow. I was SHOCKED when I plugged them in for a test and they worked!  You will be impressed with yourself, I promise.  Now it was time to fill the jugs with all sorts of goodies. My goal was to change them for each season.  I haven't quite mastered that goal, but I have two themes that I use often. 

Fall lamp with acorns and fake leafy branch

Summer lamp with pebbles and fake fern leaf

I am going to try a Christmas themed lamp this year.
Stay posted to see what I come up with.

Oh, the pressure. 

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Oh and by the way, my deadline for Holiday orders is November 22nd. I will announce this often and you will be sick of hearing it, but I hope to avoid those emails on Christmas Eve from husbands hoping that I can overnight a necklace to them for Christmas morning. 

Yeah right, I will still get those emails. What am I thinking?  At least I tried.

New Designs!

Please help me welcome a few new designs to my hand stamped personalized collection. 

I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do.  

As always, I welcome new ideas and custom requests!

Violet Necklace, Mclaine Necklace and Wesley Necklace

Don't forget that my holiday deadline is November 22nd.  

Think ahead and enjoy this holiday season even more by doing some early shopping!

Visit my website to browse my new designs!