A Colors Quiet Book

I didn't get very much done in the way of hand-made gifts for Christmas this year.  It's been a busy last few weeks.  I did manage to whip out this cute little Colors Quiet Book for a friend of mine to give to her brand new granddaughter. 

It really is a little sad to know that my boys have moved beyond the phase of enjoying little books like these.  I so love making them!  So since I had all the supplies waiting for one just like this, it went together quickly and easily.  This is from a designer named Shelley Wallace and I find lots of cute things in her Etsy shop.  I've made up quiet a few of her quiet book patterns in the past and each one is as cute as the next. 

Here is the front cover.

Love the red car and orange fish bowl.

Yellow and green (with a cute little red bird in the nest in the tree).

The blue page with the whale may be my favorite, and purple.

Pink and black - the fuzzy, soft sheep is fun too.

And the front and back cover.

Really, the hardest part on these is the hand embroidery of the words.  And even that isn't really hard - just takes a little focused time.  So worth it!  I hope she enjoys it this year!

I do have one more quick little project in the works for tomorrow or the next day . . . if I can get to it.  More to come, hopefully!

My Christmas Village

Many years ago, I had some energy . . . . and I spent a few long hours hand painting a ceramic Christmas village.  I hadn't put it up since before my boys were born.  And we finally decided to pull it out of the deep recesses of the garage this year and put it up.  We've loved having it on our mantle and I've loved seeing it all again.  It's an animal village with lots of extra animals and trees that I didn't include in the pictures. 

 

Here are the pieces:

#1 - Mr. Squirrel's Pine Tree Inn.  This one is an old pine log that they've made a house out of.

 #2 - Beaver Tree Farm.  This one is an old stump that the beavers chewed down.

 

#3 - the Barn.  This piece isn't actually part of the set, but it was the right size and pretty darn cute, so I included it anyway.

 

#4 - Mrs. Mouse's Bed and Breakfast.  I love this one - a B&B made out of a teapot.

 

#5 - Rabbit Seed Farm.  I also love this one with the water wheel.  The house is an old terracotta plant pot. 

I actually love them all!  I spent so much time on them and it's great to have them up.  The artist who created the molds put lots of wonderful details in to them.