:: blog changing avant la lettre ::

As you can see in this quite blurry capture of my sweet little fam's Christmas tree decorating, we survived - and really enjoyed - the holiday in our new casa.

Prior to the festivities coming in full swing, I did exactly what youprobably did, dear reader. Scoped out the best deals on prezzies, shopped online endlessly, searched my noggin for ideas for those hard-to-buy-for on my list(s), baked cookies, met customers to drop off and kept my house clean for those dropping in to pick up pretties, and this year - the same as in the past - I did homemade, handcrafted gifts. All this hullabaloo drove my otherwise quietly reserved worker-man Joshy nutty:

 But as I told you, we did survive.

And we had a splendid holiday, we really did. I planned waaaaaay ahead this year, so I had a good little stash of presents when it was time to get serious with shopping.

A highlight of Santa's generosity:

                                       :: Harp's deer/elk/tree stand set

                                 :: Jonah's Bob Ross Art Set (complete with an easel and canvas)

                :: And Jae's officially a part of our family kitchen - who knew Easy Bake's are designed in        such retro style! It's actually cute on my counter (:

And me being me, I had mental notes made in October for a few handmade presents...

 
:: a complete rehaul on the boy's bathroom, including a handcrafted real-deal cowboy shower curtain ::

 
:: a canopy for Jae,

 
with ribbons and butterflies (:

 
:: handmade fleece floor pillows (stuffing compliments of Joshy elf),

 
:: and a sign for Pappie's workshop (my favorite gift to give!)

Granted, some presents were more well loved than others:

 

The biggest hit for our kiddos was a gift of never-ending family competitive standoffs:

 
 
Air hockey and ski ball, what fun (:

And pre-Christmas, I hosted my holiday open house(s), which were fun and filled with my fav customers - most who braved a classic Indiana December weekend filled with snow, freezing rain, and wind. Inside, though, the season was festive:

 
 

and I couldn't have pulled it all together without the help of my besties...and this one, in particular:

 
Because, you see, it was he who checked off a mountainous list of a honey-do list prior to the party!

And he, who reminded me to rest the Sunday after. Blessed man (:

Christmas season also means my little niece celebrates a birthday, and her party (and in particular) her present from auntie starr and kiddos was a hit:

 
See those heels? And in pink! She now screams if her mother tries to remove them. Grocery store trips are not really considered high fashion unless accommodated with heels, I say! Love it!

 
:: kiddo pile up mid-birthday party ::

These days post Christmas and pre New Year are being spent organizing my annual Starr Strung clear-the-coffers sale. I am happy to report that this season of holiday buying was five times greater than 2009, and considering that, I have a much smaller collection of pretties in store. But the sale must go on....'tis the season!

Also, as the calendar welcomes a new year, Starr Strung blog readers will be welcomed to a whole new blog!

I have been working on this in my spare moments (betwixt returning my house from chaotic paper wrap craziness to normalcy) and I am very much looking forward to sharing the new blog with you. I told Josh just last night, I feel I have "outgrown" this space. That might sound weird...but I am certain that's what it is. And maybe too my focus has grown to include a better concentration on my business, and how accessible my website and such are to the online world. (It's vast, isn't it?) I liken this feeling of semi-apprehension/loathing to write here to putting on a pair of jeans that you wore in high school. Sure, maybe they fit you (which would rock, and you have my kudos) but they aren't quite ... right. Not the right cut of your liking or jean color, or something. That's what has been going on in my brain towards this here original Starr Strung blog.

And besides, new digs are always nice (:

Merry Christmas to me, and to you, I say!

 
On my website, shop all the pretties I have in stock (and I'll be adding things daily) and enter the code above when checking out to receive the discount. You can also shop my etsy and use the discount, just enter the code in the "comments" section of your paypal receipt, and the difference will be refunded within 24 hours. 

 The sale will start tomorrow a.m., and until then, happy browsing thru these few pieces I photo'd today:

 
:: beads of blue necklace, $27

 
:: champagne bracelet, $24

 
:: amber drops necklace, $26

 
:: sunshine and stone necklace, $26

 
:: peridot clear necklace (my fav!) $26

 
:: chocolate drops necklace, $25

 
:: green beans necklace, $24

 
:: silver pendant necklace, $26

 
:: gray rose necklace (lovely!) $24

 
:: tigers eye and pink necklace, $26

Thank you! Thank you for a wonderful 2010 of business with Starr Strung - it has been nothing short of a complete pleasure to meet so many new people, and to bedeck so many of you with my upcycled pretties!

I wish you - and yours - a perfectly wonderful new year (:

 

"We will open the book. It's pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I last posted, life has been a whirlwind! You know the drill: Christmas gift buying craziness, and food preparations, and for me: baking, wrapping, and maybe one too many Christmas gift creating.

 

Comments

[Marianna]

where are you! why aren't you blogging? I miss your blogging, your pretty joolz and your bible quotes. HOpe all is well!