Since Madonna wasn't going to use them...

So this weekend was a bit of a whirlwind. Dinner party, baby shower, and Christmas crafting (not necessarily in that order). I wanted to do something more than just the obligatory bottle o' wine for a dinner party that Kendall and I went to on Friday. So, I busted out a few batches of Off-To-Bed Butter Cookies (substituting the called-for sugar with ground up candy cane!) and a couple of my handmade "gift cones" (the peppermint stripe, of course) to give to our hosts.

I love making these Victorian-inspired gift cones. I know they're kinda over the top but so much better than a box wouldn't you say? People will say to me..."What d'ya use 'em for?" Well, small gifts and candies. Or you could get those little water tubes from the florist and place a small bouquet in them. Hang them up, on a doorknob, over the back of a dining chair as a favor and place card for dinner guests, or as wardrobe for a concert. See, they really are useful.

Heavens to Etsy!

Had a great time at our Thanksgiving potluck last night. (Hope you all had a lovely evening too!) The best part? I think when Max the resident 4-year-old was convinced that my Dad was Santa and my Mom was Mrs. Claus. I told him that I was an elf and he wanted me to help hook him up with a Transformer. I told him that I worked in the wooden toy division but that I'd put in a good word to Elsa who is Senior Executive of the Technological Division. He seemed most pleased. Then he went on to tell me that he wanted to be Spiderman when he grew up. Are you kidding me? Too cute.

So now the holidays are officially underway. And given my elf reference it would seem rather ironic that I will be working in the workshop getting ready for the opening of my Etsy shop next Saturday. I'll start out with a few things but will keep adding new items as often as possible. So I hope you'll stop by and say "How do!" And keep checking back for shop updates!


In the meantime, I hope you're all enjoying some down-time with friends and family. There is one more spot in my Pay-It-Forward exchange so sign-up (read here for details) if you'd like a little somethin' from your Uncle!

"Happy Holidays Everybody!"

Pay It Forward

So here's the 411...I was invited by Anjie at Studio Wellspring to participate in a pay-it-forward exchange project. I will receive some wonderfully handmade gift in the mail with the understanding that I would do the same in return. Seems simple and kind enough, right? So this is what to do...as per the rules that I have agreed to, I will send something handmade in the mail to the first three people who leave a comment on the blog (...keep reading). You must agree, then, to do the same with at least three people in return...pay-it-forward by sending them something that you've made. Now, I was told that you should have a blog to do this but as long as it's all getting paid forward I'm all good. You don't have to copy and forward this to 400 people or risk receiving bad luck for life, no money need be wired to some remote location in Africa to free an unjustly imprisoned prince who's assets have been frozen...all you have to do is leave a comment indicating that you'd like to participate. I will let you know via the "comments" if you've made the cut and then ask you to send an email to unclebeefy@gmail.com with your mailing address. (I wouldn't leave your address in the comment section.) Then, get busy gettin' your craft on while waitin' for Mr. Postman. That's it! What could be a nicer way to get the holidays going?

More "tuning" than "tooting"...my own horn, that is.

Here's a bit of a sneak peek of some things I have in the works at the studio. And I'm just getting started. I know...such a tease.