finally...

... the Christmas holidays are here, and I have been relaxing at home with my family as well as enjoying the company of good friends; hearty, rich festive meals, cozy pajama days at home spent breaking in new board games (thank you Aunty Glo for making us all warm flannel pj's - what a treat!), afternoon snoozing while it sprinkles snow outside (yes, we had snow on Christmas day in Vancouver - a rare, but welcome event!!) -- life is good and we are blessed...

My lead-up time to these holidays was not quite as mellow though, and there is no doubt in my mind that I am particularly relishing these slow-paced, peaceful holidays because of what came before: that is, pretty much all of the month of December leading up to Christmas Eve! Between putting together Christmas crafty projects in a couple of my children's classes (the gingerbread house collage in the photo is what I came up with for my daughter's 3rd/4th grade class; last-minute browsing through my vintage craft books in search of inspiration lead me to the very neat idea of making the house out of sandpaper!), making a fantastical "Madame la Neige" (Lady of the Snow) costume for our school Christmas concert (now, that was fun!), getting together all my wares for the annual Farmer's Market Christmas Fair held on Dec. 15 which I had absolutely no time to blog about (a little ironic given that one of my main reasons I first decided to have a blog was for it to act as my local newsletter and advertise all of my market dates!), celebrate one of my daughter's birthdays who was born 8 years ago, one week before Christmas (the sweet little angel!), and preparing for our usual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations which were made extra special this year by my brother surprising the children with his arrival on Christmas Eve from Montreal (thanks big brother!), it's been rather nutty around here! Don't get me wrong, I truly enjoyed doing everything I just listed, but a little more time and a little more sleep would have been a good thing; I have to start thinking about that now for next year....

As part of my stock for the Farmer's Market Christmas Fair, I had almost 50 little hanging babushka dolls which I made using my babushka appliqué pattern (with a few minor alterations). They certainly may be hung on a tree as a Christmas ornament, but I think they also work as a hanging decoration in any room for any occasion. Here are a few snapshots of some of the dolls -

Now, I sold some, gave some away as gifts, but I did make nearly 50 of them (which was one of the fun, but crazy things I did in December!) and I have some left over... so, I thought I would offer 3 or so of them as a blog giveaway; if any of you are interested, leave a comment on this post and in a week or so, my children and I will draw some names out of a hat.

'Hope you're all enjoying the holidays!

P.S. In case you're wondering, I haven't had any time to reply to my e-mails prior to Christmas - I'll be starting to do that tomorrow...

Comments

[Nancy]

I found your blog just recently and have fallen in love with all your beautiful creations. Please include me in your doll giveaway!

Have a Beautiful New Year!!Nancy

[Melissa Danner]

I truly love the work that you do. I only recently came upon your blog (right around when you had the giveaway for your bags ... fabulous by the way), and I look forward to seeing the projects that you are working on. I too work with fabric, and I just love the fabric and color combinations that you use, as well as all of your attention to detail.

Thanks for adding me to your doll giveaway,

Melissa

[lynne]

those are so pretty!

[stuffed]

Lovely. :0) Happy New Year!

[Trudy McLauchlan]

Your babushka dolls are absolutely GORGEOUS!! Wow, you made 50?! Go girl :) Would love to be one of the lucky ones to come out of the draw!!
Trudy

[Vanessa]

I love your dolls, they inspired me start reading your blog. Please put me into the draw!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

[clarice]

Have a happy new year and your babushka dolls are simple perfect !!!!!! Clarice

[Sequana]

I'm glad life has calmed down some for you. Have a very Happy New Year!

While you're at it, draw my name for one of those adorable dolls. *S*

[Pauline]

Beautiful little dolls!

[Muralimanohar]

Dang, those are adorable babushkas!

[Lynne]

Glad you are having a peaceful holiday. Count me in for the babushka draw. They are so lovely!

[StitchingSurgeon]

How cute! I love them!

[Heidi]

THey're so cute! I would love to win one. And sandpaper g-bread houses. So clever!

[april s]

I was hoping you would have some left over! These are darling darling darling. You are so creative and talented!

[Sarah]

Oh gosh, they are lovely, and you can always count me in on a drawing! :-)

[lina]

Ooh, I do love Russian dolls. Very pretty indeed.

[Jodi]

Wow - they are gorgeous! I would absolutely love one! What meticulous craftsmanship.

[Vicki]

Oh, pick me, pick me. I love the prints!

[Chandra]

I would love to win one...they are simply adorable!!

[katie]

wow! you are a busy woman! those dolls are beautiful, i love them. what a great idea. my two older kids are really into the nesting dolls. I made them nesting doll p.j.'s, put nesting doll's in their stockings, and they got nesting doll books.
they are so sweet..

[Rebekah]

your doll ornaments are so so so adorable!

[Sandra]

I'm a new reader too, and love love love the babushkas! So sweet!

Great purses too--very creative!

[Zee]

OMG...what are these Russian dolls?? They are so darn pretty...the colors delight my eyes!!!
Yep, I did not get to finish my Christmas projects. I have to start in the summer if I want anything done by next time.
Happy New Year!

[Karen Tsui]

Hi Beata,

With SO much going on over the holidays, I was most certainly happy to see you at the Christmas Farmer's Market. It was lovely to touch base with you and see all your wares with my own eyes. I, like everyone else was smitten with it all (esp. the Babushka dolls)! My daughter has already worn the ruffle skirt we purchased! We have had many complements on it ;-). Glad to hear you had some R&R over the last week...you clearly deserve it...Happy New Year and enjoy the next week off with family and friends...

[Anne]

Love the photo of all the dolls in the basket, it looks like they are waiting for the party to start!! They are so beautiful.
Wishing you and yours all the very best wishes for the new year.

[Laurie]

These little dolls are sooo beautiful. Love them! I would have them out year round. You make the most gorgeous things! YOU TRULY DO! I love popping by here and seeing all your eye candy. YUM! Enjoy your holiday time. Laurie~

[Judy Wootan]

Hi,I enjoy reading your blog and love the Babushka Dolls and would love to be included in the drawing! I also love the cupcake tote bags, do you sell those? Judy at j.wootan@comcast.net

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Those little dolls are adorable! My daughter found a set of unpainted dolls for me to paint. I'm intimidated by them. Maybe i could just decoupage them with fabric. I'd love to have one of your cute babushkas.

[Annu]

Those little matroskas are very cute, and so is your blog! I think this is my first comment here :) I wish you a very happy New Year!

[linda p]

they are so wonderful- i wish you sold them on etsy! i just recently found your blog as well, and i love all of your fabric combinations. please put my name in the hat. :)

[Jana]

I love your dolls :o)
Have a happy new year!!!

Love greetings from germany ~jana~

[Janellybelly]

The Babushkas are so Beautiful, I would love to win one.
Janelle N xx

[Christine]

Hi, I love reading you blog I only discovered it recently everything you make is just georgeous. Please put me in the draw for babushka doll giveaway. Thankyou and Happy New Year

[anne]

hello,what a surprise to have a little chance to get such a lovely babushka doll, wow..have a good holiday season, and a creative 2008 !

[Carla]

So sweet! Thanks for sharing them with some lucky folks!

[Krawuggl]

50 sounds really a lot to me, the more I admire your patience and love to make them all. And above all your talent to make them so lovely, cute and making us smiling and happy. I would so much love to win one of them, so please put my name in your hat, too.
Have a wonderful start into the New Year and may 2008 bring you a lot of joy and happiness, great success for your beautiful desings and all the time you need to do the things you love to do.
Best wishes, Suzi

[debra cooper]

Oh, I'd love to enter your giveaway! I love your darling doll ornaments--and one would look spectacular in my studio for constant inspiration! ;-) I've really been enjoying all of your designs.

[Kelly Anthony-Gratton]

I love how these lovely little dolls look row by row standing together awaiting the holiday - they look excited!

Thank you for the smile, ~Kelly

[Kelly Anthony-Gratton]

Instead of gifting these to those who read your wonderful blog - why not give us a tutorial? We would love it!

[Amber]

You are just so creative...these dolls are fantastic!! That is so sweet of you to do a giveaway. Have a Happy New Year!

[Claudia]

What you create is always so pretty! Your blog is a true inspiration for me. Happy New Year!

[Melly]

OH MY GOODNESS!! These are just too adorable to be true!! You have done such a gorgeous job!! We hope that you had a really special Christmas and we wish you all good things for 2008! Have a fun night tonight!!

[Brenda]

I'd love one of your gorgeous dolls. I have a friend who would go weak at the knees if she received it!

[Joy]

Oh Beata, these are really delightful, I would love to give a home to one, please pop me in your draw, and many thanks for your comment on my blog, Happy holidays to you and yours!

[Outi from White Country]

How clever to use sandpaper for the little house. That texture just adds so much! And your basket of matryoshka dolls looks absolutely delicious, please include me in the draw. All the best for the new year 2008!

[Joanna]

How could anyone not be interested? lol! They are so adorable and I do love the idea of not using them just for the Christmas tree but around the house all year round. Just lovely!

[Amanda]

I was at the Farmer's Market and loved your pretty little babushka dolls so much it was hard to decide which one to buy. I can't wait for you to make the larger pillow versions you were telling me about. I love you work!

[Bron]

Oh, your babbies are fabulous! Making 50 sounds crazy to me too, but I am glad you did, showing all of us your lovely work. Happy New Year to you!

[Jane]

Oh how I wish (and not for the first time) I lived near you! I'd be the first in line at your stall!
Please enter me in your draw, Beata. Thank you for being so generous,
Love Jane x

[Mirre]

I love your babushkas so very much!
Please include me in the drawing. And if I don't win, could I please buy one (or two or three) from you, since our baby's room will be babushka themed?! Or could you do a tutorial, please??
(note that the shameless begging is all due to pregnancy hormones ;)!!)

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve!