Happy New Year’s Eve!

Well! That was just a wild and crazy ride, wasn’t it? Here it is, New Year’s Eve already- where did the year go? I’m glad I got to spend some of it here with all of you, sharing my makes and do’s. This last month just flew by:

The Pixie Workshop in full swing! Well, there is another wing you didn’t get to see, all my papercrafting spread out over the dining table, but you get the idea don’t you? Paper, paint, glue, glitter…it was all there for a few weeks going full steam! This is one tired little elf, I can tell you…

Here’s some of what I collected through the season, and got done in the workshop: Glass ornaments- Tigers and Polar Bears, and a lot of glittery Owls. Paper Sleighs and prancing ponies to match. One trip to Disneyland (decorated for the holidays- it’s our favorite time to go!), a bit of Birch paper that never made it to the finals (not every idea makes it to completion- I wouldn’t have any time to visit here if it did!), some mini cupcake papers in the seasons colours, and some mini gnomey gnomes for the Christmas tree…

And finally, some of the Christmas knitting- a new frilly scarf, a pretty blue Pixie Pouch, and the raw materials for a few other scarves and bags that got made in the wee small hours of the days and nights leading up to the big day!

This has been an incredible year for us here at Magickwyrds, and we look forward to a brand-spanking-bright-New-Year with all of you in the coming year! From all of us elves, kitties, Faeries and Pixies, we wish you a very Happy New Year!

Merry Yule!

It’s the Friday before Christmas…

Merry Winter Tide everyone- it’s officially Winter Solstice today, the darkest day of the year. The Sun will start to come back tomorrow, and it’s time again for new beginnings, new ideas, new resolutions… sweep out the old, and bring in the new!

But it’s also time to shut down the Workshop for another year. There is just too much to do, and not enough time to do it in. It’s been a good exercise though- letting go of expectations, impossible lists, burdens and strife. This has been a good crafting season. I got enough done, made a few new designs, lots of reading and baking and now…time to slow down and enjoy the last few days of the season. It’s been an enjoyable one since I refused to be drawn into decorating and have just been experiencing the commercialism outside our home, leaving this space a bit of a sanctuary from the hustle-and-bustle that is the Christmas Season.

To be truthful, I enjoy the relaxed feel of Winter Tide more than the flurry of activity that is Christmas. Hot Cocoa on a snowy winter night, the invigorating air of a mountainside retreat, tuning into the natural world…our Holiday has turned more and more into a relaxing, rejuvenating time over the years. I enjoy the sharing and giving more than the expectation of my childhood Christmas- it’s less stressful, and lots more fun.

So from our house to yours: Merry Yule everyone!

The Pixie Workshop

It is a cold, wet, rainy, windy morning over here a the Pixie Workshop! We are having a Winter Storm- right smack in the middle of Fall…and it’s a welcome sight. Not much to do but settle in and work on some Winter Tide crafts:

Bags, bags and more bags- it’s all bags, all the time this month. Knitted bags, makeup bags, Pixie Pouches, Dice bags and even a mini-Duffle bag! No pictures yet, most are presents that haven’t been gifted yet, so no peeking!

Paper houses galore! I cut out a bunch of folded paper houses with my handy-dandy Cricut machine yesterday, and have an assembly line set up to finish them today. A little paint, and a LOT of glitter, and they’ll be all ready for Santa’s Sleigh…

Ornaments made from glass bulbs and…wrapping paper? Yep! A few are going out to friends and family this year (okay- a lot are going out! I really liked this one, and they came out beautifully- I’m so proud of these, so everyone I can think of is getting one, as long as my supply holds out!). I’ve been using them as White Elephant gifts this whole season, and they are met with rave reviews! Here’s a tiny peek:

They were so pretty at this stage I almost kept them all at this point in the process, but they turned out even better! I’ll show you more after the Holiday gifting is done.

So, today’s schedule is full of paint, glitter, glue and cookie dough! Yes, I’m starting my Baker’s Shoppe (it’s the perfect day for it! Soo chilly outside,and wet! Let’s turn the oven up, shall we?) Scottish Shortbread, Christmas Stars, Tea cookies, and a special edition of my favorite Scone recipe are on the list. And maybe even an extra-special batch of Mushroom Cupcakes will make an appearance this weekend… Hey you Faeries, they’re Cupcakes- not Toadstools!