Halfway through January . . .

. . . and our Christmas tree is still up.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has lofty plans about all the holiday crafts I'm going to do during the holidays, only to find that it is too busy to get anything extra done. So, I decided to keep our Christmas up during January until I can finish a few holiday projects that will be packed up with the decorations.
That way, I'll have some new decorations next year, and I won't have to pull out the boxes again to put them away (or stare at Christmas decorations all year that never got put away)

Here's what I've been working on:

I saw these pine cone topiaries and knew I wanted some. I happened to have a bag of pine cones in the closet, so that was my first project. (FYI, I didn't spray them gold, and I used a glitter paint instead of real glitter so it wouldn't flake off.)
I also wrapped one in moss and another in green fringe. The fringe is actually our favorite (it's not quite as bright green in real life).
With the brass deer I got for my birthday, I think it will make a great wintery woods look.

I've been finishing up the yarn I had and almost got 2 more scarfs done.
I'll tuck those away in my gifts box.


My current project is an advent calendar. I've been working on this cute embroidery of Santa and his reindeer. It's the most detailed embroidery pattern I've ever done and I think it's turning out great. I may blog the finished project later this month, or wait until I pull it out next year!
You can buy the pattern here.


Even with all these wintery things around, it just doesn't feel like winter anymore. Still no snow for us, and it has been sunny and relatively warm lately. I'm ready for it to actually feel like winter, or just become spring already!

I couldn't resist the tulips at the store yesterday. Don't you just love tulips?

And this little guy is definitely ready for spring.
Welcome ladybug!