Just in time for Christmas

This was one of the first (and last!) "Christmasy" pictures I took before our camera broke. BROKE! Can you believe the timing? I love that all I could muster for the holiday season was a screaming baby and some matching pj's.























While the hubs tries to fix the camera himself with tiny chips and boards and fuses and whatnot, I am trying to figure out creative ways to keep up with out a camera! Well, that's kind of a lie. I am secretly thrilled with the break it gave me from Etsy work, but especially from documenting family life.
We keep a little blog for friends and family of the kiddos - which I love doing - but during a time when events and busyness can overtake a little family, it can be just one more thing to do.
At first I felt odd and unprepared when we headed to two different Christmas sing-a-long/pageants for the four year old with out my camera. Then there's decorating, Christmas crafts and outings, dressing up on Sunday, Christmas parties...etc. I have been forced to enjoy them all first-hand, with my own eyes, relying on my own memory and I am loving it. Not to mention the time I've saved not uploading, editing and blogging every move the kids make.
It won't be forever, but my forced technology fast has been a welcomed change.

















As for The Shop, thankfully I am like a little squirrel stashing acorns away for winter - I already had a slew of new things made, photographed and ready to list...so no long breaks for me there. New goods on the way this week!

To You From Me

Now through the end of December, use the coupon code "MERRYANDBRIGHT" and receive 20% OFF your entire purchase in the shop. Just a way for me to say thanks to you all. I love getting to do this, and your support makes it possible. Thank you!























Endless possibilities when you hand-draw on your gift wrap like this!

Fox & Squirrel

My kids are four and one and they just got their first stockings. Pitiful, I know. We just never got around to it, and the four year old didn't know any better until this year. So we got away with it for a little while. :)


















This cutie set of woodland creature stockings was a team effort from my husband and me. He did that lovely whip stitch you see around the top edge - pretty, huh? I did everything else. I don't say that with disdain. You must know, I almost loathe stitching things by hand, but sincerely appreciate the craft. Anyone who does it gets a dozen extra points in my book.
Fox & Squirrel is a sweet, close to home theme. My son has always had a set of "silly words" he has kept in his vocabulary since he began talking. For a while it was "no-nee, non-ee" and he would never tell us what it meant. So my husband made up a bedtime story a few years ago with a fox and a squirrel and little message the wind tells the fox, and the fox passed it along to the squirrel, and the squirrel passed to a little boy named Judah...you can guess the message: "no-nee, non-nee". Anyhow. Fox & Squirrel quickly became a bedtime favorite and still gets told around here at night.
We thought it was only appropriate to appoint each character to a stocking. My son is the squirrel - who is also eating snow the way Judah loves to do. And it was obvious who the mischievous little fox would be....I love my wild child girl! :)



































Here's to full stockings... Cheers!

Magnolia Vale

We spent Thanksgiving in Brookhaven, Mississippi with my husband's side of the family. His Aunt's plantation home, Magnolia Vale, where we stayed is well over 100 years old...and has a name, y'all. Any home with a name is automatically way snazzier than all the non-named places I've ever lived. :) All the doors and drawers open with skeleton keys, everyone has double names, we lounged on the huge porch, and we ate with the family china and silver that will continue to be passed down from generation to generation...it was a true Southern holiday.
I received a few chuckles for snapping pictures of plates, spoons, and canned goods, but I had to document our stay. It was too nice not to share.
Here you have it, our Mississippi Thanksgiving...

It's Cyber Monday Y'all!

I'm fresh off my Mississippi Thanksgiving (a post on that later) and Cyber Monday is in full swing!
Check out the shop for FREE SHIPPING deals sprinkled around and don't forget to use your coupon code "Poppytalk2011" during checkout for 20% OFF your order. New items are on the way today as well. Lots going on!
Happy Cyber Monday!
photo source

As Promised...

To receive a 20% discount (Nov 25th through to Nov 28th) enter code: "Poppytalk2011" at checkout.
And there you have it. :)
CLICK HERE to SHOP!
...and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

20% Black Friday & Cyber Monday Coupon!!!

(That's Felix the Cat from the 1932/33 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade)

Hey friends! I'm gearing up for Black Friday & Cyber Monday promotions with Poppytalk next week. Stay tuned for a coupon code that will get you an automatic 20% OFF at checkout on all orders placed Friday November 25th through Monday November 28th.
I will post the coupon code in the next few days! Happy shopping!
(Pssst...stay home with your families on Black Friday, shop online, and buy handmade! ...just a thought) :)
Photo Source