Something Sublime Christmas Ornament Blog Hop Party 2015!

Well hello there! It's been a long time since I've visited this little online home of mine! Let me dust off the cobwebs so we can sit and chat!

Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime is an incredibly talented artist I've admired for a number of years now. I have had the privilege and pleasure of taking two courses in person with her (my 50th birthday present to myself!) and several online classes with her (it's just like being with her in person, she gives that much attention to the detail/quality of her online classes and discussion forums). Last month she launched the first of an annual online class series devoted to handcrafting artisan Christmas ornaments. Be still my heart! I mean, my blog is named Artfully Ornamental for a reason after all - just ask my Caitlin (who secretly has her name on a large selection of my Christmas ornaments - I'm sure she'll have to fight her brother and sister for some.....). The first of this series is The Merry Men of Winter. Love! I've scored a couple of resources for this project as Goodwill this week. They'll be gracing my tree and in a couple of vignettes next Christmas!

Deryn inquired in her Facebook group if anyone would be interested in a blog hop. Count me in (though I'm late to the party with my posting - work.....)! I have multiple ornaments for my kiddos in process, but none are finished. So, I've chosen this sweet little ornament to share with you.

The main medium I work with is stained glass and paint. This sweet little birdhouse is a tiny bit wonky (you'll see when I show you the back). It's the first 3-D ornament, or any stained glass item, I've made. I've embellished her not only with paint, but with contemporary and vintage glass flower beads and a sweet vintage Swarovski connector as an entrance hole. That an entrance with style!

You can see a little bit of the wonky on the front roof line..... A tiny bee is interested in these lillies.

A sweet little ladybug is interested in this colorful flower patch.

A bluebird is visiting a neighbor's house.

And a snail is out taking a stroll (this is where the wonky is at its worst...). Hopefully the next one I make won't have as much wonk, but my home isn't perfect - I suppose most aren't. Thankfully it's in the back!!

Thanks for stopping by my little spot on the internet! Please check out the others who've participated by visiting Deryn's post about the ornament hop and clicking on the links at the bottom of the post to see the beauties the other participants have created! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!

Holiday Bling 2 Blog Hop

 Good day to you! Welcome to the Holiday Bling 2 Blog Hop hosted by the lovely Shelley Graham Turner and Marlene Cupo. Thanks, ladies, for hosting such a fun event so very close to my heart! This go-round I was paired with Chandra Merod of Juniper Goods from sunny California. It's finally decided to be winter, temperature wise, here in Maine. I think I'd prefer the temps in California better (at least after Christmas - we may have a white one this year!)!

Chandra is both an artist and shop owner - how wonderful is that! I'd love to be able to create all day! She sent me two beautiful felt ornaments - love them! I just love adding new handcrafted ornaments to my tree each year. So much more special when someone makes them just for you! She sent me a sweet little gingerbread house. So special! My girls decorate a gingerbread house together every year and my youngest daughter had, what I refer to, gingerbread palooza at our house when she was a sophomore in high school - 20 girls decorating their hearts out! It was bedlam, yet a wonderful memory!

As the person who makes the special ornaments for my family every year, it's nice to be the recipient of lovely, handcrafted ornaments! The second ornament she sent to me was a beautiful little tree. Again, so special because I just love my tree each and every year. I love to get up early in the morning and sit and enjoy the tree lights while drinking my coffee. Such a wonderful way to start the day ('course it makes it hard to leave for work too!)!

This year's tree. Sorry for the bright flash, but it wasn't showing up any other way. Presents are not wrapped and under the tree yet.

Last year we had a family craft evening and made ornaments for my daughter Caitlin's first tree away from home. It was fun (well, hilarious actually). We did it again this year for my son's first tree away from home with his fiance in the home they've just purchased (tree's going up this weekend!). I think I'd actually like to make it an annual date with my family. 

Sneak Peek of the ornament I made for Chandra! Hop on over to see it!

Now, go hop along and see what these other lovely ladies have sent and received! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

Shirley Moore http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com - You are here!
Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Elaine Ray http://elaineray.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Debbie Rasmussen http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Miranda Ackerley http://mirandack.com/category/thoughts
Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tammie Everly http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca
Melinda Abrahamson http://www.firstreetcrafts.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Chandra Merod http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Kelley Fogel http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Heather Rats Otto http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers www.leelucreations.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

And the winner is.......

Were you expecting to find out who the winner of the Mrs. Snow ornament was yesterday? Me too! I, however, have been sick as a dog for the last several days and have spent what energy I've had laying in bed or on the couch watching the History Channel, BRAVO (Lord help me), HGTV and the Food Network. I finally have enough energy to sit up for a while. Sorry for the delay!

I had indicated in my previous blog post that I'd accept comments 'til 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday (10/30) and announce the winner of the Mrs. Snow ornament on the 31st (again, I'm a day late and a dollar short.....), the same day Jennifer announced who won Mr. Snow on her blog. However, Jennifer had a glitch on her blog last week and the giveaway post was down for a number of days. She's extending the giveaway date for Mr. Snow 'til November 7. Because of her re-post I received a number of comments after Tuesday evening. So, this is what I'm going to do - Today I've drawn a name from the 8 comments I received by 10/30 at 9 p.m., AND I'll draw a second winner from ALL comments received ON THIS POST (go the original post to comment) including the 8 today on Tuesday, November 6. Your comment MUST be date/time stamped by 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6. I'll post the winner's name on Wednesday, November 7. I don't know what that ornament will be yet, but I'm thinking it will be a snow person of some sort to keep with the theme. I have a couple of ideas running around in my head - we'll see how they turn out this weekend when I have some time in the studio. Sound good? Make sure you either leave your email address in your comment, or have the ability for me to contact you through your blog!

Now, drum roll please..... the winner of the Mrs. Snow ornament is - Jodi-usairdoll (Jeanne Gwin)! Congratulations Jeanne!! I've sent you an email!

A Giveaway at Jangles!!

Have you met Jennifer Heynen, aka Jennifer Jangles yet? Well, if you haven't, you should! Jennifer is the creative force behind Jangles - she's a multi-talented artist from Georgia. She creates the most colorful, whimsical clay beads, buttons and components for jewelry artists, mugs, ornaments and other pottery, she is an author, and most recently she has been designing playful fabric lines and sewing patterns. How she does it all, I don't know - home, young family, business...my family is grown and I can't begin to accomplish what Jennifer does!

I've been reading and being inspired by Jennifer's blog for several years. Each year in the fall she sends out her Holiday Projects Newsletter, ten weeks of newsletters, and hosts giveaways for her readers as part of the fun. This year she asked her readers if they'd like to contribute prizes for some of the giveaways. Well, I took a huge leap, for me, and sent Jennifer an email with pictures of some of my hand painted, stained glass ornaments - ornaments I've been making for my family and friends for years. She said yes, and here we are!! Thank you for this opportunity, Jennifer!

Today is my giveaway! Hop on over to Jennifer's blog and leave a comment and you could win my Mr. Snow ornament! The winner will be announced on her blog next Wednesday, October 31st! Don't forget to sign up for her Holiday Projects Newsletter while you're there (the newsletter sign up is on the right side toolbar on her blog)!

I'm in the process of creating items for my Etsy shop, but please check back - I'll hopefully have some ornaments listed by this weekend!

As an added bonus, I'm going to host a little giveaway here as well! Leave a comment below and I'll pull a name out of the hat ('cause I'm all low-tech like that) next Tuesday evening (cut off at 9 p.m.) and post the winner's name on Wednesday, October 31 (make sure your comment either links to email or you leave me your email address so I can contact you)! The lucky winner will win Mrs. Snow: