Christmas Countdown 2008

Here is a copy of my Christmas Countdown 2008 that I made in Publisher. Feel free to use it. I have done other sheets for the index, divider sheets all in the same style (See samples on my Christmas Notebook post in April). If you would like a copy of the forms in *.pdf format, post a note and we'll see what we can work out.

Day 15 - Christmas in July

I am supposed to be working on something for Christmas every day in July. I had planned on posting everyday for the month but life gets in the way sometimes. The biggest problem lately has been DS 18. Not that he is a problem most of the time but he does tend to get on the computer when I least want him to. He's a really good kid but sometimes....... So I figure posting three times halfway through the month isn't so bad.

Today I spent some time reading the forum at Magical Holiday Home http://magicalholidayhome.com/. If you have never been to the website, give it a try. They are a little fanatical but that's okay because so am I. They have tons of great ideas, not only about Christmas but other holidays, too.

Finally finished my Rudy Day decoration

I finally finished the door decoration that I started on a whim during Rudy Day. I had finished everything on my list early and decided to start something new.

It's made of wool and homespun plaid. I love working with wool. It is so easy to work with when doing handwork. Not that I don't love working on the sewing machine, but there is something relaxing about handwork.

The "snowflakes" are small glass beads and the "berries" on the tree are larger pearl beads.

I will probably hang this on the guest bathroom door. I have something hanging there during the rest of the year but nothing at Christmas.

I just think it turned out so cute and am now inspired to move on to the next project!

The Most Productive Rudy Day Ever......

or at least this year. But there is always room to improve! This month I had the check list from below to do. Considering that Rudy Day fell on a Wednesday, I was really skeptical about getting anything done. That paying job can sure get in the way of the fun sometimes but it is also what pays for the fun.

I updated my Christmas Notebook with pictures I had taken from last year, separated them by room, made notes on each page as to what I liked and didn't like about each one, wrote suggestions for this year. Then made a list to put in my small Christmas notebook of what I needed to buy for each idea. I even had enough time to start one of the craft decorations that I had picked out.

During lunch I went to Wal-Mart to look for a Christmas movie to watch but they didn't have any. I did find two movies in the 2/$10 bin that I could use for DH and DS23's Christmas stockings. I went to the library instead and checked out "A Christmas Carol" with Patrick Stewart DVD. I watched it while working on Rudy Day while drinking a double hot chocolate. How relaxing!!

I had hoped to get along enough with my craft project to post a picture. I have it all cut out. Most of the rest is hand work that I hope to do on the way to and from the in-laws this weekend. Hopefully I'll get enough done to post a picture next week.

I'm dreaming of the next Rudy......... (insert music here)

So it's kind of - sort of halfway through the Rudy month. I did a little bit of Rudy this past weekend by going through all my quilt patterns and books. Really.....this is Rudy related. It's a big undertaking in itself. I had to sort through them all because I tend to like the same sort of style, patterns and designers. On numerous occasions I have bought the same pattern twice and even the same book once or twice. I guess I liked it so much I just had to get it again ! So I went through all the boxes and shelves and wrote down what I had. I had a list in an excel spread sheet and even printed it out but apparently I had not updated it lately. We are having a white elephant sale at our guild meeting tonight. Good place to get rid of my duplicates. Sure hope I don't pick up any more duplicates !

Back to Rudy... I decided to keep all the Christmas ones separate and put them in my Rudy Tote. So the next Rudy Day I can at least start one of the many cute Christmas quilt patterns I have been saving.

Sidetracking

Here is a great picture of why I haven't been blogging or even on the internet in a while.......DH turned 50 last week. We had a big party for him this past Saturday at the house. His sister and her husband flew all the way in from Dallas. His BFF from high school drove 8 hours to be here. It was wonderful.

But first thing that morning, he had a Richard Petty Driving Experience at Lowes Motor Speedway. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw him grin like that. He was acting 10 years old again. Did I mention it was 100 degrees out at the track while he was racing?

May's Rudy Day.....

was put on hold for a few days. I haven't been sick for quite a long time so of course I had to get my first cold in years only a few days before my first three day weekend this year. So I spent most of the weekend in bed resting. But now I am better and ready to get back to my Rudy Day. Updating my blog was the first thing on my list. In a few minutes, I will go work on my list of working on my lists. Sounds like spinning wheels but I will have something finished tonight before my head hits the pillow!