Gearing Up, to Wind Down!

As it nears ever closer to Christmas, I can feel myself relax a little more by the moment! I am starting to really get into the Christmas spirit! I got all our gift shopping done, in one afternoon, at least for friends and family. Mr. Husband and I are are keeping it VERY simple this year, and not exchanging gifts until Dia de los Reyes...or as the song says, the twelfth day of Christmas! I have made plans to bake persimmon cookies this morning, and then wrap presents and sign cards with the Hubs! Things that were stressing me out just days ago, like the fact that we have done zero Christmas decorating here at the Button Haus, and I mean, literally... ZERO, have ceased to bother me, ever since I accepted the fact that due to our adoption of a cat with a penchant for mischief, not to mention red wine, it would just be begging for trouble to even think about setting up a proper Christmas tree.  I don't think I could withstand the heartbreak it would cause to get our lovely white, artificial tree (which was a $5.00 score at a yard sale 2 years ago!) set up in all it's 1950's resplendent glory, complete with my collection of vintage ornaments... only to have the kitten tear it to glittery shreds in a matter of moments. I mean, look at what this little guy does to a bottle of La Finca Malbec! Yes, he is a wino. My husband and I thought it was ever so cute when he started casually stealing sips from our glasses when we would have a glass of wine, until the other night when this happened...

He jumped up on the counter and knocked the bottle onto the floor, breaking two wine glasses in the process. Thank goodness no one was cut or hurt...but that was what effectively put the nail in the coffin for our dreams of a White Christmas tree this year...at least until he gets neutered and calms down a little bit! He's been so gosh darned rambunctious lately, I can only attribute it to his little raging hormones!


Another thing winding down is our stay at Division 9 Gallery!!! It has been so lovely to be centralized in a permanent location this month, and it's been tons of fun hanging out with Cosme Cordova and Micheal Elderman and all the interns at the Gallery... everyone has been extremely welcoming and supportive...and I got to meet so many new people! It really was a wonderful time.Our official last day in the Gallery is tomorrow, Thursday the 22nd and I will be there from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00, so if you are in the area and have been putting off coming down, that will be your last chance to catch Button, Button, Who! and get your one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts checked off your shopping list!

We still have some really cute dolls left! Not to mention, our assortment of mini and full sized stockings made from reclaimed felted cashmere! The mini stockings are going fast, thanks to a big order from a certain lovely Mother-in-Law who shall remain nameless! Each day she has added more to her stash! Hurry and get yours before they are gone and you will only have full sizes to choose from!

Not that that would be so bad either...every time I make the big guys, I find something to add to them, and this year, it was the scallop trim! I would be lying if I told you I was not pleased with the effect. Not to toot my own horn, but I wouldn't mind keeping these for myself and replacing the ones I made for Mr. Husband and myself years ago, when I was first beginning to fiddle around with felted wool!

I had seen the beautiful stockings that Alicia Paulson was making with felted wool and was inspired to make some for myself and Mr. Hubs, who back then, was still Mr. Boyfriend. I love her blog, Posie Gets Cozy and I find so much inspiration from her writing. I have been following her blog for years now, and tell anyone who will listen about it! She has the most wonderful photo essays, and her writing style is so clear. I hope you will hop over and take a look for yourselves!

So, if the end of the year keeps going in this relaxed a manner, I can say that, that is just all right with me. I am looking forward to holidays spent with my family and later on with friends, with a LOT of movie watching and snacking with Mr. Hubs sandwiched in between! I swear, I am the luckiest gal! Lucky in Love, Friends, and Family! What more can one person want!

Happy Holidays from the Button Haus! 

A Home Away from Home!

As the holiday season gears up into full swing, we here at Button, Button, Who! have gotten a little Christmas crazy! We have tons of lovely little offerings for your handmade shopping pleasure! This year's felted cashmere mini-stockings and mittens are a big time favorite, the perfect size for stashing a gift card or a candy cane, and each one is one of a kind!
Our full size felted stockings are a sight to behold, as well! Maybe I went a little overboard, but I am quite sure you'll be pleased with the results!
 Also new for this season, we have ornaments for your trees! We have adorable paper owls, just right for hanging on the tree, or using as a gift tag, the possibilities are endless according to how creative you want to get! Also, lovely felted cashmere trees,  Dala horses, fishies, and my personal favorite, chickadees are all adorning the button tree...you can see it in all it's turquoise glory in the window of Division 9 Art Gallery, down on Lemon Street, where we have set up shop for the winter!

 I like to think of it as our home away from home for the season! Yours truly shall be there on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. but the whole kit and caboodle will be there for your perusal every day! The gallery has lots of fun events in the works also!
 This Friday, December 16th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. is Ugly Criss Mess Sweater Night!  If you wear an ugly Christmas Sweater you get 10% off any artwork & merchandise in the Gallery, including Button, Button, Who! stuff! So dig in your closet, raid the local thrift store and don your most festive apparel to scoot on down to Division 9 this Friday and get some handmade gifts for those you love!
 As an added enticement, this weekend, Division 9 Gallery will be hosting a whole weekend of various workshops. Your Buttontrix, herself, (that's me!) will be there teaching a workshop on how to make Shrinky Dinks from recycled #6 plastic!  Remember Shrinky Dinks? Those adorable little cartoon shaped sheets of plastic you used to color in and then bake in the toaster? Well, did you know that you can do your own customized Shrinky Dinks by cutting and coloring #6 plastic, which are often used in take out containers, yogurt cups and to go drink cups? I will be showing you how you can design your own ornaments while recycling too!!!

 Other workshops will be going on as well;  Erin Maxwell will be teaching a ceramic mosaic class and Cosme Cordova will be teaching an etching workshop!The workshops will be running from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. For more information, you can call or email Cosme at the gallery at 951.965.4392 and cosmeart@hotmail.com.