Silent

i have laryngitis. i've never had it before so it is a weird experience for me. i first got it on sunday night, but i didn't think it was more than just hoarseness from having sung several songs in a row while playing rock band with my husband. but when i woke up on monday morning with the same hoarseness, i knew it was laryngitis. so now i'm just trying to keep silent and let my throat heal. don't really know what i can do for it, but i don't think a trip to the doctor is necessary right now because it doesn't hurt anymore. it did hurt last night and was accompanied by a cough, but i think that's cause i decided to take a late night shower and was too lazy to blow dry my hair, so i slept with a cold, damp head. i hope nothing worse comes from that. right now i feel much better, but i still can't talk, so i'm going to try to take it easy and take better care of myself from now on.

i did get to go buy some new materials to get started on my advent calendar. i got red embroidery floss, a pink fabric with tiny polka dots and linen. i'm still not sure about the pink fabric. maybe i'll add some other colors or maybe i'll keep it simple with just linen and red, with a little bit of white for interest. i guess i'm still very indecisive. but, i did decide to go with the banner advent calendar with pockets. i'm going to use linaloo's advent calendar and lululollylegs doll quilt (which looks like an advent calendar) as inspiration. you can also see pictures of these two calendars in the previous post. i'm also thinking of incorporting some of my girls' artwork in the calendar. maybe i'll have them do little sketches for me that i can embroider in the different pockets. we'll see how it goes, but i can't wait to get over this illness so i can get started! right now i just don't feel like doing much.

Advent Calendar Inspirations

1. Advent dangles, 2. Advent Calendar - Finally Done!, 3. DQS5 Christmas Advent Calendar, 4. advent calendar, 5. Advent calendar, 6. advent calendar, 7. advent calendar, 8. Advent Calendar 3, 9. Homemade advent calendar

okay, so these are some of the advent calendars that i like. i think it is pretty obvious that i prefer the kind that hangs like a banner, with little ornaments inside the pockets that are taken out of the pocket each day. i think i can easily slip a small chocolate or piece of paper with an activity, if i want to do any activities with my girls. i can imagine sitting with my family in the evenings and hand-stitching and embroidering numbers and decorations for each pocket. but, i also like allsort's advent calendar pockets pattern. i like it because it is cute, seems simple to make while watching a movie and because it drapes like a garland and could easily be used as decoration for our fireplace mantel. i also like oliver + s's mitten ornament as an advent calendar and stardust shoe's mini stocking advent calendar, but because it doesn't really get cold enough where i live, we don't use mittens, and so i don't think the mittens will make much sense to my kids. and since i'm already planning on making all new stockings for my husband, my kids and myself for xmas 2009, i don't think a stocking advent calendar will be necessary.

i still haven't decided which one i'll do. and maybe i'll make two different kinds, once i finish the first one. as soon as i make up my mind, i'll make a trip out to my local craft store to buy the necessary materials, and get started. if there is anyone out there who actually reads my blog, wish me luck! i hope you can delurk yourself and give me a bit of encouragement!

Xmas Crafting Throughout the Year

the xmas season is one i look forward to every year. i try to make it special and memorable for my family and i get inspired from all the other craft blogs i read to make my own decorations, advent calendar, ornaments and gifts. but my life starts getting busy starting from october with family birthdays and all the holidays that happen from then till xmas. so by the time my husband's birthday is over, which is december 9, i have only 3 weeks to make anything xmas related. it's a lot of pressure and stress and yet i push myself because i want to make so many things. so by the time it's xmas eve, i'm so pooped that i don't get to enjoy it as much as i'd like to. this past xmas i got so sick that i missed my own xmas eve dinner with relatives coming over to our home. my poor husband had to be a host to family and nurse to me. i stayed in bed in my bedroom all evening and missed out on all the fun. it really brought sadness to my family. my little girls missed me, so they kept coming to see me and my husband was so tired that he also got sick. well, to make a long story short, i've decided to start preparing for xmas earlier in the year.



craft apple and stardust shoes are starting an advent calendar sew along and they're starting in january. so, i decided to join this sew along in hopes that i'll be inspired to continue making all the wonderful things i've been meaning to make for xmas and get them done in time! and hopefully when the holiday comes around, all i have to do is set up my decorations, buy a xmas tree, wrap my presents and spend more time with my family.

if anyone else is interested you can join and post your progress at the 2009 advent calendar sew along flickr group.