A Very Gage Christmas November 30, 2007

I’m not big on Christmas decorations…yep, call me scrooge. Frankly, the extra clutter makes me batty…but we have a few traditions that I try to adhere to. We always get our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Our ornaments are all from the trees we had as kids, with those added that our own kids have made, the wonderful painted egg ornaments that hubby’s mom does and pretty gifts that have been given to us in more recent years. I have these visions of the whole family gathering ’round, a fire burning in the hearth, humming Christmas carols as we adorn the tree. Screeeeeeech. Reality. We can’t find the lights…after a frantic search, we find them, wind them round and round, only to discover that half of them don’t work. The tv is on and it’s something loud and annoying like Monster Garage…hubby is in a chair in some sort of tv induced coma…the kids are digging and raking through the breakable ornaments like it’s the leggo bin. Then someone declares the tree too short. Another declares it too lopsided. All of the ornaments are hung at the verrrrry tip of the weakest branch (yes, usually all on one branch) at the bottom of the tree. Plop, plop…that’s the sound of them as they drop off one by one. Then guess who…yep, mom…gets to decorate the tree alone as the kids scatter and dad starts to snore. Ergh.

 

I’ve been doing the mantle the same way for years. Certainly nothing fancy about it. A garland, the old colored lights of my youth, a jar of antique glass ornaments and a collection of antique santas (although the tall one is a “fake” antique). And of course our motley assortment of stockings.

 

I also do this antique ornament tree on the dining room table (at Easter I decorate it with eggs). I found this wooden contraption in the basement of this house when we moved in. The ornaments were my grandmothers. Sadly, each year when I pull them out, another has usually shattered…but I love the ones I have and would have to declare this my favorite of all the Christmas decorations. By the way, this photo does no justice.

 

The manger scene was ours growing up (my families). I used to stare in awe at the figures, and move them around like little dollhouse people when no one was looking. Now that’s miss sassy pants job. It isn’t fancy or expensive but it’s ours and we love it.

 

Window candle lights are one of hubbys family traditions. He grew up in the great white north (New Hampshire) where ALL the houses have these. I do love them, but I have a window right by my side of the bed, so for the month of December I feel like I’m sleeping under a streetlamp.

 

Finally, hubby always makes a giant wreath from the limbs that were discarded from the tree, and I add a few greenery swags and garlands here and there. It’s sounding like I’m all over the Christmas decorating and maybe I am and didn’t realize it had happened. Maybe I’ve turned over a new leaf!

 

But the DAY after Christmas scrooge goes into hyper drive and it all disapears as quickly as the holiday season…the tree and the withered poinsettias will be ON THE CURB. For today, we’ll sit by the roaring fire with a cup of hot chocolate (in my dreams) and bask in the holiday glow.

The Land of (Photo) Opportunity November 26, 2007

This is Gainestown. We’ve been coming here as a family since before my brother was engaged (now married 19 years), since before I met hubby, and long since. Gainestown is outside Mobile, in Alabama. My brothers father-in-law lovingly restored it from the days when chickens and goats roamed freely within it. It is a civil-war era mansion, now on the National Register of Historic Homes complete with it’s own ghost–the mist lady.

This is the original town school house, now also restored and used as the guest house, where my family always stays, on the property with the big house. It has a stage, school bell, and now…hot water, a bathroom, and mini-kitchen (phew).

There are wonderful photo ops everywhere you turn, and on lazy Thanksgiving visits it’s fun to while away the day taking pictures with the kiddos.

This child, in a mother’s opinion, has the sweetest baby blues, even though she also has the biggest pout this side of Texas.

The porch on the backside of the house is as dreamy as it looks…with views of pool, the pastures and the banana tree (yes, you heard correctly…a green house stands right behind it).

This is my youngest nephew with a new baby goat. He proclaimed himself to have “camera fright” but he allowed me a nice shot of him.

This one is getting pretty good at taking moms photo direction (but very clearly just so he can be released to play!)

They both got daddy’s baby blues…

and this one has becomes stinky’s signature pose.
I think it means “enough already.”

I especially like this one.

Gosh, she’s cute, if I do say so myself.

I like the softness of this one…again, wow…photo opps everywhere you turn.

Just after a nap with pretty flushed cheeks.

The lap of luxury (her biggest cousins lap).

Here she’s in the little antique rocker that all of the grandkids and cousins have enjoyed. The oldest is now almost 16 (heaven help us).

This is on the porch of the little cabin that was moved from the “weekday” home in Jackson, AL. Built for my sister-in-law as a child, it is a dream. It has a stone chimney and fireplace, cuphooks, hardwoods, windows that open and close…it’s fabulous. But she stumbled apon a snakeskin once and never again darkened the doorway.

Pure exasperation…toooo many pictures mom!

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! We have SO much to give thanks for…

A Fine Frenzy… November 8, 2007

That’s what I’m in. But I’m having fun (I think). Stress suits me (altho hubby would beg to differ). I have lots of new designs, and I know it will be quite some time before they make it to the site, so I’ll leave them up here for a while (and add to them as they come). If you gotta have one, just email me. I just finished some that have been brewing in my head since summer too…very excited to have turned them loose onto paper…

I also added this one today for the little guys. Then the first few after it are for the big boys. I get lots of requests from moms who aren’t ready to turn them loose in the athletic stores, and want something at least semi-cute. I have some others on the site like these, and I’m just adding some more options.

 

 

This was a Tinsel and Treaure request…for an aspiring entimologist (sp? all I know is that it means “bug expert”)

 

This one’s for bug boy too. His mom showed me his picture and said his favorite past-time is capturing grasshoppers. Hey, I guess somebody’s gotta do it.

 

I just thought an orange frog would be cute.

My Charleston store loves the beachy motifs so this one should  go over well.

I just think this is pretty. May not sell a one, but I like it.

 

I have the brown boots version on the site, but again, a request.

Cute in pink, huh?

 

I have this design on the site in blue and pink, and someone asked for orange.

This is just another take on circles…lopsided circles. Kinda mod.

 

This was the artwork I used for my mom’s Christmas cards last year and someone asked for it in different colors for a tee. I needed an angel tee anyway…so voila!

Like I said, more to come…mostly from designs on the site, in other areas…but a few brand new, special illustrations. I’m sorta nutty right now, so I may not have time to post again for a while…but I’ll keep adding to this one.

A Few Days Late, But As Promised… November 6, 2007

Miss sassy pants in her getup on Halloween night. She was not having the makeup…pitched a FIT, so her skull face leaves a little to be desired. Scare-wee isn’t she? I know everyone is OVER Halloween already, but my family will enjoy these.

Grrrrrrr!

Little baby turkey bum…ha.

A wee bit preoccupied…hubby was ranting, we’re late! we’re late!

When we arrived at the big neighborhood soiree she lapsed into a serious case of sensory overload…and then proceeded to have a complete meltdown because mean old mommy wouldn’t let her eat a choking hazzard. She then resorted to pixie sticks…one after another…pure sugar. Egads….but she perked right up for the festivities and slept like a log when she piled in the hay.

Stinky here, wanted NOTHING to do with me or my camera. He was WORKIN’. You know, gathering enough ammo to rot his mouth out, is hard work….sho aint for sissy’s.

The only pic I got of them together…and very much against their will. I think the quality of the photo will attest to that. Love that big cheesy fake smile. Anway, we all had fun.

Now…to sneak the gut rot out of the house so I can corrupt my co-workers…

Just the Beginning… November 5, 2007

Phew. I survived it. Tinsel and Treasure that is. It was such a great experience…I met so many wonderful people and really got my name and what I do out there. So many requests too, for illustrations I don’t have yet…so I’m forced to come up with them…a good thing, because I’ll have a whole new bevvy of designs for Spring. I feel like I’ll also see a nice increase in web traffic–I think that’s a good thing…but ask me again after Christmas! People seemed to really love the artwork, which was very affirming for me…I think I’m doing what I’m meant to do.

Of course now I will become a cave dweller for two months trying to crank out orders…I must keep reminding myself…FAMILY FIRST, FAMILY FIRST. It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex and forget where the real priorities lie.

We spent allll day yesterday cleaning out the basement…Goodwill is getting the motherload of all motherloads. We had to make room for the “booth” which had been living in our dining room leading up to the show. Feels so good to clear out, and start fresh.

Here are pics of some of the great people I met and their booths: First is Aimee. She has a traveling store…she just does trade shows…and sells cute kids things. But that’s just what she does for fun (and to buy her children cute goodies for less). Her new business is making adorable party hats and she’s going to Market soon with those. Oops. Just realized, this isn’t Aimee, just her booth. This is actually Claire. She sold her books in Aimee’s booth. She’s a children’s book author and we bonded instantly. She hires illustrators for all of her books and we hope to work together soon. She also gave me great pointers and contacts…very excited.

Next is Jamie. She just started a business here in Knoxville. She does laminate dry erase family planners and calendars…personalized with the family name, etc. She’s going to be selling these in a local store–really great prices too.

 And Jennifer and her mom. They make precious children’s clothes. Reminds me lots of Hannah Kate, which I LOVE, and they monogram as well. We were all neighbors, so it was like one big children’s shop.

All in all, a great time, except I must have gotten carried away because I was offered a spot in a Holiday Open House THIS week, and I said I’d do it. I may end up in Lakeshore Mental, but at least everyone will have cute tees to wear.

Proof In The Pudding… November 3, 2007

 

or in this case, the really fun tee designs! I started kat in the hat designs about 15 years ago, with calling cards…and when I started doing t-shirts, I said that all of the designs on my site could be made into tees…people said I was crazy to offer so much…but I already have the designs, and they sure do make cute tees! So, here’s one of my oldest and most popular, the pink multistripe monogram. Also, the cabana stripe initial/name design is fun, don’t you think? Tons more to come too! So go to my site, and get creative! I meant it when I said it, so take me up on it!  (These will be available in the tee section on the site very soon, but if you just can’t wait, just shoot me an email)