Monday's Motivation

Ok there are less than 60 days until Christmas, but then who's counting?

What? less than 2 months? Just think if you are paid bi-weekly, there are only 3 pay checks left between now and then. ( That is a scary thought). Anyway it is incredibly motivating for me. I have to get busy.  My sister and I have decided that handmade is the way to go for us this year. She is wonderfully creative and loves to make all kinds of things, and I love to make things, so this year we have agreed to go handmade. The girls in the family of course will get jewelry, but what about the guys and the children?
Well, "almost" all of the guys in the family are now able to drive, so I am thinking maybe a key chain like this

would make a great stocking stuffer and hand made book markers like these would be an ideal gift for the avid readers in the bunch.
The children though are a very different story. We have 5 little ones ( under 10) on the Christmas list this year. What do you make for little ones from 1-8 years old? Any ideas? Are you motivated yet?

Saturday's shopping spree Aka Have you thought about Christmas yet?

Have you thought about Christmas yet? Do you wait until the last minute to shop, hit the stores on the day after Thanksgiving before the sun rises, or do you plan ahead, making lists and determining that this year, most of it will be hand made or at least purchased and mailed by Thanksgiving,  I fall somewhere in the midst of all those categories. I've been thinking about it lately though and because I hate to shop in a crowd and I really would like to make the majority of the gifts I give and yes, I would love to have everything done before Thanksgiving so that I can be free to enjoy as many of the season's festivities as humanly possible. After all, it only happens once a year right?
Brace yourself: Here it comes: Christmas will be here in.....133 days!
Let's Go shopping....

new baby in the family? check out this adorable Sock Monkey Cocoon and Hat by nmelone13 on ETSY, or how about the little ones who love stuffed animals? Check these out....Gordon.
For the avid reader on your list, you can always offer bookmarks like this one  by my favorite folk artist Campbell Jane.


Jewelry is always a plus, and I love this bracelet by sparkle peach with it's simple elegance.
 I've been working on some earrings and bracelets of my own too,

but I have yet to list them.   I have no idea what to do for the guys on my list, but I really need ideas.

So where do you stand? Have you started, do you not want to think about it? Have you thought about it but don't want to deal with it just yet? Once again I seem to fall in the middle of all my categories.