P.........resenting: CalKat

The fabulous Etsy Blogger of the Month is CalKat, a combination of Kathy and Carrie, makers of exquisite jewelry such as the starfish necklace shown on the right. I chose this piece as it reminds me of warm beaches and sands, especially appealing here in the cold of Wisconsin. You can find their shop at http://www.calkat.etsy.com
They use only the finest materials and offer many OOAK items such as this beauty. Right now there's even free world-wide shipping!
Please also visit their blog at http://www.ametistadea.blogspot.com where you'll find much more info about them and be able to get monthly discount codes and enter free monthly drawings. Congratulations, ladies on being the Etsy Blogger of the Month and on making such spectacular jewelry!

M.........aking progress!

Despite several weather delays (a very rainy October) and a recent blizzard), progress is being made on our addition. We estimate that it will be mostly done by Christmas, but I'm not holding my breath!
These are shots of the exterior work; interior shots will follow in the near future. The masons are shown laying the block in the first picture which also shows a very clever yellow contraption that made sure everything was level. The next picture is of the addition of sand and earth around the masonry.
The next pictures show our contractor removing bricks from the back and roughing out the walls. The final shot is of the addition from the back, ready to have the windows put in and the siding applied.

Needless to say, we continue to be very excited about this project, despite the mess we're living in. Of course that gives me an excuse not to cook or clean!

C.........hristmas in Mexico

One of the topics for the Etsy Blogger's Team monthly carnival, is Christmas in other parts of the world. I've had the privilege to spend much time in Mexico, including over the Christmas holiday, and have so enjoyed the spirit of Christmas there as well.

Christmas itself is a very holy day beginning with midnight mass followed by a large family meal. Although more and more Mexicans are exchanging gifts on Christmas, many families give their children gifts on January 6th, the day of the Three Kings, instead. To me that makes much more sense as they are commemorating the traditional day that the Magi presented the first "Christmas Presents" to the Christ Child.

Their are many other festivities around Christmas such as the Posadas that celebrate the nine days it took Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. So, it seems that Christmas runs for almost a month!

Perhaps your family would like to celebrate the holidays with a pinata, such as the very clever lollipop that I found here on Etsy by Birchangel. Search "pinatas" here on Etsy to enjoy many others...it was hard to choose one!

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo!