Christmas Notebook

Here’s a little summary of last week. Bits and bobs.

I made four putz houses, including this white one.

I’ve enjoyed the forsythia we forced. In late January every year, we cut some forsythia branches and force them for an early preview of spring. It’s so easy to do! Cut some branches, put them in a vase of water, wait 11-14 days…spring flowers! Give it a try!

I painted stepping stones for a Putz house. This red Putz is a mini version of the same pattern I used for the white Putz house above. I reduced the pattern to 80% of the original and, in this case, reversed it by folding it backwards.

The finished Putz house.

Same pattern, two sizes. I really like the look of the mini ones.

These little Putz houses come alive with a puff of smoke and the glow of lights through the yellow window panes.

My photo set-up for taking pictures for my Etsy shop. Crude but it works. I do want to set up a photo box for more diffused lighting when taking photos. My desk lamp has four light color settings and a dimmer, and it can be moved and twisted to light any particular angle. Love it!

Mini blue and brown Putz house. The colors for the Putz house came from the colors on the upcycled Christmas card used to make the base for the house.

The painted strips that are wavey on one side will be the fence in the finished Putz house.

We had a light dusting of snow Wednesday night. Snow out the window just makes the beautiful amaryllis and the happy yellow forsythia all the more enjoyable.

The completed blue and brown miniature Putz house.

Ivory and lavender Putz house…this house is the same pattern as the above mini one, but made in a larger size.

The finished ivory and lavender Putz house, photographed with my hand for an idea of scale.

The base is made from an upcycled Christmas card. As always, the colors for the Putz house are taken from the colors of the Christmas card.

So sweet with the lights on!

Christmas comes down slowly around here, but we made good progress this past weekend. Winston found the un-decorating fascinating…especially when the red beads were swinging back and forth…

Our grands were here for the weekend and they did the climbing on the kitchen counter to get the snowflakes off the garland.

I’ll be glad when all the decorations are down, as much as I do enjoy them. I am ready for spring to arrive!

~~Rhonda