Sometimes Spoo (aka The Muffin Man) insists on sitting in my lap in the morning, even when I have a ton of work to do. I can’t help but humor him sometimes.

Today is one of my favorite days in the holiday season.  I think it’s the anticipation, the planning:  the chocolate pecan pie that’s to be eaten, the turkey to be roasted and savored, conversations that will be had with friends, time spent with family, the glorious consecutive 4 days off.  It’s also a time to reflect because having all these wonderful and cozy things in your life, and the time to celebrate them, is something to be ever so grateful for.

Spoo and the rest of us at The Fabled Needle House wish you a happy holiday indeed!  Your kindness and support always lifts me up and I thank all of you for that.

When I read on Georgia’s blog that she was having an Autumn swap, I immediately went for it.  It’s been quite some time since I participated in a swap so I thought it would be lots of fun!  I wish I had taken photos of the package I had created for my recipient, Heather, (included recipe cards, a recipe, bat confetti I got in France, cookies, and a candle that “smelled” like October) but alas I dropped it off in the mail before I remembered to do so.

Georgia’s friend Chelsea got me in the swap and I was ever so thrilled to receive her package yesterday!  I haven’t had the best week (although certainly not the worst – not to worry!) and it was wonderful to get her generous gift in the mail.* The box contained so many fun and tasty things, including the wee stripe-y pumpkin you see above.  The caramel supply has dwindled, the recipes are saved for when cooler weather returns, the baking cups (below) and decor will be used probably this weekend.

Chelsea even gave me a little booklet of her beautiful autumnal photography!  Instead of trying to take a photo of it, you should check out her blog: Hearts & Scars.  Thank you again, Chelsea, you brightened  up my day!

And…Happy Halloween, everyone!

*I also found out yesterday that one of my dearest friends – and her newborn baby boy! – made it through the delivery,  both happy and healthy.

Last week my husband and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary!  It’s hard to believe that a year ago I was immersed in mini-wedding planning.  To celebrate, we had dinner at the very same place where my husband proposed.  I,  finally, got one of our wedding pictures properly framed.  And I even bought a beloved cookbook to honor the occasion (because paper is the traditional first anniversary gift, right?).

Anyway, I remembered that I was going to post some post-wedding, “non-reception” celebratory photos.  Looking through them, I don’t have very many with actual people; I think I was too busy having a blast to take many photos which often happens!  So, I’m just going to post some of my more craft-related ones.

These pics are from non-reception #1 which took place at our home last October.  Rather, they were taken during preparations before anyone showed up.

Since it was October I wanted a slightly spooky theme but not in a costume-party kind of way (see our party invitations here).  The colors were black, white, silver, pink and orange.  In the photo, above, you can see our pretty bunting crafted with paper doilies, silver glitter card stock letters and black & white striped twine.  The wee cake is pre-wedding topper (silvery glitter initials much like the ones used in the bunting).  Originally I wanted to make a larger 2-tiered cake but became petrified by the thought as I’ve never made one.  But a sweet little cake plus cupcakes galore did the trick.  (By the way, the frosting was pearly and marshmallow-y, while the cake was yellow with chocolate chips.  So good!)

My lovely friend Kara, who came down for the weekend, was very kind and totally game for any party-decorating ideas I threw her way including decorating our high ceilings with paper streamers.

The mantle was decorated with various pumpkins, candles and a fabric-covered accordion-style scrapbook filled with photos from the wedding, backed with craft paper I printed and designed myself.  The plastic cauldron on the coffee table was later filled with candy for the young and young at heart.  (We did have real food, I swear, like cheese and dip and charcuterie, but those things were set out just before people arrived.)

Kara and I spent the previous night making these fun cupcake toppers with Victorian clip art butterflies in October-ish colors.  We (and by we, I mean Kara) put that scalloped paper punch to good use!

Oh, I can almost taste those cupcakes!