A Collaboration for Little Miss Eight

She loved this ring I sold. It's was a big silver dome with green beads sticking out of the top of it. I would have given it to her, but it was so big for her hand I knew she wouldn't really be able to wear it. Clearly, she was going to need her own version of that ring for her eighth birthday. It would be proportioned for her hand and bear little pink crystal beads.

Of course, a ring like that would need to have a matching necklace. That necklace would have to incorporate all of her favorite things, like a horse, a cat, and Yoda, and those same pink beads.

The set of mama-made jewels was going to need a daddy-made birthday box, naturally.

It would be made in the USA with love,

and it would have a special place for the ring and for the necklace. The two compartments would form the number 8.

Little Miss Eight would use it to store her new bling, as well as the $8 she got from her grandparents. (She's that much closer to saving up for the horse she plans to buy someday. I hope she doesn't hock these jewels for one.)

The Birthday Box

I wrote about celebrating a certain little girl's sixth birthday last week, but I didn't show you everything that was made especially for her. "A" makes boxes for the girls on their birthday each year, and it has become their favorite tradition. The birthday box is a much anticipated gift—how big is it going to be? What will he put on the cover this year? Where will the secret be carved this time?

The answer to the question of what to put on her box this year was obvious. Our pug-crazed girl would get a box with a little doggie smiling right back at her.

Of course, she loved it. Just as much as all the others. We are compiling quite the collection of birthday boxes, and they seem to be getting bigger each year. (We may need a bigger house when the girls are teenagers.)

For all the special treasures and trinkets the girls collect, there is a special place to keep them safe. I love peeking in these boxes to see what the girls are coveting this minute. Their most prized items seem to change quite often. I have spied a gamut of things—from cherished souvenirs brought back for them from far away places to grapes. Old ones.

Just today we found the elusive remote in the pug box. I think I may have to make box inventory checks more of a routine occurrence.

I'm not the only one in our household who has been busy making. The girls have spent the last week making the perfect gifts for each other, and I have just been informed that my stocking is full and ready for Christmas morning. I can't wait to see what they have made for me.

"A" has been keeping busy with his latest woodshop binge—tops. One for each of the kids on our list (and that's alot of tops).

It was quite a scene trying to get all the tops spinning for this photo but, alas, there were always a few that got away—spun right off the table, or fell over soon after launching.

A handful of those homemade beauties at rest. I love the variety of shapes and sizes.

And one atop a gift, on it's way to a special little one.

Progress report: I am happy to say that I made decent headway in my pile of gifts yet-to-be- made. I can't wait to show them all to you, but that's going to have to wait...

Thank Trees

I have a couple of exciting things to share with you today:

A gallery that represented my work for a few years had to close it's doors last winter, due to the economy. The Worcester Center for Crafts took a "strategic pause" to devise a plan for funding that would allow it to open again. Being a great local source for crafts education, advocacy and entrepreneurship, it was a shame to see them have to close. Today, I am happy to help them celebrate a second chance to once again offer classes and workshops to the community. The WCC Gallery Store had their grand re-opening a few weeks ago, and I'm honored to have my pieces back in their jewelry cases.

But here's the exciting part: The WCC is also now representing my husband, too! "A" has a small assortment of his wood crafts at the gallery store. An end table, a couple of beautiful boxes, and a set of children's blocks add to the shop's inventory of fine craft pieces.

Cube in a Cube in a Cube Christmas Ornament, by Thank trees

There's more: "A" has also opened an Etsy shop. Thank Trees is currently offering a diverse range of small wood craft and furniture. He will add to the inventory continuously, offering some larger pieces of furniture that will be made to order, and some smaller items that are ready to ship.

I'm proud that "A" has taken this step, putting his heirloom quality woodworking "out there" for all to see. Hopefully, this is only the beginning of his retail experience. A big congrats to him!