Staff Christmas Party.

This is the gift package each of my staff received.

There is a tiny box in there from the local jewelry store.

I have to tell this story because well it really affected me.

So before I tell about the handmade gifts and fun we had, please read this.

I was running all around on the 21st and 22nd trying to wrap everything up for the party. We had been in TX and I was ill prepared for our return.

I decided to run to the local jewelry store to pick up my order. It was 4:30 pm on the 21st.

When I got there, I gave my name and said I have an order to pick up, repeated my name.

I waved hello to the owner (a personal friend), while his staff went for my gift packages.

When the gal returned, she began to open the boxes. I said "this isn't what I ordered".

In my mind I was rushing ideas of what could have happened.

I quickly looked at the tag on the order.

It was my husband's name.

She brought out HIS order.

HIS Christmas surprise for me.

Can you believe it?

Know what the lady said?

"Can you just fake like it's a surprise?"

I said sure....all the while thinking...just wait until I tell him.

I was devastated. I knew he wanted this to be a surprise. I knew it would crush him that I saw it.

So I bustle out of the store and jump in the car.

I drove right past the daycare...forgetting to pick up my kids until I was 4 more blocks away.

I was in such a jumble....

I turned around and picked up my kids LOL...thank goodness I didn't make it all the way home right?

I told my husband.

He was pretty upset. He told them to keep the earrings.

It really took me the rest of the night to get out of my 'funk' from that.

But I did.

And we have had a wonderful Christmas....

I showed this quilt top back in April. Some of you might remember the post.

I had big dreams of making several 'seasons' of skinny verna table runners etc.

I thought that if I started them back in March 2010 that I would surely get them done.

Well I was able to get one season done for my staff.

Summer.

And this is a picture of all 7 of them.

I finished the last 2 on December 22nd!

LOL

I am such a procrastinator sometimes.

Our party was on the 23rd.

My awesome husband helped make some hors d'oeuvres and clean the house so I could finish them.

 They seemed to love them.

I hope they weren't faking!

In addition to the runners, I made Voile scarves for each of them.

I used Anna Maria Horner's Voile and a free pattern from Twin Fibers.

 I actually made 18 scarves for Christmas.

I have been working on them all year.

 I didn't blog about it, because they read my blog!

I also gave them to all my sisters, mom, and sister in law.

 Here's some more happy girls.

They have a secret santa exchange every year.

Bec got a hat, scarf and gloves plus one of my crafty staff made her an XL Hotpad after seeing my tutorial.

That was flattering for me for sure.

 Jamie got 'Brittany' perfume...she's a rockstar!

 Of course, no holiday is complete without a little Margaritaville....

The details of this snowman were amazing. A local artist made it for Mel.

 And what did my awesome staff buy for me??

Go! dies of course!

I was super excited to see a 3 1/2" tumbler, a chisel die, and a 2 1/4"strip die too for my bindings.

I can not wait to try them.

We had a great night and topped it off with dinner at a new steakhouse near our town.

So despite my somewhat disappointing start to the week with the jewelry store fiasco...

We had a wonderful week and evening.