*HAPPY NEW YEAR*

MAY EVERY DAY OF THE

NEW YEAR GLOW WITH

GOOD CHEER & HAPPINESS

FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

*Bellsnickel and Ducks*

I hope everybody had a great Christmas :)

We were invited to a friends house on Christmas Eve and they also invited another fun couple...food was yummy and we had a great time :) at midnight Kevin and I went to the midnight mass and then we were walking through old town Alexandria to see the Christmas lights...we went to bed at 4am :)

I made a duck for Christmas and it was delicious!!

I posted a few pics of my finds, there is a small little country store nearby and he had everything 70% off...there are sooo many cute things there...love it!!

To Everyone :)

We are done unpacking, the Christmas tree is decorated and the gifts are under the tree :)

It is very traditional in Germany to eat a goose on Christmas day, I wanted to cook a duck or goose and I found a duck YAY I found a goose too but it was $70 that is way to much!!!  We have this awesome food store called Wegmans, I couldn't get over it how much different things they had to offer!!

I will take some pictures of my Christmas decoration and post them here on my blog in the next few days. 

I wish Everybody a blessed Merry Christmas

Vati, wir vermissen Dich
 Mutti, Ivonne, Kevin, Gabi, Klaus und Sabrina

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund
, Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

*Another year has passed...*

...since my Dad lost his battle with cancer on the12th of December 2007 this was the hardest and darkest day in my life. He left us way too early...he just turned 69...everything went so fast! The last time I saw him (1 year before), he was healthy and strong...but I'm glad that he don't have to suffer anymore!

Oh he loved Christmas, his most favorite season and no one else could make it more special and magical as he did. As we were kids, he used to use the silver tinsel to decorate the tree...oh my, you couldn't see the tree anymore, but it was the most beautiful tree I have ever seen! In Germany, we are putting our tree up on Christmas Eve...as we were little, my sister and I had to stay in our rooms so the *Christkindle* (it is an Angel...instead of Santa) could bring the gifts...at 4pm we went to church and after that we were allowed to go in the living room...the lights were out, Christmas music was playing, the tinsel on the tree was shimmering, Mom's cookies smelled wonderful, his handmade Manger was in front of the tree...we were singing some Christmas songs together and after that we opened our presents...my Dad had always a special surprise for my Mom...maybe 1 hour after gift exchanging he came with a box big or small and surprised her with some jewelery...isn't that sweet? I will never forget all this wonderful times...

Christmas will never be the same for us but you are always in our hearts, we miss you Dad!!

*WE ARRIVED IN VIRIGNIA*

Finally, we made it to VA :) It was pretty stressful...I drove my vehicle and Kevin drove the moving truck, we drove 13 hours straight! I wanted to make it quick for my Kitties...cats and we

are doing good, just exhausted. Slowly but surely we will have everything in place again. 

After we arrived we had to unload the truck, Kevin organized his cousin and some friends to come and help us, OMG they all were awesome, I was so happy that all this people came to help us.

Over 24 hours with no sleep...I went to bed at 9pm last night and slept for 12 hours...that felt sooo good :)

Here is a picture of the Marina at Belmont Bay, we live very close to it, walking distance. There is a wild life area and walking and biking trails, really cool, I met a few neighbors already :) I think we will like it here a lot :)

I hope you all had a great Thanks Giving and I hope you ate a piece of Pumpkin Pie for me LOL

My Landlord is so sweet to bring us a homemade Pumpkin Pie...Yummy!!

LIFE IS GOOD

*MOVING DAY IS HERE*

The Penske truck is parked outside the house...tomorrow, yes on Thanksgiving :( and the day after we are loading the truck and on Saturday we go on our long 12 hour trip to VA.

Even it is stressful right now, we are very excited...I will let you know when I will start making my banners again...

 I wish all of you a *HAPPY THANKSGIVING* and eat a piece of pie for me :)

Smiles Ivonne

*Forgot something*

I received an email from a customer of mine and she was asking me if I would still make banners after the move...yes, as soon as we settled I will start making banners and excepting orders again... :)

Can't wait to get back to make banners and tiny tags :)

My head is full with new ideas!!

Smiles Ivonne

*ABOUT MY TINY TAGS*

I had a few requests for the *TINY TAGS* I was thinking about it...this would be something I could make til we move...it isn't near as time consuming like my banners and it don't take much space to make them!!

They are so cute in *person* it would dress up any Christmas present...on the back it says from: to:

I just like them on my little tree it looks so whimsy...I also have cool Halloween tags...if you would like to see some, just post it here :)

I will make a bunch and will offer them on Etsy...I have a few ideas :)...I will keep you updated...

Believe it or not, I miss making banners already LOL I have to do something to keep my hands busy, I think the tags would be a good idea...



*WE ARE MOVING*

Kevin and I are moving to Virginia this month :) we found a place we really like a lot, Kevin is checking it out this Saturday!! I'm so exited to live with him again...for the last 1 1/2 years we had to live seperate, he had to finish his school and he could only come home on the weekends.

I will post one more banner I created for a customer and then I have to pack my stuff.We are moving around Thanksgiving...so when you eat your turkey and have fun, think of me OK :) we will carry boxes up and down the stairs LOL but on the other hand I can put my Christmas tree up when I unpack my boxes :)

I want to say THANK YOU to all my Customers and Friends for your loyalty and support, for your sweet and uplifting emails...I enjoyed all of them :) So many waited patiently beause I got so caught up with orders and I'm a perfectionist I will give each banner the full attention and don't rush through...customer service is my priority :)

I will still post here and there to keep you updated :)

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING...SMILES IVONNE



*JOLLY BANNER CUSTOMER FINISH*

*Customer finish FALL FABRIC BANNER*

*Tiny Tags*

I made some tags and thought I decorate my little handmade tree with them...they are so much fun to make :)

*Customer fabric JOY banner*

*My Love...*

...to Photography

I had a photo session with my friends two girls...I had so much fun and I think they did too :)

*TDIPT MERCANTILE NOVEMBER UPDATE*

Wow can you believe it...tomorrow is the 1st of November!! Christmas is around the corner...with this in mind I created 3 new Christmas banners...I hope you like them as much as I had fun creating them....if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me...smiles Ivonne

*MERRY CHRISTMAS BANNER*

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*SANTA POLKA DOT BANNER*

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*JOY WITH HOLY LEAVES BANNER*

*HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE TDIPT MERCANTILE*

*TDIPT MERCANTILE OPEN HOUSE IN NOVEMBER*

IN NOVEMBER OUR ARTIST WHO UPDATE ON THE 1ST AND 15TH OF THE MONTH WILL BE OFFERING SOME OF THE BEST IN HANDMADE'S FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

MANY OF THE TDIPT'S TALENTED ARTIST HAVE DONATED SOME WONDERFUL PRIZES THAT YOU MIGHT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO WIN :)

PLEASE BE SURE TO GET OVER TO TDIPT'S BLOG IN NOVEMBER AND JOIN US IN OUR CELEBRATION AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE, BE SURE TO SIGN UP TO WIN ONE OF OUR FANTASTIC PRIZES!!

*Shakerwood Woolens Customer Finish*



*POLKA DOTS...POLKA DOTS...POLKA DOTS*

Did I ever tell you that I LOVE Polka Dots LOL I just love them and stripes and diamond shapes and etc.

These 3 Banners will go on Etsy right now...they are ready to ship...if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me...

*JOY POLKA DOT BANNER*

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*HO HO HO POLKA DOT BANNER*

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*BOO POLKA DOT BANNER*