Getting Ready for Christmas

My family is of German heritage, so we have our big family celebration with my side of the family on Christmas Eve.  My husband and I took over hosting it after my parents moved from their house to a condo many years ago.  

We put out a buffet with assorted cheeses, many hot and cold foods and a salad bar, so today I've been busy making some little cheese flags to identify the various cheeses we will have.  There's a lovely cheese called Drunken Goat, and when I first tried it at the cheese shop in town, the gal explained that it was soaked in wine for two to three days.  She then very quickly added, "the cheese...not the goat!".  Then, she realized what she had said, and both of us broke out in laughter!  I must say, it is a delicious cheese but even if I didn't like it I'd probably serve it Christmas Eve just because of the fun name and this wonderful story that goes with it. 

After making my little flags, I decided to decorate some gift bags and make a little pillow box for a particular gift that needed a little something...  The inspiration came from Joanne Sharpe's free online mini class, as well as some wrapping done by Alisa Burke.

It's a great way to relax with some simple art during this very hectic holiday season.