RAFFIA SISTERS

New Years Eve

Raffia & Sisters will be closing at 2:00pm on New Years Eve, but we'll be open Monday, January 2 for your shopping pleasure.  Happy 2011 & Happy 2012.

 

January STYLE

  "Flakes, Flowers & Flutters"

  

"Flakes, Flowers & Flutters" includes 7 sheets of 12 x 12 paper (all two sided),  12 x 12 letter sticker sheet, rub-ons, heart paper clips, diction, pearl candy dots, & 1 yard of ribbon    

 

And, we have coordinating add-on

 

"Flourish" - $13.10

 

"Flourish " includes 4 sheets of double sided 12 x 12 paper,  12 x 12 sheet of chipboard, mini letters & 1 yard of velvet.

 

AND,

again,  

the STYLE this month coordinates with December STYLE for even more possibilities

Happy Friday!!!

Raffia

 

Christmas Merchandise

 

&

 

Fall/Winter Clothing

 

50% off

 

See you there!!!

merry merry to you and yours

happy day!

with love from the sisters!!!

Gift of the Day

ALWAYS a great gift. 

Raffia Christmas Eve Hours ~ 9:30 - 2:00

Sisters is closed Christmas Eve, but gift certificates are available at Raffia.

Merry Christmas!!!

Rooted in Traditions

I am a lover of change.  I thrive on notion of doing something new, mixing it up, striving to make it better in some way. Yet, I am a believer in traditions.  It goes to my very core.  Sometime I wonder if my traditions are just set by routine.  The seasons of our life that dictates what and when we do things. Calving, irrigating, chopping, decorating the store for Christmas.

 I can almost tell you to the date what and where we will be next year and what we will be engaged in.  It  becomes our routine of time throughout the year.   And every now and then we find the ability to throw something in that makes it tradition.  A summer nut fry party (tradition ~~ the second Sat in July).  4th of July campfire breakfast.  A cold beer after an evening of AIing.  Simple repetitive behaviors that become the enjoyment  and traditions of life.

Christmas is no different.  It is the time when we actually take time to think of our traditions.   I know we all have them.  As I thought back last night about our Christmas traditions at home..I kinda had to wonder what they were.  But soon I remembered the hunt of going to "town" for a Christmas tree and then dinner at an old Chinese restraunt.(something way out of the normal rhelm for  ranch people).  Mom having to put great big Christmas bulbs on her tree...when all Lynda and I wanted was the small tiny lights.  The new Christmas ornament each year that we received so when we became on our own we would be able to have a tree.  Dinner with the table set in Mom's delicate white china.  Shrimp cocktail, prime rib, and oyster stuffing, that I hated as a kid but would love to have a taste of  now because I know I would love it. Little things that became the memories of our Christmas past that were I'm sure Moms traditions and the things that now I miss the most.

There is also the Christmas traditions we have carried on.  A bell added each Christmas from two collections, one for each of us, that started in the seventies by Mom in which we have continued to add to each year, prime rib, shrimp cocktail. 

And call it tradition or routine, the night we all decorate the tree, we must have shrimp for dinner. Heading to Lynda's Christmas eve waiting for Santa to fly over and running out to wave hello.  Christmas morning always at our house with phone calls to Lynda and Jess to hurry over because we can't wait much longer.  Broccoli casserole that has to be made for Christmas (not that it is so special that we can't make it any other time of the year but it is TRADITION).  

All little things, nothing big, fancy, elaborate, just what we do.  What we do that makes it our home, our celebration, our Christmas.

This year we strive to find new traditions.  There are many people in my life right now that are struggling to adapt to new things.  Health issues, loss of family, struggles of daily  life that make the holidays seem somewhat hard.  But I hope we can all find comfort in a tradition that makes us have that one special moment of feeling at home.  Small little things that may bring a moment of sadness but also  a fond smile of moments, memories, that help get us through life.  

This years,  I have decided my new tradition (started last year) is to always make hot buttered rum mix.  Made some last night, sat down with lumps of ooey gooey butter, swimming through pounds of sugar  and ice cream...dumped in hot water and rum...and sat to look around, breathe and enjoy.... a simple measure yes,  but it brings me memories of Christmas times of past with friends over as the snow swirled outside.  The parents all having a toddy while we kids rummaged throughout the snow, building forts and sledding........... my own little moment of traditions and magical tastes of memories...........

Gift of the Day

Great Soap - any way you slice it!!!

Gift of the Day

I Believe!!!

Gift of the Day

    

Our Fall/Winter clothing is 25% off.

Perfect gift just for YOU!!!

Gift of the Day

           We have THE best cookbooks  - EVER -

The perfect baking papers

I guess I haven't even given you house updates lately....fellin' lucky are you!! HA!

Well, still in  a bit of a mess.  I swear to goodness I will never get done painting and going through boxes from the garage.  But Brad is officially in his office.  Anna is officially in her room, although the closet still needs emptied and painted.  And the kitchen is just in need of a few touch ups after Christmas. The shelves in the pantry need painted. The counter tops have to be striped back down and refinished.  One more cupboard to hang and paint (I changed my mind if you can imagine). And my new island, that arrived on Friday, needs to be painted (long short story to tell you later). Other than that, some stashed piles to do after Christmas,  we are really enjoying our new  home.  

I have been meaning for some time to show you all these awesome baking papers from Raffia.  We fell in love with these at market....

 

from pretty to cute

and individual to a bit larger..

These make your holiday goodies oh so much more fun.

I decided to give my new baking section a try....

ok that is stretching, I got out a mixer and the box of angel food cake mix....really just wanting to try these little papers.

I baked just like the box said...

added a bit of whip cream

 a few raspberries

and my family asked who was coming over!!!! It's just that easy...and that fun!! Happy Day!!!  

Gift of the Day

                                  Paper Plates

(and, napkins, too!)

Rudolph

We got this email the other day, and just had to share. Sorry, I can't get it to paste correctly with the words on the right, but I think you will understand. The True Story of Rudolph A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either. Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.  "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.   MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

Gift of the Day

Scrap Camp -(Tell your sweetie you want to go to scrap camp & he'll be cooking for himself March 16 - 18)

My weekend job.

or, my job for the weekend

hopefully a job done, soon.

Gift of the Day

A jarful of Joy

(This supple shea butter cream nourishes dry skin and drenches your body in irresistible yum!  Delight in the aroma of moist layer cake and white velvet cream.) 

   A little joy for every day!

(and, my all time favorite lotion)

Gift of the Day

Here's today's gift.

Flower Ear Band

(Adjustable buttons for a warm, snug fit)

yes ~~ but you need COOL stuff to do it!

You have seen them all over Pinterest ~~ but you really need COOL Sisters stuff to make them.

alright this one is from my personal stash

Aren't these great stocking stuffers?

Don't forget Sisters for all you COOL Pinterest needs!  Happy Day! 

Gift of the Day

Smart Screen Gloves

(Conductive fingertips allow you to stay warm while using your smart phone or other touch sensitive screen)

Gift of the Day

Sweet Dreams

Skating Party

Everyone needs a Lovely.  Just so when you see this darling paper...which is beyond dreamy.

 

and you see an old broken mirror that needs help. 

and you suddenly think SKATING RINK!!!

She can actually create it!!!

OH SO IN LOVE!!!! Christmas Crafting AT IT's FINEST!!!

 

Ornament Party

I swear I don't know where this month has gone.   If you haven't received my Christmas card yet....IT'S BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN HAVE A PICTURE YET!!!  And if you haven't seen all those food shots of the great little baking paper we have in stock...IT'S BECAUSE...well I haven't made myself take the time to do that. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR SETH FOR CHRISTMAS...LET ME KNOW.  Other than those few details and getting the rest of the Christmas decor up in my house I think I am ready for Christmas. Ok other than the fact that we really haven't confirmed what our Christmas plans are.

But if it is like our house I am sure your party list is growing.  And for many that means an ornament exchange.  I thought today I would share some of my fav's. 

One of these is coming home as my Raffia ornament for sure this year.  Just can't decided which one.

Love love love love love Christmas bells

Happy Happy Happy

red

or green..another fav

Have to say I always love listening to the kids hang the ornaments when we are decorating the tree.  Their fav's that they dig through the boxes to find... the fighting (yes fighting,(in a nice way or course)) over who gets to hang what.  For me the memories of each....there really is something special to picking the perfect ornament.  Happy Day friends!

Gift of the Day

Gift of the Day

What's old is new again.
~Vintage Candles ~

 

Gift of the Day

Home for the Holidays

Gift of the Day

Stackable bracelets
~your personal mix of just a few or "stack them up"~

Gift of the Day

Watkins
(Who on your Christmas list doesn't remember Watkins?)

An oldie but a goodie

Gift of the Day

LOVE NOTES
(new from Brighton)

Gift of the Day

Stuff this stylish, washable, reusable BAG into its detachable COIN PURSE, ready to be whipped out at checkout faster than anyone can quip - "paper or plastic?" - Style and sustainability that finally bridges the gap between reusable bag and designer handbag.
(And, they come in a lot of great colors)

Just add water ~ INSTANT CHRISTMAS

You know I love them....and heck you don't even HAVE to add water.  Simply my favorite instant Christmas.  Always worth every penny!

Gift of the Day ~or~ The one that brought Lovely to TEARS!!

     

THE Wrap Watch

                        (ooh, la la)

THE NEW AND UP AND COMING WATCH!!!!

The story (of course, there is always a story) goes something like this.

My market excursion took me to more than our one favorite showrooms.  I hit a couple of the favs.  And while checking them out, I saw this cute little brown wrap watch that I decided I needed for myself.  Then off to the other fav - where there were lots of great colors of these little treasures....loaded up!! So proud that I had found NOT ONLY BOOT BRACELETS,  BUT OH SO COOL NEW WATCHES.  Yep, I called Lynda to BRAG!!!! 

Walk in the door on Tuesday morning and show the boss (I call her that today, because she stayed home and worked all Thanksgiving weekend).  "LOVELY IS GOING TO DIE".   Lynda proceeds to tell me that Lovely had seen something like this on line and asked Lynda if we had seen them anywhere. (the online ones were shall we say a bit more expensive)  Truth be told, I was taken back at the fact that I WASN'T ACTUALLY THE FIRST TO FIND THE WATCHES. And go figure that it just so happened Lovely worked that day.  OK, SHE CRIED!!! REAL TEARS!!  SHE WAS SO STINKIN' EXCITED!!! I am officially taking credit for making her WHOLE Christmas.  Don't miss the fun of this gift!!! (heck perfect one for yourself!! ask Lovely!)  Happy Day Friends!  

The place to go

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  The most wonderful time of the year!!! (sing it with me)  For us, Raffia Christmas, which means work.  AND LOTS OF PAINTING AT NIGHT!!!  Getting oh so close to being back to normal at our house. Well, that may be stretching it a LOT but atleast we have a couple of rooms painted.  The kitchen is pretty much done other than having a "few" counter top issues.  But christened the walls late last night with a few nails, which felt really good.  In between that Seth had prom (pictures to follow soon.)

But today it is all about STYLE!!!

If you actually read my whole Dallas blog you may remember I hit market before we headed home.  I did GOOD!! Really good, for the hour I was allowed by my family.  Found some great scarfs and hats that are already flying out the door. Loaded up on our stackable bracelets, a perfect Christmas gift, and found TWO, yes count them TWO, hot new things.

We have one showroom in Dallas that never EVER fails us for the up and coming jewels.  It's where we have found our original stretch stackables, our cool colored watches and NOW the next two awesome things!!!

Now, this is no BIG fancy showroom, but the owner is always there, ALWAYS remembers us and is so darn nice.  So as I was checking out with my few odds and ends of jewels, he asked if I bought any boot bracelets.  I said I wasn't sure what he meant and he pointed a few out.  THE RAGE he assured me. HMMMM not really sure if BILLINGS is up for the RAGE yet. So I kindly said I would pass. All until Anna decided to try one on and OF COURSE I HAD TO GET SOME!!!!

SO CUTE AND SO STYLISH AND SO FUN AND SO HIP AND SO.......

I had to throw them on my cowboy boots but on fashion boots.... TO DIE FOR!!!

Don't miss out on the "HIP" thing.  I didn't bring back TONS of them.  Happy Monday Friends!!! Wait till you see what else he had!!!!

Gift of the Day

   

these are truly beautiful scarves

Gift of the Day

  

love, love, love these headbands

Gift of the Day

 

 I don't know what else to say!!!

Except Rita (margarita)  and Tina (martini) are coming in January  

Did you miss me?

What!!! You didn't even know I was gone.  The scrapbook paper posts, one word phrases....HMMMMMFFFF!!!  Well in case anyone wondered, we have been basking in 60 degree weather in Dallas TEXAS! Anna (well and I  - although I skipped out a bunch) went to the National Clogging Convention.  Happy to report we had a great time.

Let me give you some of the sights as seen by the Kraft crew.

Of course, we HAD to hit the Dallas Zoo. (I have this zoo thing).

The FLAMINGOS JUST MAKE YOU HAPPY!!! WHO WOULDN'T WANT A PINK BIRD IN THEIR WORLD!!

The Rhino was one of our favs

OHHHH YUCK!!!

My monkey.  Have to admit I was so focused on all the acorns on the ground that were so fun to step on, that I totally missed the pepper berries that I just saw in this picture.  

What is it about people walking away together that I always love??!

We fell in LOVE LOVE LOVE WITH THE GIRAFFES!!! I SOOOO WANT ONE (OK THREE!!!)

Tired of the giraffes?  TOO BAD!!!

Ok, just one more.

Can I just have 2???

While Anna clogged, we went downtown to where Kennedy was shot.

The line was very long to go to the museum so we opted out, but LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture of Harley (Bob's brother) and Seth lucking up at the sixth floor.

Seth, our history buff, loved every minute of it.  (In case you didn't know, he can tell you more about our presidents than sometimes you would care to know.)

Next, we ventured off to the Fort Worth stockyards. Of course, it soon became our favorite.

Hey, if your in70 cattle, you got to love the sale ring...Seth our future auctioneer especially loved sitting on the block.

The longhorns were great...brought one of these home in the form of a rug.

It didn't take us long to find this place...which truly was our new hanging spot.  Any place with cowboy hats on the wall and ceiling where you can also write on the walls just does it for our crew. (scary how much that tells about us)

Cousin Brenda and Harley

Our evening at the Grapevine MURDER mystery dinner theater!!! I knew who shot the mayor BUT NO ONE LISTENED!! HA!

I swear there is something about our MISS ELLIE!!! Everyone just LOVES HER!! US INCLUDED!!! Don't even think it guys, she is recently happily married!!! BUMMER FOR THE STAGECOACH RIDER...AND the YELLOW KNIGHT (more on that in a bit)

Everyone had to do a picture session at the hotel.  Seth got to be with Miss Georgia!!

The GIRLS!!!

The hotel was decked out out for the holiday.  The "reindeer" were all in place throughout!! LOVED THEM!

I also loved the giant Frosty!! 

The next night you'll never guess where we went back to...

We didn't JUST go the the White Elephant.  We strolled around some more and I found this...

The WALLS OF THE CANDY STORE!!! OMG!!!! Forget you even saw this because after I save up all the worlds candy wrappers I am going to do this somewhere in my world and I want you to think I am a genius!! SO STINKIN' CUTE!!!

We thought Seth might need these for the Impala!!

The next day we got to go to ICE!!! 

Like last year, I was in LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Last year Rudolph this year SHREK!!

  

That night, off to see the Knight! Medieval times, where you cheer for your hero while eating with your hands....FUN!!

We all decided that our YELLOW KNIGHT LOST because he was so trying to hard to impress thy Lady Ellie!!

And, of course, what is a dance team without dancing any time and anywhere there is music!

The next day, HOME!! But before we left lucky, I got to go to market.  I brought home some great new jewelry and some shall we say HOT HOT HOT new things. (show you next week).

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend.  Thanks Da for covering for me!!!

 

Gift of the Day

With the December Christmas countdown starting today and only 24 more days to find the perfect gifts, it just so happens that at Raffia and Sisters we have some great gift ideas.  Now until Santa delivers, we'll blog the "Gift of the Day."

Take a peek at today's gift idea book that was the inspiration for Christmas at Raffia this year. 

(from the inside cover) Joy is your birthright.  When was the last time your heart was lifted by a wave of pure happiness?  When you felt so delighted by an unexpected little miracle that you couldn't stop yourself from smiling?  When you found time in a busy day to give joy to someone else?  It's been said that the days are long but the years are short.  We fill our days with obligations and appointments, and reserve joy for special occasions, holidays, weekends, and stolen moments.If we want joy to be the story of our years, joy must be the story of our days.  Joy must be a daily choice, a habit, a promise we make to ourselves.  Joy must be the way we travel. So give yourself the gift of joy and pass it on to others.  If you make room for joy in your heart and in your day, you'll find that joy is a magnet for more joy.  Invite just a little into your life, and see how quickly that little grows.

Joy to you!!!