LUCK OF THE DRAW

A few years back, when we finally realized that the younger generation just couldn't afford to buy gifts for every aunt, uncle and cousin, my side of the family decided to draw names. This year sister Gussie just happened to draw mine, and she was pretty darned excited about it, judging from all the smirks and giggles aimed in my direction. Gus is the one who went to Lucky Star art camp with me this fall, which may have had something to do with this...

a beautiful tote bearing the artwork of one of my favorite Lucky Star instructors, Juliette Crane. But wait, there's more! Inside the bag I found an easel-style calendar filled with beautiful artwork, and a color-mad felted bead necklace like the one we saw instructor Katherine Center wearing at camp...

no less than four beautiful journals...

a couple of crazy fun kits which we will be playing with on Christmas Eve...

all kinds of lovely ephemera, of the sort which art journalists just love to play with...

and a beautiful little dish in which to keep these bits and bobs.

Quite the haul, no?

(Don't tell her I said this but, for a math major, she's not all that good at adding. This had to have gone waaaaaay over our set limits!) Did I mention that she got most everything at Paper Source, that awesome shop we stumbled upon when staying at City Centre in Houston?

Hubby's name was drawn by nephew Chris, and based on his snickering as the package was unwrapped, I feared the worst -- yet another goofy garden gnome for Hubby's collection. But wait, what is this?

A gnome-munching dinosaur? I like it!

Last but certainly not least, a handmade gift from the youngest member of the family, niece Merrit, who always insists on giving something to every single person there!

No, not just a bag of ordinary pretzel sticks. Hand dipped pretzel sticks!

The ones with crushed Heath Bars on the outside are to die for!

Could there be anything more delicious to someone who is obsessed with salty/sweet combos? Or more dangerous?