Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This week’s winner is Alice Howe. Congratulations! You have won a set of ladybug buttons from Creative Impressions in Clay. Send Tari an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.
Welcome to the Humblebeads’ Studio. Christmas was so much fun, but it’s not over yet! We like to extend the celebration through the New Year. We relax. How often does that really happen? You know, we turn off the phone and computer. Pull out the board games or craft projects. Give the kids our undivided attention. Watch our favorite holiday movies, which for my weird family includes an annual screening of Die Hard. Yippie Kay-Ah! The kids are home for the week and enjoy an unrushed pace that is welcomed after the craziness of getting ready for the holidays. I’ll tell you this has always helped with those post-Christmas blues. We enjoy this time like we are all on vacation. Even if I do get up and work before anyone else is out of bed, they will never know!
They remind me of icicles. Wouldn’t they look great for New Year’s Eve?
Which brings me to my question of the week. What do you do to ring in the New Year? We spend a quiet evening with our dearest friends, sharing drinks and a beautiful meal. At midnight fireworks are let loose in the neighborhood.
One comment will be randomly drawn as the winner next week, the prize – a set of my branch disk beads.
Katie
December 26, 2009 at 3:11 pmOur New Years' is usually pretty quiet, too…We already had fireworks going off in the neighborhood last night (the joys of living in unincorporated parts of Texas…)…
But, we usually make a night to hang out, watch movies, and comfort our dogs and cats (our kids) when the fireworks get too scary…
Love the earrings!
Lucid Moon Studio
December 26, 2009 at 3:20 pmWe host an annual party at our house with our closest friends. Every year we have a crazy theme like 80's prom dresses. This year I'm thinking about doing ugliest Christmas sweaters!
peacockfairy
December 26, 2009 at 3:32 pmI love spending new years eve in my cozy home with my hubby and dogs! We usually make something nice for dinner and watch movies!
kelleysbeads
December 26, 2009 at 3:43 pmI love how you hammered the wire flat and in two different directions with these earrings. They are fantastic!
On NYE, we are normally homebodies and asleep before 11. This year, we're hoping for a home filled with kids to decorate their own cupcakes.
WondrousStrange
December 26, 2009 at 3:48 pmNew Years Eve is a quiet time for reflection. I like watching the crowds watch the ball drop from the comfort of my favorite chair, by a simmering fire. Resolutions have never worked for me:) so I just promise my self to be more creative in reaching my goals in the new year.
Alice
December 26, 2009 at 4:26 pmBeautiful earrings! I love how the metal dangle would swing back and forth–very festive!
We used to invite family and friends over for a big bash with lots of cooking and fun, and try to stay awake til midnight. Now we keep it simple, and let the kids each invite a couple friends and play board games or whatever we want. We finish the night with poppers–the indoor fireworks.
Alice
December 26, 2009 at 4:26 pmOh, I forgot to add–I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy New year!
EmandaJ
December 26, 2009 at 5:37 pmMy husband's father died on New Year's Eve many years ago, but he was reluctant to "celebrate" for a long time. However, for the last five or so years, we have had a lovely quiet evening of food and friends. We bring breakfast goodies and stay over, that way we don't have to let the party end nor do we endanger ourselves with the crazies on the road. It is the best way to begin the new year.
Anonymous
December 26, 2009 at 5:48 pmall these earrings are lovely.
For New Years we walk to a neighborhood pary ..very low key but fun ..everyone brings a little snack to add to the mix..play a game or two, then ring in the new year..
Here's a wish for everyone to have prosperous and safe year.
abeadlady
December 26, 2009 at 6:08 pmNew Year's Eve is usually spent quietly, but my beady friends and I often get together New Year's Day to bead the New Year in. Lots of good food and creativity.
Arline
Have a Happy, creative New Year!
baglady
December 26, 2009 at 6:28 pmWe like to hang out with our pets and kids, watch an old favorite movie or two and eat goodies. Love the earrings! Nancy
Doreen
December 26, 2009 at 6:58 pmI usually spend it at home with my husband too. I make a nice dinner and we go to bed at our regular bedtime.
Elizabeth
December 26, 2009 at 7:24 pmI settle in with my fur babies because even in big city Texas there are fireworks. I love ghost hunter type programs so my holidays are full of those and New Year's Eve is no different.
On New Year's Day I make poppin John, black eyed peas with bell pepper, onion and some ham. The black eyed peas are for prosperity in the New Year, a Southern thing, don't you know.
Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone and all their loved ones and may the world be at peace at least in your little piece of it.
Love, Elizabeth
Sue
December 26, 2009 at 7:35 pmNew Years Eve is a great time for candle lit services at our church. The earrings are great.
Shaiha
December 26, 2009 at 8:42 pmOur New Year's Eve will hopefully be quiet. We used to go out but now we have dogs that can't stand the fireworks. So me and my husband stay home with them.
sandi m
December 26, 2009 at 10:52 pmBeautiful earrings!
I spend NYE quietly with friends, good food and lively conversation; very simple.
ABS is the best – Happy New
Year everyone.
gail
December 26, 2009 at 11:04 pmOn New Years Eve,my family gets together one last time for the year,we cook anything and everything,and at midnight,we rush home and forget about the family as long as possible.Too much togetherness can be a bad thing!
TesoriTrovati
December 26, 2009 at 11:11 pmWe usually have dinner at home. Steak from my local farm friends, bubbly (spiked and not so much), noisemakers and gathering round the TV to watch the ball … or at least as long as we can stay awake.
Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the day! Be safe!
Erin
Brenda
December 27, 2009 at 1:14 amAwesome earrings!! We always try to stay home and safe each New Year's Eve…watching Dick Clark and the ball drop…
Happy 2010 Everyone!
Brenda Bliss
Paula Lee
December 27, 2009 at 2:17 amMy husband and I stay at home and enjoy a quiet eve channel surfing the festivities.
When my dad was alive we used to have a tradition of seeing which of us five children could ring the family homestead first at midnight. Now that he's gone and my mom is 2 hours ahead of us we've all pretty much stopped.
Some years in memory of my dad I make a platter of amtipasto and his famous "Punch" which consisted of a pint several clear alcoholic liquors and 2-3 containers of fruit punch. Good thing we stay home!
Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve.
Paula Lee
Regina
December 27, 2009 at 2:53 amI ring in the New Year quietly, just me and my husband, a bottle of wine… and resolutions!
sasha and max
December 27, 2009 at 3:04 amVery stylish earring collection, Heather.
We have an evening at home together, some cheese and champagne, and watch fireworks from our balcony as we face the city – Sydney (Australia) harbour and its bridge has an amazing 2 fireworks displays – one at 9 for the kids, and at 12. Always fun.
Best wishes everyone for 2010! Vicki
Marie Cramp
December 27, 2009 at 7:03 amI love Denise Pecks Books, I have two! Great earrings!
Last year we had such a good time playing Guitar Hero on the Wii that we decided to do it again this year!!
Have a happy and safe New Year!
and please, don't drink and drive 🙂
Vintage Blue Studio
December 27, 2009 at 2:56 pmMy husband and I drink champagne while watching the Twilight Zone marathon. It's a nice safe way to spend the New Year!
Azure Islands Designs
December 27, 2009 at 5:23 pmLovely earrings…
For years New Years was celebrated at home usually with Chinese food…great fun!!!
But…this year my daughter and I are going to see an Elvis impersonator…apparently he is very good…I'm very excited!!!
Cheers
Abeille à miel
December 27, 2009 at 5:35 pmWe get together with our closest friends for dinner, music, lots of wine and champagne, laughter, board games. Everyone usually contributes some food or drink as well, so it's a really fancy potluck!
Heather Powers
December 27, 2009 at 5:44 pmI love reading all the different ways everyone celebrates New Year's Eve.
I'm wondering what kind of board games everyone plays. That sounds like fun! We used to love playing Balderdash with our friends on Sunday evenings.
Jenny J.
December 27, 2009 at 8:43 pmBoard games do sound great! I'm looking forward to welcoming the new year with my new in-laws. They love dressing up and dancing, so the hubs and I are headed to Wichita, Kansas for some fanciness and fun. And, yes, I had to make a special piece of jewelry just for the outfit. 🙂 I'll share later on my own blogoutlet. 🙂
Happy New Year!
Jen
Sabine
December 27, 2009 at 9:34 pmWe usually have a quiet night in. I don't like to be out on "amateur night". We try to watch the ball drop, which is easier when living in Mountain Time!
My husband and I were married on the 2nd of January, so that is when we have a nice dinner or a movie.
Happy New Year everyone!
Pamela
December 28, 2009 at 1:36 amOur New Year's Eve is pretty mild. We're lucky to stay up to watch the ball drop. New Year's Day is when we celebrate by taking a nice day trip, usually to find some eagles. My husband's hobby is photography. We like to smile when we think how good we feel out in the wild blue yonder and how bad some of our family and friends may feel from too much celebrating the night before!!
Christine Ritchey
December 28, 2009 at 5:47 amLove the earrings, Heather!
Hubby, dogs and I watch the ball drop (if we can stay awake that long!). We're in an incorporated area of Texas also, but strangely, I haven't heard any fireworks yet!
In Texas, I think we're required by law to eat black eyed peas for good luck. I'd be terrified not to eat them. Heaven knows what might happen! lol
quiltingjewel39
December 28, 2009 at 4:57 pmWe usually have a quiet night in – have a "snack" dinner with all sorts of goodies and watch the ball drop.
Amanda
December 29, 2009 at 12:41 amMy fiance and I always go see his grandparents for the New Year! They live in Louisville, so we hang out with them and his aunt's family. It's very quiet, but very enjoyable. There's also an awesome flea market that usually shows up in Louisville a couple days after the 1st, and we try to hit that up every chance we get!
Andi
December 29, 2009 at 3:38 amFor the last 2 years, my daughter (aka Sprout) and I have gone to Columbus on New Year's Eve to visit friends and attend Zoo Lights at the Columbus Zoo. We stay overnight and then Sprout and "Mr.B" get to spend most of New Year's Day playing before we come home.
Valerie C. of Cline Jewels
January 2, 2010 at 3:37 amSince I live in Las Vegas and close to the stripe all I have to do is go out my front door and look towards the stratis phere and I can see all the fireworks along with my neihgbors. We have a lot of fun drinking champane and telling jokes while watching the best fireworks you every saw in your life shooting off 6 building along the strip all at the same time for 11 minuets. Its great… This year they put the best show on that I have seen since I moved here 6 years ago. This year they went all out because of the resession to give people hope.