bite-sized button ornaments
Another clever craft from Miss Martha’s elves!
My friend has been busy creating these cute gems for Christmas. All you need is some buttons, wire and a bead or two and you’ve got some sweet gift toppers for your treats under the tree.
Thanks Anna for sharing your crafty skills.
Do you get extra crafty at Christmas-time? If so, we’d love to hear what you’re working on… just leave a comment below.
(click HERE to see my other friend’s sweet snowman ornaments)
We love making simple goodies that get our creative juices flowing… what – you too? Then don’t delay and sign up to receive these hip blog posts in your email inbox today!
rare bird finds feature
Now who could resist some nice healthy salad when they are served with these cute flower salad servers? I think my three year old would probably try to confiscate them and use them as fairy wands. $16.95 at Catching Fireflies
Thank you sweet birdies for chatting about our sustainable servers!
trimmin’ the tree
Tuesday & Gus got in the Christmas spirit as I was trimmin’ the tree… even he likes to sport our sweet psychedelic tree light glasses!
My mom recently handed down some of my favorite ornaments since my parents are now spending the 25th in sunny Florida.
I just love these walnut shell creations. I have fond memories of attending the classic high school holiday bazaars with my mom as a child… where most likely these came from.
And this glittery green ice cream cone was MY FAVORITE one on our Christmas tree growing up… which explains why I still have a love for sweet food ornaments to this day.
I snagged this whole candy series from our store a couple years ago.
Here are a few more of my catching fireflies favorites from past seasons… the Michael Simon sweater-shoe-handbag series – no details were missed – right down to the beaded hanger!
And this whimsical angel and her glass ornament full of gold stars… so pretty.
And my one-of-kind handmade favs – This adorable owl from a local Beverly Hills, MI artist and this decked out gingerbread house – with a miniature turtle and clock face to boot! (both from past seasons at catching fireflies)
I also have a fondness for funny duos such as these big bellied reindeer cheerleaders and these fancy frogs in love.
And how can you not love these stylish alligators – the girl makes me grin every time I see her pink pumps.
Every year I have to bring a few of the season’s ornaments home. This year I’m adding this sweet hand stitched pair to the couples club.
Do you have any favorite ornaments from catching fireflies or tree trimmin’ stories… (besides the ones where you start swearing because only half of your tree lights work:)
We’d love to hear from you via the comments below.
seasons greetings card tree
Getting the mail is always fun come December. Everyday I get to see new photos of friends & family and read stories about what they’ve been up to. Instead of leaving them in a pile, I bought this handy candy cane clip cord last year at the store (we don’t have them this year) – but we do have these cheerful snowmen and their snazzy scarves do the same trick. (available at our Berkley & Rochester locations only)
Then I saw this cool idea. Of course – leave it to Martha to come up with this delightful presentation.
I think it makes a festive & inexpensive center piece (when you’re not sitting at the table:) and what a great way to enjoy your cards throughout the season.
Click HERE for more detailed instructions on how to make one of these hip holiday card trees.
We love discovering simple ideas that make our friends and family say "WOW – you did that?"
… what – you too? Then don’t delay and sign up to receive these hip blog posts in your email inbox today!
sunset magazine blog feature
Wine lovers’ gift guide: stocking-stuffers
(excerpt)
Take your wine’s temperature
This stainless steel band (above) with a thermal strip looks like a mood ring but works like a charm, slipping over a standard 750-ml. bottle and letting you know when it’s at the perfect serving temperature. The cuff lists a number of grape varietals and wine styles. It’s temporarily out of stock at Uncommon Goods (one of my favorite gift catalogs, and where I bought a few wine-temperature cuffs last Christmas), where it retails for $10. But Catching Fireflies has it for the same price.
Platinum Magazine Feature 12.08
PLATINUM: The Goods – Light Up Someone’s Chanukah
Gift Guide Feature Excerpt
"seasons come and go but friends last forever" frame $37.50
cool christmas card enclosures
For the past number of years I’ve made it a tradition to put a little something extra in my Christmas cards. Sometimes it was a handmade ornament packaged in a bright metallic bubblelope, or a mixed cd full of our favorite holiday tunes. Regardless, it made my heart smile to know the recipients would get an extra grin when they opened their mail that day.
A couple of years ago, our family got these silly specs that made their tree lights psychedelic!
Last year the various characters from the Peanuts greeted our friends with some hot cocoa.
This year I’m including a couple sheets of flying wish paper, a wish platform and instructions on how to make them come true!
Have you ever received seasonal surprises in the mail or sent something extra special in your cards? I love hearing about fun ways to brighten someone’s day.
the story of STAKE and SPLIT
I’ve always been a fan of transforming my flower pots into evergreen backdrops for a few fun snow stakes during the holiday season.
However, I never thought about secretly surprising a friend with one until I heard the agenda of one of our firefly fans. Every time she visited us, she left with a handful stakes and out of curiousity we inquired about what she was up to.
Turns out she was sneaking up to her friends homes and sticking a festive stake in their yard with no note or trace of her visit. After hearing some of her stake & split stories… there was no doubt she was having a grand time.
So if you’re feeling a little mischevious or want to play Secret Santa… you know what to do. Don’t worry we won’t tell.
We have lots of pretty stakes available at our Rochester & Berkley locations.
Do you like seeking out fun goodies that’ll brighten someone’s day? We’re happy to assist you in your search with loads of clever ideas. Simply sign up to receive these blog posts in your email and you’ll be the best gift giver around!
Detriot Free Press Feature 12.09.08
30 Gifts Under $30 -Georgea Kovanis
(excerpt)
3. Cats and Christmas trees can be a not-so-festive combination, unless you’re talking about this darling kitty cat ornament. $7.50 at Catching Fireflies, 3117 W. Twelve Mile, Berkley, 248-336-2030 and 203 E. University, Rochester, 248-650-3318. Also: www.catchingfireflies.com
*Unfortunately because of the feature, we are all sold out of this cute kitty and cannot get anymore in. Thanks for your understanding.
too too cute – two liter bottles
Would you believe me if I said this oh-so-sweet little scene is made from the bottom of a two liter bottle?
Leave it up to our very own Rochester firefly gal, Susan to have such an amazing imagination. I recently gave her a bunch of glass bottles that I didn’t need and she made this wonderful winter scene for me as a thank you.
In case you can’t make it out, it says "time for sushi & hot tea"
I found the perfect place for it on my mantel midst my other whimsical winter friends.
The good news is she has an etsy site where she sells other adorable goodies like these…
Look how cute he is. I’m tempted to buy this one since I absolutely love making & eating smores.
A portion of her artist statement reads, "I love recycling items and finding a "new" life for them…. In this day and age…. it feels good to reuse the items we have…add some paint, a bead here and there, a bow, a stick, some glue… and before you know it…. you have something NEW!"
No doubt, the glass bottles will go to very good use.
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