Deborah Mori's Holiday village craft party extravaganza!

Deborah Mori over at Life Without Novacaine posted a fun holiday blog challenge that involved transforming a chunk of wood into a cute little house to be part of a Christmas village.  Immediately I salivated at the thought of dusting off my chisels and going to town carving away like a happy little woodchuck.  So, two weeks go by in a flash (cause you know it's the busiest time of the year) and my block o' wood is still sitting on my desk staring at me in it's original state.  Determined to wrap up all impending projects, last night I went to town digging out all possible papers, objects and crafts in my stockpile to decorate it with.  And Ta-DA!  Just like that, it's all finished.  And I forgot to take a before picture.  And it looks like a tornado hit my studio.  But it was so much fun!  Click here to see Deborah's posted originals.

Materials used:  Gesso, pressed papers and decorative papers, rusty metal, synthetic hydrangea petal, buffalo snow, Modge Podge and glitter.  What do you think?

Deborah lives in warm San Diego where I'm sure it never snows so I thought I'd give her some snowy love from Baltimore.  We just got about two feet here over the weekend!  And that's not the only thing we got. . .

We got some news that is going to drastically change our life.  After being all shooken up after the scare of my Husband's job here in Baltimore ending after 12 years, he was presented with a new one in Phoenix AZ just today.  And a much better one.  A promotion and a raise, and a decent relocation package.  All things are looking a-go for a move to Arizona.  We fly out in January to seal the deal and go look at houses.  WOW.  Life can change, just like that.  And I just feel it in my bones that this is going to be a good change, and a much needed change.  But I will miss my friends and family so very much here in Baltimore.

People re-locate all the time, yet it feels so strange to me.  I've lived here all my life.  But I've always, always wanted to move and discover new places.  Have any of you ever had to re-locate far enough where car trips were just too far to go back home and visit?  If so, how did it all work out for you?  Any advice sure would help, and be much appreciated!