Big Reveal! Elf Houses at Windows on Nicollet

 After months of work, I can finally reveal our Holiday Windows on Nicollet display at the Welcome to Minneapolis Center!  Our window features two beloved figurines from beloved Dayton's Holiday Displays of the past - Mole and Ratty, friends from Wind in the Willows.

Getting the Family Tree - Fun with Tomten

 My wife loves all things Christmas, so we put our tree up fairly early each year.  This year we had a light dusting of snow, which made the trip to the tree farm particularly beautiful.

My favorite tree farm has a fun elf-related activity.  They have a number of Tomten that they've hidden all over the property.  Each Tomte has its own name and new hiding spot each year.  It adds a bit of Scandinavian fun to the hunt for a Christmas tree.

Once all the Tomten were found (some are very sneaky), we took our tree home and decorated it for the holidays.  I hope you also can find some magic this holiday season!

Letter to the Elves!

 The elves love to receive letters!  Here are is a nice one they shared with me recently:

Back in the Clay

 When we reach November, I have to start admitting that elf house season is behind me.  Well there was that one year we put the elf houses on ice for Art Shanties at Bde Uma.

But usually my work making elf houses calms down in the winter months.  That means I had back to the clay studio to make art and have adventures there.  I'm really trying to perfect my lid game.  These two jars are my latest attempts.  

Letters to the Elves!

  The elves love to receive letters!  Here are is a nice one they shared with me recently:

Letters to the Elves!

  The elves love to receive letters!  Here are is a nice one they shared with me recently:

Windows on Nicollet Installation Day

Its a huge honor for my elf houses to be included in Windows on Nicollet for this holiday season!  Installation took a lot of heart and sweat!  My son was wearing his FitBit tracker and we ended up walking over 6 miles each to get things in place.  I still can't show you the whole installation (that comes with the November 25th Opening Day)!  However, here are some pictures from our hardworking installation day.

Here we are walking and walking and walking!