Quilt challenge

Do see the new button on the right side of the blog?  It's Myra's 2011 PhD quilt challenge.  A PhD is a Project Half Done! I have committed to finishing two of my quilt projects in six months. The quilts I want to finish are blocks from the $5 classes at Pinwheel Fabrics.

The first one is my snowman quilt. I have all the blocks finished and just need to add sashing and borders and then quilt.

I also want to finish my Amish looking quilt. I have a few more large blocks and several Flying Geese border blocks to make.

I'm excited, I think I need a push sometimes to finish things. I told myself I wasn't going to start another $5 class until I finished one of the precious quilts. But, I was at the shop this week and guess what, I started another!! I just can't help myself. I love to piece blocks! So now there is an extra incentive to finish these two quilts.

Wow, you should see the other projects on the blog. They are wonderful!!

I'll keep you posted on my progress and I could sure use your encouragement!

Treasures On Thursday

I almost skipped Treasures on Thursday today. I was a little tired from all the holiday celebrations. But, earlier today, I was out and ran by the local Hallmark store to check on their after Christmas sale. If you recall, I didn't buy an Old World Collection ornament this year. I just couldn't find one I though was special. Well, today they were 50% off and I found one. This year during Christmas the topic of mistletoe kept coming up. So, this ornament was just perfect.

First, while out with my grandson, Jake, I showed him a tree that had mistletoe growing on it.  He was not so sure about Gramma kissing him under the mistletoe, especially outside. I'd try every time we were under the tree and he would scrunch up his neck and dodge away!  Remember, he's eight, and kissing is yucky!! Then my daughter brought me some real mistletoe. I haven't had any in years. Still couldn't get Jake under the mistletoe. Of course, he does sometimes let me steal a kiss from him, especially at bedtime! 

Here's a little more mistletoe trivia that was on the ornament tag, in Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace under which enemies could declare a truce or spouses kissed and made-up. I hadn't heard that. It's amazing how much we can learn everyday just by reading!! Anyway, I now have a new ornament with new memories to treasure! I hope you haven't grown too weary of Christmas and seeing ornaments. I will never, never be tired of my Christmas decorations!! But, I think I'm through blogging about them, that is if I don't find another great one!

Wonderful Christmas Time

Our family made a trip to our State Capitol to see the lights and Christmas displays. Our Capitol building is a smaller version of the Nation's Capitol and was decorated beautifully.

Drew, Josh and Jake in the front

I'm holding Aaron

 my daughter, Patty

and my daughter-in-law, Aimee

There are three floors in our Capitol with lots of marble steps. What little boy doesn't love steps. I think that's what they liked the best!

This is the best picture I got of them on the steps. They were too anxious and excited to be still!

There is a tree with a giant Christmas ball from each county. Each ball is painted with a scene depicting something from the county.

The ball from Pulaski county was painted with the beautiful Pugh's Old Mill. The mill, which is not a real mill, but a replica, can be seen in the opening scenes of "Gone With The Wind." I thought it was one of the best paintings on the tree.

We were so fortunate the weather was perfect, it was in the 50's!! We toured the grounds to see all the monuments and to see the large, wood carved nativity scene. That was special for the boys to see Baby Jesus!

In between all of our activities, we were able to craft. We made garland, doorknob hangers, and snowmen. The boys enjoyed making things to take home and put on their tree.

Aaron is making a garland with paper stars and pieces of colored straws threaded on yarn.

Josh is working on his snowman ornament. He's my little crafter. He loves to make things.

 Jake, who is very creative, is cutting out pieces for his snowman.

Drew is putting stickers on his doorknob hanger. He doesn't really like to craft a lot, but he does like stickers.

We had a great time and they had lots of goodies to take home.

For one last ornament, I wanted to show you this gorgeous redbird that my daughter just gave me.

Red birds are such a bright part of Christmas. I even have this small quilt  with paper pieced red birds and trees hanging on my front door.

I'm hoping your family had a wonderful Christmas time!



My Nostalga tree

I'm fascinated by all things vintage! In my extra bedroom, which I call my nostalgia room, I have a lot of antiques including a treadle sewing machine, old beaded purses, items that belonged to my Nannie and Papaw, my mother's old books and much more. Some vintage and some modern, but all with the vintage look. So, when I chose a theme for this room, it of course needed to compliment the room.

This delicate tree has a feminine look. Lots of white lights and small ornaments.

I found the perfect angel for the top...delicate and trimmed with beads and gold. I think she has the prettiest face.

I made this lovely fan from a Christmas card that my Papaw sent me years ago. At first, I wasn't sure I could cut it up. But, now I'm glad I did.  Every year when I put the fan on the tree, I think of him. That's better than just a card laying in a box.

I decorated several small hats I found at a hobby store with ribbons and flowers for ornaments. I luckily ran across a set of small shoe ornaments at Wal-Mart of all places. They fit the theme of the tree perfectly!

I then decorated several small round boxes with paper, ribbon, and flowers to make hat boxes.

There are also several birds and birdhouses in this room. I decided my tree needed some, too. There are several different shapes and I painted them with different pastel colors.

Along with the little shoes I found a package of purses that matched.

 I also made several beaded dangly ornaments.

This was a fun tree to decorate and I enjoy seeing it every time I come down our hall.


I have two more trees to show you. I call them my "Dr. Seuss" trees.

They remind me of the fun shapes in his book "The Grinch That Stole Christmas." They are in my bedroom on the dresser and always make me smile!

I love this sweet little candle holder sitting in front of the trees.

I truly enjoy Christmas and love the Christmas decorations throughout my house. No matter what room I'm in there's a feeling of Christmas. I have one more tree that I haven't really decided on a theme for. This year it just holds ornaments that are kid friendly. I may work on a theme for it next year. The only room that doesn't have a tree is my kitchen. I've always wanted a kitchen tree, but my kitchen has no place for one, not even a small one. I'm OK with that, because from the kitchen you can see my living room and all the trees in there. I hope you've enjoyed my trees as much as I've enjoyed showing them to you!

Enjoy your last days of December!!

More Christmas Trees

I have shown you numerous ornaments from my "big" tree and now finally, a full view of the tree. It's loaded with about 800-1000 lights and too many ornaments to count. I've always loved trees with multi-colored lights. There's just something so nostalgic about them. My tree is a collection of many wonderful memories. I've enjoyed showing many of my ornaments to you and reminiscing. It has made me stop to take an extra moment to enjoy them.

One other tree that is a favorite of mine is my snowmen tree.  In case I haven't mentioned it before, I love snowmen! This tree is on top of our entertainment center with a collection of Santas.

The ornament on the left is a Hallmark ornament and on the right is a little bear in a mitten. Even though it's a bear wearing a Santa hat, I put him on my snowmen tree because of the snowflake on the mitten.

I like all snowmen whether they're long and skinny or roly-poly.

I stitched these snowmen on perforated paper. I like the details of the snowflake and the birds and birdhouse.

As this snowman on the left proclaims, the theme of my tree, LET IT SNOW. There's also a snowman dressed in holly.

A unusal glass cone-shaped snowman and a snowman  wrapped in a warm woolen scarf.

Another beaded ornament and a small snowman hanging.

There's not any special stories behind any of these ornaments, just ornaments I just couldn't resist.

Did you see a white Christmas?  We rarely see snow at Christmas. But, maybe we'll have snow sometime this winter!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Luke 2:10-14

Our Christmas Message

May the Christmas Spirit fill your heart

With love and joy today

To bring you peace and happiness

In every special way.

May the memories of Christmases

Glow warmly in your heart

Where the cherished old traditions

Ever play a vital part.

May the day be extra special

With the beauty of some snow;

May the sunshine make it sparkle

And bring a festive glow.

May the candles, bells and holly,

The cards and gifts and flowers

Fill the day with cheerfulness

And lovely happy hours

May those you love surround you

To share your Christmas day;

May the blessings of the season

Come in you life to stay.

Harriet Whipple

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and Ornament - Day 28

'Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house

not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse;

These cute Hallmark bears are reading a copy of my favorite Christmas book, "The Night Before Christmas."  In December of 1823, a newspaper in upstate New York called Troy Sentinel printed an anonymous poem entitled "Account of a Visit from St Nicholas."  This was the first time many children in America had ever heard of St. Nicholas. In 1844 a man named Clement C. Moore claimed authorship. Since then, many scholars have contested that claim and have even named other possible authors, so we may never know the identify of the anonymous writer. Four hand-written copies of the poem are known to exist, and three are in museums. The fourth copy, written out and signed by Clement Clarke Moore, was a gift to a friend in 1860.

I have 13 different copies of this wonderful book. I think it is amazing the beautiful art work and portrayal of Santa by each illustrator. Below each illustration I have listed the illustrator.

This book began the collection. I read it to my children on Christmas Eve. It is called the Classic Edition. 

Such dreamy illustrations by Christian Birmingham.

Illustrator Matt Tavares - copyright 2002

This is one of my favorites. I have always loved  pin and ink drawings.

Illustrator Kathy Wilburn - copyright 1985

A Little Golden Book

I think every little child would love this sweet Santa.

Illustrator Mary Engelbreit - copyright 2002

I love her illustrations, they are so folk artsy.

Illustrator A.E.K - copyright 1918

This book is neat, each page is done by a different illustrator.

Illustrator Gyo Fujikawa - copyright 2007

Illustrator Jan Brett - copyright 1998

Jan Brett is one of my favorite children's book illustrators. Notice on the left side of the page, there is secondary story throughout the book.

Illustrator Douglas Gorsline - copyright 1975

Illustrator Niroot Puttapipat - copyright 2007

This book is very different, a lot of silhouettes and paper cut pages.

Illustrator Leonard Weisgard - copyright 1949

Illustrator Will Moses - copyright 2006

 Illustrator Tom Newsom - copyright 2004
This book is filled with wonderful illustrations of Santa. I had a hard time deciding which one I would show you.

Published by Gallery Graphics, Inc. - 2001

Illustrator Niroot Puttapipat - copyright 2007

A beautiful pop-up page.

And I heard him exclaim

As he drove out of sight

Merry Christmas to all,

And to all a good night!

Clement C. Moore

Merry Christmas to you!