Saturday, December 26, 2009

Pure Cuteness

Now that Christmas day has come and gone and I've given out of the gifts I made, I can finally show them to you wonderful blogging friends.

This is an adorable purse from this book that I made for my future sister-in-law, Kristin.

And this is quite the sophisticated tote for my oh so wonderful and loving Nanny (Grandma). She loves black and white fabric and I just knew that this fabric would fit perfectly with the "Taxi Tote" from this book.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Twirl Girl

I'm loving this Twirl Apron pattern from this wonderful book. I made another one for my dear friend Traci as a Christmas present. She absolutely loved it!
I used thrifted fabric and some Amy Butler "Love." Isn't it so much fun? It twirls so well!

P.S. I wasn't able to get any pictures of Traci wearing it, so I took some pictures of me wearing it before I gave it to her so I could show off the cuteness that it is.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

All I Want for Christmas Are Some Doggy Treats

...Well not me...but our pets sure do.
Looks like Chief, Kitty, and Jalen all made Santa's "Nice" list this year.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Under the Christmas Tree

Since Dustin and I are traveling out of town for Christmas, we decided to exchange presents this past Saturday. All I have to say is my Hubby sure knows how to spoil me.

First of all, he was very clever with the stocking stuffers he gave me this year. Five of them were hidden randomly throughout the house and I had to figure out the riddles that he provided in my stocking. I felt like a little kid as I searched for each present.


A fabulous bundle of Gutermann thread. *Sigh*
This one made me jump and giggle for joy - it's a fat quarter bundle of Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane.
Some more fat quarters for my stash...
A fabric sleeve for my coffee from Starbucks that was made by this talented friend of mine.
She also made this everything you see here. This little bundle of goodness was like receiving candy. Oh so sweet!

This is a scarf-knitting kit from Clementine's. Cami has been selling these kits like hotcakes, and even though I've never knitted a thing in my life, I'm determined to learn how to make this gorgeous scarf.
I also got these fabulous books to add to my ever-growing sewing (and now knitting) library.
What a happy Christmas so far.

Monday, December 21, 2009

I'll Be Home for Christmas


We're off to good ol' Southern Virginia for the week. Time for family, friends, and festivities. But don't worry, my friends. This blog will not be silent for the next 7 days. Oh no sir-ee. I have several wonderful things that I would like to share with you while I'm away, so be sure to check in every day for something wonderful.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Baking Around the Christmas Tree


This past week was filled with baking, baking, and, oh yes, more baking.
Baking for our holiday party at work...
Ladies Cookie Exchange at our church...
And our annual Pastors' Christmas Open House (and I'm still not done with that baking).


My number one favorite cookies to bake during the Christmas season are Peanut Blossoms. When I was a kid, my mom and I used to make them together.


It was always so much fun to unwrap each individual Hershey Kiss (eating every 3rd one, as my mom would say)...


...Roll the dough in the sugar, and "testing" the first one right after it came out of the oven (with a cold glass of milk, of course).

Around the House Saturdays: Deck the Halls with Beaded Garland





Friday, December 18, 2009

I'll Be Home-Made for Christmas

I love all things home-made, and Christmas ornaments are no exception. Today's featured ornaments are two hand-made ornaments that I created last year.

This first one is a Mastroyka doll from a pattern in this book. Isn't her little face just precious? And this next one was made during this fabulous event last year. It's made out of home-made dough (1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water - mixed until thick). I absolutely love it because it reminds me being a kid and making this kind of ornament with my cousins.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Nine Ladies Dancing

I imagine that the nine dancing ladies in "The 12 Days of Christmas" would wear shoes like these...


...Because, they're obviously nine Can-Can dancers or Radio City Rockets from the early 1900s and need such fabulous boots. This shoe was found at a wonderful antique store in Virginia when my mom and I did some after-Christmas shopping last year.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Not sure if this bird technically qualifies as a partridge, but it is a single bird perched in the tree, so that's gotta count for something, right?

This ornament is my 2009 Christmas ornament. It's from none other, than the amazing Anthropologie. And what's really neat about it, is that it has 2009 embroidered on it's tail feathers. My Hubby & I love ornaments that have the year on them because we can always remember when we got them. My Hubby also got me this beautiful one from a fabulous little store called At Home in the City on Mass. Ave.
My Hubby's ornaments definitely fit who he is. The first one is a jingle bell eighth note. The next one is a NASCAR Denny Hamlin toy car. And yes, it's just sitting on a branch. It officially became a tree ornament when he placed it in the tree. So we will forever have a Denny Hamlin car as an addition to our tree. That's right folks. We're NASCAR fans and we love it! Don't believe me? Just check out this beautiful girl's blog to see the evidence.This final ornament of the day is our "Together" ornament of 2009. It's covered in soft felt and is from Crate & Barrel. It kinda looks like a big peppermint. I love the hand-made qualities about it.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Woman's Done It Again!



Under Da Sea...

...or Hangin' on Da Tree...
For obvious reasons you needed to be familiar with "The Little Mermaid" and sing the title of this post in order to really get this first line. (Could I be any more corny?)

Anyway...I thought I would highlight a couple of ornaments on our tree for your Christmasy pleasure. So for the next couple of days, I will feature one or two ornaments each day for you to "oooh" and aaah" over.


I have this little infatuation with fish ornaments. Not sure why, but I just do. And who could resist this little fishy? It's either getting ready to sing a Christmas carol or blow the tree down...I'd like to think the former, but there's no telling.


And this photo...well...it's just magical and makes me happy.

Monday, December 14, 2009

A Cute Little Give-Away


Carrie, over at Ruffled Feathers, is having a cute little give-away to celebrate her birthday! You could win this cute little bird and other prizes if you enter.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Around the House Saturdays: Vintage Christmas Edition

As many of you know, I was raised in a home that was filled with the appreciation of vintage and antique items...and Christmas items were no exception. My Grandpa (my Dad's Dad) was really big on antique Christmas decor. He had all kinds of beautiful "treasures" from all over the world and each Christmas he would pull out all the stops to decorate his home with beautiful decorations.
It was at his house that I began to really appreciate vintage and retro Christmas items. After he passed away, my parents inherited many of his ornaments and decorations and each Christmas they would dedicate one of their Christmas trees to him and call it "Grandpa's Tree."

Now that I'm grown up and have a home of my own to decorate, I've been able to kindle this love of delicate vintage Christmas trimmings. For the past year, I've been collecting various vintage Christmas decorations...everything from ornaments to knick-knacks.

Each item I see has a special place in my heart and it's almost like a piece of Grandpa is a part of our house. (This is the point of the post where my parents are probably tearing up). I absolutely love the character that each of these items has and how they tell their own little Christmas tale.I was so excited when I found this angel. We had one just like this on our tree when I was growing up. Even though my parents have a new tree-topper, they still put her out every year.
Collecting and reading Christmas books are also a tradition that my Mom instilled in me. I've found some really great antique books with illustrations that have such character. I was so lucky to find a First Edition of "Miracle on 34th Street." It's absolutely fabulous.
What kinds of Christmas traditions have you carried on in your family?
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