Christmas Table Runner

Of all the Christmas items in my collection,  I don't have a table runner.  I thought it is about time for me to make one.

So, this week I went to my favorite quilt shop and took a walk through the Christmas room to find the perfect fabric for my runner.  There was so much to choose from.  So much I just could not decide.

 

Around every corner were such nice fabrics.  Hanging from the rafters were display quilts, aprons,  wall hangings and so much more  for the quilters to see how each fabric will look on their finished product. 

 The woman who sits behind the old time cash register has owned this shop for over 30 years and makes all the samples herself.  I'd say hundreds line the walls. Her work is beautiful and no wonder, she has the perfect quilting machines in the back room and you can watch her working  several days a week.

Took me about 45 minutes but I finally found two fabrics that made me happy.  After measuring I started stitching the fabric over light weight batting to give it a bit of texture.

 Then I did a bit of hand quilting, with tiny stitches around each poinsettia petal.

This is where having one of those marvelous quilting machines comes in.  I can dream, can't I ?

I still need to get tassels for the finished ends, but until then it's on my table.   I like how nice it brightens the entire space.

The Holiday Season is such a mood booster for me.  My entire home is looking a lot like Christmas!  I have a habit of wrapping each purchase the moment it comes in the door, so the gifts are laying on most table tops.

 

 Time to get my tree up!

Tomorrow my sister and I are off to the 

"Red Hat Society Christmas Gala".  

It's my first visit with the ladies and I'm rather excited about a fun afternoon.  Have my "Hat all ready" and my outfit hanging on the door.  I have to laugh at myself.  I went into NY & Co  and bought some really bright and bold (for me) jewelry.  Purple bobbles around my neck and wrist.   Should be a fun day and yes, I'll post some photos soon.  In the mean time here is my hat. I spent some time sewing the ribbon and floral on... Don't laugh!

Am I really going to wear it? 

You bet I am!

Happy weekend everyone!

I'm linking up to
Weekend Wrap Up Party

Tickled Pink @ 504 Main 

   

"Nutcrackers"

I've been collecting "Nutcrackers" for as long as I've been married (31yrs) and this is the first Christmas I've seen them in about 9 years.  We have moved so many times that they ended up in a box marked Xmas and stored with my daughter. Now that she is settled in Palm Beach.  I thought, "It's time to bring them home".

 My first thought was, they were perfect for the mantel.

  I had to laugh at myself.  I went into JoAnn's to pick up a piece of fabric and had to slap my hand.  There were several Nutcrackers that I really loved.  I was good and walked on by.

 

The origin of the Nutcracker started with 

German author E.T.A. Hoffman in the 19th Century wrote many stories in which dolls played an important roll.

Coppelia is about a mechanical doll that is so life-like that the young men of the village flirt with her. In Tales of Hoffman, there is a wind-up doll that sings until her spring winds down, making her voice fall flat as she finishes her song.

These stories of dolls living human dreams are reminiscent in Hoffman’s most famous character, The Nutcracker, from The Nutcracker and The King of Mice. Presented as a Christmas Gift to the beautiful Clara,  this wooden Nutcracker doll, dressed in soldier’s finery, is quickly crushed by Clara’s jealous brother. Broken, but still loved, he is gently left beneath the families’ Christmas tree, where he comes to life at the stroke of midnight.

The villainous army of the King of Mice come upon The Nutcracker and draw their swords for battle. Reinforced by toy soldiers, The Nutcracker is victorious in the war under the Christmas tree, and finds himself to actually be a Prince, able to take his beloved Clara on a magical journey to his homeland. 

 

I counted 43 Nutcrackers in the Christmas box.  Each holiday I would buy one or two and a few were gifts  The one with the tennis racket was from my son during his high school years.  The "Snow Bunny" was  from my daughter while she was living in Germany. 

Written on the back of their leg, in sharpie, each has a date and location of where I was living at the time.

 

I never knew how much I missed them until this past week when I found the box tucked away in Cyndi's closet.

My Nutcrackers are home again.  

The next few photos are some I took while out shopping.. the Nutcrackers  are not traditional but sorta cute?

Drum Roll!

Let me introduce my 2011 Nutcracker!

One I just could not resist buying.

Her little mixing bowl,  well it could not go empty so I mixed in some Sesame seeds and she will grace the kitchen counter for the holidays.

I started putting the decorations on the front of my house and the Icicle lights are pretty bright.   Hopefully I'll get it finished by the weekend.

What special holiday decoration do you collect? 

I'll be linking up to

Alphabet Thursday, the letter D

Potpourri Party 

Frugal Friday

Christmas Block Party 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Create and Share 

Metamorphosis Monday 

Getting Started with Christmas Decorating. . . .

 

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us I'm ready to decorate the house and my soul.

Since my children moved from the nest on to their own homes and families I do all I can to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in my home. I found a Hallmark ornament for my daughter #1 and put it on her tree last week. I try to get her a new one each year.  Putting up a large Christmas Tree is not as important as before and I fell in love with this silly Charley Brown tree last year that graces my coffee table.  It's enough for me along with all the decorations scattered around the house. Putting up the large one, that is still a possibility?

 

For the fireplace mantel, I took a simple garland and squished it together with pinecones and some xmas florals, added a bow and laid it in front of the TV.  I also scattered my collection of  Nutcrackers. 44 and still going strong. That will be another post. I picked up the little Chef only yesterday.

Then on to the front porch.  A simple wreath for the front door.  Michaels had their 30% off Black Friday coupon and the wreath was all of $1.78 on the final bill.  I used floral and ribbon from last year.

Perfect!

My daughter, sister and I put up the Icicle Lights on the front of the house along with my droopy Wreath.  I think it needs replacing this year.  We will see?

Put out my two new Poinsettias that need an attractive pot.

In between decorating I whipped up a batch of Snickerdoodles and Banana Bread for mr N's board meeting.  The HOA meets once a month and it was his turn to host them.  Coffee and Cookies, along with some Banana Bread. The cookies, I cheated and used a box mix but he Banana's were from my neighbor who went on her annual Thanksgiving camp-out.  I used them before they spoiled and made the Bread. Will have to save one just for her.

I'm so happy during this time of year and as I said, my kids are all with their own families but it does not stop me from enjoying the season. Let me get it all together and I'll post the finished results of my Christmas decorations through out the house.

I'll be linking this post to

Metamorphosis Monday