My kitchen turned into a cookie making machine . . .

 One of my traditions  each year. I spend a day whipping out tons of Christmas Cookies.  First of all I love to bake and decorate and in light of the evil last week I thought this might be a good weekend to give my spirits a lift.
I  made cookie dough both from scratch and used the wonderful cookies mixes on the market.   I think I started at 6am and kept at it until 3 in the afternoon..  Had my Pandora Christmas music on the iPad,   My Starbucks Pumpkin Spice coffee  and away I went.

 I had cookies stacked everywhere while I decorated.  Having to laugh at myself as I looked at some of the cookies,  well like the little Gingerbread Men.. they looked scared.  Oh well, they taste good!  I tried something new with the Peanut Butter cookies.. I put a 1/2 cup of Nutella in the dough  and a little bit more flour and let me tell you, "they taste wonderful"!
This was the first year I did not have anyone helping me.. I put a notice on my FB,, calling all grandchildren to come help.  Had several response's to come eat them but no one came to decorate.  Oh well,  I had fun all by myself.

 All together I made 8 boxes that will be wrapped and given as gifts to neighbors.  Of course the Mr. has his own box and one for the nice people at his work. Oh and lets not forget my BFF Cardio Doc.. this man and his staff deserve so much more from me. I did pack some up and put them in the mail, for a friend. I sure hope she gets more than crumbs.

 "I love Christmas"

Tickled Pink 
Vintage Inspiration 
Make it Pretty Monday  

   

"Happy Birthday Dolly" Is the world really coming to an end tomorrow?

 Today is my sisters birthday and were going to spend the day in the Hard Rock Casino spending all our money.... Why leave it in the bank if the world will come to an end tomorrow?

"Oh Happy Day"

My "Little House" Christmas Ornament, for a special Daughter. . .

 While reading a few blogs I follow,  there was a cute "little House Ornament" made by one of my bloggie friends.  It gave me the inspiration to make my "Little House" for my daughter who bought her first home a few months ago.  Although Anita's little house is  totally different fabric and designs, well, you can see hers  Going a Little Coastal .  Anita also has a Son who moved into his first home and this gave me the idea. 
Her little house is so cute.

 My Cyndi's home is decorated totally Country so I pulled out my burlap scraps and created a small house with a Christmas theme.. Cyndi just put up her decorations on the front of her house so I did my rendition of her lights.

 I used DMC Floss to put lights on the Eves of the house,  just like Cyndi did on her home.  On the reverse side I added a few words to remember the date and event in her life.
I'm sure she will totally enjoy putting this little ornament on her tree.  

It's just her style.

l

You know they say "Christmas is the best time of year" and I totally agree.

It brings people together and has us doing things we just don't do all year long.

We get so busy and then so stressed as the date,  Dec 25, gets closer but look how much fun it is.

I hope you all have your crafts finished and your shopping just about done.  At this point in time, "I think I'm finished"(?)

I'm sending all the good vibes I can muster to those in the little town of "Sandy Hook" for grace during this long healing process. 

Down Home Blog Hop 

We Did It Wednesday 

Create and Share 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Share Your Cup Thursday 

Under $100. Linky Party 

Linky Party 

It's Overflowing With Creativity 

Silence . . . .

Charlotte Bacon (2/22/06), 6 years old

Daniel Barden (9/25/05), 7 years old

Rachel Davino (7/17/83), Staff member, 29 years old

Olivia Engel (7/18/06), 6 years old

Josephine Gay (12/11/05), 7 years old

Ana M. Marquez-Greene (4/4/06), 6 years old

Dylan Hockley (3/8/06), 6 years old

Dawn Hochsprung (6/28/65), Principal, 47 years old

Madeleine F. Hsu (7/10/06), 6 years old

Catherine V. Hubbard (6/8/06), 6 years old

Chase Kowalski (10/31/05), 7 years old

Nancy Lanza, 52 years old (mother of shooter)

Jesse Lewis (6/30/06), 6 years old

James Mattioli (03/22/06), 6 years old

Grace McDonnell (11/4/05), 7 years old

Anne Marie Murphy (7/25/60), Staff member, 52 years old

Emilie Parker (05/12/06), 6 years old

Jack Pinto (05/05/06), 6 years old

Noah Pozner (11/20/06), 6 years old

Caroline Previdi (9/07/06), 6 years old

Jessica Rekos (5/10/06), 6 years old

Avielle Richman (11/17/06) 6 years old

Lauren Rousseau (June 1982), Staff member, 30 years old

Mary Sherlach (2/11/56), Staff member, 56 years old

Victoria Soto (11/04/85), Staff member, 27 years old

Benjamin Wheeler (09/12/06), 6 years old

Allison N. Wyatt (07/03/06), 6 years old 

This is Victoria. She died a hero. She hid her first graders in the cabinets and closets after hearing the gunfire. When the shooter came to her classroom, she told him that her students were in the gym. He then gunned her down and moved on. She saved the lives of all of her students. Please pass this on if you see it. She deserves to be remembered for her bravery

 

 

Just finished "Slip Cover #2" but this one is made of "Paint Drop Cloth". . .

Now that the holidays are upon us, like you all I've been decorating my entire home.  As I walked from room to room I noticed two chairs that were in need of repair... one that my cat, Daisy, clawed to death.  You can see how I did that HERE  and the other,  a recliner,  the one Mr. N calls his own!   I did not want to put a good fabric on this chair only because, well you know how the Mr.. sits for games, cowboys and CNN eating his food.  I thought, "What better fabric than a drop cloth".
Went to the HD and bought a 4 by 15  paint drop cloth for all of $11.99,  took it home popped it in the washer with lots of bleach and fabric softener and it came out beautiful.  I have never covered a recliner and it was a bit tricky to say the least.  I needed to find a way to allow it to open?

Having the fabric just fall was much to tight and the chair did not work properly so I thought to just put a long gathered skirt on the front and it now it works perfectly.

This will be two slip covers  I've made this past few weeks and  so happy that I have them finished.
  I did allow for tucking the fabric deep into the pockets of the recliner seat so when it's open it will not be tight, when the Mr is finished all we have to do it tuck it all back in.  I even had a bit of fabric from my first slipcover to make a small pillow so the two chairs somehow go together. 

 Ok, I'm done sewing for the Holidays.  I'm just tickled with myself after doing both chairs.  Funny thing, I've been putting this off for months because it just sounded like a lot of work and it truly is not if you only allow yourself the time and energy to get it started.

 "With a big smile on my face I'm showing off my two works of art"

 Now I can relax and enjoy the Holidays.  My sister will be here in three days and our first order of business, (that is if she wakes up from jet lag) is to the "Hard Rock Casino" to celebrate her birthday on the 20th.

 Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Inspiration Friday 

Now there shooting our Children... God help us now their shooting our Children

 I am sitting here in disbelief over the shootings at this Elementary School... 
Children between the ages of 5 and 10 along with school staff.
I don't need to get on my band wagon but something needs to be done!
We do not need guns... We do not need guns!  

There have been too many shootings in America!  

And now their shooting our children!

It's much too easy to get a gun. 

Last night a man in my area, with a legal gun in his home shot at two law officers and blew away their cars over a domestic situation that he started.  He needed a gun for protection I'm sure is what his reasoning was.  Protection from who, himself?

 I read this and felt it was worth mentioning... "Immediately when something horrific happens, such as the senseless, evil killings in CT,   the politicians, the media, and the authorities will say "pray for these families" or "our thoughts and prayers are with this community and these families".  We also hear "How does God let his happen?" BUT DON'T LET GOD IN THE DOOR DURING REGULAR HOURS!  Don't mention His name (unless it's in vain).  Don't DARE pray during school hours.  Don't ever mention CHRISTmas (make sure you're politically correct and say things like "winter break").   It's a tragedy.  A horrible, tear-jerking, mind-numbing tragedy.  But God had nothing to do with it,  He's not even allowed on public property."

Hug your children tight because you have to send them to school on Monday morning.. 

My prayers go out to the moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, sisters and brothers of these sweet dear children.

Transfering a design onto fabric...

 

Now that I have  my Holiday Decorating and Shopping pretty well finished I'm finding myself just waiting  for "the day" to arrive along with my sister who is taking several silver birds across the Atlantic to get here for her winter visit.  I thought this would be a good time to try something new.
I've always wanted to try the transfer method of putting a design on a pillow.
After trying the wax paper in my printer all I managed to do was jam it.  Then after doing a bit of research I found out I should have used parchment paper.
First I found a design then transposed it on PicMonkey, ran it through my printer and it worked! 

Not knowing how long it would be before the ink dried I quickly taped the parchment paper to my fabric then used a plastic gift card and rubbed the design into the fabric.

  

Wow was all I could think to myself. "It worked"

j

Funny thing about finding something as neat as doing a transfer  is now "I want to do more".  So I did a second pillow and although the light in the house was so bad, due to fog and no sun,  I took the photo anyway.  

 My next project will be for our new grandchild that is due in the spring.  How cute would it be to put a photo on a 'onezie' for a baby shower gift.  Since we will not know the gender of the baby until "D" day this wording seemed perfect.

Transposed.

 I'll have to do a post on that soon.

In the mean time let me admire my new pillows.  I need more!  Silly I know, but this one gets a gold star.

Looks great on my new slipcover. 

See how I made it Here

This will be entered to  my board on Pinterest, 

"I can't believe I did that"

(((huggs)))

I'll be linking up to

Vintage Inspiration 

Saturday Night Special 

Overflowing with Creativity 

Pinterest Pinning Party 

I had my doubts about this "No Bake Cheese Cake", it came from Pinterest....

I'm a cheese cake lover and when I found this recipe on Pinterest I had my doubts.  No bake hugh! (?)
Well I gathered the 4 ingredients and put it together... (Yeah, this will be good with only 4 ingredients?)
1 8oz cool whip
1 Package cream cheese
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 8oz can sweet condensed milk

I whipped the cream cheese with the lemon and milk until smooth, then added the cool whip on a very slow speed.. used the rubber scraper and folded rather than whip.
Made the graham cracker crust and popped it in the fridge for about an hour.

  I'll tell you what,, it took all of about 10 minutes of my time and the Mr. had a slice after only a half hour in the fridge... I'm going to have to hide a slice for me.. he had another right away.  It's that good.  I think for the next time I make it I will add a bit more lemon juice, I love the tang of lemon.
It was a bit mild for my taste but it was really good as is!  I'll tell you, "my doubts were put to rest".  I loved this cheese cake.

 If your expecting company this Holiday Season,, give this a try and I might suggest making two.

It will not last long in your house.

I'm linking this post to

Alphabet Thursday

Show off Your Stuff 

It's not an empty table top any more. I think the Christmas Spirit has hit me hard this year.

 

I think the Christmas spirit has hit me hard this year... not sure why but it's starting to be fun.

Every time I pass a table or spot that looks bare I go get some decorations out of the box that has been stored for several years,  things I just forgot about.

First thing I did was take my clippers and go out in the wooded area of my yard to clip some sticks..  Put them in a glass vase and that into a red ice bucket.. I forgot I had.  A bit of green stuffing and some snow batting and created a willow'e tree of sorts.   A little stuffed Santa perched on the snow.

 A new little snowman skiing .. that will be leaving soon.. it's a gift for my daughter in Jupiter.  She has been collecting Snowmen for about 12 years and has a huge assortment of these little guys, doing all sorts of things.

I'm afraid to walk around the house,  might find another bare spot.  I can't help but think of the after Christmas clean up, maybe I can get someone to come in and pack it all up..haha

For now,  I'll think about that another day and just enjoy the moment and spruce up the house for my sister.  8 more days till she gets here.

Can't you tell I'm excited.

"Happy Hollidays"