New Year's Eve Scrapbooking

Sorry, if you were expecting something more up-to-date. These are mine, my mother's and my grandmother's before scrapbooking became so popular. I have spent some time this morning looking through them, they are filled with things that make me smile and remember, as well as yellowed clippings written of the same things we face today...

I guess Rocky Balboa was right when he said only the clothes are different.
This is a page that really stood out. The article was by George Cantor, one of my favorite Detroit columnists. The last sentence of the article says "two men embraced on a golf course, everything else is just a sand trap".

My hope for 2010 is No Sand Traps for Anybody. Love and best wishes to everyone.

Another Emma doll

I just finished this doll, using some old vintage towels from my friend Joanne. I used the body pattern from Folkart by the Bay and embroidery thread hair, my favorite.

I'm thinking of the things I planned to finish up in 2009 but the list is too long. I hope you have some plans for 2010 already and that they will be creative and a blessing to your life. Do not forget the black-eyed peas to eat on New Years Day.

Ms. Flamingo, Pink of course....

One of the hockey moms had this gal with her at the rink. Her mom makes them. I was glad I had my camera with me. She has a lot of detail, even eyelashes, not to mention how hard it must have been to stuff all her curves or make a bikini from sequins.
Her legs were painted and covered with the lace and the shoes had high heels and sequin trim. She even had fingers. I think she's a hoot!!

It's a small price to pay...

We had a wonderful dinner cooked by PJ. And actually I may have a family picture coming soon. I can't believe it! Jeff was a one man clean-up crew, although some of us did offer to help. I love this sign in their kitchen.

The snow is falling this morning in Michigan, and Thank You, Thank You, that no one was bombed here at our airport on Christmas Day.

Happy Monday, don't forget to put the black eyed peas on your grocery list.

A father and child

I love this picture someone found online, I don't know them but I thought it was just a perfect expression of Christmas love and gratitude. Merry Christmas again to all of you.

My Christmas Post

We always called them telephone "posts", not poles.

Anyway this guy is made from one, Kynda brought him to me from Kentucky, real chainsaw art. He has lived on my front porch for 20 or so years, He has seen a lot, you can believe me.

To all of you I wish a merry Christmas. Thanks for being my friends.

And what is Christmas anyway? It is the birth of good and perfect and the only hope we will ever have.

Maggie

She is so nice to make, one of my favorites. Pattern for her is by Chestnut Junction. I don't sand my dolls as most do nowadays, I am just not good at it. I guess I wouldn't want to be sanded myself. Happy Saturday, a wimpy little snow in Michigan today.

Orange Slice Cookies

These are really easy and different and No Fat (unless you ice them, I like them plain).
A recipe from the Arcadia Methodist Church cookbook from the fifties. Contributed by Mrs. Gladys Newton, one of the fabulous Methodist Women I remember from that church.

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour, sifted with 1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup finely cut nuts
3/4 cup orange slice candy (cut in slivers, I use the scissors dipped in cold water to cut)

Mix well together, spread out on greased cookie sheet (I use 9 X 12 , as they spread as they start to bake, a larger pan makes them too thin.) Bake 400 degrees for about 12 minutes or until nice and brown. Cut in bars and ice with 1 Tbsp. butter, 2 Tbsp. orange juice and powdered sugar to spread.

Happy Friday everyone.

Christmas Cat

A pattern from Off-the-Beam. Just a couple of more things and I will be finished with the Christmas sewing. Aren't you glad?

Alas, it is Sold on Ebay

My friends here in Michigan and I have been watching this Christmas tree being auctioned on Ebay. It has sold so I guess it is okay for me to write something about it now. I'm sure it has gotten plenty of twitters.

Anyway you can check it out, a collection of artists collaborated and offered this. The winning bid was $887.77. You can look at some of the ornaments up close if you go to Item Number 110467416957.

Walker (my spaz cat) would have loved it!

Seriously, now.......

You expected a smile? Would you, if you had to sit on the lap of a giant red nosed thing with eyelashes and bling? John doesn't think so.

If you're in the area, you and the children might enjoy Taylor, Michigan's Reindeer Days at Heritage Park on Pardee.

Saturday at the Town Peddler

Jeff and PJ at the booth.
I think they like their new shirts.
Some new lights at the top make it look really Christmasy.

Glitzy Gurls

These are not exactly like the pattern but I guess I was in the mood to decorate and use some glitter. I usually make these at the last minute every Christmas, they are from a pattern by Walnut Ridge Primitives (2002) . They have very primitive things which I really like, it's interesting that their pattern gives instructions on mod-podging tissue paper onto the dress and then painting. I have done that but couldn't find any tissue paper that I liked so just made them plain. Hope you can see their rusty wire hair. Also I added the candy cane and star. You can do it.

Something for Fun Today

An email from Floyd


"Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."

This Job can be really Stressful

Several years ago I made this Santa, he is really big but easy to make. The one I made went to live in Roscommon Michigan.

If you would like to make him, he is a pattern by Soft In The Head; all her patterns are very expressive and unusual. Happy Wednesday from a WINDY day in Michigan.

A Christmas Necklace

This is one of my treasures, made by a Michigan artist who worked in clay. She made all manner of things and we are lucky enough to own some of them. She is no longer with us except the spirit of her beautiful things. We would rarely find her at shows and she was usually sold out by the time the show opened, her husband was always with her and somehow most of her Santas look just like him.

Noel

Noel is going to the Town Peddler Mall to be with her friends. Her body is an old spring and her arms are grapevine wreath. She is the only one of her kind. Enjoy Monday, everyone.

Afghans by Stella.

Jackie and Stella at the craft show....
Stella with her afghans with perfect stitches and beautiful colors and patterns. For those of you who don't know Stella, she is only 96...and we love her!!!

Marietta

A little bear pattern by Sweet Meadows Farm, I used an old hanky for her dress and an old quilt square with rubber stamped message. She's getting a new pink bow for her hair. Today.

Wednesday Quilt Show

Last night we were looking through some old linens at PJ's. There was a piece of quilt that I gave her a long time ago, when we found and were given lots of nice pieces.

She said why don't you take it and use it and I said it's too nice....but it would make a really great Santa. Then take it, she said, but I argued "and get what for it?? 25 dollars? No, it's too nice."

To which she says "but it would make somebody happy."

I took it.