Something to crochet....

I love this string of "popcorn" that Barb made for me. The "cranberries" are wooden beads.

If any of you would like to crochet this, maybe I can get Barb to give me the pattern to pass along. Happy Sunday.

Sweet Meadows Farm new pattern.....

I ordered this pattern from Sweet Meadows Farm . She has the actual dolls for sale on ebay. Aren't they Sweet!

There's no pattern for this guy. He must be 20 feet tall. He was outside the Festival of Trees at the Dearborn Performing Arts building.

And speaking of performing arts, we saw two rising stars yesterday, Sarah and Jennah, in 101 Dalmations! They had so many children who wanted to participate, there were two casts. Lots of proud families and friends (like us). Happy rainy Monday everyone.

How do you like me now?

You do know that a lot can happen when you spend 11 months in an attic with a bunch of wild snowmen, angels and Christmas ornaments....It's enough to make your hair stand on end......

Well, I got a remake, but I'm not so sure about it! PJ said not to change me but something had to be done about the hair. I like the new twist on the scarf because it makes me look debonair (love that word) but I am seriously worried about that mistletoe in my hair. Doesn't it make me look a little sissy?

My socks originally came from the Value Village and no one remembers the name of my pattern because I am so old. I hope my attic companions will like my new look and not throw ornaments at me this year.

Happy Wednesday, blogging friends.

A Story for Christmas I'm passing along...

The Cozy Yellow House Wishes You A Very Blessed Christmas Season!!: ~A Christmas Story~

You will like this story. It came to me via way of Rusty Thimble.

I'm going to Jonesville today to visit. It will be beautiful I know and I can see (not use) Charlie's outdoor ice rink and see Rebecca too.

A little snow today to make things white. Have a good Wednesday everyone.

From 1998....

Some of you will remember Lauren's booth at Town Peddler. We went there first to see what she had new.

This wall hanging was at Kynda's house. Dated 1998. Wonder what Lauren is doing these days. I hope she is still creating.

Happy Tuesday before Christmas 2010.

I'd Know You Anywhere......

Today I was at the Salvation Army store in Livonia and I bumped into this guy. It went like this...

Me: My, My, I haven't seen you in I bet about twenty years. You are looking really good!

Santa: I feel great, I've been living with some nice people who took really good care of me. However, they are moving this year so I was sent here to be with some of my old friends and help out the Salvation Army.

Me: It's so good to see you again...would you like to go to Tim Horton's for some coffee and then to my house. I have some friends who would like to see you too, Barb and Jackie, remember them?

Santa: Sure do, are they still making stuff?

Me: They are, and I have more friends now who appreciate handmade Santas like you. I'll put you on my blog so lots of them can see you. So let's go....Ho, Ho, Ho......

This is the end of the story but we left together, after all, I made him...all those years ago.
No way was I leaving him behind.

Things that fly....

Inspired by a TV show I've been watching.....

all they need now is a sleigh.....


and angels always....

There are so many nice Christmas posts this week, too many to pick one out today, and a whole lot better than what's on the television. I feel fortunate to have my computer. I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.

A Part of Christmas...

I was so happy to be able to hear and see the Messiah performed in its entirety. I would never have expected that I would.

My pastor, Dave, has a post to be read titled Bittersweet. How we wish for better things to be for everyone and in his words perhaps it is an issue of the heart. A process that in the end will be good for our souls, a bittersweet Christmas.

I love you all.

Still Dancing...

After about 20 years he hasn't melted and is still dancing. I made these for craft shows one year and I wish I still had the pattern. I found this one on Rachel's tree. His mop is a cinnamon stick.

Most of these were made by Kynda when she did needlework. I especially like the crewel embroidered one top right. I bought the wreath at Value World, flat as a pancake, for $1.91. With a little tweaking, it turned out to be really nice.

The place I would most like to be tomorrow would be at The Farm for their Christmas open house. I know it will be beautiful and Kynda will send us pictures. How far is it to Petersburg, Illinois.....if we leave now could we make it???

A Table at Three Cedars....

The Christmas Sign is from my house...
If you have an old sled and a long table ....we always have too much food for this sort of thing. But it was very nice. The chairs had covers made for them with Mrs Santa on one end and Mr. Santa at the head.

Happy Sunday everyone, the sun is shining in Michigan.

The Yearly Tree...

I try to come up with something different every year. You can make your own if you don't mind fighting with rusty wire. The hardest part is making that little treetop star.

Sew up a tree from muslin, paint with white and write or stamp your words on coffee-dyed paper. I used the alcohol ink around the edges of the paper, got it all over my hands . Start at the top and wrap wire and garland around your tree, add a stick for a base and a bow and good luck with the wire star.

I stitch on the rusty bells but add glue to secure, also glue the stick base and the wire star. Most don't use glue but I think it's okay as long as you don't see it and it keeps knots from coming loose.

That's my lesson for the day. I will be waiting for Martha Stewart to call me to appear on her show.

I love you all.

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.

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.