Christmas Decor

The kitchen transformation: The Santa on left and the tree picture are from my Grandmother's house. I made the tree for her one year with my other grandmother (Momma Kate). I also aquired the tree that momma Kate made for her house this past year. It needs to have some repair work done on it due to bugs and I hope to have it up next year. The angel to the right of the tree and the one above the spoon rack I made from ribbon and trims. I made 2 of the stockings...the boot for Tony and the one on left is mine. The nutcracker is a doorknocker and came from Sue's house (mother-in-law). The snowman on the microwave is the latest from the collection I receive from Melanie (sister). The weathervane is also from her. There are 2 counted cross stitch items, the angel by me and the santa by Lori.
More Santas and Snowmen! The snowman (bottom right) was made by Tristen and given to me Christmas 1999. Various other items collected from family, me (from kids school fund raisers), tins and the Santa peeking through window that I painted.
The 3 kings are from Momma Kate's and are new to the decor this year. The angel picture is one of 3 that Sue did in counted cross stitch. The gold straw angels are from Grandmother's collection. I painted the red and green angle on right.

Christmas Decor

Some of the ornaments I have made in the past. The snowman with flag 2001 and above to the left called "princess" is a beaded ornament. Below and to the right...the puppy in the boot was painted by Tristen in 2000.
These shelves usually have family pictures on them during the "off season" so that makes it perfect for the Christmas pictures as well. Middle shelf (starting at left) is Christopher and Katherine (nephew and neice) with Santa. Tristen (oldest grandson) with Santa. Tony with Sebastian (middle grandson) and me with Tristen. Another with Tristen and Santa. The last is of Tony with Santa in the 50's.
The bottom shelf has Sean (son) playing Santa's head elf in school play. Tristen with snowman. Lori (daughter) with her boys, Tristen and Sebastian. Lori, Sean, Crystal and Brandy (neices).
Lastly Caleb ( youngest grandson) with me last Christmas by the tree at Momma Kate's.

More ornaments: beaded tree strung on wire, felt stars and angel made from shell.

Still working on the calendars. Made my "schedule" today. Hope to have them finished up by the 3rd so I can start the Christmas cards and have them done by the 11th. I want to mail by the 15th!
Thanksgiving will be at Sean's.
Decorating will begin Friday and likely continue through Sunday.
Goodies for neighbors and family will be made on the 10th.
Cuccidatis will start on 21st and complete on the 22nd.
No set plans for Christmas Eve or Day yet. Don't know where , who with or when. Sean and his family will be leaving for Spain on the 13th. Lori isn't yet sure of the scheduling with Sebastian and Tristen. Talked with Dad today and they will probably not be here as previously planned since they are here ( the area ) now due to Mike being in the hospital.
Update next week....and maybe some pics

Thanksgiving

Here are the promised Thanksgiving cards: I used three basic designs with different variations of each.

November 12

I have been working on Thanksgiving cards. I have finished 5 and have about 3 to go....I think. Will try to "wrap it up" this weekend so that I can get back to the calendars.
We have been back to our "old job" of painting the last week and I have not been able to get to my workbench as much as I would have liked to. We will hopefully finish that up next week.
My next post will have the turkey cards. And AWAAAAAY I go.

quick update

I have been working on calendars this week when I can between work on the neighbors house.
I am going to clear that away today and start working on Thanksgiving. Then I will go back to the calendars a little before starting Christmas and then finish them up. I'll be BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!! I do enjoy it though if I can take my time about it and not feel like I am having to rush if I get other obligations. I don't know of any...but you never know!
I am starting to plan Thanksgiving Dinner and sent out invites yesterday. Next "we" will think about Cuccidatis, neighbors goodies and Christmas Dinner. I will also do some preliminary planning of a 75th Birthday party for Luke in January.

This is a card I made Tony for Valentines. I made one like it for Mom also, Mother's day 2004. Hers was in various shades of peach and green. It didn't show up well in the pictures. The black and red show up great. Same card with different colors and occassions.

Birthday and Mother's Day

This card has accordian sides making it have the 3D effect.














Birthdays 2004 and 2005.
The tulips are "stiched" with ribbon. The other one tea bag folding.









Mother's Day 2003. I noticed that a peice has been dislodged and misplaced. One of the "plaques" is missing the flower.

More cards from me to Mom. The swan was from 1994












Easter 2004 and 2005



Mother's Day 2000 and Easter 2003











Valentines from ?? date not marked

More cards

Here are some cards that I have made in the past for Mom. She sent a stack to me so that I could post them. Some she has saved for several years and date back before I was as involved in cardmaking. The one on the top was made from handmade paper. Sue gave us a paper making "machine" one year a long time ago.

calendars in progress

A look at my "workbench" showing a calendar in progress.

Raggedy Ann

As promised here are pictures of me as Raggedy Ann and Briley opening her gift and giving it "love".

The kids did not know who Raggedy Ann was...not in thier "era". When Briley opened her gift they did recognize that I was dressed the same as her "baby".
The costume was rather simple to make it was the wig that took a little thought and time. I made the wig base from the top of a thigh high. I wrapped the yarn around a piece of cardboard and then hand stitched the strands together down the center on both sides of the cardboard. I then cut the edges from the cardboard where it was wrapped and ended up with 2 seperate lengths of "hair". I then tacked this to the wig base in a circular pattern all the way to the top . It took about 12 pieces ( 6 wraps) and 3.5 hours to complete. I was unable to find stripped hose so I purchased white tights and red paint markers. I had to insert cardboard into the legs and add stripes to one side at a time, then let dry 24 hrs.