Twisted Log Cabin Christmas Card - Rerun

This has to be one of my all time favorite Christmas cards I have every received.
My sister in law Sue makes really great cards each year for Christmas and other occasions. She certainly outdid herself with this Twisted Log Cabin quilt block.

The message inside the card reads:
Life's most beautiful things are not seen with the eyes, but felt with the heart. Wishing you a special season of the heart.

Handmade cards and gift items mean a lot to me.

Puzzles make great Christmas gift so this is a gift to all of you who read my blog.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

I am so happy with the way the flamingo tree turned out.
It was not easy to find flamingo ornaments in the stores this year.
What's a girl to do? Turn to eBay where I got all I needed.
This is one of those you can appreciate more viewing close up.
I left the image size large so you can click on it and get a better view.
Actually I try to leave all the images on my blog large so you can click on them.


I had planned on purchasing a new wreath for the front door.
I realized I could create something just as nice so I made this decoration. I am pleased with it and it works perfectly.

Today we put up some of the outside lights. We had to take a few breaks as it was very hot outside. Then it rained so we will work on them again tomorrow.
I'm anxious to see what they look like when it gets dark tonight.

Who is 26,000 days old today?

I admit it.
It is ME.

I have no photo to share of "what 26,000 days old looks like"!

I celebrated 25,000 days old on leap day - February 29th, 2008.

This time I celebrated my 1000 multiple on Thanksgiving.

Wonder if the next 1000 will happen on a special day?


If you look at the colors of this wreath it looks more like a fall or Thanksgiving wreath. However, it is a Christmas wreath that coordinates with the master bedroom decor.

Oh, Christmas Tree(s)

I really feel like I accomplished something today.
I figured out how to get all the light cords to a place where I could plug them into an adaptor with a switch so it will be easy to reach to turn them on and off.
I also draped the tree tables which was quite a challenge.
The last thing I did was to decorate all three trees.
I'm quite pleased with the way they turned out.
I took this photo at night so I could photograph them with the lights on.


I was also able to get the lights set up on the light bridge in the master bedroom, which is where the three trees are.

I have 14 days until the Christmas Tour. I have a few more things to do inside and then I will head outside to put up the lights and the decorations in the yard.

Purple: Hue Gotta Love It

My goal today was to get the 3 purple trees up, shaped and start decorating them.
I got in the mood by dressing in purple.



The first thing I did was get out all the ornaments I was possibly going to use on the trees.



Next I brought out all the fabrics I would possibly to use to drape around the bottom of the trees.



One tree up, shaped and ready to decorate.



All three trees are up, shaped and ready to decorate.

It was at this point I realized I needed a gizmo to plug in several cords and had to place that behind the trees before I proceeded. Off I went to the store and picked up two of them and many other items on my list.

When I got home I dropped the packages on the floor, sat in my chair and turned on TV.
I don't know what happened but before I knew it I woke up from a nap and it was too dark to work on the trees so spent time doing other important things. I'll work on them again tomorrow.

If you put the pieces of the puzzle together I'll be ready to decorate them tomorrow!

You Light Up My Life!

Today was another productive day.
I finished the mouse tree and hung lighting behind it. I didn't feel it needed lights on it.

I also did a little housekeeping in the guest room as it was a staging area as I decorate and many of the containers were now empty. As I put them away I can assess what else I have left to decorate with.


I made what I think is a clever decoration for the lanai. I had two deep white capiz shell trays stacked inside of each other that were holding my Altered Artist Trading cards. I took the cards out and put them away for now.
I put some magenta and silver ornaments inside the bottom tray.
On top of this I placed a string of purple Christmas lights. One Capiz shell was missing which gave me a perfect place for the cord to exit. I secured the two together with cable ties. I then wrapped it as a gift with silver ribbon and a little Christmas corsage.
I think you can see the details better in this view where it is not lit.



Tonight I have turned on all the lights I have installed so far to see how they look in the evening. I put lights and a garland on the "Grandfather clock".



Another thing I did is put these glittery snowflakes in the side light window by the front door. This helps screen the view into our house and is also a fun decorative touch. These were in a container of ornaments I bought with no idea what I would do with them. I simply tied them together with thread. The whole container has come in very handy with this project.

I hope this puzzle lights up your life!

You CAN try this at home!

I put a family photo from Christmases past in each one of these shiny red metallic frames. This is a very simple idea that one anyone can do.
It is not necessary to have red frames. I think displaying photos from the past is a warm fuzzy Christmas decorating idea.



This vignette also includes photos from a past Christmas.
I painted the lampshade to coordinate with the colors in the room. This was a fun project and didn't take much time. This is another thing YOU can do with acrylic craft paints. Just choose a design in keeping with your decor and colors.
The tinsel tree is shiny enough without it's lights so I will not plug it in as the cord would be unsightly.
I needed something to wrap around the bottom to conceal the stand. I looked across the room and there was a shawl I had worn the night before. Perfect color, perfect size!

I am keeping the puzzle easy too. This is a simple cut and one I have never used before.

Crazy For Christmas - Rerun

It's finished and if I do say so myself it is quite spectacular. I went from imperfection on the traditional quilt to absolute perfection on this quilt. The crazy piecing is emphasized with decorative machine stitches using special metallic threads. The combination of cotton fabrics, both print and plain, contrast nicely with the metallic fabrics. The borders and binding finish this off for a Merry Christmas.

Although you've done a puzzle of this quilt in progress it is truly a star of the show now!

One Idea Sparks Another

When I showed you the photo of the table from the tea yesterday I thought - I might be able to incorporate those napkin rings in my centerpiece. Not only did I incorporate those but I also used another set between them. It not only gave it more interest and sparkle, but I was able to add a little more height which it needed.
More serendipity in my life as I decorate for Christmas.



This shows the entire kitchen corner with the centerpiece, chandelier and bakers rack. I did take the photo before I added the napkin rings and I didn't turn on the lights behind the bakers rack.

Presto ChangeO

This is the centerpiece for my kitchen table. It might look somewhat familiar as it is a reworked version of the one I made for our Symphony In Black And White tea.



This is what it looked like when I used it for the tea. It's great to be able to reuse something I already have designed. It saves time, money and gives me less things I have to figure out where to store.

Yet another puzzle for you.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot More Like Christmas!

I accomplished a lot more of my Christmas decorating this weekend.
This is the table in the entryway.



After several false starts I am happy with the centerpiece on the dining room table.



I made one addition to the chandelier and you can see how the chandelier and centerpiece coordinate.



This is the buffet in the dining room.

I feel good about what I accomplished so far. There is a lot more to do and a lot more to share with you.

I am trying to share puzzles with each post again. Enjoy!

Nice Vest

This is my new hand knit vest. Some of you may have seen it before as it was knit by the famous knitter, Melody Johnson.
She has been knitting up a storm and bequeathing her projects to others.



I fell in love with this when I saw it on her blog. I was hoping she would be posting the pattern on her blog as she does for so many things she knits.
Even better than a pattern, this vest was up for adoption and I was the early bird and now own it.
http://fibermania.blogspot.com/

It is a perfect fit on me and goes with the new clothes I bought after I sold much of my wardrobe on eBay.

I also have been doing a little knitting in my spare time. A wonderful new yarn store opened just a few miles from me. I visited it last Saturday and came home with yarn for two new projects.


This is a simple shrug knit with bulky weight yarn. I am squeezing in a few rows of knitting between the Christmas decorating. It will be done when it is done and I have no idea when that will be!

The colors of this quilt puzzle relate to the shrug I am knitting.

Was that a glass plate next to the vase?

All the photos on tonight's blog are clickable so you can see a larger image.


My title is the question Eva asked about my last post.
This is a polymer clay plaque I made. Like many of the things I create I just let it happen with the technique I was using. I was very pleased with end result and generally keep it next to my alstromerias on the entertainment center.


I am continuing with my Christmas decorating. I am trying to do the things first that will not get in the way of cleaning the house.

This is what I have done with the chandelier in the kitchen. I am not sure if I am finished yet!



This is what I have done for the dining room chandelier. I am not quite sure I am done with this one either.

I can tell you I AM having fun with this and the ideas are flowing.

I am currently hunting for the glass Radko type flamingo ornaments for my chartreuse flamingo tree. If anyone has any they no longer want they are welcome to send them to me!


Another puzzle with this blog.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Those of you who watch my blog probably realize I love Alstromerias. They come in so many exciting colors and last at least two weeks. I try to always have them in this vase on our entertainment center.



Today I have started decorating the house for the Garden Club Christmas House Tour. My theme is trees, lights, flamingos and other creatures.
This tree in the guest room features a collection of mice. (If you click on the photos you can see a larger image and see the individual mice a little better.)
I am starting early so I will not be rushed at the last minute. It will be a big job, but my neighbors Betty and Ken have offered their help for anything I need it for.
This is a project I will thoroughly enjoy.



This is a close up of a section of the tree.



This is a vignette that I created with 3 tiny Christmas Quilt cards I made.

I hope you enjoy this puzzle.

What Else I Did On My Vacation

I didn't want to bring a sewing machine on such a short trip so I brought a lot of prefused hand dyed fabrics and some base fabrics so I could create when the spirit moved me.

I decided to do a negative/positive design and just free form cut.
These are the two halves before I flattened and arranged them.




These are the two images I cut, each on a different background.



I decided to put each of them on the same background. Here is the first one. It is not finished but it often takes me a while to decide What Next?


This is the second image and I have done a little more with it, although it also needs more work.

I ran out of time to work on them as there were other things I wanted to do while on the island.

Eventually you'll see them again.


Surprise, surprise!!
I've a puzzle for all of you who enjoy them. Hope you've still following the blog to see this.