I accidentally pushed the memory card into the computer too far and it went inside! My husband finally took it apart and fished it out so now I can post these gorgeous photos! I was so thrilled to open my package from Deb at http://triostitchstudio.blogspot.com/ (stupid blogger won't let me link correctly!) It is perfect in our family room though I am scared to put it on the couch because it is just too beautiful to get squished just yet! I love the way it looks perched there so I am going to leave it on display for awhile longer! Her sewing is impeccable! I told her I was so tempted to turn the whole pillow inside out and take a picture so everyone coild see how well she sewed it up- all finished with french seams and it just looks gorgeous!
Here is a better photo though these grey days make photos so hard to take. The negative side to living somewhere so lush and green
And here is the back- I love the whole thing! I love this swap because I always get to meet such nice and talented people!
Here is the pillow I made for my partner, Colleen over at Lucky Duck Dreams (http://cyarnell.blogspot.com/) She and I have similar colors that we like so that made it a bit easier. She said she loved Heather Ross fussy cut pillows and these prints worked well in her color preferences so I broke out the Mendocino. I Like the way it turned out- might have to make another one for myself. You can never have enough pillows!
I have been in full hibernation mode over here. Digging in at home, trying to spend some time alone with my thoughts. Winter is not my favorite season by a long shot so I find I have to tune into what I think I need during those dark cold months and this year it was hibernating. Not to be confused with sleeping, there was plenty of planning and plotting and goings ons- just wanted to be quiet there for awhile. I am not a cold weather person. That flower up there- I like to feel like that bright and sunny and putting my best self forward. Winter doesn't help me do that. But I am waking up and enjoying the promise of spring. And the promise of some fun things on the horizon that I will share soon. And the promise of some icky dental work which I will not share but it can't be all fun and games all the time!
Welcome to our house! Around here we LOVE Christmas! We like to have lots of Christmas in all the nooks and crannies. We love a BIG tree that has not been trimmed- I like it to look wild and old fashioned.
Take another look at that gorgeous quilt on my couch! We had a Secret Santa this year with my friends and my Secret Santa was Elizabeth! I was so touched when I opened this gorgeous quilt and she told me that she was inspired by our house at Christmas! She calls the pattern "Sparkle Punch" which is perfect. I think she got it spot on and I absolutely love it!! It will be out all year and not just during the Christmas season that inspired it because it is just too gorgeous to be put away. Nobody puts Sparkle Punch in a closet.
Ahhhh the tree! I love this tree. The garlands are vintage glass garlands I have collected over the years.
The kids and I made this sparkly garland out of painted egg cartons years ago when they were so little. It is one of my most prized possesions. It makes me happy to look at it and remember all the great times we spent together before they were school aged and I had to share them with the world. We still do a lot of fun things together- I especially love school breaks when we can hang out all day long.
This is a little nook at the end of our fireplace wall. I love this little nook with it's thrift store cabinet and embroideries. I love the little Christmas punches. I put some of my husbands treasures from his childhood Christmases over here so they are safe from getting knocked by errant dog tails or wayward nerf bullets.
This is on the buffet in our dining room. I love the silver tree and vintage ornaments. The artwork hanging above is from my Granny. She had a dear friend, Corita Kent who was an incredible artist. She has a whole series of letters based on nautical code flags that are just beautiful. If you don't know about her, you should read a little on her and her life. An amazing woman and beautiful artist. When we were kids my sister and I would help out at her art shows that were held locally. She came to our house for Thanksgiving one year and I remember being so smitten by her. She had quite a presence of generosity and kindness.
This little nativity came from a rummage sale for $2. Such a steal. So sweet.
This bell came from my friend Laurie also known as Magpie Ethel. She is a wizard with the re fashioned vintage Christmas. If you like vintage hoiliday stuff do yourself a favor and check her out. I got this bell just this year and I adore it!
So recently I entered a contest over at All People Quilt. They have some really fun contests and this one looked like so much fun that I decided to enter. I love these little bags as party favors- it's such a great pattern for that. I found out last week that I was lucky enough to make it to the finals! The way the contest works is they chose 10 bags to go to the final round and the one winner is determined by voting. The voting continues to the end of the month and I was so excited to be in second place for a few days but I am now in fourth place! If you wouldn't mind, and if you like my entry, I would be so thankful if you would vote for my bag by going here: 