EVOLUTION OF A QUILT

Many years ago, I was an avid quilter.  

I have piles of lap, mini, seasonal and bed quilts.  And, I can't neglect to mention all the unfinished projects, or WIP's (work in progress).  

Probably have too many of them!

For almost five years, from 1993 until 1998, I had the absolute pleasure of working in a gorgeous quilt shop here in our little town.  It was really a very premiere shop, drawing in customers from miles and miles away.  The owner had impeccable taste in fabrics and patterns, and the whole shop was furnished in wonderful antiques and thrift found furniture.  Even the bolt shelves were specially constructed by a local craftsman to better blend with the furniture - no metal display pieces in her store!  We would use unusual pieces for displaying quilts and fabrics and dolls, etc.  It was always fun arranging and rearranging projects and new fabrics and the latest patterns.  Never a day with nothing to do!

Unfortunately, after 16 years of running her business, mostly alone as a single mother, she had to give it up for a steady paycheck and a job with benefits.  During the last months of her store being open, I was very, VERY pregnant with my third.  She had pretty much left the running of the store during it's final weeks to me and another employee as she had started her new career. 

 A month after the doors closed for good, I delivered Son No. 3, Owen.  Needless to say, my quilting was put on the back burner to caring for a newborn and two active older boys.  Well, I never really got back into it, even though I continued, and still to this day!, buy gorgeous guilt fabric that I just can't live without!  

This Christmas, I really wanted to make a few quilted items for gifts.  After all, I do have a TON of fabric, and everyone loves a handmade gift, right?!

I happily started on my first project for the season.  It's actually an over-sized quilted tablerunner {24x52}, and I'm having a ball creating it.  I love the fabrics!  Now, I know the patterns of the fabrics themselves may not be all that exciting, but I'm diggin' how the colors go together.  

So far I've completed some of the larger sections.  You see, for those of you who aren't familiar with quilting, it's not much unlike putting together a puzzle.  Tonight I hope to get all larger sections together and ready for layering and, finally, quilting and binding.

I'll be sure to share the finished piece which I hope to complete by the weekend's end.  Then I'll be able to start my next new project, which I'm so looking forward to!  It's going to be constructed of bright and cheerful Amy Butler prints.

  

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SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS VIGNETTES

Well, our Bunco "reunion" was great fun . . . as always.  Our group of girlfriends ALWAYS has a fun time together.  A bunch of wild and crazy ladies, we are :o)!!!  I managed a few snaps, but my camera {or more likely me!} doesn't do well in low light 

. . . annddd . . . 

the batteries died!  I must admit, though, that I was having way too much fun to fumble with the camera ;o)

I grabbed a few shots of the "bar" and one of those yummy Candy Cane Martinis.  Just like their debut a few years ago, they were a huge hit again!

Mainly, today, I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite vignettes and views from around my home.  Ya know when you get the house pretty much all decked out for Christmas, but there's those few areas or single decorations that are just your favorites?  Those vignettes or groupings that you find yourself admiring a little longer as you pass by throughout the day?  That's how I feel about these next photos I'm sharing.  These are probably my fave scenes right now from around my home.

We've been drinking lots of hot chocolate lately, so I put together this basket with just about everything needed to prepare a warm, yummy mug of cocoa.   

These peppermint sticks are the best!
 "Bob's Sweet Stripes" soft  peppermint sticks.
I find them at my local Walmart for $0.88 for a box of about 15 or so.  

A necessity for hot cocoa - marshallows!
But how about snowman shaped,
french vanilla flavored  mallows???

I love these old vintage Christmas post cards I picked up at a flea market years ago.  I really wish I'd bought more.  Why don't people send beautiful post cards anymore?

Cute plates, right?

I grabbed up the last five my local Kohl's had.  

I'm sure you can see why I just had to have them ;o)

Some more of my most favorite things.  Vintage Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, etc., mostly Ebay finds.  I remember ones like these hanging from the tree when I was a little girl.

I have them scattered among my salt glazed pottery and random ornaments on the shelf above our kitchen door.

A simple hand-crafted paper Noel banner adorning a mirror in the family room.  I love the glittery letters and the colors of the patterned paper.

Department 56 Holly Lane figurines.  I love these!  I don't think they're manufactured anymore.  I haven't seen them in stores in years, but I do keep my eyes open for them on Ebay.

 The corner of my living where the ole chippy door resides.

My NYC Anthropologie Store window paper trees from last year.

A collection of vintage Shiny Bright ornaments.

My favorite one.

 My Grandmother's punch bowl set.  It's sentimental value cannot be measured.

A simple wooden caddy filled with Hubby's grandmother's silver and some yard sale and thrift store finds.  

More vintage ornaments scored from Ebay.

A nicely tarnished German glass glittered "Believe" sign by Wendy Addison.

More vintage ornaments left in the box exactly they way the seller sent them to me.  They share a wooden tray on the living room ottoman with a dried bunch of roses presented to me on my birthday by a dear friend several years ago.

I have a bit more tweaking here and there, and have to add some Christmas Cheer to the finished basement.  It's really never done, is it? But at least I'm free from all the big decorating jobs.  Now I concentrate on staying busy in my little "workshop" finishing up handmade gifts ;o)

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COCKTAIL ANYONE?

Well I did it!  I'm pretty much totally decorated for Christmas.  Just a little tweaking  here and there.  Good thing, too.  I'm hosting Bunco tomorrow night, and I had to have the house ready.  It should be a fun night.  Our group hasn't been together to play in over a year!  

Sangria

We'll be having a fun evening of dice play, cocktails and hors de oeuvres, a little "Dirty Santa" ornament exchange, and just plain ole girl-hanging-out fun!  

Champagne and Cranberries

Of course I'll be serving Cosmopolitans, my signature drink.  But it is the Holidays, so we need to jazz up the bar a bit.  In searching for some pretty, and yummy-sounding, Holiday cocktail recipes, I came across a few to share. 

If nothing else, the photos themselves are just gorgeous and festive.

A definite on the cocktail menu will be Candy Cane Martinis.  It's the recipe used at the Four Seasons in NYC.  It was prepared on the Martha Stewart show a few years back, and I knew I just had to try it.  It was a big hit!  I think it deserves a repeat performance ;o)

Candy Cane Martini

Candy Cane Martini (recipe makes one)

2 ounces Strawberry Vodka

4 dashes (around 1 teaspoon) White Creme De Menthe

2-1/2 ounces Cranberry Juice

Rim glass with crushed candy canes and garnish with a mini candy cane.

Below is a cocktail that will make it's debut at my home.  Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer from Southern Living, December 2008.

Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer (recipe makes 9-1/2 cups)

5 cups Orange Juice

2 cups chilled Lemon-Lime soft drink

1-1/2 cups Vodka

1/2 cup Maraschino Cherry Juice

1/4 cup Fresh Lemon Juice

Stir together all ingredients; serve over ice; garnish with lemon slices and fresh rosemary sprigs.

Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer

I keep reading punches are coming back.  May have to break out my Grandmother's punch set and serve some up for Christmas.

Champagne Pomegranate Punch

Egg Nog Martini

Jingle Juice

 Mmmmm . . . chocolate . . . 

MexiCoco

 Beautiful glasses.  

Anything would look appetizing served up in those beauties.

Pineapple Wassail

What's your favorite drink ~ alcoholic or non ~ 'round the Holidays?

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