Looking like Christmas

 

Last year I participated in a Holiday Boutique

This is a partial shot of the outdoor booth.

My best friend since jr. high and I spent many hours sewing and creating. Pillows,

 table runners, stockings

and burlap wreaths. We had so many ideas, it was hard to stop.

(notice the spool of thread on the table)

The day was warm and bright and we loved that

many our creations went home with happy shoppers.

We worked so hard, you can see my friend taking a few ZZZ's early in the day

They all came with inserts and envelope backs, so easy to change out for each holiday .  One insert, many coverings, easy, easy.  I love changing out my pillows for the season and am in the process right now.  Putting away Thanksgiving and putting out Christmas.  It's like having a brand new family room.

Few more of my favorites...can't help it, I love them all.

Many are made of burlap, some with linen and some with velvet and everyone's favorite, drop cloth .

Beautiful and only $23.99 each

and of course.....made with care and loving attention

P.S. This Saturday and Sunday will be the 4th year of the HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

345 E. 19th Street

Costa Mesa 92627

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE

many graphics from The Graphics Fairy,

love her site, check it out

It's Cookie baking time

Looks like the old standby 

                                                   Yup, it's chocolate chips

wonder how many made it to the cookie sheet

the art of display

and yes, they were delicious

IT'S SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY

I made this Birthday Crown in 2007, while attending Art & Soul in Portland. It is a bit tattered.  

We have about 9 birthday girls in my family, plus my niece's and then the occasional female friend 

who may wear it.  So by my math it has been worn around 54  or more times.

Here is the latest Birthday girl wearing it as a good sport.

Cute isn't she?

And here she is trying to manage her choice of a Birthday request dinner.  When it's your birthday, you

 get to pick the menu

What do ya think...did she make it ????

Procrastinating

I once had a nice little sewing chair.  I bought it when I bought my first embroidery machine, it was the

perfect size, no arms and it swizzled around.  One day my 6' 5" son decided to sit in it and swizzled a

little bit too much...much like the Three Little Bears chairs....so I went for some time without a chair.

When I finally decided to go get a new one, I headed to my local office supply store. My needs were:

no arms, adjustable height, and of course ability to swizzle around...not asking too much, I also wanted

it cheap. When the manager pointed out a stack of boxed chairs and gave me a discount, I was sold.

  Upon coming home and opening the box this is what I saw

yup, lime green, which  at times may be perfect, but I had decorated my sewing room many moons ago

in this fabric.

and as you can see it just doesn't do it.  I have been going to make a little slip cover for it for ages...

this is where the procrastination comes in.  I got busy this weekend and using my recent favorite 

fabric, good ole drop cloth,  and began.

I added a transfer to make sure everyone knew

And now that I see it in this picture, it needs a small ruffle at the bottom, so back to work. Unless

I procrastinate some more.

The graphic is from www.graphicsfairy.com

Is It Time For Halloween Already???

.

Near by my home is a fabulous nursery with a incredible gift store. For the holidays they are over the top in decorations, displays, beautiful plant arrangements and tablescapes.  It is so wonderful, tour buses bring bus loads to visit, particularly at Christmas.

So off I went with a couple of girlfriends today to attend the opening....thinking "Halloween is a couple of months away". But they start  every holiday early.  I noticed TJ MAX even had Halloween decorations out.  No matter this place sells out quickly...if you see it and like it, better get it asap.

Opening day was yesterday and already many things had SOLD signs...not little dinky things, lovely $500 things!!! 

Here are just a few quick pictures I took today

Yesterday was the first day of the Grand Opening, and from reading the local newspaper this morning it reported people were waiting for the nursery to open. I'm sorry I forgot to take pictures of the grounds outside as it is a full and beautiful nursery with grade A quality plants.  The creativity of the artist who work there always inspire me to come home and copy them to the best of my ability.  If I end up going again, I will take photos of the grounds as they are worth seeing.

After looking at these photos, I feel I need to take a few more as I have missed some of the really  out there items...and I would love for you to see them.  It's Halloween like you've never seen before.  Every year they try to top the last year.  Many years there are moving things like hands coming out, a very, very large spider coming down from the ceiling, fog and creepy music.

We had a fun day and now I'm actually looking forward to decorating  when October comes.

And then off to lunch we went...

It's still summer...thank goodness

But I'm in the mood for this meal.. I'm "making" bread....well... I do put the ingredients in the machine. Then I set the timer and when my nose tells me to check, it's bread..wa la
Love, love my bread maker, I've had it for quite a few years.  When the family comes for Sunday night dinners, the bread is gone in a flash. But they only want the basic white bread....no they say, don't try all the other flavors in the cookbook.  Just hand them the butter!!!

The bread will go well with this soup

And then this

will result in this, my favorite cookies and a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Ah the best way to end a meal or a day, or even an afternoon respirte

Care to join me?

Hydrangeas

I love hydrangeas ...love, love love them.  I have many plants surrounding my yard.  The plants were fully loaded with blooms this summer.  I make sure I constantly cut them for the house and dead head them, as I believe it makes them bloom more, just like roses do. But they are already cutting back with their blooms....sad me

I am still holding out with hope that I will have many more bouquets for the house, as I always keep fresh flowers in the house...preferably from my own yard...   ok, maybe from the yard across the street~~  ya know the house that has been empty since January....and only a VERY few times...truly
(Besides, the original owner only planted hers after she saw how spectacular mine were every year.)

As the bouquets have dried, I have left them in the vases throughout the house.  I have fallen in love with the subtle colors. I normally throw them out and put fresh in every week....but

I gave a bouquet to my friend Linda, she had sent me pictures of hers as they slowly dried, so I decided I would try that too.  Now I also am loving the dried look.