Christmas puttering

-
It's Christmas week!  Ben is on break from school so I'm looking forward to some relaxing days between now and Christmas Eve.  We're pretty well finished with all that must be done, so, besides planning and shopping for Christmas dinner, some baking, and delivering gifts to friends, we'll just be puttering.

Speaking of friends and gifts, I have to show you some things I've been gifted from blogging friends:

Lori Anderson sent me this vintage alphabet book with the most adorable illustrations!




Angela sent me the gift of a tiny quilted pillow made from the same beautiful fabric she used on my large quilt, along with these cute little hot pads!

The little quilted hot pads have tiny magnets in the tips, so you can hang them on the 'fridge!

Speaking of little quilts, you have to see these beautiful crazy quilted Christmas stockings that have been a part of my holiday decor for years now!

They're made by Linda, my favorite eBay seller, from little Christmas hankies with mother of pearl buttons, lace, and crazy quilt stitching!

This year, I've decided to try my hand at replicating one; so, I purchased some vintage stockings from the thrift store to use as the base, and I'm going to begin working on them this week.  I'll let you know how they come out!

I've also been working on more little ephemera journals, like the one, above, I gifted to a dear friend here in town.  She said she loved the cover, made from a vintage book cover embellished with antique scrap, because of the girl in the fur-lined coat like one she had as a child, with the border collie that reminded her of her dear pet, now in doggie heaven.


The German scrap and book pages reminded her of time she spent living in Germany; it's so fun to make one of these books for someone you know well so you can add in all these little elements to delight them!






 

I've also been making a few little things like this button pillow, one of two I made for button club Christmas party gift exhanges:

I have made a few more things that, of course, I can't show until they've been gifted!  Which reminds me: please plan to join my linky party after Christmas, where you can Show us your Best Handmade items of 2010!


Comments

Linda @ A La Carte said…
Oh my goodness, you have been so busy! I love the pillow and those books are amazing. Such sweet gifts from friends. This time of year is just the best!
December 19, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Something Special said…
Oh I just love visiting your blog and catching up.
December 19, 2010 at 7:47 PM
Linda Sue said…
OMG- I am getting sweetness overload from your post- the illustrations are way too cute- WAY! and the stitching and tatting on the second christmas sock is just too endearing and lovely! My eyes are screaming at me to look at something less appealing just for relief...can only take so much, you understand-
Having Ben home is the best part! I SO miss those days- just hanging out with the kid... Thinking of you- wishing you best wishes ever! LOVExxxooo
December 19, 2010 at 9:52 PM
andrea creates said…
you've certainly been busy! these are great-love the squirrels too :)
December 20, 2010 at 4:37 AM
HI! I'm Tabitha said…
love the stockings and that book rocks. Nothing is better than an old book, except a journal made from an old book!
hugs,
tabitha
December 20, 2010 at 9:39 AM
Christine said…
Oh, I really love your ephmera journal! It's beautiful!!! Love all your beautiful handmade items!

I'm trying to decide what handmade item I'll be sharing at your party!!! I can't wait to see what everyone else shares!
December 20, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Bunty said…
You have been busy again Laurie! I love your little Christmas stockings and your beautiful journal and pillows. You must have some great thrift shops where you are!

I wish I had time for some puttering - we have unprecedented snowfall here in the UK just now for the second time in a month and it has brought the UK to a standstill with well below freezing temperatures, just in the run up to Christmas - it's chaos everywhere and so inconvenient. We had to go
and do our big Christmas grocery shop today as our pre-arranged delivery was cancelled due to snow!
December 20, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Anonymous said…
What a delightful post. I love your journals and stockings. Can't wait to see your replica stocking!
December 20, 2010 at 5:22 PM
Lea said…
thanks for dropping by my blog. i ADORE your sweet journal and gorgeous little pillow too. I can't wait to see your best of handmade...staying tuned!
December 21, 2010 at 4:15 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Baby Jesus Candy Cane Christmas Ornament How-To

-
Image
Here's a tutorial to make sweet baby Jesus ornaments: Materials: 3/4" round wooden balls blue felt like-sized small wooden stars flesh-colored acrylic paint yellow acrylic paint black permanent marker small button as star decor raffia natural excelsior "moss" silver thread or coordinating yarn candy cane You'll also need glue or a hot glue gun, paint brush and scissors Begin by painting the wooden balls with flesh-colored paint and the stars with yellow paint. When dry, draw two sleeping eyes on the ball. Meanwhile, cut small pieces of felt and make little rolls to represent the baby's body; tie with a tiny piece of raffia. Next, glue the wooden ball onto the top of the body roll of felt; if you wish, you can also cut a small wedge of felt to glue over like a little swaddled hood on the baby's head, but I think it looks cute without it as well. Glue the l
Read more

Flagler College in St. Augustine: the Tiffany connection

-
Image
We visited this wonderful building that began its life in 1888 as a lavish hotel built by Henry Flagler, one of the founders of Standard Oil, and now houses Flagler College . It is such a beautiful old building and in it we saw: these fabulous Tiffany chandeliers... on a spectacular painted and embossed ceiling in one of the hotel's drawing rooms.   I apologize for the quality of the indoor photos -- it was quite dark in the building. I had to laugh at these painted cherubs on the ceiling... and the way their ribbony robes encircle the chandelier mount! This large clock over the mantle is special because it's a Thomas Edison clock and because it is made from one piece of rare onyx.  We were told that Edison's "signature" on his clocks is the use of the incorrect Roman numeral "4". But the most spectacular feature of the building is that Louis Comfort Tiffany himself made the stained glass windows. Most of Tiffany's windows a
Read more

O Christmas tree, jeweled Christmas tree...

-
Image
Earlier in the season Rebecca and I went to a craft fair at a local high school, and there was one booth with the CUTEST little jeweled, framed Christmas trees! The gal was nice enough to let me photograph them.  Sorry it's kind of blurry, but it was dark in that high school gym! I know it's an older kind of craft (from the '60s and '70s) but she made them sweet -- not gaudy at all.  We were both SO inspired. So, last week we made it happen.  I brought a bunch of my old, broken vintage jewelry, some velvet, glue,  old frames, and we sat in her dining room and made a forest of little trees! It was so simple: first, we took a vintage frame and covered the backing with velvet.  We just glued it on. Then, we took our time arranging bits and pieces of jewels into a Christmas tree shape. When we were happy with the arrangement, we committed and glued the jewels down!  I love this avocado green velvet! And then we did it again.  We had so much fun playing
Read more