Creative Christmas fun

-
After we finished shopping Saturday, Suzanne and I returned to my house and had an early Christmas celebration!  

 Here are the beautifully-wrapped gifts Suzanne had for me!
 She is so creative.  The medallion with the angel in the first photo is from a kit in Karla Nathan's shop;
 while the little dress decorating the second package was made by a local crafter.
I had gifts for Suzanne, including a little trophy that I'd labeled, "great friend"...

 and then something I made especially for her:

 an ornament wreath made of vintage glass ornaments!
After we exchanged gifts, other friends began to arrive for dinner.
Lani and Rebecca joined us for a relaxed dinner of lasagna, salad and fresh bread.
And then we got down to the business of creating.  Suzanne brought a bunch of supplies, and taught us first how to create burlap flowers...
and THEN we each created a little Christmas tree from a plain brown cone form!

 Rebecca's tree, pre-glitter
Mine, too (see my lovely splint on my right arm?)
After this photo, we took turns spraying glue and sprinkling glitter on our trees out on my front porch!
Here are Lani and Rebecca, as we took a break for Suzanne's homemade cherry pie, and coffee!
 Lani and her tree
Suzanne and her tree
 Rebecca and hers, post glitter
Then the evening was over and we got some rest before our second day of shopping.
This time, we were at a Colorado Springs show called Antiques on Academy; the first person we met there was Santa!

 
 I didn't purchase it, but Suzanne and I both loved this large book of fashions from San Francisco in 1923.
 
 'LOVE those old spun cotton elf ornaments!
 This kitschy Christmas tree was made entirely from pearlized jewels, and buttons.

 I thought these glass-covered spoked wheel tables were amazing.  The one at the top right held a collection of firearms.
 There were Christmas antiques galore at the show.  It was so much fun!
Sadly, after the show it was time for Suzanne to head back home.
But what a great time we had.
How was your weekend?

Comments

Hope said…
Hi Laurie~
My weekend was great! Our very first Girlfriends on the Farm...& I even have photos up on my blog today! It looks like you had a lovely time with you girl pals...such a pretty wreath you made for Suzanne! Love the little dress on her present to you! Merry Christmas!
XO~Hope
December 3, 2012 at 6:34 AM
Vintage Jane said…
I just love the beautiful paper decs and the bauble wreath you made is stunning. You are very lucky to have your special girlfriends and they are very lucky to have you. M x
December 3, 2012 at 7:12 AM
Linda said…
all the craft and gifts were amazing. but oh that wreath with the vintage ornaments is absolutely the best. just beautiful, Laurie! may need to see if i can find any around town-love that idea.
December 3, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Wendy said…
What an amazing time you girls had Laurie!
December 3, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Kathy said…
Nearly as busy as yours but not nearly as much fun. Your little trees are SWEET!
December 3, 2012 at 1:19 PM
autena said…
What a fun post! Love those little trees and the folded paper stuff and the antique expedition and... everything!Felt like I was there with you!
December 4, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Unknown said…
That wreath is AH-Mazing! I have all the stuff to make one but need to get on it! Looks like you all had a great time!
December 4, 2012 at 6:41 PM
GardenOfDaisies said…
It looks like you girls had a really wonderful time together! So fun! Love the gifts you exchanged and the trees you made. :-)
December 5, 2012 at 7:56 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