And a Very Happy New Year to You

 

 I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year by showing you my mantel.  My sister and her youngest son and his family are coming tomorrow, so I tried to get some photos this evening.  They are way too dark, but if I turned more lights on...well, reflections and all that.  So, this is actually the way I like it at night....a little dark and very cozy....with candles everywhere.  So, hope you get the gist of my decorations, and know that I wish you the very best in the year to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2016   HAPPY NEW YEAR!   2016

From

 Bird Nest Cottage

until next time,

♥♥♥

Christmas Candles on the Porch

 

"A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;

It makes no noise at all,

But softly gives itself away."

Eva Logue

 

 From my porch to yours:  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

until next time,

from Bird Nest Cottage

♥♥♥

From My House to Yours

From My House to Yours

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

(And, a big Thank You to Jim for the wood-burned tree with birds and Sherry for the lights!)

 

From Bird Nest Cottage

until next time,

♥♥

A Quilt in Those Christmas Colors

 

 Recently I mentioned here that I had taken an unfinished quilt top, put it in my quilt frame and was planning on quilting it this Winter.  Well, Winter is here (according to the calendar) so if I can stay determined, maybe this quilt will be finished by next Christmas.  It is big.  It will take time.  I can no longer quilt for more than an hour as my right hand doesn't work well after that amount of time, but with effort, maybe I can manage it.  This quilt top was hand appliqued at least eight years ago and has been nagging at me to finish it.  So.....my BIG project for 2016!

 

 Here are just a few photos so you get the idea of it.  Here in my living room, near the fire should I need it.  The quilt adds to the coziness of the room even when it isn't being worked on. 

 

 

 I didn't design this one...it's from a book.  I would show it to you, but would have had to launch a search.  I'll make sure you see it, though, as time goes by.  I did design the border.  I don't think it will look 'right' to you until you see the quilt in it's entirety.  

 

 I use a Grace Quilt frame.  I love it!  The largest quilt I have made on it was a commission for the Department of Arkansas Heritage, several years ago.  That quilt was ten feet wide x six feet in height.

Made for their reception room.  I haven't a decent photo of it....but I can tell you that I probably would have never finished it had it not been for this wonderful quilt frame. 

 

 The blocks are about eighteen inches square.  There are sixteen of them.

 

 The background of each block is a different print fabric.

 

 And, yes, this quilt is in traditional Christmas colors, even though it isn't really a Christmas Quilt and it does give my house the 'feeling' of Christmas.  What do you think?

Imagine me here quilting on those very cold Winter days, for here is where I will be.

Join me?

Please continue to enjoy the Christmas Season in good health.

from Bird Nest Cottage

Until next time,

♥♥♥

Nearing Christmas

 

 Christmas is near.  Yes, indeed!  Time has certainly marched along.  I am not really decorating this year, as in the last few, I have not felt the inclination to do much decorating.  This year, there will be no events here as I will be celebrating the season at daughter Kelly's home.  I have managed to put a wreath on my front porch, along with Santa, some birds, and am burning candles out there each night.  I like the old-fashioned idea of real candles burning in the windows....so my porch will have candlelight the rest of this month, and I hope to post some Christmas things for you to see.  

 

 And, lest you think my home will be without any Christmas cheer at all...bear in mind that my favorite colors are red and green, so I consider it already decorated, in some ways.  Here you get a glimpse of my tiny dining room.  With it's red and green quilt.  In each square is the name of a family member, in many, multiple names, so I could fit the whole family in (well, the family members we had at the time it was made, that is)....I made it long ago and still enjoy it.

 

But, really, I wanted to post this room, not only because Christmas is near, but also because I recently purchased this beautiful old bowl and it seems to add a little bit extra to the specialness of this room.  (Thank you, Kathy at Funky Junque!) I had intended to do something else with the bowl....but decided it looked great right here in the middle of the table with not another thing needed.  And, after all, pink is just a lighter shade of red, so in my mind it all goes together....my dining room, and Christmas decorating.

 

 So, I hope you enjoy the peek into my home....there will be another peek or two before Christmas Day....not 'decorated' just for the holiday, but how I live here at Bird Nest Cottage.  You may even   see my Christmas Candle on the porch nearer the 25th.  As you know, I prefer to keep things simple.

 

 And, all things vintage....whenever possible.

 

 And, so you know, this little tea cup was made by Julie.  You can see her artwork at juliewhitmorepottery.blogspot.com

and that sweet little quilted bird was made by Mandy.  You can see her artwork at

threadandthrift.blogspot.com

Click to enlarge to see both these items.....two of my most favorite things!

And, as Christmas nears, there you have it....

from Bird Nest Cottage

until next time,

♥♥♥

(And, yes, this huge bowl IS missing it's matching pitcher....lost along the path of everyday life,  I suppose.  Not to worry, I do love it anyway!)