My Little Christmas Giveaway and Its Story

 

The day has arrived when I really need to get with the program and announce "My Little Christmas Giveaway." I try to do this every year...when I possibly can.  And, this year...well, I can!  I hope you will be interested in these items:  A copy of "Vintage Style" magazine, a copy of "Christmas Ideas" from Better Homes and Gardens, and from the flea market (of course) a cross-stitched rose/crocheted doily,  a string of vintage buttons, and a Post Card.  Then, there is a Christmas Ornament made by me.   It's an odd assortment, but given with the best of intentions. 

 If you are interested, please comment on this blog post by Midnight, Wednesday, December 17th. 

 

My friend, Sherry, tells me that there can never be too many photographs on my blog posts.  I hope she's right.....so here are a bunch concerning this Giveaway!

 

 This is what I have chosen to give to one of you out there.....Two magazines and other items. To me, nothing beats a good magazine to spend time reading when it's cold outside, it's quiet inside and you want a little inspiration!

 

I found this combination Cross-stitch and crochet doily at the flea a while ago.  It was framed in an awful frame. When I bought it, I figured I would remove it from the frame and use it somehow, but the other day, I took it out, deciding YOU should have it rather than it remain framed poorly and in my collection of 'stuff' to do something with, who knows when.  These things should be enjoyed.

 

 A close-up.  It's very pretty!

 

 I managed to buy this Post Card at the flea also.  You know...my 'home away from home.'  I'm always and forever attracted to roses....and I had these little red bird stickers...so just added one to the Post Card for the fun of it!

 

   

I made this Christmas Ornament, and several others with different photos....back in 2007.  I think I only used them once....so, decided to use them this year and that meant I needed to include one in my Giveaway.  I hope you like it.  I'll tell more about it in this post.

 

 Here I am showing you the back of the Ornament.  Just because. And, by the way, it measures 3 1/2 inches x 4 1/2 inches.  I really did like that fabric I used for the backing.  And then,  here is the string of buttons.  One can never have enough buttons!!

 

There are some Mother of Pearl buttons in this string...they don't show up all that well, but are there.  I have found "several" strings of buttons at one of my favorite flea markets...actually, I'm pretty sure I have single-handedly purchased just about all the buttons, over a period of time, that the booth owner puts in there to entice us.  Well, I'm allergic to chocolate....there has to be something for me to crave!!!

 

 You may have noticed that there is a quilt in the background of all these photos. It is a small doll quilt I made many years ago.  It's 22" x 26" and I thought it would make a good background for these photos.  Why I wanted to make a photo like this, I don't know.....I think I just liked that Ornament being surrounded by all that quilting! 

 

 Here is a full shot of it.  Not very big....and certainly, if I were making a full size whole cloth quilt, it would not have all that un-quilted space in it, but, hey, I didn't think the doll would mind and there were other quilts to get to work on!

 

 A couple of close-ups.  I drew this pattern and really didn't know how I was going to use it at the time....as you can see, I like hearts on quilts...and just about everything I make, truth to tell.  And, it's made from muslin, front and back.  A simple thing.

 

 I no longer worry about the size of stitches and stuff like that.  Having them pretty even is a good thing though.

 

 Yeah....hearts.  I've made a million of them...hoping to start making them again in January!!

 

 A heart in a heart.  Makes my heart beat faster!!!

 

 Then, there is this little quilted 'feather' design.....a scallop on top of that.  I should use this one again!

 

 Three of the Giveaway items....just because.

 

 I haven't put up a tree of any kind for the last few Christmases.  I won't go into why.  But, this time I thought I needed to do 'something,' so I have put up a little 'sliver' of a tree.  There is just me here and I didn't want to spend money on one....maybe next year.  So, the very skinny one in the attic seemed to do the job for me.  The other Ornaments I made to this 'set' are on the tree now.  (These ornaments are way too large for this little tree....but, since I wanted to use what I had...it turned out ok with me!)

 

 Here is a better photo of one of the Ornaments. 

 

 So, here is the STORY of the how these Ornaments came about.  Naturally, it involves a flea market.  I found three boxes of vintage Christmas Cards several years ago.  They were quite pretty and I figured I would use them for something...a couple of dollars...and they became mine.  At some point, I decided to print some of them on fabric and make something from them.  Well, we DO seem to have printers and things that need to be used!  So, that is what I did.  Some of the cards have glitter on them, so after doing all the sewing of the ornaments, I decided to use a touch of 'glitter paint' rather than sprinkling the glitter.  No telling what kind of mess I would have made.   They were such sweet, old-fashioned pictures, I decided to 'frame' them with a small width of fabric and embroider a feather stitch around each one.  Oh, how I love to do those simple stitches!!!!   

 

 This is actually a photo of one of the BOXES!  I LOVE the embossed border on this box...so very pretty!!!

 

 The box with some of the cards so sweet, so NOSTALGIC!!  I'm a sucker for that sweet, old-fashioned stuff!!  Well, someone has to be.....

 

   Love the log cabin....and the tiny little squirrel...glitter on the trees !!

 

 Likewise, the little kid with a sled and the tiny dog....tiny birds...

 

 And, here is the card I chose to make this Ornament from....Dad walking home....in the snow...so love it!

 

I love the sentimental greeting inside the card.   And this is my wish for YOU this year:

"With the best of all good wishes

For Christmas and the New Year"

***Please remember to comment on this post if you'd like to win the Giveaway....by Midnight, this Wednesday, December 17th!! 

Also, make sure I have a way to get in touch with you should you win the Giveaway!!!!

Until next time, ♥ pat

Warmth and Beauty in 2015

 

Several weeks ago, I received this wonderful calendar for 2015.  It was sent by my friend, Kay Thomas, from Mountain View, Arkansas.  I met Kay a very long time ago when I first went to visit the Ozark Folk Center.  Through her invitation, I became a quilt instructor at the center for their Ozark Folk School many years later.  Kay is a multi-talented and caring person...and I sincerely mean that.  There is no limit to what she can do and I admire her greatly.  She has been involved in the production of this wonderful calendar and I wanted to share it with you today.  I know you will enjoy seeing this little peek at it and if so inclined, please order one to benefit the Stone County Museum located in Mountain View.

 

Pictured here is the back of the calendar....with all the pertinent information there.  (And, isn't this a nice photo of Susan Jewell working on hand quilting...makes me want to get out a needle and get to quilting...as there are several quilt tops I could be working on right now!)

  

I've enlarged it for you so you can read it a little easier.   I think this calendar is a beautiful tribute to the pioneer quilters of Arkansas.  I always marvel at these quilts and wonder how in the world these women accomplished all they did to make a home and feed a family, much less create such beautiful works of art.  They, of course, were making them to keep warm and I'm sure they never even thought of them as art....but, art they are!  Indeed.

 

I'm only going to show you January, as an enticement, of course.   A Rocky Mountain Road quilt made by Martha Dale Carter and passed down through her family.  A photo of her daughter, Lizzy, appears along with the quilt photo. The quilt was made in the late nineteenth century. There is more information on each quilt on the last pages of the calendar. 

  

 I'm not showing you the whole calendar view of the month of June...just the photo. This is one of my favorite things I ever saw at the Folk Center.  This is not actually a quilt, but quilt blocks ready to be made into a quilt.  I have actually touched these very blocks myself...way back in the day when I taught at the Folk Center.   It seems they were 'discovered' in an antique store by Benham Dangers of Ft. Smith in 1973.  With them was information stating they were more than 100 years old, made for a bride's quilt, although she never married.  When I saw them, I was completely speechless (quite a rare occurrence!) 

There are twenty blocks, some duplicated.  The blocks have pieced backgrounds with the tiniest of animals and other images appliqued on them.

  

In this photo, you can see a photo insert with one of the appliqued birds.  

 

Here is one of the copies I received from Kay.  I had originally thought to replicate them at some point, but never did.  Maybe I will try making one or two of the animals one of these days...but not a whole quilt.  Perhaps a pincushion or something small.

Here is the squirrel.  So very cute...and tiny.  It measures approximately 1 1/2  x 2 inches.

 

And, here is the bird.....it measures approximately 2 x 2 inches.  The little legs measure 1/8 inch.  Yes,  1/8 inch!!!!   Their little eyes are done in buttonhole stitch.  I am privileged to have these copies and treasure them.   I hope you share with me the amazement I feel when looking at these tiny creatures.  A sight to see in 'real life,' you can be sure.

 

 This photo has nothing to do with the calendar, but everything to do with Kay.  I mentioned how talented she is.  I received a note from her way back in 2005 and I have saved it all this time.  Look at the lovely drawing she did in the lower left hand corner.  DIVINE!

 Here is an enlargement so you can see it easier.  The sweetest  little 'scene.'  I treasure it also...as it is a special drawing from a special person.

 

Now, this photo has nothing to do with the calendar either, or even my friend, Kay.  It is where I took the photos of the calendar today.  This is one of the small bedrooms in my new home.  A tiny room.  But I wanted to take the calendar photos on this vintage quilt.  I have no clue who made it, but I am so glad they did!  It's wonderful.  This is a twin bed, but the quilt is a full size.  I like quilts folded at the end of the beds...and this one is fabulous.  Just wanted you to see it as it 'lives in my house.'  I change quilts out once in a while so they can 'rest' in the quilt closet.

 

Notice the quilting on this quilt....BEAUTIFUL!!!  There is nothing more special to a me than someone else's hand quilting and most especially on a vintage quilt.   I love it so.

 

 Another view of the stitching.  Definitely a work of art. 

 

 Another view of the quilt...sure dresses up that little bed, doesn't it?  

I hope you have enjoyed the peek at the calendar.  And, I know you appreciate all the hard work that went into making it and the people who made not only the calendar, but all the hands making the lovely quilts so long ago.  (Thanks, Kay, for sharing it with me!!)

Until next time, ♥  pat

The Thanksgiving Visit

Since things have been so serious around here for so long...I thought I'd share a few photos from Thanksgiving that might show you that this Thanksgiving, we managed to have some fun and laugh. They say laughter is the best medicine and I am sure it is....especially after spending some time with these funny people.  Here is my daughter and son (at her house), engaged in a little exercise routine.   You see a couple of adults....I still see them as they were as kids.  They sure made me laugh here!

And this photo sure makes me smile!  My son with his ninety-four year old grandfather, my father-in-law and the old navy man's step-dad,  Bob - amused at all of us - as he always is.  A great photo!

  

We played a lot of Pictionary last week!  As you can see, they seem to be having a great time.  I'm not a 'game player' as the whole family will tell you, but I do enjoy playing this game.  Maybe because it is silly and involves drawing??  A margarita doesn't hurt either, this one offered to the photographer (me) by my favorite sister, Debbie.

 

Scott in a quiet moment.  

 

I have rarely been able to get a photo of the Grand-Dog,  Trixie.  She belongs to Kelly and Rick.  So, finally, with the help of Scott....well, here she is.  And, a great little dog she is.  She sat in a chair at the table when we played our game, probably wondering what her crazy relatives were doing.

  

Now, I have no memory of taking this photo at all.  But, unless someone took it with my iphone, I must have done it.  So silly and cute!  These two are fifteen months apart.  When they were small, I would have wondered if a picture like this would ever be possible, and yet, I have lived to actually see such things!

  

This photo was taken by Scott as we dropped him off at the airport in Little Rock last Tuesday.
Hardest thing about visits is saying "Goodbye" at the airport.  I can barely handle it, but seem, at least in this photo, to be doing a pretty good job.  I don't think my sister or my daughter are having that easy a time either, but there you are....a funny little group...making the best of parting, as my sister left the very next day.

 

 I've no idea why, but I always manage to take a photo of Scott as he walks into the airport.  And, so there he goes.  So glad he could come for the visit.  His mother is grateful.  And, thank you, Debbie, your sister is grateful.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  And, hope you will visit me again.  I plan on doing a better job of this blog posting in the New Year....hold me to it!

Stay safe, warm and cozy until next time,  ♥ pat