My Lace Christmas Tree

You can read all about this beautiful…

 White Lace Christmas Tree…

 in more detail (here)... 

on my Teacup Lane blog.    

Christmas in July

No, I didn't fall off the ends of the earth.

It's just that life has been so busy this past year so I've not had the time to post on my second (i.e., Christmas) blog.

But I wanted do a "show and tell" about my sewing here since it relates to Christmas.  

I've bought a new sewing/embroidering machine over a year ago (Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000) and I've been taking several classes the last year at my sewing store to learn all about this amazing new sewing/embroidery machine.

Lately I'm having a blast at our sewing store's "Christmas in July" classes!

First we appliquéd Christmas Trees on to a white background to create a rustic pillow cover.  

I embellished the pillow cover with ribbons, red piping and an embroidered "Merry Christmas".  

Sew cute!

I glued on a small red pom pom for Santa's nose and added a ribbon.

In the next session we got to use different speciality feet to sew up this cute Santa Claus stocking. 

The Christmas Tree Hugger Pillow Cover!

It was my first time ever sewing on sequins, piping and also heat setting tiny jewel beads with a tiny heat gun.  

Two Christmas projects finished!

Do you have any "Christmas in July" projects?

Hopefully my next posting will be quicker than the last one.

LOL!  

Oh, my Deer!

Isn't she sweet!

My new Deer!

Who doesn't love red and turquoise together? 

So 1950s ish.    

I found this little beauty in a gift shop on our trip out West this Fall. 

She's a Department 56 deer.

Now I want to crochet a throw in red, white and turquoise! 

I just love those colors.

Do you have any Department 56 villages or ornaments? 

Only 79 days to Christmas!

My Bunnies

I love bunnies! 

 I'm hosting BUNCO next week so I have been busy cleaning and de-cluttering our kitchen and family room.  This is the first BUNCO I've hosted without Merry Maids cleaning for me.  

I have put away the Valentine's decorations and put out Easter decorations.  Since Easter is this month  I decided not to decorate for St. Patrick's this year. 

 I think we all are longing for Spring to arrive.  I know I am tired of all the drab browns.

I bought these cute mugs and stuffed chick and bunny at our grocery store.  

I made the EASTER and SPRING banners. 

Yesterday I went to Michaels and picked up my party plates and napkins for Bunco in pretty spring colors. 

 And while there I found this adorable white fur bunny that reminds me of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.  It may just become my center piece.  

And yesterday I washed all my teacups and polished the teacup shelves.  I noticed our fairly new dishwasher had a china setting and a top shelf setting so I put most of the teacups and saucers in there... carefully placing them so they didn't touch at all.  That saved me time with just a few smaller ones to hand wash.  Today I have the oven set to self clean. OMG I love self cleaning ovens.  

Last night I watched The Bachelor finale.  I think Sean was one of the nicest bachelors ever!  Catherine and Sean make a beautiful couple and I hope their love will last.  They announced their wedding will be televised.  

 My crocheting has been put on hold while I'm preparing for Bunco.

  I miss it. 

  

I'm stuck on this round...errrr.  My stitch count is probably incorrect in the previous round or something.   

 Think SPRING!

Happy New Year 2013

Santas Morning...

I love the time between Christmas and New Years! 

 Even though we have been retired five years this January we still look forward to this time during the holidays to just relax and DO NOTHING!

                         Oh, my...I also love a good cup of coffee in the morning.

So this morning I'm having my Keurig coffee with my Santas. 

Both Santas are Christmas gifts... one new and one old.

My Santa coffee mug is a Coca Cola 1996 collection edition mug. 

And the glass blown St. Nicholas ornament is brand new.

Love that jolly elf!

Mrs. Claus loves him too!

Sorry...I have to leave now my Santas are calling me! 

But Santa said to tell you...

 he'll be back next year...

 if you're good.

Let it SNOW!

Beautiful white flakes of snow...falling here at Sandy Snowflake!

Even our Beanie Baby Bears love the snow!

And we don't have to drive in it!!!!

Merry Christmas 2012 !

May you all have a most wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Doilies

I've been having fun crocheting these cute, little Christmas doilies in red, green and white yarn. I'm using an old doily pattern and a size F hook.

If you would like a copy of the pattern send me an email.

I love the bright cheery Christmas colors. I'm making these for family so they will all go to new homes.

I Love Snowmen!

More Christmas decorations to share with you. One is a snowman vignette with a stuffed felt snowman, a snowman runner, a snowman placemat and a snowman banner. I hung the fabric quilted snowman banner over a picture to make it more Christmasy.

My dear departed father-in-law cut out the wood to make the wooden wreath. He painted it in the bright red, white and green colors. Isn't it pretty?

On the wall I grouped my blue snowmen china - two St. Nicolas plates (lovely gifts from one of my brother-in-law's and his wife) and a blue Merry Christmas wood sign.

Do you like to decorate with snowmen?

The Cardinal & Santa Claus

I love this embroidery that my mother-in-law made of a lovely red cardinal in a woodland setting. It goes beautiful with my vintage blow mold Santa Claus.

Snow & a Cardinal

Lovely isn't it!

I saw this photo of the beautiful cardinal in the snow on the Internet and had to share it.

Mickey & Minnie

How do you like my new Mickey & Minnie Salt and Pepper set?

I love it!

Mickey Mouse Nutcrackers

Look at the adorable Mickey Mouse nutcrackers I saw at one of the stores at Disney World's Hollywood Studios.

Alas... unfortunately I didn't purchase any {{{sob}}} but I will share with you what I did buy soon.

Gingerbread House

Can you imagine a Gingerbread House large enough to be a store?

We couldn't either...that is until we visited the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World.

We couldn't resist buying two gingerbread shingles - they used chocolate to hold the shingles together. Delicious!