Sunday, December 2, 2012

23 More Days...

Until Christmas!  

Are you counting?  I am!

I'm having so much fun decorating, planning a little tea for my quilting and hooking friends and just enjoying the season.  I have a few new Christmas decorating photos to show you and some with changes that I've made to what I had already done.

So come on along!

Here are some close up photos of some of our ornaments.  The punched tin star tree topper I won at the Shaker Woods Festival in Columbiana, Ohio several years ago.  


Most of the ornaments are hand crafted and were either purchased or gifted to me when I was travel teaching.







Pictured below is one of the new seasonal arrangements that I made yesterday from fresh greenery that was found on our property and in the woods beyond the cleared land.  This one is in a salt glazed crock and is sitting on the sideboard in our kitchen.




The Santas that you see on the ledge of the pine step back cupboard I made several years ago from vintage glass Coke bottles.  I designed, sculpted and hand painted each one and they are all unique, depicting different themes.

They are Mr. Painted Quilt's favorites.



The second fresh greenery arrangement is in a basket that now rests on a chair in the main floor bathroom.  Both arrangements are made from cedar, fir and fresh holly. 




Here it is again but from a different angle.




Now you guys don't miss a trick, do ya!


After my last post several of you asked about my vintage poinsettia quilt that I wrote about here.  Well it is now on our bed, just in time for the Holiday Season.



It's been folded up in my quilt cupboard since last Christmas.  On the next sunny day I'll hang it out on the clothesline and the fold marks will disappear.  



A few more Christmas memories can be found on the side table in our bedroom.  I designed and painted the Santa back in 1993.  Yikes!  Where has the time gone?




The little gathering on our stove top now sports a few different things including a reproduction vintage fly screen which I found in a local shop just last week.




And while all this was happening, I made an apple pie and a roast is simmering away in the slow cooker for tonight's dinner.  




Frankie and Ollie were chilling yesterday morning just prior to his visit to the doggie day spa.




And here's a much cleaner and spiffier Ollie this morning.  Boy did he need it!  




And last but not least, a little reminder that this Friday, December7th, is the First Friday of the month of December and I have a special design that I created just for you all to make and enjoy.  I think that this one might be my most favorite First Friday Freebie to date.  


Can you tell that I'm excited?


49 comments:

Jackie's Stitches said...

I seriously need you to come decorate my house. You have SUCH a talent for it! Absolutely beautiful!

I LOVE the tin star at the top of your tree.

Siobhán said...

Your decorations are so fun and festive, Kaaren. Nice and tasteful, too, which I love--very classy.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Everything is just lovely and I have to go with Mr. Painted - those Santas out of the coke bottles are just beautiful Kaaren!

Gayle said...

It all looks so nice Kaaren! I especially like your Coke bottle Santas - did you use paper clay? Or perhaps polymer clay to sculpt them?

celkalee said...

As usual everything is lovely and comforting in our troubled world. I must say that I am also a "Shaker" of Columbiana girl. Been there many times over the last 20 years or so. Your star is perfect on that tree! I have never won anything but have brought home many treasures.

Lesley said...

What a festive home you have! Loved seeing the ornaments a little closer. And those coke bottle Santas are adorable...I think they are my favorites too! Your Christmas inspiration is doing its magic...I will go find some festive projects to work on now. Thanks for sharing such wonderful treasures!

Sharon said...

You should be excited. You've had many hurdles to get to this season and I say CELEBRATE to the fullest. Every day is a great day if you choose. Oh, and thanks for showing my favorite quilt!

Janet-Olde Crow Primitives said...

Hi Kaaren. I just love all of your ornaments. Hand made are the best aren't they? That pine stepback cupboard is just gorgeous!
The critters just look so content getting their picture taken. They look like best friends :)
Janet

Janet-Olde Crow Primitives said...

Hi Kaaren. I just love all of your ornaments. Hand made are the best aren't they? That pine stepback cupboard is just gorgeous!
The critters just look so content getting their picture taken. They look like best friends :)
Janet

SueB said...

Oh a tea for you hooker group, how exciting. Your place is amazing, just love all of your photos. So let the celebrating begin...

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

All of your decorations look so nice! Your pie looks yummy! And Ollie is looking so grown up!

gracie said...

Many thanks for sharing your beautiful decorations and of course Frankie and Ollie....

Michelle said...

Love the decorating....what did you do as a traveling teacher? Sounds interesting.

Ollie looks much better...and I bet he was plum tuckered out!

Cant wait til Friday!!! ;o)

Deb said...

Kaaren your house is just so inviting!! I love how both of your furbabies get along so well!
uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm pie...

Anneke said...

It all looks very cosy. Especially your quilts are wonderful! My New Year's resolution will be to make a christmas quilt!

Can't wait till Friday. It's after our Sinterklaas-festivities, and I can start to decorate our home for Christmas too.

barb's creations said...

Loved going on a virtual tour of your house makes me feel all Chrismassy :) Barb.

Doniene said...

Kaaren, you home is wonderful!! I could smell the fir and the apple pie!! I'll be right over!!! LOL!! Wow, only 23 days - I've much to do, so I'm off!!

Blessings

Abby and Stephanie said...

I'm doing the ugly before the pretty. Deep cleaning the family room before decorating. I'm sure each ornament and decoration brings lots of happy memories. I'm in love with the poinsettia quilt.

Denise said...

I have been reading your blog for some time now but this is the first time I have commented. I guess I am just a "lurker". I enjoy all the photos of your quilts and decorations. I had to comment today because of the punched tin star from Shaker Woods Festival. I am from the small town next to Columbiana and was shocked to see it mentioned. Keep posting photos, I just love them.

Happy Holidays,
Denise

Joan said...

Love your photo tour with the beautiful decorations, the gorgeous quilt, and of course, Frankie and Ollie. Sooo cute! You are so organized. Way to go!

Nancy said...

Looks so festive at your home!! Your Frankie could pass for the twin of a much beloved kitty, we lost a year ago. Pooter was the best, and we still miss him! Ollie looks so sweet in the bed with Frankie. Just shows opposites can get along! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Susannah said...

Taking a Christmas tour through your house would put any one in the Christmas mood! Everything looks beautiful! So perfect.

I can not wait until Friday. Thank you ahead of time.

Bev said...

Beautiful! I'm so inspired...to look at your blog again...not to decorate here. Ollie looks so cute! Love your tree and ornaments...especially the redware ornaments! Thanks for sharing!

Cheery wave!

Bev

WoolenSails said...

Your home and decorations look wonderful, guess I need to get moving on mine. Ollie looks so cute in his new cut.

Debbie

Lizzy said...

Thanks so much for sharing your home and cute pets with us, I love your decor and find it worthy of a magazine, in fact it's better..

Darlene D said...

It looks lovely Kaaren, the Santas are beautiful! I'm sooo looking forward to the tea and being able to see all of the trimmings in person. Pie looks yummy!

Sheila said...

Just beautiful and your Santas are incredible , I love your home!

Pat said...

Especially like your fresh arrangements & am coveting the holly you can find out your back door...it doesn't grow here in northern Wisconsin (maybe global warming will change that?)

Ollie looks ready for the holidays - this will be his first Christmas, right? and I bet his stocking will be filled with goodies!

Angie said...

I am delighted that you are have so much fun this Holiday Season, Kaaren. :) Your decorations are divine.

Anonymous said...

Always so darned inviting.

Merilyn said...

I love the seasonal arrangements and the fact that you just go out and pick fresh holly, just wonderful!!!! I don't think I've ever seen fresh holly in my life, living in this part of the world LOL!!! I also did wonder about your 'Christmas' bed quilt, but I didn't like to ask...... I would just love one in those colours too, maybe one day!!! My goodness Ollie did come up well after his spa!! So nice to see those two napping together.......

Pam in IL said...

Love your decorations, the vintage quilt and your fresh arrangements from your yard. I see some vintage bowls on your counter near the scrumptious apple pie. My grandma had some almost identical to that.

Your Coke bottle Santa's are some of my favorite as well!

Val said...

I absolutely love your decorations! We are in between houses, so I will have a whole year to plan next years decorations in my new house!

Anne said...

Everything looks wonderful and cozy. Would love you to do a post about your coke bottle Santas. I'm very curious as to how you made them.

Betty said...

Your decorations are very nice. I too think your coke bottle Santas are very special and unique. Now you can come decorate my house.

Janet O. said...

It is all so comfortable, warm and homey. And Mr Painted Quilt has good taste (besides choosing you), those Coke bottle Santas are amazing! Love the gathering of greenery, too. And that quilt on your bed--Wow!

Ulla said...

Thank you for showing us your beautiful decorations. Very inspiring!

Louise said...

Everything looks beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing a little part of your world with us :)
the quilt is gorgeous!

Raggedystitches,
Louise xx

JudyCinNC said...

Loving all of your home decorating pictures - and of course Frankie and Ollie are so precious anytime. Maybe you would consider a closer look at your Coke bottle Santas - they are so unique. Thanks for sharing Kaaren. Judy C in NC

Needled Mom said...

Everything looks so pretty. I love your Coke bottle Santas and can see why they are a favorite.

The time does go by so quickly and it is always fun to look at the dates on things that you have made. Shocking too!!!

Kate/Massachusetts said...

Your pictures of Frankie and Ollie in the dog bed always get me! lol They are so darn cute together!

Dawn said...

It all looks so beautiful! I love this time of the year - and am counting too. Sweet pictures - all very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

Sandy said...

Great decorations, Kaaren! I, too, love the coke bottle Santas. You are very talented. Ollie is growing like a weed...he looks like he is ready for the holidays now.

Janet said...

There is my favorite all around Quilt (poinsettia), looks great on the bed. Your decorations are outstanding. You have a knack with the greenery. Just beautiful. Ollie and Frankie look like they have been best buds forever. Can't wait for Friday.
Janet

Barb said...

Lovely home and decorations!

Candace said...

Just gorgeous, Kaaren! I am taking notes on your fresh arrangements! Do you have them in water? My decorating got stopped for a few days so the insulators can finally come and make us cozier for the winter. In the meantime all I have to do is come here and feast my eyes on what you've done!
Cheers!

suz said...

love your house - it must be wonderful to go outside and find such great greenery in your own yard!

Carin said...

Wow ... I love your decorations !!!!!

Jo said...

It looks lovely. I am in a bahumbug kind of mood. No snow for us yet. That puts me in more of a Christmas mood. Sounds like snow for Thursday so maybe then it will kick in. :)