More Christmas Decorating

As each day passes, I’m gaining a bit more confidence when it comes to our Christmas decorating.  I found that if I introduce ‘new’ things a little at a time, then Frankie seems to accept them more readily…says I holding my breath.  Here’s what little I’ve gotten away with  accomplished over the last few days.

I added a few things to the fireplace mantel and the shelves behind it.

There was an awesome craft show this past Saturday in Annapolis Royal with some very talented artists and crafters participating.  I need absolutely nothing but when I saw this doll, I just knew she had to come home with me. 

I very rarely played with dolls when I was a child, preferring my box of crayons or paints but I think I’m making up for it as an adult.  Her face is sculpted and the gal who painted her facial features did an incredible job. 

She seems very content to watch me as I create in my studio.  I think I’ll name her ‘Patience’.

When we lived in Florida, I purchased these hand carved spool Santas. 

Can you spot them on the shelves of this little collectibles cupboard?  I leave them out year round in my studio because after all, they are made from  vintage  wooden spools that once held thread.  *wink*

Here’s another photo to give you some perspective as to where they reside in my studio.

Below is my Coke bottle Santa collection.   Several have been gifted to special friends and family over the years and these are the ones that remain.

I designed, sculpted and painted these little guys about six or seven years ago and they are made from authentic vintage glass Coke bottles.  Each one has a different theme and they are Mr. Painted Quilt’s favorite of all our Christmas decorations.  

Frankie helped us make the decision to forego our big tree this year.   We decided to ‘try’ just the feather tree and see what happens.

The mini poinsettias have been moved to the sideboard…

and this little seasonal vignette sits atop the pine dough box in the kitchen.

I’m hoping that there will be more to come.

First Friday Freebie #23

Yesterday we flipped the calendar over to December and today is the First Friday of the month…already!  If this is your first visit here, welcome!  You’ve picked the right day to stop by because on the First Friday of every month, I release a new Freebie design for you to make and enjoy.

So in keeping with the season, allow me to present to you my Woodland Santa.  This month, I decided to make a pillow out of mine. 

The front… 

The back…

I used a strip of seasonal cotton ribbon to add some interest…

And in keeping with the woodland theme, included some plaid wool for the borders.

To download the PDF file which includes the photo, line drawing and instructions, please click HERE. 

Doesn’t it look grand on the bed in our guest bedroom?  Frankie approves!

And just in case you’d like to have a look,  my Etsy shop is now up and running.  I have some of my original FFF samples for sale and I’m hoping to list more items in the next little while.  If you’d like to have a look, there’s a button on the top right sidebar which will take you directly to my shop but to make it easy, just click here or on the button below.

I hope you enjoy making this month’s FFF.  It works up quickly and there’s probably enough time to make a few as gifts!

Trying to “Deck the Halls”

The weekend has been a quiet one spent at home sewing, knitting, rearranging a few things and T-R-Y-I-N-G to decorate for Christmas.  Read on and you’ll understand why…and it isn’t Mr. Painted Quilt’s fault either.

My vintage poinsettia quilt is now in it’s proper place…on our bed.

If you don’t recall the story behind this quilt, you can read about it here. 

Just scroll down through all the blather towards the latter part of the post to find out how it wound up in our home.

The hand quilting is impeccable and the appliqué work is absolutely stunning.

As of this morning, it will remain on our bed until the holidays are over, after which time it will be stored away in my quilt cupboard until this time next year.

I am so happy that this quilt ‘found’ me!

While I was changing the bedding and quilts this morning, we decided to add a little sitting area to our bedroom as well.  All we need to add is a little side table and light.

Yesterday, I gathered some fresh pine and fir boughs from the woods at the back of our property and made this little arrangement.

It was intended to be the centerpiece for our dining room table but Frankenstein Frankie just couldn’t get used to it there. Every time we introduce something new into our home, he becomes obsessively neurotic about it and meows incessantly.

Talk about a creature of habit!

So I decided to place the trencher that usually sits on top of the mantel on the dining room table instead and although this upset him, I think he’s finally accepted it.  He’s never been on the mantel and I’m hoping that it stays that way.

I was a little concerned about the miniature live poinsettia plants but after a few loud “NO’s” he finally got the message.

It looks like I’m going to have to cut down on my decorating for this year…after all,  he’s only eight months old and is still a kitten.   Hopefully by next year he’ll have outgrown his neuroses.  

We’re not snowbound any longer!

Here’s a picture of Mr. PQ shovelling the driveway after the storm on Thursday morning while talking to one of our neighbors.

By Saturday afternoon the temperature had risen to 60F…

and it’s almost all gone today. 

The weather forecast is for mild weather over the next five days with some rain as well so I think that nary a trace of the white stuff will be with us by week’s end.

I’m making some progress on Mr. PQ’s socks…

but found that I was more interested in sewing some Christmas gifts on my Featherweight, which meant that I had to do a little reorganizing in my studio.

So I shuffled some things around…

and guess who was right there supervising and moaning the entire time?

Is there such a thing as a cat psychiatrist?  I think Frankie needs some help and no, it’s not just the curiosity thing.  But ya gotta love him.

So, as far as ‘decking the halls’ goes…let’s just say that things are on hold for now.

Snowbound!

Guess what it’s been doing all day?

The photo above is a view out our back door to the barn in the distance and the next one is to the outbuilding where the Christmas decorations still remain.

Now wouldn’t it have been easier to bring them in when when I suggested instead of waiting until there was 6” of snow on the ground with more to come?  Men!

I wasn’t brave enough to venture outside so the above photo was taken from inside our summer kitchen looking out the window in a north-easterly direction towards the other two barns.  Looks like Mr. PQ will be doing some shovelling tonight.

So rather than go out to dinner as we had planned…because today is my birthday…we hunkered down indoors close to the fire…

and I baked a cake!

My friend Ter’e who lives in Florida (no blog) sent me the recipe which I’ve been dying to make. 

What a mistake!

This is the most decadent pound cake that you’ll ever taste and if I’m going to put on five pounds eating it, then you all are too because here’s the recipe.  I dare you to try it!  *wink*

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1-1/2 C butter, softened at room temperature

1-8oz package cream cheese, softened at room temperature

3 C sugar

6 large eggs

3 C all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp vanilla

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Do not overbeat.

Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition.

Add eggs one at a time, beating until combined.

Add vanilla.

Sift 3 C flour and salt together.  Gradually add to the butter mixture, beating at a low speed just until blended after each addition.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 10” bundt pan and smooth the top of the batter to even it out.

Bake at 300F for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes.  Remove from pan and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Simply divine…especially with a hot cup of tea.

December’s First Friday Freebie is done and I dropped off my postage stamp quilt at Donna’s yesterday to be machine quilted so here’s what I’ll be starting tonight after dinner…

A pair of heavy socks to keep Mr. PQ’s feet warm while he tramps through the snow to fetch the Christmas decorations!  Hee!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends.

A little of this and that…

I’ve always been curious about wool felting and when one of the gals from my hooking group offered to teach me how, I jumped at the chance.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy it is…and here’s my first attempt.

An old world style St. Nick holding a miniature bottle brush Christmas tree.  He stands about 6” high and is currently taking up residence in a bowl of blueberries on one of the shelves in my studio.   Thanks, Betty!

In my last blog entry, I posted the recipe for my Harvest Veggie Casserole and received several emails asking about rutabagas.  To those ‘no-reply’ bloggers,  a rutabaga is a north American-ism for the common turnip. 

Mystery solved!

The order that I placed for the 2-ply, 12 wt Aurifil thread arrived on Friday so you know what I was doing all weekend…

Designing and working on next month’s First Friday Freebie!  December 2nd will be here before we know it!

I can’t tell you how much I ♥ this  thread!

I am also in the throes of setting up an Etsy shop.  Everything is good to go, save the fact that I’m not happy with the quality of the photos I’ve taken of the items that will be for sale, some of which will be my original First Friday Freebie samples.  As soon as I have some decent images to upload, I’ll announce the Grand Opening!

Just this morning, I put to bed all of my fall decorating items until next year. 

How bare everything looks! 

I asked Mr. Painted Quilt if he could bring in the plastic bins labeled “Christmas” from our outbuilding and all I got was the “you’ve got to be kidding” look. 

I know he’ll do it…but in his own time.

And lastly, this is in response to all of you wonderful people who have made inquiries about my health.  

My main focus at this time is to keep both my hands and mind occupied and to stay positive.  I still tire very easily, otherwise, I feel no differently than I did a couple of months ago.  My next PET scan is scheduled for the 12th of December, followed by a meeting on the 19th with the head oncologist to discuss the results. 

Here’s hoping…