Candy Canes and Reproductions

While over reading at a favorite blog last month I happened across this Holiday apron pattern.  Before I get too caught up in my thoughts I have to tell you how wonderful Barbara's blog is. Aptly named Oodles and Oodles it is filled with vintage finds and family stories.  She is a talented writer who invites you in and shares with her funny quips and smart facts.  If you haven't already subscribed to her posts I know you will and if your lucky you can snag an item from her Etsy shop or her Ebay auction.

With my holiday corsages out and ready for decorating I knew this would be a perfect peppermint pairing.

 I do love patterns but it seems I have such a hard time following them exactly.  I brought the ruffle all the way up to the ties.  My peppermint stick is donning a white bow instead of a red one.  The sash needed more contrast so I chose stripes?  The one thing I did follow was the tie lengths and they came out too short for my liking. You can barely tie the bow?  As I look at the cover photo on the pattern I notice these little models have hardly a waist anyway.  Maybe I just need to bake and not actually eat the cookies!  

Barbara, thank you for the daily inspiration.  I had such fun altering this reproduction.  It is fun to step back in time and pretend even if for just a moment....

Linking up to Rednesday:

Ornaments

It is a favorite holiday.  The sweetest graphics.  Cutest books.  Sparkly baubles hanging off the tree and anything else I can adorn.  I really cannot think of a reason not to like it...maybe the crowds? Each year I try to create an ornament from my yearly vintage finds.  This year was no exception. 

...but first I have to share why this is Reagan's favorite season.  A house full of warm lit trees draped in fuzzy skirts.  This is his place to be for the next month.

Last year I paired these sweet bells with vintage package toppers.  I didn't realize what a find I had in these toppers.  I haven't come across them since.

With white snowflakes as my base I used reflectors to hold a vintage taper wreath and set of bells.

Two reflectors and loads of feather tree balls.

Last year I found an entire lot of these vintage floral stakes.  The stick is easily removed and sits nicely on the snowflake base.  Some glossy millinery and a reflector flower or two.

Jingle bells and plastic holly.  Little bits of juniper for show.  This one might just be my favorite.  These always go out to family and friends.  I tuck away a few for the kids.  When they have a tree of their own I hope to arrive at their first Christmas away from home with a box full of ornaments.   

Hello and a Giveaway!

It has been far to long since I have posted.  Please excuse my absence as I was knee deep in holiday clutter and tissues.  While the cold is still lingering the turkey that my relative sent home has been long expired...thankfully.   I did steal away some time to sew.  Here is just a small project I have been perfecting for sometime.

During the summer I found this bright and beautiful tea towel.  

White linen and rick rack paired beautifully.

Just a touch of red needle work.

 A vintage utility apron.  To always have your supplies handy.  Four roomy pockets fully lined and seamed to hold your hearts content of handiwork.  Long generous strings to wrap around and secure on any waist.  I worked hard to combine both a utility style apron and a vendor apron and kept it vintage as well. 

Once again I want to thank you all for such wonderful support and sweet comments.  

This is the last giveaway for the one year blogiversary.  You have until Friday, December 2nd at noon to leave a comment for a chance to win.  

Kittens, Coughs and Winners

Too Many Kittens is another sweet Whitman tell-a-tale book.  I love the color the captions and all the darling details.  Somethings never change.  

A Kangaroo in a bonnet and a poodle in a basket.

This lady is driving my car and wearing my kerchief!

While there might be a few too many kittens in this book I have come down with my annual cold.  No matter how hard I try not to...I cannot stay well when taking care of the sick ones in my home.  Yesterday I felt like a semi ran clear over me.  At least I can move today. 

Join us again over at Corey's for another great week of storybooks.

The winner of this weeks giveaway is...

Becky of Sweet Cottage Dreams said:

How cute is this book! I have never seen it before but love it! Your duck piece reminds me a bit of my Duck, Duck, Goose quilt that I made - same fabrics. Thank you SO MUCH for the chance to win this book. I can see why you are so inspired by it. I spy several things that you showed that would be right up my style alley.

Thanks Becky and all those who left sweet comments.  Becky send me an email and I will drop you book in the mail.  Next week I will be taking a break to mend myself and do some stitch mending.  For the first week of December I will be giving away one of my very own creations.  

For those of you who don't watch TV ( I am not a huge TV watcher either) Buddy is the Cake Boss.  He has a television show on TLC.  It is about his family owned bakery.  Sometimes my thoughts are faster than my typing...sorry about that.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving week and I will see you on the other side fully decorated in my Holiday Shine Brites.

Buddy

It was a sweet gift that two moms were going to give their best friend daughters.  Unfortunately one of those darling daughters caught the stomach flu.  Graciously, their tickets were extended to my husband and youngest son.  A night of family conversation and a lifetime of memories with Buddy.

Front row...so close we could touch.

That is hunger in our eyes...for the cupcakes and cakes on the stage.

Then it happened...Claire was chosen to ice a cupcake...sunflower...with Buddy!  This child promises to be a baker.  Dreams of icing cakes. Asks every year for a piping set.  Last year I put fondant in her stocking...this is a dream come true.

Then she got to keep it.  Do you think she will let me keep it under glass and shellac it?

A gift for her stage performance...a signed apron.

He is an amazing baker, beautiful artist in his own right, incredible entrepreneur, but by far one of nicest family men I have met in some time.

Even stopping for a family photo after the show.  My oldest wants me to photoshop him into the background.  Can we safely call this a Christmas Card photo?

Tag you're it...

Twenty paper tags all in a row...phew it was a long week of detailed cuts.  Sometimes I didn't think I would make it through.  Could I really come up with 20 different ideas from a single paper set?  Hmm...I hope they measure up to Miss Elizabeth's wonderful paper precision.

With specific measurements given I had to come up with something to give these tags strength.  I knew these cards would come in handy.  I always pick them up at estate sales.  These are just the right size for this tag swap.

Glitter, holly, vintage images, tiny jingle bells, scallops and pinked edges.

All papers from and images from Pretty Little Studios.

Dimension from pop dots.

Finished at last...

I scanned in a vintage Christmas card of mine and added my tag line for the back.  I cannot wait to see how these all look when they are strung together with others.  

...I have been sent a new paint crew!  It appears that our home might be returned to normalcy by early next week...  See Santa really does listen!

Winded.....a giveaway!

I cannot begin to tell you how smitten I am with Janelle Wind.  She is such an incredible talent.  Both designing patterns and stitching.  The color combinations that she uses are always happy and somewhat of a throwback to older days.

Janelle always inspires me whether I am stuck or not.

This is one of the very first patterns I did.  Still makes me smile.

Countless projects have come from this amazing little book of hers.  It is my go to book.  

These are my most recent hanky bins...my rendition of the cover photo.

This is one I am itching to stitch...along with about 30 others.

My cute grumpy ducks came from this book too.

This book has been inspirational to me in so many ways.

I knew it had to be on my list of giveaways.

My hope is that you too can share in the love of such a wonderful and inspiring designer.

Who is just as dear and thoughtful as can be imagined.

Janelle Wind's Pieces of Me is this weeks giveaway.  You have until 12 noon this Friday November 18th to leave a comment for this wonderful book a patterns.