These are a few of my favorite things...

A little winter vignette built on a candle holder and paper plate...

This candle plate and shade and the scent of the peace candle...

This theater I made from computer printed papers...

A book about snowflakes, fascinating!  The jar I made in my "ceramics" period...

...and this sparkling bird sending you, Winter Wishes...

Making Popourri

Take your summer's harvest of rose petals, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, sage.  Dry in a large basket you will forget until December.  Remove all the stems, and save for a fragrant bundle to start your Christmas fire.

Let your whole home be filled with the fragrance of summer.

Capture the essence of Summer in a jar.

Make sachets, fill bowls and enjoy the sweet scent of summer...

Through the long cold winter.
What a great way to stop and take a quiet moment from my Christmas preparations.  Wishing you some  tranquil time my friends. 

When the Snow Falls...

It happened this week, our first accumulating snowfall.  To tell the truth I slept right through it.  It happened just after my Guild Sisters made $600 for our service projects!  There I was, sound asleep. 

I am feeling much better.  Heck if I know what I had, just a bad headache, severe body aches and a stuffed up head.  I hear it's going around.

To make up for lost time I inventoried my cookie making supplies.  Except for the butter, I am good to go.  Hoping to find a deal on some Land O Lakes...  Can you tell the difference between good old LOL and the bargain brand?  I can, and I want the best for my family and friends.

 On my first outing, after days at home, I hit the GW.  I found this julep looking cup, actually a florist vase,

...these two little tins, a .49 cent VHS of  A Charlie Brown Christmas, I can watch with the little bird...
... and this cool tray.  I've wanted one like this for a while.  There used to be one similar in the Southern Living at Home catalog.  They ran seasonal ribbon through the holes. Theirs was maybe $29.00,  mine was just $3.99!

On Saturday we headed north to Jeannie's of the
 Gilded Junqueyard.  She had a holiday sale at her lovely home.  The drive into her property set the tone for the sale.  We went in the day, but the previous night was her opening party. 

 The trees lining the drive each had a luminaria attached to it.  It must have been magical at night.

 So many vintage ornaments, so many pretty things...

What blew me away was her home, Wow, it is awesome.  Is it rude to gawk at the home when a sale is taking place?  I hope not. (Watch out Joy;-)

Look at this photo display...family, all of them from grandparents to baby pictures.  Get the hammer and nails honey...I got a little project for you;-)

The beautiful girl herself. (Forgive my bad indoor photography) Such a warm and generous friend. Thank you for your hospitality Jeannie.   Check her out at the Colonial Antique Mall in Woodstock, Illinois.  What a nice town too.

 I bought some ornaments.  The star at the bottom is a kind of ornament I remember from our tree when I was very young.  Those, along with paper stars that I learned to fold a few years ago.  So reminds me of Buscia, and Mom and Dad...sigh...

When we left Jeannie's, we headed to downtown Woodstock.  It was raining and there were no parking spots.  As we circled we saw a sign for a Christmas Bazaar and Cookie Walk.  I am so glad we went.
There were the usual vendors, but one dear lady had a booth chock full of vintage.  She had 2 Red Wing crocks and they were priced ridiculously low.  I snatched up this one. 

 Another vendor had Lang cards and Little Golden books.

This little silver tray came home with me too. Twenty days to pull it all together...no problem!
And that's all she wrote!  Have a great day my friends.

Missing the Party

Last night was my Guild's meeting/Christmas Party.  Unfortunately, I missed it.  Just getting over a bug of some sort.  Didn't want to spread it to my dear sisters.  Fortunately, I had most of the things I wanted to donate to our little auction done a while ago.  This pillow...

A small basket with a crocheted  washcloth  and lavender soap...

A small tin with a washcloth and 2 honey/oatmeal soaps...These are the ones that sold so well at the big auction...

A vintage crystal Love ornament.

I made each of the girls a mini pillowcase ornament.  Our pillowcase project for ConKerr Cancer is close to our hearts, so I sewed a replica of the pillowcases we make.  I even used the same technique, the hot dog method, though this was more of a cocktail frank method;-).  They are about 3x4inches.

The fabric is called Sing a Song of Christmas, from The Woodrow Studio, London.
I know I missed a great party, with my favorite women.  Can't wait to hear how it went and how much money we made for our
 service projects. 
 I'm sure missed a lot of laughter, many hugs and our angel hostess Adeline's beautiful home all decked out for Christmas.  I hope someone took pictures.  Sigh...  Enjoy this beautiful day.

Goodbye to Autumn

I gathered all my Autumn decorations to clear the decks for Christmas...
I always think, why do I do all of this, does anyone notice?  Then I remember, that I do it for me, it makes me happy.  I guess it's the same reason I blog.  I hope that others enjoy it, but I'll keep on doing it, as long as I get that happy feeling.  The joy of creating something. 

Seeing this sky made me happy and in awe. 

Taking a moment to photograph a watercolor sunset.

Even if I'm standing in a parking lot.

Saying goodbye to Autumn.