Christmas finishes thru the years...

I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite Christmas finishes from over the years...

This Prairie Schooler design was stitched over one on black linen when my eyes were a few years younger :) One of my favorites.

I love this little pocket ~ a Maggie Bonanomi club piece from Country Sampler. Looking at this photo, I'm thinking I should put some greens in the pocket...

I have several Shepherds Bush patterns, but don't seem to finish many. I love the tone on tone colors.

Another very favorite finish from Blackbird Designs.

This Maggie Bonanomi design is from one of the first Boxwood & Berries workshops at Country Sampler. I'm always sad when it is time to put this piece away for the year.

Sorry about some of the odd camera angles ~ I'm tring to show the pieces without glare from the glass.

These stockings were stitched right after our youngest son was born. The pennies feature wool from a favorite wool skirt that I used to wear at Christmas.

This piece was finished BK (before kids) when I had more time and was better able to concentrate.

I have three pieces that I am working on this year. I'm still hoping to finish by Christmas, but time is running out and wrapping and baking take priority. If I finish any I will be sure to share!

"What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring him a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet, what can I give him? I give him my heart."
~Christina Rossetti, 1830 - 1894

Blessings, Patti

Tradition

At our house Christmas doesn't have a "theme" or a "color". Nor does it change from year to year.

Each year the Bedford Falls "It's a Wonderful Life" village is placed on the mantel.


Our nutcracker collection is placed on the bookshelf.

As is our collection of miniature nativities.

Our tree may not be the most beautiful, but it is full of priceless memories ~ ornaments from my mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, antiques, vacation souvenirs and those handmade by little hands. Each ornament brings back a flood of memories...

I did decide to try something different with our second tree. Usually it holds mainly ornaments that I made over the years. This year instead...

I took my favorite folk art birds and placed them on the branches along with straw ornaments from a dear friend in Germany, prim pipe cleaner candy canes and a few antiques...

A Schneeman angel tops the tree.

And creations by some of my favorite artists: Jenn of Rabbit Hill Primitives, Stacy Nash, Audrey of Bay Rays Child, more Schneeman and Ginny Henson just to name a few...

And the base of the tree is gently skirted by an antique wool quilt.

Another new idea for this year...

I pulled this wonderful old victorian window (with every glass pane intact) out of the garbage down the alley a few years ago. It hangs in our hallway. It finally hit me that I should decorate it this year :)

Traditions are what memories are made of... but I guess it doesn't hurt to try something new from time to time...

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

Blessings, Patti

Room at the Inn

This is an event that I have wanted to attend for several years. Finally, my youngest son and I attended today. Room at the Inn is a viewing of one person's private collection of 352 nativity scenes from around the world.

Susan Greeley bought her first nativity scene in 1980 and hasn't stopped. They are from countries around the world and are made of every medium that you can imagine (and even some that you would never guess!) including recycled newspapers, soda cans, one entirely made of nuts & seeds and the one above made of banana leaves.

Every child receives a scavenger hunt of things to look for in the nativity scenes ~ The adults have as much fun hunting as the children :)

One of my favorites was this beautiful little book from Nepal. I loved the angel on the cover. and on the inside...

It was truly breathtaking!

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon during Advent! And to share her collection with as many people as possible admission is free. "It is gratitude for God's gift to us in Jesus Christ that prompts this event." says Susan Greeley in her exhibit brochure.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

-James 1:17

Blessings, Patti

December brings...

December brings

Glad Christmas cheer,

May joy be yours

Around the Year.

~Tasha Tudor

December 1st also brings an update to the offerings at TDIPT Mercantile. It's a lovely place to do a little shopping for Christmas presents for others or yourself :)

Click here to see my final offerings for the year.

Blessings, Patti