!~Wishing you a Happy New Year!~!

Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with blessings!

I'll be back tomorrow with new offerings on TDIPT Mercantile!

Please be safe with your celebrations tonight.

We will be go out for dinner tonight

then play games while waiting for the ball to drop ~ a family tradition...

Blessings, Patti

Merry Christmas from Chicago!

Merry Christmas to all!

I am sorry that I have been MIA. I have been seriously under the weather with a horrible case of the flu - I had a fever that peaked at 102.7 and lasted for days.

Luckily the fever broke and I began to feel better just in time. We had a quiet Christmas Eve and hosted dinner for 25 today, Christmas Day. Our guests have gone home and I just wanted to share a bit Christmas from Chicago.

A few weeks back, we attended the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade.

We were excited to see and hear Wilson Philips (above) and Crystal Bowersox (American Idol) perform in the parade.


I love those big balloons and would love to be a balloon handler some time...

I also visited the Christkindlmarket several times.

It always puts me in a happy holiday mood!

I'm always mesmerized by these paper stars, but have never bought one...

These gingerbread cookies are almost too pretty to eat :)

I did buy a new ornament for our tree - a dachshund of course, to celebrate Orion joining our family!

Please keep the reason for the season in your heart :)

"The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and
praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the
child, just as the angel had said."
-Luke 2:20

Blessings, Patti

Christmas Decor

I've made a conscious effort this advent season to simplify the holiday, both in decor and gift giving. I wanted to focus more on the true meaning of the season.

It has helped a bit, but the holidays are still hectic and can't be as simplified as I'd like.

But I think that the simple decorations have helped to lend a sense of peace and calm.


I love the combination of rustic wood & wire, aged mercury glass, and tarnished glitter.

I've added lots of candles and in the interest of safety and forgetfulness, I've found that I really love the flameless candles ~ especially those with built in timers :)

The beautiful fabric box is a Stacy Nash project from last year's Boxwood & Berries. The sampler for inside the top of the lid is still not stitched, but I still love the box just as it is...

Some traditions had to stay and just couldn't be simplified, like our collection of nutcrackers.

I just found this great vintage Marshall Field's gift box that I couldn't pass up for 70 cents ~ it brings back lots of memories of visiting the store with my grandparents.

I'll try to post again soon with photos of Christmastime in Chicago.

"Good Tidings Mini Christmas Sampler"

design by Nancy Woodson

I did have one stitching finish during our winter storm this weekend.

This lovely design is a freebie and can be found here.

Wishing you a simplfied advent season!

Blessings, Patti

December is here!

December is here and it is time to open that first little window of the advent calendar!

Christmas will soon be here!

The artists at TDIPT Mercantile have updated their offerings - be sure to go take a peek!

My offerings sold quickly - thank you so much for your support!!!

We are having our first snow of the season here in Chicago ~

it is swirling but not sticking to the ground ~

just enough to get me in the holiday spirit!

Blessings, Patti

One last turkey...

"Turkey Turkey"

design by Maggie Bonanomi

Over the river and through the wood to Grandfather's house we go...

I know that most people have moved on to the beginning of the Advent Season, but I had to share one last turkey finish!

We visited my parents' home for the Thanksgiving holiday and I am so thankful to have found the time for this happy dance finish! Our oldest son is getting his driver's ed hours in and drove down and back! He's a great driver and it gave me over 6 hours of stitching time!!

I also picked this piece up from the framers...

Another Boxwood & Berries finish - design by Blackbird Designs.

I abbreviated the pattern and stitched my favorite parts. I added the name of my town and year as this piece now commemorates our home winning the town beautification award this summer for our landscaping and curb appeal :) - I was just thrilled!

And our dear sweet Orion joined us on our family Thanksgiving trip :)

He was a perfect traveling companion, but is not too fond of hotels.

I think that our entire extended family fell in love with him ;)

Well, now I will begin my Christmas decorating and will be back to share soon...

Blessings, Patti

Too Many Turkeys?

Can a person have too many turkeys?

I think not.

I love turkeys, one of my favorite birds.

I do think that it is a little odd that I decorate with what I eat on the holiday, but they are so beautiful...

Obviously in my house Christmas doesn't go up until after Thanksgiving so that I can enjoy my turkeys to the utmost, before being packed away for another year.


Each year I add one to my collection - this year a wonderful redware piece by SJ Pottery.

I think that turkeys evoke an autumnal, homey feel ~ don't you?

I also had to share my favorite cd for the season.

This is the soundtrack of my life for the month of November.

I listen to it over and over and over and over...

I think that I drive the rest of the house nuts, but I find it truly relaxing.

Wishing you and your family a Wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and gratitude to our ever generous and merciful God.

Blessings, Patti

Thankful & a Winner!

"Give Thanks"

design by Maggie Bonanomi

After seeing this completed by Mindy on her blog, Raymond Homestead, I had to be sure to complete it myself before Thanksgiving :)

It's been so much fun having a giveaway and reading everyone's comments. There were 49 entries. I've met some new people and haven't gotten to everyone's blog yet for a peek, but I will! Thank you all for your kind comments!

I'm not very tech savvy, so we had a randow drawing the old fashioned way.

And the winner is:


Diana!
Diana, I do not have your address, so please email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com by Wednesday, November 24th and I will put your prize package in the mail right away.
In case Diana doesn't respond, I will pick a new name on Thanksgiving.

Thank you all for participating, I wish that I had a prize for each of you!

Blessings, Patti

Thankful & a Giveaway

"Bountiful Blessings"

Country Rustic Primitives

Sometimes I wonder why God has so richly blessed me...

I know that I don't deserve it.

Sure we have our trials and challenges.

But I have my dear husband, two wonderful sons, a fulfilling career and a home in a community where I have wanted to live since 8th grade.

What more could I possibly ask for?

So many bountiful blessings!

And this year we are thankful for the newest member of our family.

Orion has only lived with us for 3 months and we can't imagine life without him.

He is a blessing to each of us.

I am also so thankful for all of the friends that I have made through my blog, Etsy, and TDIPT Mercantile. I have enjoyed this journey and all the kindred souls more than I could have imagined.

To show my thankfulness, I'd like to offer a giveaway:

One of my white velvet pumpkins, two of my handmade leaves (a maple and an oak) and...

A complete Maggie Bonanomi kit!

I believe that this was a class from the Buggy Barn a few years back. I know that I will never get around to it and thought that someone else might appreciate it...

It is a complete kit that contains the ticking background, wools and pattern.

This is an inclusive giveaway ~ I hope that everyone that would like can enter :)

Just leave a comment on this post. If you are not comfortable leaving a comment, you can also send me an email at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Winding Vine Giveaway" in the subject line.

I will be drawing a name next weekend and will get it in the mail right away so that hopefully you will have it in time to enjoy for Thanksgiving.

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."

~Colossians 3:15 - 16

Blessings, Patti

*A Perfect Autumn Day*

My vision of a perfect autumn day hasn't changed much since I was a child...

A sunny, crisp November Sunday.

Raking leaves outside with family.

.

While inside my favorite meal is cooking - pork roast with potato dumplings.

Somehow my sons didn't inherit my love for potato dumplings so we have added homemade cheese spaetzles to the perfect autumn meal.

I found these great pots of black petunias and autumn pansies last month.

I thought they were perfect for Halloween.

Despite a few hard frosts, they are still going strong.

After our delicious meal, I whipped up some brownies so that we could eat them warm and gooey while watching "The Amazing Race".



I love autumn and only one thing could complete this perfect autumn day...
A finish:

"Aw Nuts!" by Maggie Bonanomi

Country Sampler Club Kit

Maybe we will have another perfect autumn day this Sunday...

Wishing you a perfect autumn day.

Blessings, Patti

p.s. Stay tuned for a blog giveaway coming soon. Especially if you are Maggie Bonanomi fan like me ;)

~* Friday Finishes*~

The talented Betty Dekat, designer of primitivebettys has a weekly blog feature of Friday Finishes, where she shows how others have completed her designs.

I thought that this week I would put my own spin on Friday finishes.

(I do have to mention that the acorn urn above is not yet finished so you are only seeing the "finished" bit of the corner ;)

Linda (UT), a dear online friend, shared this with me:

Linda has collected several of my "keys" over time and her dear husband made this fabulous key fob holder for her to display them! Isn't it the neatest thing???!!!

I just love it. She had seen it on Mothology, but it was out of stock, so her talented husband made it for her - now it's even more special knowing that it was made from the heart!

I was inspired this past week by Mindy of Raymond Homestead.

I love her blog and her prolific wool work, but this post had my brain whirling and me giggling...

Look at her wonderful creation inspired by a fallen branch!!!

I knew that I had to do this immediately, so I got Orion and his leash and immediately went for a long walk in search of a branch...

Luckily I found one and didn't need to start pruning a tree lol.

And here is my finish:

I thought that it was the perfect way to display my little collection of Schneeman Folk Art birds that had been scattered around my home.


I find myself now drawn to this little corner of the living room to glance at my tree and *smile*.
Mindy asked how my family felt when I dragged a dead branch into the house. I told her that I snuck it in when no one was home and I'm still waiting to see if anyone comments on it. So far no one has ~ I wonder if they are oblivious or they just think that I have lost it!

I'd love to hear about your Friday finishes - leave me a comment and let me know!

Blessings, Patti

A Colonial Christmas

TDIPT Mercantile is celebrating a Christmas Open House.

Our theme this year is A Colonial Christmas.

We are celebrating with drawings for lovely creations by many of the TDIPT Mercantile artists. You can enter this wonderful drawing by signing up for the TDIPT newsletter. You'll receive an additional entry for each item that you purchase from TDIPT Mercantile before November 20th.

Thank you to the wonderful response to my offerings this month as I am sold out!

But be sure to see all the other artists wonderful offerings...

And be sure to take a peek at all the lovely items that are in the drawing by clicking here.

I sure wish that I could enter!

Blessings, Patti