Merry Christmas to One & All!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Thought I would write a quick post before I am off and running!

This is a favorite shelf of mine.

It greets us as we walk into our mudroom at the back door.

My little Christkindlmarket village that I have collected over the years. 

And my German lead deer and a favorite cross stitch pillow.

Design by Primitive Stitchin by Shelley Auen.

I love to have lots of poinsettias around this time of year and this was a favorite.

So was this one. I guess I love variegated leaves and petals.

We took a quick trip to southern California last week and this was what I packed to bring with.  

I haven't stitched much this month, but made a little progress.

I thought that I would end with a few of the trees that I saw in California.

So pretty and festive, no matter the climate!

This one just screamed California to me ;)

And this beauty was next to the outdoor ice rink.

Outdoor ice rink?!?! In southern California?!?! Oh my!

This was my favorite - at the gorgeous Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

But that is another story for another day...

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

~Luke 2:6-7

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas wherever you are in the world...

Blessings, Patti

Christmas is Coming! Fast!

How can it be so close to Christmas already?!

I haven't done much stitching lately, so I thought that I would share some old finishes that I am enjoying this Christmas season.

I made all of our stockings in wool applique many years ago using patterns from Needl Love books.

The pennies are all from a old favorite plaid wool skirt of mine. 

A favorite Pineberry Lane finish.

Mittens from a Rebekah L. Smith pattern made last year.

The snowflake cube is a Stacy Nash original.

I stitched these Pineberry Lane designs last year,

but they are still waiting to be fully finished.

I am hoping to do that between Christmas and New Year's.

A With Thy Needle and Thread design stitched this year, but not fully finished.

I did finish a little scissor fob.

My Christmas fob is MIA, so I created this one quick 

from a part of a pattern by Little House Needleworks.

I also finished two small Christmas presents. 

I forgot to photograph them before I wrapped them,

so I need to try to remember to take pictures after they are opened...

Two weeks ago, my husband was on a business trip out east.

I was so surprised to get this photo from him:

Rockefeller Center at Christmas?!?!

I was so jealous! But we did manage a quick trip out west this past weekend.

I'll share some pics from that after Christmas...

 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

~Luke 1:30-33

Blessings, Patti

Christkindlmarket Chicago 2018

I hope that you don't mind another year of the Chicago Christkindlmarket.

One of my favorite holiday traditions!

It always puts me in the right mood for the holidays!

Love the cuckoo clocks and nutcrackers.

We have a German cuckoo clock and to me it sounds like home... 

The embroideries in this booth really caught my eye this year!

So many lovelies to choose from!

And I always enjoy looking for new items in this booth.

Such lovely items!

It wouldn't be a Christkindlmarket without steins!

From small to extra large

I did buy a small ceramic building from this booth almost 20 years ago and still enjoy it.

I love these so!

I always say that one year I will splurge and buy one, but I haven't done so yet. 

Instead I just admire the workmanship!

I have been buying pieces from this collection for years, 

but my shelf is just about full...

Our main tree is just about full of these German glass ornaments now.

The boys each receive a figural glass ornament in their stocking each year to represent a trip or something they did that year. They are on our family tree for now, 

but will go with them when they move out.

I enjoyed the carolers.

It was a cold night, but they were dressed pretty warmly.

I popped in Macy's to see the Great Tree.

The window displays are not like they used to be, but the Great Tree is still pretty.

Iconic buildings and structures of Chicago surround the bottom along with the L train, whose track runs around the tree.

I picked up some sweet roasted pecans to snack on during my L ride home.

Thanks for letting me share my annual trip to the Christkindlmarket.

I think that I might need to make one more stop there before the season is over...

He called together all the high priests and scribes of the people and asked them 

where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, 

“In Bethlehem of Judea, because that is what was written by the prophet:

‘O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

    you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,

because from you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

~Matthew 2:4-6

Blessings, Patti

Treasures Found

So you know that Mom and I didn't go home empty handed...
Mom was well behaved and only bought two treasures.

This is the front of an old needle cabinet.

It needed a good cleaning, but was in really good shape.

And this is a strawberry made by Maggie Bonanomi.

Lucky for Mom, Maggie finished it in the car on the way to the show :)

Here are my treasures from Maggie. 

I love the little pin pillow on the linsey-woolsey background and how each petal of the flower is a different fabric.

And the fun bowl filler with one of Maggie's paper stars made from old sheet music.

I also bought this gorgeous egg darner with a sterling silver handle.

And believe it or not, I found an even bigger treasure from the same dealer...

This wooden shoe caught my eye right away!

I love the little brass tacks replicating the buttons.

It opens up and even has a little chain so that the cover doesn't get lost.

And what could be inside?....

This exquisite thimble!

I was thrilled to know that this sweet shoe and thimble were in Maine Antique Digest.

I also picked up this sweet and festive red basket and a child's stocking form.

And this sweet little batch of ticking samples.

But I also bought two other real big treasures...

Thirty five hexagons from the same antique friendship quilt.

They are dated 1848 and the calligraphy work is absolutely exquisite!

I really need to do some research on these when I can find the time.

I can tell you that they pre-date the Civil War and were created when James Polk was President and  Oh! Susanna was first published.

My final purchase also requires some research:

This beautiful antique sampler is in an antique frame with original bubbly and wavy glass!

Be still my heart!

I believe it is stitched with wool and does not contain the letter "j" anywhere in the sampler.

The colorful motifs all make my heart sing!

I am also intrigued by the striped linen.

If anyone has any ideas on age and origin of this sampler, I would love to hear more!

Please feel free to contact me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com

It was a lovely trip with new treasures to cherish!

And now my posts and focus will turn to Christmas.

I hope that all of you are enjoying the season so far...

Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

~Psalm 136:26

Blessings, Patti