It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas

It's been a loooong time since I've participated in Kelli's Show & Tell, but in the midst of the mess of fixing yet another water problem, I've decided to spend a few minutes contemplating some lovely things.

We have some sweet Christmas ornaments and my youngest son still enjoys decorating the tree with me and reminiscing over each one as it's unwrapped. Here are just some of my favorite ornaments (some are hand-made, some old and precious - and some are both!)


This star ornament is from Greg's childhood. Waaay back when those big lights were all anyone had, this ornament was to be hung just above one of them and the heat rising from the bulb would cause the whirly-gig inside to turn. Cute.




And this beaded ornament is also from Greg's childhood. It honestly looks like something someone might make today.





This Victorian-looking ornament was made by yours truly nearly 20 years ago.




I needle pointed this bird many, many years ago -- probably 25 or more. Memory fades.





This was stitched up (along with several others) in the early 80's -- when candlewicking made a come-back. Does anyone do candlewicking anymore?  Does anyone know why it's called candlewicking?




And here is a sample of some crewel work that I used to love to do. Again, over 20 years ago. I'm not sure I have the eyesight or the patience to do this kind of work today, but I do love it.




And I made a number of these sweet little cross-stitched, sampler ornaments...oh, about 15 years ago, I'd guess.



I stitched up a bunch of these bears almost 20 years ago (using a variety of Christmas prints) when a friend and I decided to sell some hand-made goodies at a craft show. I've given so many of these away -- I wonder where they have all ended up. ;^)




This was one of the first ornaments the boys and I did together (it's older than it looks).  We made several.  We simply took an old jigsaw puzzle, glued the pieces together, spray painted it green, added a bell and a bow and voila! A cute little wreath.




And the boys and I made these a couple years ago. Just a white feather and some white/clear sparkles in a glass ball. Very simple.  Kind of elegant.


And I've saved my favorites for last:


These two store-bought balls are probably from the 60's. I'm amazed they have been preserved so well.
 





And this geo-ball (below) was ahead of its time. It was made lovingly by Greg's mother many years ago out of old Christmas cards - and I'm glad she passed a couple of these along to us. I want to try my hand at making one someday. I found this tutorial on-line and it doesn't look too hard, but I like ours better. I think the different-textured gold cards make this one look beautiful.




Hope you enjoyed a small sampling of ornaments from our tree. Visit Kelli at There's No Place Like Home to see what others have decided to show and tell this time around.

A Winner!

Time to announce the winner of the book I offered in Friday's Show & Tell.



"Hadias" was chosen to be the recipient. I trust she will enjoy it as much as I enjoy my copy.







Thanks to each of you who left sweet comments. I have enjoyed visiting your blogs.

Show & Tell Friday (and a fun surprise)

I received a generous gift this week from Kelli at No Place Like Home and I'm choosing to show & tell about what she sent me.

Two weeks ago Kelli explained on her blog that she had found some wonderful books at a resale shop and she offered them as gifts in a drawing -- and I won! Kelli's blog is one of my favorites so I was really excited to receive such a neat thing from her.

Thank you sooo much, Kelli! Oh, and thank you for the herbal tea too. What a thoughtful and generous lady!

This is what Kelli sent me:

She tied the books together with an embroidered ribbon. I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised with all Kelli's pretty touches on so many things she does - as pictured on her blog.

Here are the books and a sampling of their contents:


This sweet little book is filled with watercolor paintings accompanied by scripture, prayers and blessings.

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And this book has fun pictures (again, watercolors) accompanied by proverbs, quotes and scriptures about friendship.

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This little paperback is filled with all kinds of ideas for tea parties and it has some wonderful recipes. Really....I need a pretty tea pot now so I can invite someone over for a spot of tea.

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This book is my favorite of all of them and I've read it from cover to cover already. It's all about making one's home a hospitable place both for family and visitors. I am inspired by this book to find simple ways to bring beauty to our home.
Here is a sample of the beautiful artwork in The Gentle Art of Hospitality.

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And last, but not least, a lovely little gem of a book that I am going to give to someone (who stops in here and leaves a comment) because I already own a well-loved copy:

This book has beautiful paintings done by Edith Holden, a lady who kept a nature journal at the turn of the previous century, which was later published under the title The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. Here's an example of Miss Holden's beautiful artwork:

This copy was well loved by someone at one time and has some vintage stains (which adds to its charm). This book is a bit broken in so you will not be afraid to use it. I think that is ideal because this book really should be used, loved and shared with others.
I will select someone (from all who leave comments on this post by Sunday 5/25) to receive this paperback book. If you already own a copy of this book, or don't think you'd particularly enjoy it, please do say so. I will not be the least bit offended and that way someone who will enjoy it will be more likely to receive it. Be sure to leave your e-mail address when you comment and I will notify the winner sometime on Monday.

After leaving a comment here, check out more Show & Tell offerings at Kelli's.

Show and Tell Friday

Several years ago we were presented with a beautifully carved gourd by friends who have worked for years as Wycliffe Bible translators. The gourd was carved by Quechua Indians in the Peruvian Andies to commemorate the completion of the New Testament into their native tongue.

It is a beautiful work of art that I never seem to tire of studying. I've snapped several photos to try to show the details in the carvings:












Check out Kelli's Blog for other Show and Tell items!

Show and Tell Friday

This is the first time I've participated in Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli at There's No Place Like Home. I've enjoyed looking at the pictures of others who regularly participate in this fun little exchange, so I decided to take the plunge. Let's see how my first humble attempt goes.


The first item is a little painted cast iron Amish couple sitting on a bench that I bought from an estate auction of my dear Aunt Louise. (Being given the middle name Louise, I was always told I was her namesake......so this sweet lady has a dear spot in my heart though she's long gone from this earth.) I can remember these little people sitting on a shelf in her house and as a little girl thinking they were so cute. They are only about 3 inches tall, but they make me smile as I see them on the shelf keeping watch over us in our dining room.

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This tea cup is from a china set that at one time belonged to my husband's grandmother. It comes from occupied Japan during WWII. In fact, the only thing stamped on the bottom are the words, "Made in occupied Japan".

I love the roses that decorate each dish. There is a general pattern followed, but each dish is unique in it's own way. For example, all of the tea cups have the little cluster of roses painted on one side (as is pictured above), but three of the teacups also have a single rose painted in the very bottom of the cup -- each of them turned a little differently -- to delight the drinker when he/she tips a near-empty cup.

The set was passed along to us about 10 years ago and it has been mostly hidden safely away. We have three boys and I just wasn't brave enough to put it in front of them very often. Recently, though, I've been thinking that I really ought to use these pretty things and they are now are within easy reach in my china cabinet. I display this china with other glass dishes (mostly pink and green plates) and again....I smile every time I look at it all.

A little touch of dainty in this testosterone-saturated house. Helps me feel just a little refined. ;^)