~ Namely ~

One of my favorite parts of my Christmas decor are my grandchildren's stockings with their names on them. Making these constitutes one of the rare times I use the embroidery module on my Bernina.

It is all worth it.

My own children's stocking are made of felt and yarn and ... soot.  They were made in the late 70's and early 80's and they have seen a lot of Christmas eves on the fireplace.

I still love them dearly.

Also back in the early 80's, I made many a stuffed, fabric ornament.  Some of them are shaped like ornaments and I hand embroidered the names on.

When the grandchildren came along, I made one for each of them.  You can probably tell by the fabrics, which ones were made when.  

I do not have a grandchild name Falalalala, but ... that's OK, because ...

I do love Christmas and the decking of halls.

~ For the Birds ~

Sometime in September, when stores were just beginning to put out their Christmas merchandise, I found these mercury glass bird ornaments and was instantly smitten.

I found them at Tuesday Mornings.

I bought them and then started thinking about all of the bird ornaments I had collected or made over the years. I decided that my main tree would definitely have a bird theme to it. In fact you could say that for the last couple of months I have definitely been "bird brained."

Four or five years ago I made a variety of stuffed, fabric birds for a class I was teaching, so I was good to go with them.

 

Sometime in 1981, I sewed a ton of different ornaments for our tree from a Vogue pattern.  They included these white doves that have some lovely embroidery detail on them.  I knew they would be perfect also.

 

And then one day I was at JoAnn's and spotted these wooden birds ... for a song.

My intention was to paint them ... probably white ... but I came home and promptly forgot about them until I got them out to decorate the tree.

At that point I was SO glad that I hadn't painted them.  I absolutely love their rough, natural state, which gives a somewhat natural look to my decidedly fake tree. 

Did I mention ...

I just love Christmas!

~ Coastal Christmas Colors ~

So I freely admit that I have jumped on the bandwagon this year and gotten a head start on the decorating.  I actually finished it all before leaving town for Thanksgiving.

Upon arriving home ... I was so thankful that I had.

I love my new Shell Tree, full of my new ornaments ...

... a sparkly starfish on the top ...

... a few snowflakes to remind me that even in southern California, we can always dream ...

... and some sparkly birds.

And just in case you would like such a beachy tree for your own home, here are my resources:

Snowflakes: Crate and Barrel
Starfish Ornaments: TJ Maxx
Birds: Michaels
The pattern to make your own shell ornaments: My Etsy Shop.

Oh how I love Christmas!

PS ... Thanks so much to Maya at Completely Coastal
for featuring me on her delightfully coastal blog!!

~ The Holidays are HERE, people! ~

The countdown has begun, no matter how high the temperatures are here in Southern California.

I have a brand new pattern on my Etsy Shop and you are going to want to get started.

I have spent the past month sewing these coastal ornaments ... with abandon.

They were not time consuming ... au contraire ... they were just addicting!

So now I am passing on that addiction to you.

It's only fair.

And in keeping with the holiday crafty spirit, I am putting the above (landlubbing) pattern back on my shop, here.  This has been a favorite of many a quilter since I created it in 2008. If you can't complete it this year (which you could, it's only 36" square) you could have a head start for next year.

And speaking of head starts ... get going over to the Blog Tour this week at Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!

Make sure to stop by here on Wednesday.  We are all making it worth your while.

So ... go out and finally put away those pesky Halloween decorations and start in on the fun.

Bing said it best: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

(and Bing is always right.)

~ Sneak Peak X Two ~

So this is what I have been working on furiously that has consumed my fall and somewhat obliterated it.

Coastal Tree Ornaments.

Pattern to follow.

And THIS is what has just plain made me giddy while I worked.

My block was selected to be in Volume 8 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Please stop by all next week to participate in the blog tour.  Prizes are indeed involved.

My day will be next Wednesday, November 13th.

Prizes will include the chance to win the ...

Coastal Tree Ornaments Pattern.
yay

~ O Holy Night ~

 

 

 

 

 

~ Merry Christmas ~ 

~ Snow in Southern California ~

I am a person for whom the adage "variety is the spice of life" was coined.

At Christmastime I find this to be true when I go to decorate and find myself needing to mix it up and make it different than the year before.  To me, that is just part of the joy.

However in my current home I think that my snowy scene on my "mantel" will always remain the same.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

~ She Sees Sea Shells this Season ~

I put a little bit of the coast on my Christmas table this year.

I love how their natural hues are offset by the white.
And some green.

And a sprig of red.

I also love my friend Marie, who showcased my Sea-sonal ways on her blog today.

Check her out at Nautical Cottage.

Thank you Marie ...
aka Sally Lee by the Sea

~ Sugar and Spice Cookies ~

 

 

 

I made a double batch of sugar cookies yesterday.  I didn't frost them because they were made for the express purpose of having small children frost them at a party.
Let's just say they were a big hit.  There may be a few children in southern California who may have stomach aches tonight after consuming large amounts of cookie + frosting.

  I still use my original copy of the recipe from a ward (church) cook book from ... 1978.  Keep in mind that this was before personal computers and graphics programs.  Those stickers you see in the above picture were considered a classy touch.
I miss the 70's.

  The amounts in this recipe are for the double batch.  I made the dough, covered my Kitchen Aid bowl and put it in the fridge overnight.  Then I rolled out small amounts at a time (on my [floured] SilPat), continually adding fresh cold dough from the cold bowl to the scraps as I rolled out again.  If you want chewier cookies roll them thicker, crisp cookies ... thinner.

1 Cup butter-flavored shortening (1 stick)
1 teaspoon vanilla + 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt + 3 teaspoons baking powder
2 Cups sugar
4 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon milk
4 eggs, well beaten

Cream the shortening, vanilla/extract, salt and baking powder together.  Add sugar gradually.  Add beaten eggs.  Add the flour and spices, alternately with the milk.  Chill (see above), roll out on a floured surface and cut. Bake for 8 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

I should really wear an apron.