New Quilt for my bed

I've been working on putting together a quilt for my winter bed. Throughout the rest of the year, I use a white Matliesse quilt with a pale green quilt I made at the foot of the bed. But I wanted something more cozy looking for winter.

I started with this palette:

And this is what I made:

Much warmer looking and cozy when the winds and snow start blowing.

What's a bed without a cat?

Christmas - Family Picture Alert!

Christmas ... it's all about Family.
Christmas Eve ... Oysters and Champagne at Aunt Marg and Uncle Bruce's ...

                        Me, Aunt Marg, Allison, Mom

Allison, at midnight, making Carmel Chocolate Reindeers.

  Mom and her granddaughters, Allison and Heather.

Afternoon Christmas at my Brother Allen's home.

My sister(in-law) Donna



Twas the night before Christmas

                                

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Wishing you and your families a happy Christmas

and a healthy New Year!!

Sharon 

Personalized Christmas Tags

I wanted to personalize the tags for my gifts this year.    I checked through my photos and selected sections showing me with the recipient and added them to tags.   (done in Word)

CUTE!!

Something see-through for the bedroom

I needed something light to complete this corner of the bedroom.

Some frames, white spray paint, and voila.   Just enough ... airy and light.

Something see-through for the bedroom!



It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!

The halls are decked.

The Christmas shopping is done.

Presents are wrapped.

It is softly snowing.

Time to put on a fire.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 

Christmas Mantel

The mantel is decked for the season.  I'm going with the 'less is more' theory this year and my decorations are very subtle.  Ok, someone might have said 'grinchy' ... but I think 'subtle' is more in the spirit. 

This hand carved sleigh and reindeer is my favourite Christmas decoration, and just having it out makes me feel more festive

. I think it's festive ....



New Banner - Picasa

First with the disclaimer .... I am not the most technically adept person in the world.

I've tried to make banners in Picasa previously.  It just wasn't intuitive to me, but I saw these step by step instructions for doing a banner on Cloverlane  .   Even I could follow them.

Woo hoo ... isn't it cute?

Not that I'll ever be able to do it again ... even with instructions .... Thanks Sarah.

Suggestions for my window frame

I have been looking for ideas for my window frame .... here's some good ones:

Both from Secret Garden Cottage.

From HGTV

as a window box

A Window Wall 

Mirror from the diyshowoff 

Table top from Rosemary's Home

Mirror - Apartment Therapy (great scale!)

There is lots of inspiration out there ....