Showing posts with label needlepoint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label needlepoint. Show all posts

Monday, December 5, 2016

Cozy At Christmas Holiday Blog Tour




Welcome to  

Cozy At Christmas Blog Tour




It's not snowing, but it certainly is

cold and wet here in Austin.

Perfect weather for staying at home

and adding festive holiday touches around the house.





Come on in, and I'll show you

what I've been up to.





But first, have a cup of

 peppermint hot chocolate.

We want you to be

Cozy at Christmas!




Our home is very modest,

and I use things collected through the years

for our holiday decorations.




Greens, pinecones, and golden faux pears

are added to the antique scale that sits atop the mantel.





Little chickadees dressed in winter clothing

scamper among the greens and set the

tone of whimsey that is reflected in our holiday decor.





More greens and winter berries are added

to favorite Quimper pieces on the bookshelves.




Critters around the house are often

given a touch of tartan.




My collection of Mary Engelbreit Christmas tins

marches across the top of the 

Irish pine cupboard in our kitchen sitting area.




Most of these tins were given to me during 

my years as an elementary teacher,

and date from the late 1980s and early 1990s.




Each year the same treasured Santa figures

and Christmas tree ornaments come out of the boxes.




The 1950s jolly old Santa that was on

my childhood tree every year for as long as 

I can remember was given to me by my mother when

I first began putting up a Christmas tree of my own.



These plastic figures were made to go

over the big light bulbs that were strung 

on Christmas trees in that era.

Santa glowed when the tree was lit.




The chef's childhood Santa made of

plaster of Paris, now chippy and flaky 

from years of Christmas past, is dated 1940.




Out come needlepoint Santa figures that were 

stitched in the early years of our marriage.




More Christmas needlepoint is tucked

 here and there .   .   .




This cross stitch sampler belonged to a 

dear friend who is no longer with us, 

and I'm honored to have it in our home now.





The trio of antique Santa chocolate molds

landed on the Welsh Dresser this year.



Small faux chocolate Santa figures along side 

preserved boxwood topiaries in Courtly Check pots

were added to the side niches.




A trio of wooden Santa figures sits among

greens on the top cornice of the Welsh dresser.





The antique iron rabbit and whimsical elf

greet you at the side entrance.

We've had our Christmas tree in the sunroom the last

few years, but decided to place it in the living room

this year so that we could enjoy it by a cozy fire.




Sadie and I hope you've enjoyed a peek 

at our home dressed for the holidays.




Many thanks to Katie @ Let's Add Sprinkles for organizing our 

Cozy at Christmas Holiday Blog Tour.

Click on the links below for more holiday inspiration this week.




Cozy At Christmas Blog Tour

Let's Add Sprinkles/ Hyacinths for the Soul/ Southern DayDreams/ White Spray Paint/ Garden Up Green/ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson/ Ellie and Elizabeth  

Brookhollow Lane/ At Home With Jemma/ My Heart Lives Here/ The B Farm/ Botanic Bleu/ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen/ Art and Sand/ Ash Tree Cottage

Sweet Nothings/ At Rivercrest Cottage/ Opulent Cottage/ Decor to Adore/ Fern Creek Cottage/ The Dedicated House/ Bluesky Kitchen


Joining















Continue Reading....
75 comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Inspired By Friends







When you enter my friend

Alison's beautiful home at Easter time

you are greeted by this charming 

figure atop her living room mantel.

The sheer simplicity of it makes me smile.




The mantel in Alison's family room,

showcases fresh peach blossoms from her garden

and a simple metal tree from Mexico.





Simplicity at its best!

These metal trees were all the rage in the 1980s,

and many of us here in Central Texas have these.  

Years ago I shared mine 

decorated for the 4th of July HERE.

Alison has inspired me to pull out 

my metal tree and use it more creatively.




My friend Susan loves to decorate for every season.

Believe me, her home is a wealth of inspiration, and every

year she does something different each holiday.

You can see more of her home 

decorated for Easter HERE and  HERE.





Susan has a beautiful collection 

of blue and white ceramics.

She has inspired me to incorporate 

my blue and white pieces into my Easter decor next year.





Her collection of needlepoint Easter figures 

has also inspired me.  I stitched the petite little white bunny 

with green background for Susan many years ago.





I didn't stitch this Peter Rabbit for Susan,

but I did stitch one just like him for a friend's daughter.





Just looking at Susan's delightful group of needlepoint  

inspires me to get stitching to add a few more 

Easter needlepoint pieces 

to these above that I stitched many years ago.



                        


Perhaps more two sided figures like

this little guy I stitched in the 1990s.





Yes, I'm inspired!

Time to stitch a few bunnies to add 

to my own Easter decor next year.





My friends inspire me.

Have you been inspired by someone recently?

All the best to each of you in this season 

of promises of new beginnings.

Joining

Continue Reading....
42 comments
Labels: , , ,

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Year of the Horse ~ 2014




~ 2014 ~

Year of the Horse




It was snowy here in central Texas last Friday.

Despite the weather, I joined two friends 

to brave the cold and venture over to Round Top for the

Winter Antique Show @ The Big Red Barn.




Few shoppers and lots of friendly antique dealers

made for a fun day for our trio.

Dedicated shoppers, it's no surprise

we each returned home with treasures.

My favorite buy of the day was this 

charming needlepoint piece that my friend spied.  

She has a keen eye and knew immediately

 that it would be perfect for her home.




~ Turkey Red Wool ~

~ Beautiful Stitches ~

~ Wonderful Vintage Condition ~




Attached to the hand carved

wooden frame to form a pouch.




Perfect container

for kindling!





Early Iron Match Strike

Another great find at the show!




Together they look perfectly

situated in my friends beautiful home. 




Gung Hei Fat Choi!

January 31st marks the beginning of

Chinese New Year 

 ~ Year of the Horse ~

 Joining

Continue Reading....
50 comments
Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Breakfast On The Terrace



Last week I invited you to 
join me for Cocktails On The Terrace here.
Both mornings and evenings have recently offered 
up pleasant breezes, so this week I thought you might
like to join me for Breakfast On The Terrace.

This cheerful tray is from  Le Cadeaux.
 ~ Fleur de Provence Yellow ~ 
A neighbor's recent return from a week in Provence 
has me reminiscing about our own past 
summer provencal vacances.
No summer trips for us this year,
so I have to make my summer fun here.
Join me for a little provencal escape.

Since retirement, I no 
longer get up with the roosters,
but occasionally one will join me for breakfast.
This handsome fellow, surrounded by some of the 
traditional "les indiennes" designs of the South of France, 
was a thrift store find.  I paid all of $3.00
for this delightful needlepoint pillow.

Most mornings I have a bowl 
of lemon yogurt with fresh berries.

Since you are joining me today 
I sliced up some fresh cantaloupe and
made another batch of lemon blueberry muffins.
You'll find the recipe here when I shared them for 
Foodie Friday Mystery Ingredient Club #1.


Coffee, dark and rich,
served in these sunny mugs.
 ~ Printemps by Sigma ~ 

I guarantee these 
lemon blueberry muffins 
are some of best ever!

I may just linger a while longer with my 
daydreams of sunny provence.
Thanks for stopping by.




Continue Reading....
69 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)