Matchbox 17

This "be jolly" matchbox comes from Linda at lambworld.  The tiny vintage image on the front of the box is beautifully embellished with glitter, a red ribbon, and scallop background.  Inside is this cute little charm.  Can you see the black snap at the top of the charm.  Very creative.  Can't believe tht we are now at Day 17.  Just one week until Christmas Eve. 

Matchbox 16

Today's matchbox comes from Erica in Texas.  Check out her blog for more details.

The image on the front of the box is so adorable.  Cute little girl with hat and present.  A jingle bell attached to the pink ribbon.  Inside is a minature ornament that was made by Erica.  Thank you Erica for making my Day 16 so wonderful.  I'll be sad to see this one end.

Red and White Breakfast Nook

Just wanted to share my little breakfast nook decorations.  I've had most of these little snowmen for a few years.  The new additions this year are the Let It Snow snowmen.  I found them in Kentucky this fall.  The Grandma's Kitchen apron was a gift from my friend Dolores. It was delivered this week in a box filled with red and white snowman throw.   She also included a book on the history of the snowman.

I made the altered book in a class two weeks ago.  The theme was Christmas recipes.  I plan to show it in a later post.

 I've had the table cloth for years.  Guess it would be considered vintage.  Hope you enjoy seeing my little red and white nook.

Matchbox 15 and a Red Quiltie

Can there only be 10 days til Christmas?  My # 15 Matchbox is from Kathy in Tennessee.  The outside of the box is elegantly decorated with tiny snowflake, Christmas sparkle, and a lovely deep red ribbon.  There is even a silver Christmas stocking on the back of the box.  Inside were tucked a great bottle cap magnet featuring a vintage Santa image, a tiny red candy, and a wonderful cloth ornament.  Thank you Kathy for the lovely box and little gifts.

As most of you know I participate in the Alphabet Quiltie Swap over on Fabric in Altered Arts 2 group.  This month the letter is "R".  Our hostess Penny selected the theme "red".  This is my Red Quiltie for December.  I decided to make a package and decorate the package with red plaid ribbon and two of my crochet flowers.  I purchased a book on making crochet flowers and experimented with some while sitting on our balcony cruising to Cabo.  It has been quite sometime since a I did much crochet work and I'm still experimenting with needle size and tension. 

Santa's in the Kitchen

I am displaying some of my Santas above the kitchen sink.  All were purchased at the thrift store with the exception of the Santa with the holly and green sack.  That Santa was given to our son, Paul, by a dear friend Willie.  Paul was just a little boy when she gave it to him.   Paul died in an accident in 2007 at the age of 21.  I cherish this Santa and the wonderful memories it has. 

The plastic Santa cookie jar was a wonderful discovery at a thift store in Payson, Arizona.  Cost 50 cents.  I found the plaster Santa face at a thrift store last year.  The vintage Santa ash trays were also a great find.  Sadly the "pepper" Santa doesn't have a "salt" partner.  I love the Santa's Savings container.  It fits perfectly with the other vintage Santas.  Doesn't my vintage "seafoam" green tile look great at Christmas.  I refuse to remodel the kitchen because I simply love this tile.  I'm very happy with my vintage kitchen but I did get new stainless steel appliances when we moved in.   The avocado green was a little too much.

My breakfast nook features red and white snowmen.  I'll post a pic of them later this week.  

Oh, did you see the green grass, mums, and oranges on the tree out my kitchen window.  What a great time to live in the Valley of the Sun.  I know many of you are freezing and have snow.   

Matchbox # 14 and a Christmas Candle

My Day 14 Matchbox comes from Sandi.  The box has a Christmas tree theme.  The box was beautifully decorated with a tiny Christmas tree with sparkly silver rope and red ornaments.  Tucked inside lovely earrings with green and red beads and a dangling Christmas tree.  Thank you Sandi. 

My DH was scheduled for a medical procedure yesterday but it was postponed at the last moment due an emergency of his dr.  So I used the time to work on some projects that have been floating around in my head.  I had seen candles decorated with machine emboridery and decided to try one.  The candles were $1.00 from the Dollar Store and embroidery pattern was free on-line.  The embroidery is done on organdy. I found a piece of organdy left over from a class project that was never finished.  It already had stablizer attached.  I'm very pleased with these little candles.  I made three and they will be gifts for friends at  lunch on Friday.  I'm not glad DH's procedure was postponed but glad I had time to try something new.

Snowflakes in Arizona

No not the real ones!  Just four snowflakes from my Janome 11000 embroidery machine.  I'm having lunch with a few ladies from the office where I worked before retirement.  I decided to make a small gift for each of them.  It takes about 35 minutes to embroider each snowflake but I can do other work in the studio as the machine does its thing. 

I added the hangers and now they are ready to place inside a Christmas card.  I purchased the hangers at a boutique a few years ago and these are my last ones.  I think I could make them if I had the right tools.  I've never tried jewelry making but this hanger looks simple enough.  Maybe for next Christmas.