Happy New Year and Pink Saturday

I am sharing two of the New Year's cards from my vintage card collection.  They are early 1900s.   The top card was printed in Saxony.  The back reads "Publishers by Appointment To Their Majesties the King and Queen Alexandra".  Designed at the studio in England and printed at the Fine Art Works in Saxony.

For other Pink Saturday posts, please visit the hostess Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound.

Best Wishes for a wonderful 2011.

Bless This House 2010

As my final post of 2010,  I am featuring a beautiful blue and white Bless This House 2010 by Wedgwood.  It is a gift from my Calif sister and her DH.  She selected it for my blue and white tree.   Today I will begin to pack away my Christmas goodies and prepare to greet 2011. 

Happy New Years to all my friends in blogland.  I appreciate your comments and good wishes.  Let's toast the New Year!!!!

Get Well Balloons

A Get Well Balloon arrangement arrived at our home yesterday.  Aren't they lovely!  They are for my DH.   He had heart ablation on Monday.  There were some complications but he is home and continues to feel better each day.  It is amazing what modern technology can accomplish.  He spent Monday night in the heart hospital ICU and was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon.  Amazing!  Really messes with your head when your loved one is critical but you are told they will be going home the next day.  We're hoping for a successful ablation but won't know for a few months if the procedure was a total success.

We are so fortunate to have wonderful friends.  Gayle and her mother, Liz, sent the balloons.  Joe and Pam brought us a delicious dinner this evening.  We appreciate all their prayers and messages of concern.  We are looking forward to a New Year.  This fall has been a difficult one for my DH with knee replacement and then the heart.

VTT - Let's Play

My first Vintage Thingie Thursday Post.  I have been reading Vintage Thingie Thursday posts for quite some time and decided to join the fun this week.  Thanks to Suzanne the hostess of the weekly party. 

 My granddaughters spent two days at my house last week. They spent hours playing dress-up and it reminded me of this lovely old children's book I have in my collection. It is dated 1952.   I love the images in the book. Today I am sharing the first four pages of the book.

Below are photos of my lovely granddaughters as they played dress up.  One was the Fashion Photographer and took pictures of the other, A Fashion Model.  They selected outfits from  Mema's playroom and modeled them for us.  Aren't they lovely.  I too can remember hours of fun playing dress up as a child.  Some "Let's Play" activities never gets old or out of date.  Much more fun than a video game!!!!!!!!!

The Countdown is Officially Over It's Day 25

There are now 25 matchboxes on my CountDown to Christmas Display.  I decided to display my little treasures on this vintage tray.  I mounted game piece letters on magnetic strips and placed around the upper edge of the tray.  As I opened each box, I added magnetic strip to the back of the box and placed it on the tray.  The tray hangs on my dining room wall.  Thanks to everyone that participated in this swap and thanks to Linda the hostess.  It was a wonderful way to countdown to Christmas.  And my granddaughters loved it.  Wonderful conversation piece.  Everyone that entered my dining room this holiday season wanted to know about the matchboxes.  I had fun explaining the swap.

Day 25 matchbox comes from Lauri.  Isn't it lovely with the Christmas paper clip attached to the box.  Inside I found this lovely angel charm.  Thank you Lauri for making my Countdown complete.

Happy Pink Saturday (the last for 2010)

We have been asked "What will we be going Christmas day?"  We will begin the day with a special family brunch with my DH and son and his family.  The table is set.  I decided to use my vintage Disney posters of Christmas in various countries as placemats this year.  I ordered these free educational posters from Sears in 1974 and gave them to my mother who was an elementary teacher.  She had them laminated and used them in her classroom.  After her death, we were going through her teaching things and I found these posters.  I was so excited to find them and now I use them as placemats at Christmas.  The granddaughters love to look at them and talk about traditions in other countries.  There are 12 in the set and 6 are on the table for brunch.  Below are a few closeups of the posters.

For our brunch I will make one of my son's favorite dishes, Green Chili Casserole.  I blogged about the casserole last year and posted the recipe here. 

For more Pink Saturday posts please check Bevelry's How Sweet the Sound. 

Merry Christmas.

Prickly Pear Margaritas!!!!!

Our friends just left after a delicious lunch of tamales, rice, beans, and Margaritas.  Our friends brought Prickly Pear Margaritas.  My first time to sample these wonderful drinks.  They harvest the prickly pear fruit and process it into a juice.  From the juice she makes prickly pear jelly and uses the juice for margaritas.  They were delicious.  Here is a link to a prickly pear treats site.
Oh by the way we had lunch outside on the patio.  What a wonderful time to live in the desert! 

Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas with family and friends.

matchbox 24 - Christmas Eve

My Christmas Eve Matchbox comes from Ruth.  Ruth's blog is not operational at this time.  I'm sorry I can't think her personally.  But I do thank her for the lovely earrings and the beautifully decorated box.  Only one more day and my Countdown to Christmas display will be complete.  I hope to have a pic for you tomorrow.

Happy Christmas Eve.  I'm off to prepare  a Christmas Eve luncheon with tamales and margaritas.  Our former neighbors and my son's family will be here at noon.   

Matchbox Day 23

Matchbox # 23 is fromTracy.  Love the reindeer and cute button embellishment on the box.  Inside was tucked a tiny Santa ornament.  Thank you Tracy.

Matchbox Day 22

Today's matchbox comes from our hostess Linda Smith.  What a lovely box with the vintage Santa image and tiny reindeer.  The gold trim both inside and out give the box a holiday sparkle.  Another vintage image inside and a compass tucked in the box.  Thank you Linda.

Matchbox # 21

Matchbox for Day 21 is from Heidi.  I just love the house theme.  The minature bottlebrush tree near an elegantly decorated front door and a sparkling roof.  Inside is another house.  Don't you just love the old photo with the Santa cap.  It is a graduation photo.  Back is signed Dorothy.  What a wonderful matchbox.  Thank you Heidi.

Matchbox Day 20

Matchbox # 20 comes from Marie.  There is a lovely little Cheer tag on the outside of the green plaid matchbox.  Embellished with red ribbon and glittering # 20.  Inside was a wonderful bottlecap magnet with vintage elf image and glitter.  Thank you Marie.

Matchbox 19

Match box # 19 comes from Peace.  The Silent Night theme is so beautiful with Mary and Baby.  Tucked inside the box was a lovely button charm.  Thank you Peace for this lovely matchbox.  We are starting the last week of the swap as we approach the birthday of our Savior.

Matchbox 18

Today I received this "Formal Matchbox" from Shawnee.  Inside the box was tucked a lovely delicate charm on a silver ribbon.  Isn't this the cutest Tux!   Thank you Shawnee.

O Holy Night

Today we are asked to use the theme favorite Christmas music for our Pink Saturday post.  My all time favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night".  My DH took me to the Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Christmas Concert at the Mesa Arts Center this week.  This was their best concert ever.  We have been going for the past few years.  The most moving part of the concert was when Jonathan Butler sang O Holy Night.  He received a standing ovation.  It brought tears to your eyes.  I couldn't find Jonathan's song on You Tube but I found this one.  It isn't a professional group or video but I love the arrangement.

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.

Matchbox # 13

My day 13 matchbox came all the way from the UK.  I hope you can see the small snowman charm that Hope included in the box.  Love the embellishments on the outside of the box (tiny snowman and beautiful gold star).  Inside is decorated with lovely Christmas paper and a sparkling star.  The snowman charm appears to be a shrink art piece.  Love it all.  Thanks Hope. 

Matchbox Day # 12

Happy Day # 12.  This lovely box is from Grace in Washington.  It included a lovely beaded ornament and Happy New Year tape.  I love the Christmas stamp and plaid paper decorating the box.  Thank you Grace for the lovely box and ornament.  Tomorrow will be "hump day" for our boxes with # 13 in the middle.  What a wonderful time I'm having opening each box. 

We're back from Cabo

We just returned from a short cruise from San Diego to Cabo.  The top picture shows our Fun Ship, the Carnival Spirit.  I took the picture from the boat tour we took to Land's End.  The other photos show the granddaughters playing in the sand and water at a beach in Cabo. 

I've been absent from blog land for over a week but did leave my posts each day for the Matchbox swap.  The cruise was our Christmas present for the family.  Girls enjoyed Camp Carnival.  The adults enjoyed too much food.  It was a lovely time with family and the perfect beginning of the Christmas season.   

Matchbox Day # 11

Here is my day # 11 matchbox.  This lovely box is from Amy.  Love all the sparkle and the candy cane ornament is so cute.  Thanks Amy for this wonderful matchbox.   This swap has been soooo much fun.  I have my previous 10 displayed on a tray in the living room.

Matchbox # 10

Francie made this lovely box.  She made a unique drawer pull from tiny snowflakes.  Tucked inside was a small "cup of tea".   The image on the front was stuck to the wrapping paper and a section was torn off when I removed the wrapping.  I covered it with that lovely glitter "10" when I mounted it on my display tray.  No one will even know about it's little mishap.  Thank you Francie. 

Matchbox # 9

This beautiful box was filled with minature vintage ephemera neatly tied with a red bow.  Outside was also vintage inspired.  The is a creation by Lyneen.   Don't you just love the vintage image and lace on the box.  The word Peace is the perfect embellishment for such a lovely box.  Thank you Lyneen.

Matchbox # 8

 

This matchbox is from Nancy.  Tucked inside this beautiful box was a minature JOY banner featuring small Bingo cards.   There are so many talented ladies in this swap.  It's fun to check out the blogs of each participant.  You can see them too by clicking on the link to the left.

Matchbox # 7

Don't you just love this box with the pearl knob on the box.  It is so delicate.  The angel was tucked inside the box.  This box is from Nicole.  Thanks to Nicole and all the other participants in this wonderful swap.  Want to see more, just click on the link to the left to find more of these little matchboxes.

Matchbox # 6

This box is from JoAnn.  Love the yoyo and mini ornament.  So many possibilities for the mini ornament.  thanks JoAnn.  Only 19 more days til Christmas!  And 19 more boxes! 

Matchbox # 5

Isn't this a lovely matchbox.  It is from Christine.  Love the red and green box and the Christmas clip.  I haven't discussed my choice to display these little treasures.  I'm displaying them on a vintage metal tray.  I've added a magnetic strip to the back of each box.  I'll post a pic on Christmas Day.

Matchbox # 4

This lovely matchbox is from Vanesssa in New York.   I love the cute box and the wonderful little mouse.  Happy Saturday and Countdown to Christmas # 4.  How much I am having opening these boxes each day.