A Visit to North Pole on the Polar Express

Our family visited the North Pole on Sunday night.  We rode on the Grand Canyon Railway's Polar Express.  The train left Williams, Arizona and approx. 30 minutes later arrived at the North Pole.   The photo above is of one of the granddaughters dressed in her pj's ready to board the train. 

On our way to the North Pole some of Santa's elves served hot cocoa and  Mrs. Claus' delicious cookies.  Then they read us the book Polar Express.  This is one of Santa's elves.

When we arrived at the North Pole we were greeted by Santa.  It was too cold to visit the North Pole so we stayed on the train.  Santa boarded the train and visited each train car.  He presented all the children with one of his "Bells".

Below you see my beautiful DIL and two beautiful granddaughters with their bells.  Bottom pictures shows the girls in their pjs.

It was a wonderful Christmas experience complete with a winter blizzard on the drive to the mountains. 
My new header shows the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona as they looked on our drive to the train.  Last year our Christmas trip was to Cabo, Mexico.  We went from playing in the ocean last year to playing in the snow this year.  Our son thinks he prefers swimming in the ocean in December!!!    Granddaughters loved the snow since they have lived in the desert all their lives.

Our Blue and White Christmas

My Blue and White themed Christmas is taking shape.  I'm loving it.  The little trees, the wall arrangement, and the white tree.  All perfect together.  I added the remaining vintage fabric around the base of the tree.  Tonight I will wrap presents in blue, white and silver paper. 

Here are the three frames that I purchased at the thrift store.  I removed the glass, painted the frame and mat with silver paint, used my blue and white fabric as a background, and added beaded snowflakes.  I had fun searching all the store for beaded snowflakes.  You can see more below. 

I purchased this little "peg board" at the thrift store and painted it with silver paint.  It is the perfect place to display some of the beaded snowflakes I found.

The glitter bird and snowflakes are from Walmart.  Vintage blue ornament is from thrift store and other vintage ornaments were given to me by my sister. 

Now I will be adding other Christmas decorations throughout the room.  My DH just finished hanging the Christmas lights.  We bought new ones last year on clearance.  They are the star icicle lights and look wonderful.  Tomorrow is December 1st and I will begin opening my Matchboxes (See link to the left)

Another Blue Christmas Creation

I finished this blue wreath today.  I bought the silver wreath at WalMart and added blue Christmas ornaments from the thrift store.  Ribbon for bow is from Micahel's.  My holiday decor is progressing.  Today I am removing Thanksgiving and boxing up for next year. 

I was hoping to get the tree out of the box today but don't think it will happen.  I'm off the see Tangled in 3-D with granddaughters and then it's Lighting of the Christmas lights at church this evening.  The holidays are off to a great start.

Vintage Fabric Ruffle Tree

Yesterday, I completed this ruffle Christmas tree from my vintage fabric.  I found a tutorial for making these little trees.  I bought the styrofoam base at JoAnns.  I tore my fabric along the selvage and did the ruffle stitching on the selvage.  I used my Janome11000 and my new ruffler foot.  I purchased the foot last weekend during the Janome demo days at a local sewing machine store.  The top of the tree is a drawer pull painted with silver paint and the base of the tree is a blue candle stick.  I purchased the candle stick last year at the thrift store. 

Completing the little table top display is a glass tree and little silver tray.  They are recent thrift store purchases.  The aluminum tree is from Walmart.  A silver footed dish from the thrift store serves as the tree base.  I'm really liking the blue theme.

I'm so excited, I found the perfect white tree on Saturday.  I had searched at a number of stores recently but couldn't find the perfect tree.  Saturday I found it.  It's in the box waiting to be opened. 

Star Glow and Shimmering Silver Tree

I found 6 of these Star Glow dinner plates at the thrift store recently.  They are vintage Royal-Ironstone by Royal China of Sebring, Ohio.  I hoping to use them on my Christmas table.  I think they look great with this fabric.  Haven't decided if I will make placemats or a table runner.  My blue Christmas theme is slowly coming together.  Haven't done much the past few days.  We are dealing with DH's health issues. 

I did find this little silver tree (shown below) at WalMart for $6.00.  It will make a great table decoration. 

More Blue Christmas to come.  I'm considering a collection of small trees this year instead of a larger tree.  Just haven't found the perfect large tree.  Maybe a large tree on the patio.  Lots of ideas floating around!