Table is Ready for Brunch

The table is set and ready for tomorrow's brunch with friends.  Below is a closer look at the place settings.

 

The menu will be

Country Ham brought back from Ky from Penns (the best ham ever!)

Green Chili Breakfast Quiche

Biscuits & Gravy

Fresh Fruit Cup

O.J. and hot beverages from the Keurig

 

The crystal was a gift from my mother and father in the early 1970s.  I've had the Christmas china since the mid-80s.  The goldware is about the same age as the china.  I haven't done a formal table in a number of years but decided to get everything out this year for the holidays.   The log centerpiece allows just enough room for the Christmas placemats.   

Pinterest Inspired Table

 

My tablescape was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest.  While in Kentucky, I  visited my Uncle's wood pile and selected some logs with bark still on them.  He knew the types of wood but I don't remember.  We brought 6 longs home and my hubby cut them to size.  I decided to use flameless candles.  I thought they would be safer.  I put a piece of burlap under the wood and am using a table cloth that isn't necessarily Christmas.  I added vintage blue Christmas ornaments and greenery.  The blue jars and the half pint on the tallest log are from my collection.  The others I purchased at Goodwill. 

Here is a photo of the other side.

 

I left the one log empty since it wasn't too straight across the top.  Our table is narrow so I still have room for placemats on each side.  I'll put out my red placemats later in the season.  It was fun to arrange this centerpiece and it reminds me of our vacation home in Ky.  Also looks good with our jar pendant light above the table.  You can see the pendant light here.

It's Finally Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Thought I'd begin sharing some of our Christmas decorations.  I worked on the Living/Dining Room over the weekend.  This is our new tree.  I decided to purchase a Slim Line tree this year.  I only had to move a side table to accommodate the tree.  No major move of furniture this year~ Yeah!

 

I chose a blue theme.  Many of the ornaments are vintage.  Some gifted to me by my sister.  Some purchased at the thrift store.  Decided to make a bow for the top.  I'm very pleased with the results.  Fabric wrapped around the base is a piece of vintage Christmas themed blue print cotton.  Now all we need is for me to wrap some presents to put under it.

 

The Snowman in the background was purchased years ago at a craft fair.  He is painted on an old cabinet door.  He is one of my favorites from my collection.  And most important he is easy to store.  This year I decided to display most of our snowmen on shelves (I'll post photo later).  I'm almost finished with my tablescape with features logs from Ky.

A Birthday Quilt for a Special Girl

I made this quilt for my youngest granddaughter.  Today is her birthday.  She is 9 on the 9th.  A special birthday for her.  The quilt is made from my stash of fabrics.  The butterflies and stripe were left over from her room decoration projects this past summer.  The purple and blue are from her older sister's room decoration projects.  

The back is a black fabric with similar color dots.  The quilting is by machine.  My friend calls it a meandering design.  Not sure if that is the official name.  I used my new Janome 15000 and I'm still learning to free motion quilt on the machine.  Every machine is a little different when using free motion.  I think I'm going to like quilting on this machine.  If not, I can always get out my old trusty Bernina 165.  I learned to free motion on that machine years ago.

November Swap Card and Tag

I received this card and tag from Debbie.  She was my swap partner in the November Swap for all Seasons.  The color for November was brown and she included these lovely hand dyed ribbons and distressed tags from her stash.  She does lovely work and you can see her work by clicking on her name above.  Thanks Debbie for a wonderful swap. 

You can find out more info about the Swap for All Seasons by clicking the link on the left.  The January Swap is closed but February Swap is just around the corner.

 

On a personal note, we are back in Arizona after spending most of October and November at our vacation home in Kentucky.  Slow internet in the country prevents me from doing much blogging.  I hope to begin regular postings.  I've tried to keep up on reading my favorite blogs but wasn't able to comment at times.

 

You can see my November swap cards and tag on the previous post.

 

November Swap For All Seasons

The theme for the November Swap for All Seasons was Birthday and the color was brown.  This is the card I made for my swap partner.  She liked vintage photos so I used a vintage photo from my collection to make this birthday card.

This is the birthday tag I made.  I used scrapbook paper from my studio and an image from Vintage Workshop Art To Wear.  I embellished with ribbon, bead trim, and a little spoon and spatula.  I remembered the spoon and spatula from an altered cookbook I made a few years ago.  It fit perfectly with the cookbook theme.

Here is a photo of the card, tag, and the brown items.  We are to send something brown from our stash along with the card and tag.  I found brown bias trim, a fat quarter of brown fabric, some brown Fancy Fur to send in her package.  My partner was Joyce from Pittsburg.

 

To find out more about the Swap for All Seasons click on the link on the left.

Civil War Chronicles Quilt

I finally put the Civil War Chronicles quilt on our bed.  It was a 2011 block of the month at a local quilt shop.  It took me 2 years to complete the quilt.  I have no idea how many hours when into completing this quilt top.  It measures 108" x 108" and includes a "million" half-square triangles.  (Well it seemed like "a million"!) 

I had it professionally quilted and I love the work Sharon did.

 

She used lots of feathers and other designs of the era.  The photos don't do a good job of showing the wonderful quilting designs.  I have to admit that the quilt is quite impressive on our king size bed.  I will never attempt anything like this again but I do love the finished quilt.