Christmas at My House

 

 I waited a long time for this tree.

Several years ago, I passed on an after-Christmas sale

that featured a white flocked white tree.

 

I fell in love with the velvety look of the white flocking

 on the white branches.  I didn't know it would be

 years before I would see one again.

I passed on the sale and spent the

 next several holiday seasons

looking for this tree.

 

This past October, this white flocked white Christmas tree

 was waiting for me in a Craft 2000 store. 

  I wasn't taking any chances this time around. 

 I didn't even wait for it to go on sale. 

 I paid full price -- something this thrifty gal rarely does.

(Thankfully, Crafts 2000 has great prices.)

 

 

 

Here are some of my favorite ornaments this year.

I love George Washington's homeplace, Mt. Vernon. 

 Each year, the Mt. Vernon

Society issues a new ornament. 

 I picked up this one half-price on a recent visit.

(It's from several years back.) 

 The ornament features the front of the famous homeplace

 on the front and a peak into the inside rooms on the back.  I love it!

 

I also made some Regency-style ornaments.

I wasn't satisfied with this one featuring the first sentence of Pride and Prejudice.

  I might remake it next year using several different fonts instead of  just one.

Any suggestions?

 

Merry Christmas to old friends and new!

 

Amy

 

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

 

 

Special Places For Christmas

 

I recently visited Amish Country's

Tis The Season

Christmas Store.

 

The staff there graciously gave me permission to take

 some photographs of their gorgeous displays.

 

The iridescent pastel colors of this vintage style village was my favorite.

 



Placing the famous snow baby figurines within vintage style

bottle brush trees and glittered village houses . . . genius!

 



 

 

Flocked pine cones and evergreens

 

 



A sweet snow globe ornament

 

Not very far from Tis The Season

is another shopping treasure --

Queen Anne's Lace

of Berlin, Ohio.

If I could pick a store to live in,

this would be it.

All my family and friends could 

 call me on the telephone . . .

 

While awing over all of the very feminine gifts and treasures,

I came to this cupboard filled with men's hats.

Charming!

 

Now, how can I get hubby to wear one?

 

 

Where do you like to shop for Christmas?

Amy

Trying Pinterest Pins

I've tried some of my Pinterest pins

and would like to share the results!

 

 

(Pictures used are from the original pins
 with links back to the original source.)

Candy Cane Blossoms

 

These cookies are wonderful.  I made them for a recent cookie exchange.  My peppermint bark Hershey Kisses wouldn't hold their original shape like these pictured. (I'm not so talented in the kitchen.)  As the Kiss melted, I simply used the prong of a fork and pushed the unmelted white tip into the white melted stripe. This created a flat striped peppermint bark "button" in the center of the cookie.  I also colored my sugar as suggested in the recipe with great results.

 

 

 

DIY Sharpie Craft

I've pinned more than one Sharpie Marker craft.  I thought I would try using permanent markers to decorate porcelain as suggested by the blogger through this link.  (She also was following another pin.) This blogger had great success with decorating her porcelain with Sharpie markers and baking it to make the porcelain decoration truly permanent.  Although I followed instructions, the marker did not permanently adhere.  The marker can still be scratched and/or rubbed off.  The blogger states that some of her followers did have trouble with the marker design washing off.   I'd love to know if you have found success with this craft.

 

 

 

Shower Cleaner

Unlike Snow White, I don't whistle or sing much while I clean house . . .  especially if I need to clean the shower.  I often buy the shower cleaners that are sprayed each day after the shower is used.  When I found this simple DIY Shower Spray using only vinegar and dishwasher rinsing agent, I thought I'd give it a go.  It's cheaper and has fewer chemicals than the store brands I've used.  It's wonderful!  I also think it works better than the some of the store brands I've bought. 

 

Have you tried any of your Pinterest Pins?

 

Let me know if you've had a successful pin

and feel free to follow me on Pinterest!

 

 

 

Amy

Vintage Linens for Christmas

Lovely Vintage Christmas

 

Who doesn't need a Christmas hankie

or Grandma's Christmas tablecloth?

 

This vintage crib ladder displays

my red and green finds

from this past year.

 

Under the red stocking is a white crochet-edged

pillowcase from Great-Grandmother.

This red felt stocking also came from

Grandma.

 

These are some of my favorites.

 

Do you have some Vintage Christmas

at your house?

 

 

Amy