Decorating for Christmas-2012

 

I haven't posted some photos of my Christmas decorations from last year, so I thought I would share a few of them with you now--in the spirit of "Christmas in July." This picture is of our master bedroom, with my "Christmas in the Cabin" quilt. It is a log cabin quilt made from 2.5 inch strips. It's one of my all-time favorite quilts, and one that I actually hand quilted myself. This setting is called the barn raising pattern. The quilt on the wall at the head of the bed is a Fons and Porter pattern. I used all fabrics from my stash, and the brick red and tan fabrics I used for the alternate blocks dictated how big I could make this quilt. The star blocks are 8 inches square, so if you are a quilter it would be easy for you to figure out this pattern on your own. I call it "Scrappy Stars."

 

This is a little corner of our master bedroom. It houses a small desk with a chair, my Thimbleberries table topper in red/green/cream fabrics, a basket of my favorite Christmas magazines and a few other trinkets.  Establishing a small "Christmas Nook" is step 1 on the "Organized for Christmas website. http://christmas.organizedhome.com/ See the "June Rudolph Club Meeting" post for more information.

 

This blue dry sink has been in the foyer, the dining room, the kitchen, and currently the living room. It holds my Jim Shore nativity set and a few decorative candles. My goal this year is to make a log cabin quilt (about 13 x 30 inches) for the base of the nativity set. The fabrics are in cream and gold, and I have 26 of the 30 total blocks made already. As a matter of fact, when I finish this post I'm going to make the last 4 blocks and hopefully get it sewn together this weekend. So stay tuned for more, and I will post photos when completed. I think I will add some trees to the setting this year...can't decide between white or green, but we'll see what we can find. Hopefully Hobby Lobby or AC Moore will have some goodies to choose from!

 

This is our fireplace mantel, decked out this year with a "White Christmas" theme. I grew up in northern Illinois and so Christmas doesn't seem like Christmas without some snow. Here in
Virginia we can pretty much expect to NOT have snow at Christmas! The two little Christmas quilts cover baskets with my favorite magazines. I am a magazine junkie, I admit it. The two little kissing bears are from Hallmark.

 

Here is our tree this past year with lots of white and some blue, something completely different from all the reds and greens I normally use. My favorite part of the holiday season is enjoying the glow from the tree in the evening with all my presents bought, wrapped and under the tree. It's such a comforting feeling! I think I like the addition of the bow on the top!

 

My coffee table decoration...a big fat ivory colored pearl-studded candle, in a glass cylinder on a blue plate with white poinsettia leaves. We have a cat, so I can't have real plants or Dusty will eat them.

 

 

Rudy and Clarissa say hello! (They're from Build-a-Bear--don't you just love them?!) Enjoy your Christmas in July photo tours! And till next time, love, peace and joy to you and yours!

 

Mary

 

 

Christmas in July - #4

Did you catch Christmas in July on QVC today? I couldn't resist the Jim Shore Sleigh Basket with 4 ornaments. I have a few other Jim Shore items--the nativity and 3 angels. As a quilter, I just love his stuff! So this will be featured in my Christmas decorations this year.

If you're looking for an easy project to whip up for a gift or for yourself, how about a nice tablerunner? This one was easy, very Christmasy, and simple enough that whatever I put on it will be the centerpoint.

And for some reason, I haven't put up my little Dept. 56 Christmas Village in awhile, so it was fun to bring it out this past December. I  love my little white birch trees, but I think I'd like to add some evergreen trees this year.

They had the cutest snowman cookie jar for sale on QVC today, but I'm holding out for one that looks like a gingerbread house. This one was available last year at Dillards and Target. I wonder if I'll be able to find something similar this year?!

I hope you're enjoying your Christmas in July. I've really enjoyed reading some of the Christmas blogs out there. You all are so creative! (I need to drink more frozen lemonade so I can save the tops to make ornaments!)

Till next time, Christmas blessings to you and yours!

Mary

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

One of our favorite places to visit is Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We love it so much, it was instrumental in our decision to leave St. Louis, Missouri and make Virginia our home. Of course, having our 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and 2 grandchildren in Virginia might have had an even bigger role in our decision to move east!

One year all the kids went out of town for Christmas, so hubby and I went to Williamsburg to spend some time. Each year CW has a door wreath decorating contest. All the materials used in their outdoor decorations must be natural. We enjoyed snapping some photos, talking with some of the costumed interpreters and just looking at the gorgeous architecture. These are some of our favorite wreaths.

We could not resist getting a photo of the dog in the cart, with the dog pulling the cart! So cute!

This darling couple spent the day talking with visitors and sharing some local customs.

We enjoy seeing the animals out and about too!

This is my interpretration of a Colonial Williamsburg door wreath! I used all natural silk flowers (ha!) and a folk-art inspired Santa.

My china is called "Liberty Blue" and was introduced during the bicentennial (1976). Hubby and I have purchased it a piece at a time at antique stores during our vacation travels. The glassware is from Colonial Williamsburg, as are the berry napkin rings. 

  

My CW Byers Carolers collection. My favorites are the ladies in their toile dresses.

That's a CW paint color on the fireplace, and homemade stockings. The greenery has little lights and wooden berries that look like cranberries. Our cat would eat the real thing, so that's a no-no.

My little Santa collection makes me smile. Here they are in the dining room near the stairway with more stockings for Santa to fill!

I hope you've enjoyed a little peak into my world. And till next time, holiay blessings to you and yours!

Mary

Schedule for Rudy Day 2012

Rudy Day is celebrated by Christmas Lovers everywhere on the 25th day of each month throughout the year. Each month has a specific theme, although you can do whatever you would like to do. Please join us in the forums at http://magicalholidayhome.com/ to get in on the fun!

January - We looked at our Christmas notebooks and updated them, paying attention to what worked, what didn't work, what we would like to plan for this coming year. We also looked at our Christmas budget and took a realistic look at what we spent.

February -  We began our "Chistmas Letter" to friends and family members. We assembled a "Rudolph Day" tote bag, basket, or box with items we will need during the year to help celebrate Rudy day:  a calendar, our Christmas notebook, perhaps a photo book with pictures of our family in their Christmas outfits, some colorful pens to journal with, a Christmas mug for our cocoa or tea--or maybe even Christmas socks! We assessed how many and what kind of presents we wanted to hand make this year. We began assembling kits for each project, and created a schedule to complete these projects in a reasonable amount of time. We began our master gift list and plan to purchase at least 1 gift each month for someone on our list.

March - Books and Movie month. We inventoried our books and movies and made a list of any purchases we would like to make for the coming year. It's also fun to list your top 5 (or 10) to make sure that you view them each year.

April - is Christmas Dishes month. We looked over our Christmas dishes, noting what we would like to add to our dish inventory this year. We organized them all in one place. We checked out our linens--tablecloths, placemats, napkins, napkin rings--spot checked and laundered to make sure they are ready to go to work. We posted some fun pictures of table settings, and checked other websites for ideas for the upcoming year. We added our ideas to our Christmas notebooks. Consider the whole idea of "Christmas magic" and what role it should play (see magicalholidayhome.com for ideas re: stockings, elfs, etc.)

May - We will be looking at menu ideas for holiday meals and quick menu ideas for "meals on the run." We also are encouraged to begin trying recipes, keeping ones we particularly like in our Christmas notebooks. Or perhaps you'll want to develop your own Christmas cookbook or recipe box.

June -  Themes/Party Planning ideas and our Master Gift List. Perhaps you'll want a theme to your decorating that is different from previous years, i.e. gingerbread in the kitchen, or an all red and white tree in the foyer, etc. Sketch out or clip ideas from magazines or web sites.

July - We will purchase all stocking stuffers this month. If you plan to make your Christmas cards, now is the time to get all the papers, ribbons, envelopes, stamps and inks, etc. together and make those cards. Have a festive card making day with Christmas music playing in the background! Sign those cards and write short notes. Update your Christmas card address list and print the labels or envelopes out. Get your family photo taken to include in your card and have them printed. Go over that master gift list--have you purchased at least half of your gifts or more?

August - Time to finish up with the craft projects you have been working on.

September - Time to think about baking projects for November. List recipes you want to try--desserts, cookies, breads--and make a master grocery shopping list. Begin purchasing an extra staple or two each time you go to the grocery store. Consider any ornaments you need to purchase and/or want to make. Be on the lookout for these items to hit the store shelves. Buy early for the best selection.

October - Gift in a Jar or Basket month. Master gift list checkup. You should be about finished buying gifts now! Check your wrapping paper stash, tape, gift tags, colored pens. Resupply as necessary.

November - Purchase or unpack your advent calendar. Wrap gifts by Thanksgiving. The idea is to have December available to spend time with your family--not panicing over not getting things done!

December - Celebrate with your family and friends!

Don't forget to check http://magicalholidayhome.com/ for some more Christmas and Rudy Day fun! Till next time, holiday blessings to you and yours!
Mary