Winner, Winner....Turkey Dinner?

I know, I know it is Chicken Dinner, but I had to do it!
I have a secret.

I just took down the Thanksgiving/Fall Decorations this weekend. 

Granted,  the surgery set me back, but even the scarecrow was embarrassed.

I swear to you, I found him like that and I wonder which son was expressing his mortification that we were the only house without our Chirstmas decorations up in the neighborhood!!

 Our 10 year old son also expressed his concern at dinnertime Friday night that Buddy, his elf on a shelf, had not shown up.  He informed us that many of his friends already had their elves show up.

We told him that Buddy would probably come when we decorated for Christmas.  Guess who was helping mom decorate this weekend? 

Button seemed very intrigued too...about as intrigued as he is taking them OFF today!

We are about ninety-percent close to the Country Christmas last year.

Guess who arrived this morning!!!

{GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENT}

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!!!

I DO have a winner to announce for the Amy Butler Fat Quarter Bundle for the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day (or rather...week!).  First off, I must tell you that I had planned to draw a winner last night, however, my numbers were missing on my comments!  It took me a few tries, but I had some success adding numbers to my comments and was able to draw a winner today.

I have emailed Lauren 

(if I don't hear from her in the next 3 days, I will redraw)

And since it was a SECOND optional winner, I thought I'd share what she is hoarding away:

Now I just added to her collection.  I am not sure if she will be happy or even more perplexed!

As for everyone else, I REALLY tried to keep up with responding to comments, because if there is one thing that my loyal commenters know, I try to respond to everyone if I can.  However, I never DREAMED there would be 490 comments.  

Seriously outdid yourselves people! 

 I did read ALL of the comments....running theme by my very horrible guesstimates of percentages.

• 1% of you actually are not fearful...you want to cut right into them!
• 2% of you don't have a large collection of fabric so don't have the luxury of NOT cutting it!
• 30% of you don't have a favorite designer fabric or pre-cuts, but DO have some vintage items or some sort of fabric you just adore
• 67% of you have a bundle of designer fabric, just waiting for the most perfect project!  I wish I could come up with one for each and every one! 

Mind you there was NOTHING scientific about my guesstimates...so feel free to giggle at me!!

The one thing I learned?  I need to just DO it.  Just hunt for a project and do it.  It can't possibly be a horrible, terrible thing, can it?

Country Christmas

This year, when I took down our decorations, the house groaned. 

It told me that it was entirely sick of the decorations that it has graced all these years. The house said "Heidi, I am sad.  You have been decorating me with dark, dreary colors..and that is not YOU!  You are a quilty, crafty, country girl."

I was upset at first.  I walked around in a panic.  What was I to do?

But then.....

When I went outside...the moose were complaining that they were a bit chilly outside this year and the wreathes on the door begged me for new bows.

So I found some cute homespun fabrics and gingham burlap bows.  The moose thanked me profusely and the wreathes preened like a peacock.

As I entered the house, the pine cone basket in the foyer that was handed down from my in-laws begged for the dark burgundy bow to be removed and some fresh new berries added.

The red burlap ribbon and bright new berries made him and me smile!

Around the corner, I peeked in the dining room.  She was disappointed.  She reminded me that Mr. Boss bought me beautiful Spode Christmas plates a few years back.

Why hadn't I decorated the room to compliment? 

I so agreed!

Instead of heavy beading on the "kid tree".  A new red and white trimmed with silver ribbon was added.

The little guy jumped up and down with glee!  He said, thank you Miss Heidi, now all your boys handmade ornaments through the years look so nice!

Even Buddy agreed nestled in one night!

But the dining room table was the most thrilled.

A brand new table runner!  

Appliqued, quilted and binding all handmade. 

The reindeer nodded sagely in respect to the effort.

 

Then the main tree called to me.  

What about me he said?  

He asked me to please get rid of the sad ugly plaid ribbon. 

He said that he liked the grapevine garland, so could I please add something to compliment?

I, of course, complied.

New red burlap ribbon intertwined with green tulle.

The ornaments jingled joyously.

Jamie's Angel new ornaments agreed that they could wait for their own tree next year.  They heard that the boys couldn't fit all their ornaments on this year, so the main tree will be moved to the dining room.  They were happy to eye the kid tree that will be theirs next year!

The staircase decorations were happy with their new ribbons.

The family room weeped. It was jealous of the new mantle garland this year that made the candles, trees, and stocking shine.

It asked for some new cheery throw pillow covers. 

Spending yesterday sewing them up was worth it to see them settle in for a cozy fire.

And even the dog pillows "barked" with glee....

The kitchen begged me to go simple this year.  No insane amount of tchotchkes all over the place, PLEASE!   

I couldn't agree more!

 

A grapevine wreath with gingerbread men to match the gingerbread plates.

There was one small catch.  

The sleigh centerpiece said the brown was too dark.

A little paint, and all was nice and cheery!!!

The ladder in the family room said it was content with the wreath.

Especially since the wreath was the one I made last year and inspired the rest of the house update.

But it still wonders if I might finish the Christmas quilt I had in mind.

We shall see.........

Christmas Spirit

A few weeks ago, I was just not in the mood for Christmas. 

The "Main" Tree

But in the last week, this little guy has really brightened up the holidays.

"Kid" Tree decoration time!

His spirit is catching.  The way he looks in awe at the lights.  The way he smiles as if he knows a secret.

His delight has spurred me to spend some time decorating (I think I will have a wordless Wednesday to show you the end results).

I want to make this the best Last First Christmas ever in our household.

I am apologizing now, to my dear friends and family, if you don't get your "Holiday card" with letter by the end of the week.  We have gingerbread houses to make, presents to wrap, Santa cookies to create, and a quilt to make.

A quilt, you say?  NOW?

I promise...only if there is time. And only if Button is sleeping!   I want to enjoy every moment of my Christmas Break with the boys.  They are officially home until after New Years.  Fun, fun, fun!

But wouldn't you be oh, so very tempted to make THIS one.

I already have the fabric.

Those numbers? I have already have discussed the fabric selection with my Crafty Sewing Mamas.  

Some have told me that sleep is overrated. 

Some think I have lost my mind.

We shall see.....

Dare me?

I need someone to triple dog dare me....

TUTORIAL: HERE

This lovely quilt would have to be done by the morning of Dec 22nd.

......and I do not have those lovely fabrics.

I still have to put the burlap ribbon that just arrived on the tree.

I still need to wrap "Santa" presents.

I still need to address the Holiday cards that arrived in the mail. 

I still have finish writing the letter, not to mention print out 100 of them to add to the cards.

I still have a few decoration updates.

I still need to do throw pillows for Christmas...it still looks like Fall around here.

I still have to make a baby quilt and , oh yeah, "Make Two"  like I promised.

I just read everything I just wrote and realized that I know there is more on my list and I am going to be unavailable Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon.

But....

Go ahead.

Christmas Story:  The DARE to stick his tongue to the cold/freezing flagpole!

Dare me.

Because I think I am going to chicken out...

Or just feel free to knock some sense into me!!!

My Super Secret Weapon

No...not for my nails....

But for my sad, dilapidated red berry decorations.

Between rough handling when getting packed and unpacked....

too much sun and too much humid weather conditions.

My berries look sad.

To be perfectly honest, I could just go get more.  But why spend money year after year, when I can just grab by handy dandy nail polish?

One to two coats depending on the severity of damage.

And all is right in Heidi's world.

Will I ever get the color on my fingernails and toes?

 

Probably not!!!!

Stockings are hung

on the chimney with care.

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there........

I had a stocking crisis this weekend!  

Actually, I had a complete Christmas decorating and HOUSE decorating crisis this past week!  But that would be the longest blog post EVER.

I have learned through the years....one crisis at a time.

The stocking crisis?  Not really a biggie, but a frustrating one!  If you recall HERE, I forgot that Button needed a stocking!  Bunny thought that he could use Jamie's stocking, but BIG, BIG brother Butter, said "No way".  I ran and bought this one to fill the empty spot!  I am thinking baby food instead of candy?

My second crisis?  

I didn't have enough stocking holders!  

I also had two that were broken after they fell off the mantle last year.

Needless to say I have a new favorite item for hanging stockings.

I have tried so many different holders...some as heavy as 5-10 lbs.  But the problem?  They always tip when we load them up. 

The second problem?  

All mantles are not alike.  Our newest mantle has a funky edge that made the hook part awkward.

This one claims it fits any size or shape.

It looks like it might fall off....but it doesn't.  I even pulled on it with a really good amount of pulling (and stretched out the loops...ooops!) and they didn't budge.

So if you are looking for a new solution without having to drill holes into your mantle...which I was about to resort to.

If you can, run to Target and see if they have them.  

How do you all hang your stockings?!?!?