It's finally looking like Christmas!

I don't ever remember being so late with my Christmas decorating. I finally finished the tree when I got back from Starbucks yesterday. We've been collecting ornaments for 40 years now - and have literally hundreds of them. Fred always says I don't need to put them all on the tree - I disagree! It just doesn't look right to me without them. This time there are even more on the big tree, because I didn't set up the smaller tree in the family room. I'm seldom in there - too busy sewing - and Fred doesn't care. I set aside about 2 dozen ornaments this year - things like the plastic M&M ornaments that came on the top of tubes of M&M's in stockings. I set aside a few I made - duplicates of some that are already on the tree. I've done this the last couple years - I'll let the kids look through them on Christmas to take what they want. Other than the ones I made, these are decorations that mean more to them than to us. Whatever is left will go to Goodwill - but it's just a drop in the bucket! I've not bought a single ornament this year - I can't remember the last time that happened. Oh well - there are still a couple days left to shop - if our roads clear!

Our big tree in the living room. If you'd like see and read about some of the ornaments go to this post and this one.

I did things a bit differently to the fireplace this year. I tucked an old garland at the back of the mantel, and hung the Merry Christmas needlepoint above. (It was above the piano in prior years.) Now that I see this picture I realize the needlepoint needs to be moved up a bit, but I've not gotten around to find a hammer. I just hung it on the hooks for the smaller picture that usually hangs there.

I hung the stockings differently this year also. I'm not at all sure I like them with the quilt behind them. I still need to get out a few bears and dolls for the bench.


Here is what they looked like last year. What do you think? Should the quilt go back onto the dining room table where it has always been before?


I didn't want to struggle putting the big garland over the archway to the dining room so I put it above the window instead. It wasn't any easier - it still fell down at least a dozen times while I was trying to "fluff" it. You an see the little feather tree that sits on the treadle machine too. It has more ornaments on it too, for the same reason.

I got a great deal on a table arrangement at Fred Meyer. This is the first time this table cloth has been used since the table quilt was finished. I think it's seen better days - I think it needs to be retired. Just in time for after-Christmas sales!

I wanted Christmas dishes for so long - and started collecting them once the kids graduated from college and Pfaltzgraff came out with this pattern. I call them my "winter dishes" and we use them until Valentine's Day. Don't really go with the blue kitchen do they? They usually come out the weekend after Thanksgiving - boy, am I late getting my act together this year!

I finished this table runner in January this year - one of my first UFO finishes. The blocks were made in 1992! I think it looks great on the coffee table. The sleigh looks a little lonely though - I think I need to put some greenery, etc. around it. And I need to make a couple little bears to sit with the big one. I used to sell these in two sizes - made hundreds of the little ones from beautiful wool coating fabric and sold them for $7.50 each - but over the years I've given away every last one of the little ones. One of these days, when I'm tired of making quilts . . . I still have lots of coating fabric in the attic . . . . You can see one of the newly finished pillows from UFO blocks on the couch.

Wishing all of you and yours a marvelously happy and healthy holiday season!