Stocking Up

I'm a big believer in creating traditions!  My family members can attest to that.  When my kids leave home, I want them to remember all the fun they had growing up here participating in Valentine treasure hunts to Halloween songs.

One tradition (perhaps my first) was started sort of by accident and long before any of them was even a twinkle in somebody's eye -- a yearly Christmas stocking for my husband.  Here's how it started.  In order to ensnare my candy-loving boyfriend, I made him a stocking way-back-when in (oh my gosh this seems so long ago) 1976.  Gasp.  My diabolical plan worked!  I delivered the handmade sugar packed treasure on Christmas eve and sure enough he planted that first kiss on me the next day - Christmas!

Made from a McCall's pattern, it was a felt track shoe with one of his high school nicknames on one side and track team number on the other.  Little did I know that stocking would be the first in a long line of candy-filled creations that have inadvertently summarized our life.  I didn't plan to do it... but the next year I made another and another after that.

 Then he served a mission in Tokyo and I had to make one to send to him there.

Well, then we got married.

These stockings are simple: felt, puffy paint, glitter glue -- 

never taking much more than an hour to create.

Always celebrating milestones in my husband's life.

Like graduating from college

or the birth of a baby daughter.

Or a year jam-packed with buying a house, having a baby,

getting a master's degree and holding an extra part-time job.  Yikes.

 And we can't forget the Packers!

 Or the big Y2K scare...

 In 2000, Larry researched his deceased father's prisoner of

war experience and wrote a book about it for family members.

And then 911 happened.

 In 2006, my husband wrote a book about all the president's inaugural addresses

and their faith related comments.  Check it out here on Amazon.

 Here's the year Larry had very serious neck surgery in January

and visited Mt. Rushmore in August.  Notice George's cervical collar.

You may remember two summers ago when all my kids

came home to roost for a couple of months between semesters.

This is a take off on the old woman who lived in a shoe...

And this is the latest stocking edition... from 2011.  There was a lot of political turmoil in our state last year and teachers... well, I don't want to get into it.  But this stocking illustrates how it was stated that some teachers live high on the hog... so I made light of it by planting a picture of Larry in his '99 Ford Escort waving a fist full of money.  Perhaps a bit sarcastic... 'nuff said.

What will be the subject of this year's stocking?

I'm starting to think about it.

Several things happened this year...

a cross-country trip to drop Chelsea at college,

s son who performed at Summerfest,

the death of a beloved brother, 

knee surgery,

Keaton's Band Revue...

Well, whatever it is, it will be the 37th edition of the annual stocking!

Merry Christmas!

May all your traditions be meaningful and fun.

Sugar and Spice

It's way more fun to decorate a place that's way more fun...

                                                         ...and filled with character.

Like my sister's bed & breakfast.

Last weekend, we held a baby shower for my niece, Amy.

You remember her, don't you?

She seems to keep me busy after Thanksgiving.

Two years ago - wedding dress shopping.  White Friday.

One year ago - her sister's baby shower.  Blue Friday.

This time it's Pink Friday!

It's always fun to decorate in pink.

These jumbo cupcakes were out of this world

with French buttercream frosting and so cute!

They are sold at our local Pick 'n Save.

I cut custom cupcake wrappers out of scrapbook papers

using my wavy rotary cutter on the top.

Got the words using a free online template for wrappers.

And what's a shower without a few pompon flowers on fishline?!

This was the mother of all pompons - about 18" across.

You can buy pompon flowers pre-folded and fluff them yourself -

or you can fold them with your own tissue like I did.

They are simple.   Here's how Martha does it.

Even the milk glass candy dish got dressed up.

I'm so happy Amy liked this sugar and spice garland enough

to take it with her for her nursery in California!

Once I got rolling, pompons started spewing from my fingers!

Garland!  On stems in a vase!  A corsage!

Oh, don't get me started!

You see, me and flower pompons go way back.

Wedding Decorations - Chanel - Part 2

 

Jordan - Jordie to those of us who have known her since she was a little girl - is as creative as she is beautiful.  Her idea of a decor theme for her wedding was Chanel.  As in Coco Chanel, mid-century iconic French fashion designer.   Jordie was the mastermind behind her wedding decorations assisted by her mother's (my good friend, Brenda) production skills and creativity.  All I did was sew the straight lines to put the grosgrain ribbon on the table squares (see previous post).  So, what made up the Chanel design at Jordie and Stuart's wedding?

 

Diamond quilted satin chair covers - very Chanel.  Add a tulle bow.

Black wrought iron, pearls...

gold, bows, damask...

tassles, glassware...

Put it all together and you have gorgeous, Chanel inspired tablescapes.

A beautiful reception...

 for a beautiful couple!
Congratulations Jordie and Stuart.

Wedding Decorations - Chanel

When our kids were little, my very creative friend Brenda and I

pledged that we would help each other decorate for

our children's weddings... when the time came.

The time has come.

Memories of seeing Brenda knee deep wiring flower bouquets

three years ago for my son's wedding decorations

remind me that it is now payback time for her daughter's wedding.

Jordie has chosen a "Chanel" themed wedding... hence, I, the pledged friend of the mother-of-the-bride got to sew the 16 black grosgrain ribbon trimmed damask patterned table toppers.  I think I got off easy.  Jordie is EXTREMELY creative and I can't wait to see the rest of her vision tonight at the reception.

Bunting

Yep, you guessed it!   I made bunting... or flagging... or pennants... or whatever you call these colorful decorations.   I see them online a lot and creative Etsy types are making 'em like mad.  Here's what I did:

I went through my vintage fabrics and gathered a bunch of reds and yellows - the colors for my niece's wedding shower.  I quickly made a pattern and cut up the fabric with a rotary pinking blade.

I made red pennants...

...and yellow ones.

I had to supplement with a few purchased fat quarters.

Can you tell which ones are new?

And I cut some red and yellow pennants.

Soon I had a pile of double sided fabric triangles

ready for binding.

About time I used up some of those old calico bias tapes I have.

I stitched the tape on top of the triangles with the raw

edges even - leaving an inch or so between each flag.

Then I flipped over the bias tape to the other side

and stitched the length of it.  Easy to make for sure.

They looked festive against my sister's carriage house.

Yeah, sometime I'll blog about my sister's 1905 Bed and Breakfast.

Here's my niece, Amy, getting ready for guests to arrive.
 

Sunflowers were used to brighten up the tables.

Here's some family... Spring (daughter-in-law), Sarah (sister-in-law),

Brianna (niece), and Chelsea (daughter). 

The giant hydrangeas were in full bloom... but I digress...

Here's Amy with her maid of honor and sister, Lauren.

Congratulations Amy and thank you Lauren

for throwing such a fun party!