It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go...

So I think I'll start gussying up the house for that very thing...be back soon...

Several people have emailed me asking about this ornament.

This is a handmade crocheted, beaded ornament that a friend of mine made for me about thirty years ago, I have about six in the collection, though she made hundreds of these over time to give to people.

This friend was from Boston with a very distinct Bostonian accent and at the time she gave it to me, she said this to me;

"Now you hang onto these and don't lose them, because someday they'll be heirlooms"...

I guess she was right...

Here's another one in the collection, the rest are still packed and waiting for the tree:)



Home for the holidays

So yesterday we hosted Thanksgiving dinner here at home with son in law, Ted, DBD Andrea (darling bonus daughter) and grandsons Cole and Blake. My husband and I both came to the same conclusion; we understand the true meaning of "home for the holidays" and this must be why so many people flock to airports and hit the roads just to make it home; there is nothing better than being with family and loved ones for this day...

Some of the highlights of the day...for Grandma and Papa, having our kids together here at our own home. Andrea's favorite highlight; the sale ad's in the paper for black-friday shopping the next day and the dinner, the kid's highlights, learning to "drive and shift gears" on the Kitchen Aid mixer making whip cream and then getting to lick the beater covered with fresh whipped cream on it! 
But Ted's favorite highlight; (in his own words) the best T-day dinner he's ever had and Thanksgiving day football was on the TV and he had control of the remote to the DVR so he could re-run play, after play, after play and was one happy camper:)

Enjoy...

The Thanksgiving day table was set...

the cooks were in the kitchen...

Ted, Andrea and Papa are smiling...

 Beautiful Andrea ready to help...

little Cole learning all about Tom turkey from Papa...

grandma doing what grandmas do...

 Blake's version of hide and seek...
"if I cover my eyes you can't find  me,

when I un-cover now I found you"!

 and everyone knows, it's always more fun to lick the beater

as opposed to just eating whip cream with a spoon!

  it just doesn't get any better for four and six year old boys!

 the highlights for the girls, Emmie and Pearl...

when those noisy little boys left:)

Happy Holidays!

November Gold

Once again I'm joining my lovely and dear friend Susan from

Between Naps On The Porch for another Tablescape Thursday. If ever I wanted to tell anyone about a blog, Susan's would be the place! She is lovely, imaginative and inspiring and truly puts an incredible amount of work and effort into her posts' so thank you Susan for hosting another great party! You are a joy to know and to learn from my friend!

This year, my husband and I are hosting our Thanksgiving holiday with his beautiful daughter (my bonus daughter) Andrea, her husband, Ted and our two precious grandsons Cole and Blake.

There are no words in the English language to describe the joy this precious little family brings to our lives, what I know for sure is; we love them and are so blessed we are all together on this most thankful of days... 

The details:

Stemware; Cambridge "Rambler Rose" from my grandmother c.1945

Vintage China; Noritake "Revenna" from my grandmother c.1950

Contemporary dinnerware; Williams-Sonoma Porcelain Turkey Salad/Dessert Plates

Sterling Silver; "South Seas" in Community from my grandmother c.1950

Dining chairs; Ethan Allen

Quilt wall hanging; "Rose's Civil War Baskets"

Table runner; Jo Morton fabric, handmade by yours truly:)

Napkin fold; "Pocket Fold" from Susan at Between Naps On The Porch

Photo Location; our home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest

Blessings; my husband, Mark and our family, both near and far...

"Happy Thanksgiving everyone"



WOO HOO I WON, I WON I WON !!!!!!!!!

I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yippee, I won, I won, I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so did these other fabulous bloggers! Congratulations to everyone, this was a hoot to do!!!!!!!!!!!

Homemaker on a dime 

Funky Junk Interiors 

Prior Lives

HOME GOODS MOM CAVE WINNERS

Mom Cave Contest

Today I'm linking up with
Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch and Home Goods

for the "Mom Cave contest".

 Here are the rules;

Well as soon as I saw this challenge my competitive spirit came out! Not only because I think I have all five components of the challenge and would love to win a $250.00 gift certificate to Home Goods, but I think I have the best "mom cave" in the world...well maybe even the universe...just sayin'.

I'd like to invite you to read the history of how this room came to be thanks to my hero, Mr. La Bella Vie. Its a fun story, however I don't want to lose my audience with text, instead I'll hold you captive with eye candy pictures of the sweetest "Mom Cave" I have ever been in. 

Come on in...

First rule; a place to sit. This is where I do hand sewing, reading, listening to music and yes occasionally napping. Its cozy, quiet and right by a sunny window, it just doesn't get any better...

this sunny bank of windows is on the south side of the house facing the back of our property, the chair sits right next to it (do you see it, bottom left corner?)

Second rule; space to organize your stuff. I am an avid quilter and fabricaholic (among many other collecting addictions) and these are a few of the ways in which I organize my junk stuff. This is just one side of the room. This a bit picture heavy but I just couldn't help myself and besides, Susan said she wanted lots of pictures and lots of close-ups:)

 pull out bins for fabric storage...


(click to enlarge "wall words")

  my custom display shelf built by my hero, Mr. LBV for my toy sewing machine and pin cushion collection...

reflection in the vintage mirror is the opposite side of the room

 Below; one of my pin cushion dolls; "Miss Rose City". I made her as I have with many of my pin cushions. Most of the pin cushion dolls I've made are embellished with my mothers old jewlery...

 vintage thimble boy...

 shoe and boot pin cushions...

now for the other side of the room...

 This bookshelf unit was built by Mr. LBV. Behind the antique Double Wedding ring quilt is a Murphy bed for the occasional guest. You can see it in action below...isn't that the coolest thing!

below is my felt covered, cork board design wall

on the shelves...

a CD player for music

books for inspiration sit next to Tiffany bear

(she's made from an old quilt block)...

a few of my antique quilts...

Third rule;  the place we do our craft or hobby, in this case my Koala sewing cabinet and table and craft/cutting table. These pieces are huge when open and fold down to just a fraction of their original size.

Fourth rule; a place where your girlfriends can visit and do the hobbies we love. OK so this isn't the best picture but I had no idea I would ever need a photo for blogging!

The Fifth and last rule; to post pictures of what you would need from 

Home Goods online to "beef up your mom cave" so here they are...lamps, lamps and more lamps and lighting! I thought these would be adorable in my Mom cave because I really do need more light for when I'm in there in the evening and another chair for girlfriends day, oh and a tea set and tray for nibbles would be nice too and a couple more storage baskets...I could go on and on but don't want to sound ungrateful for what I already have!

Thanks Susan for hosting another fun Linky party, you're the best hostess!!