My Tiny Christmas Village

I've always dreamed of owning one of those adorable Christmas villages all sparkling and smothered in snow. I did not want the fancy porcelain ones, I wanted to make it my own, but

the building of one seemed a little daunting.

When I found this great web site about Glitter houses (a.k.a Putz Houses) :

http://www.bigindoortrains.com/primer/glitterhouses/glitterhouses.htm

That also provided a few plans, I was inspired to try my hand at building one.

Well it went okay, not perfect but not awful either, so I did a few more, using Mr Paul D. Race's plan of the basic cottage. Eventually I modified the basic cottage to give it a somewhat pointier, taller roof (reminds me of Europe) then I saw that I needed a church, so I designed one (it's pretty easy really, the basic shape is a box with a slanted roof) I wanted something a little more "cathedrally" but I chickened out at the last minute and stuck to basics, probably a good idea ; )

The pink house was my very first and I made a mistake : I put the back of the house in the front yard when I glued the house to the base, so I slapped a door over the "light hole" and called it a day, it turned out alright, what do you think?
Below are my 2 modified cottages. The light aqua one has a wee problem with the roof, I used a card stock, apparently too thin and it buckled after painting it. Maybe after Christmas I'll give it a new roof

Anyhoo, This is a lot of fun (very messy too) so I also built three Halloween houses, two following the "Big Indoor Trains" plans, and one of my own design, they turned out quite brilliant (bow, bow, ever so humbly :) I'll post them when we are out of the Christmas season, I dont want to detract from the mood.

Addendum : I just finished the Big Indoor Trains' "Little charmer" and I love it; gotta take a picture. Thank you Mr Race and Mr Lamey for the great tutorials. I think I'm going to keep doing this.

TTFN.

TEXTE EN FRANCAIS

Il y a longtemps que je reve d'un petit village de Noel, mais je n'avais pas envie d'en acheter un(car ceux qui me plaisent vraiment coutent tres cher) Alors quand j'ai decouvert ce super site:

http://www.bigindoortrains.com/primer/glitterhouses/glitterhouses.htm

qui donne des plans pour des petites maisons, j'ai decide de faire un essai de construction... Ca n'a pas trop mal marche. J'ai construit six maisons et une eglise, j'ai bien fait quelques erreurs, mais c'est comme ca qu'on apprend.

Ca m'a tellement plu que j'ai aussi commence a faire un village d'Halloween qui est d'un esprit completement different, je vous les montrerai apres Noel (Je ne veux pas gacher l'humeur de fetes :)

What I am thankful for

I am thankful for my family, and the Lord that watches over us .

I am thankful for our grand children

I am thankful for this great country that welcomed me, today so fearfully threatened. It shall overcome. God Bless America, and its people!

I am thankful for my home, the beautiful state of Georgia, the superb sunshine we enjoy here.

I am thankful for my ability to create and have so much fun with it.

Last but not least I am thankful for ...chocolate double fudge brownies.

Have a great joyful, filled with gratitude day.

A Little Fashion, Today

Today I was enjoying in the splendor of Alabama Chanin designs. Not only are they gorgeously feminine but they're also wearable; things you wouldn't mind throwing on to do your grocery shopping, or romping in the park with the children (or grand children:-)
http://www.alabamachanin.com/

They also have the whole "ecology/social consciousness thing" down pat. Part of their mission statement says:
"We dedicate ourselves to producing quality products that become a part of daily life in this generation and beyond. From farmer to fiber to artisan to home, our products are “grown-to-sewn” in USA."

And I love the needle work.

Timeless beauty from the trail to the city. Yumm, me likes.

TTFN

TEXTE EN FRANCAIS

Aujourd'hui je voudrais vous presenter la mode d'Alabama Chanin:

https://alabamachanin.com/

Leurs vetements ne sont pas seulement tres beaux, ils sont aussi facilement protables. Ils peuvent aller du supermarche, aux rues de la ville, au terrain de foot sans problemes.

J'aime aussi le fait que les tissus sont faits de fibres locales, les couleurs sont de teintures naturelles, et la fabrication achevee par des couturieres du coin.

Et puis l'ouvrage fait main est incroyable.

Tout plein de Bisous

A Bandolier Bag : Saying Good Bye

This is called a "BANDOLIER BAG" it is an American Native ceremonial clothing item that indians wore around their neck being worn up front and hanging about waist high. I have owned this particular one for about 30 years, it dates probably to the start of the 20th century, and it is magnificent, entirely beaded, yes, all the colored parts that you see are tiny beads, thousands of them.
I have kept it in a closet for all that time, although I loved it, I never really felt that it was mine. So one day I began to do some research and determined that it was of Ojibwe origin, in the Iowa/Minnesota area. So I contacted a Native American museum. they concured that it was probably from the Ojibwe/MilleLacs nation, and after some correspondance, they agreed to give it a new home.
So I have parted with this beautiful artifact. The museum curator told me that they had a lady who could do the repairs needed to really make it shine. I am a little sad that it is gone, but also pleased that it will be displayed in a style more suited (than my closet) to its majestic origin.
TTFN



TEXTE EN FRANCAIS
Ce sac est un BANDOLIER, et etait porte par les indien d'Amerique pour leur evenements importants (enfin je suppose car il est tres lourd) Je l'ai eu dans mon placard pendant presque 30 ans. Je le regardais de temps en temps je n'ai jamais senti qu'il etait a moi. C'est un ouvrage superbe qui date sans doute de la fin du 19eme siecle, entierement couvert de perles minuscules. Un jour je me suis mise a rechercher son origine, et ai decouvert quil etait sans doute de la tribue des Ojibwas. Apres des pour-parles avec un musee des Ojibwas, Ils ont accepter de le reprendre , et meme de le reparer. J'etais un peu triste de le laisser partir, mais je suis contente de savoir qu'il sera mieux apprecie dans un musee que dans mon placard. Bisous

The Best of Fall

This elegant lady reminds me of Fall.

Things that make autumn wonderful :
- Cooler days
- Multicolored leaves
- Cozy sweaters
- New England asters in bloom
- Hot chocolate
- Squash recipes
- Pre-Chrismas sales
- Planning ThankGiving
- Decorating for Halloween
- Fire in the fire place
- Softer, gentler nature
- Misty mornings
- Glorious motorcycle rides

Enjoy the subsiding of the light.

TTFN

Fun with Textiles

I really dislike throwing away my pieces of fabric from old clothes or sewing projects, so, over the years, they have accumulated a bit. Here is one of the boxes where I keep my little treasures (yeah it's another of my painting projects) It is a smallish trunk... okay nothing impressive so far. But the really large trunk (I mean coffin size large) below it is also filled with odds and ends fabrics, like I said : a lot of fabric.
Recently , I started making things with them.

One day I got away from traditional embroidery, and I never looked back. Now it is quilting and embroidery, and layering and layering, all free form. I make small pieces and add them later to larger projects, and so on, til the cows come home. A work in progress.

A humble washer made noble by rust was found on one of my walks and salvaged to be added to an embroidery project . I spritzed it a little it in the hope that it will bleed some rust onto the fabric, for a more organic look.. so far, no luck .

At last I also used my fabric bits to give a new face to this very old evening bag by trying my hand at crazy quilting. It is not quite finished yet, but I really like it.