Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Monday, November 7, 2011

DIY Monday: We Three Kings

It's November. This year has blown by me and I can't quite believe it's here. November brings memories of holiday preparation and the excitement of Christmas pageants to come. I guess that's why things like random bits of trim and fabric catch my eye.

It usually happens like this: I'm rummaging through a box and I see a piece of fabric, braid, ribbon or trim that would make a great costume. You see, I was trained this way. I can't really help it. I spent my childhood rummaging through the bargain rooms of fabric stores looking for fabrics, trims or ribbons that would make a good costume. And this time of year it usually had something to do with a Christmas concert at church. Whether a chiffon head scarf for Mary or a striped fabric for Joseph, we were always looking for things that would create the illusion of Biblical times. Fake leather became a Roman officer's uniform. Silver fabrics were turned into helmets. We were always watching for "period appropriate" fabrics for outer robes for the disciples and a piece of rope was often called into service as a belt.

And so as I was rummaging through a box at an estate sale, this beautiful trim caught my eye. I could just see it on Herod's crown - because from the audience the gold, red and green would sparkle like jewels. And Mama thinks my compulsive organizing is a sickness....

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Happy Christmas Everyone


I wish your Christmas Day be full of blessings, love and laughter. I pray there's food on your table, a roof over your head, family around you and joy in your heart. And if you have all these things, I hope you'll count your blessings and give thanks. I know I will be - and among my blessings are so many of you.

Happy Christmas my friends. Happy Christmas.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Inspiration Thursday! See Amid the Winter's Snow...


See amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Hail that ever blessèd morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies
He Who built the starry skies;
He Who, thronèd in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.

Hail that ever blessèd morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Say, you holy shepherds, say,
Tell your joyful news today.
Why have you now left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?

Hail that ever blessèd morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.

“As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’
Told us of the Savior’s birth.”

Hail that ever blessèd morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.

Hail that ever blessèd morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility.

Hail that ever blessèd morn, Hail redemption’s happy dawn, Sing through all Jerusalem: Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Vintage Wednesday: Vintage Christmas Ornaments



In an effort to make this a simpler Christmas, I used mainly our collection of vintage Christmas ornaments to decorate our tree this year. There's something about the mercury glass, the stars, the hand blown ornaments that make my heart swell. I especially love the few ornaments we have that have "Silent Night" stenciled on them along with a scene from a little town. And the ornaments that have the centers recessed sparkle in the twinkling lights.

My husband did request we put the bubble lights on this year. I remember when I was a child these were one of the most fascinating part of Christmas decorating. That they would BUBBLE in colorful light was one of my favorite parts of the tree. Thankfully bubble lights have been updated so that my grownup tree can be festooned with them without my fear of the old wires causing fires!

Hope you're finding your own traditions in celebrating this holiday season and hope it's filled with joy, love and laughter.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Inspiration Thursday! Handmade Christmas

Christmas was always a "big deal" in my home growing up. After all, we're celebrating the birth of baby Jesus and birthdays are a "big deal" too in our family. Mama's family used to have a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake in their celebration tradition. And our family has our own traditions too... but that's another story for another day.

This Christmas we don't have as much money as we'd like to give what we'd like to the ones we love - and I don't think we're the only ones in this boat. It's gotten me thinking about how Christmas seems to have gotten really big and really commercial in my adulthood. Maybe it's because I'm a grown up now and actually see the sales flyers and incentives to get the newest electronic gadget?

I remember how thrilled I was the Christmas I got a My Friend Mandy doll complete with wardrobe. Mama had spent nights making a wardrobe for Mandy - something I knew because my room was over the sewing room and for many nights before Christmas I fell asleep to the whir... whir... whir... of the sewing machine. I knew Mama had worked so hard to make that Christmas special, and it's one of the best Christmas presents I remember.

So as I've been rushing around trying to finish up Christmas shopping, it's struck me that this year gifts don't have to be elaborate. The whole point is to celebrate a birthday, show some love and let people know they're special to us. And for many in my family, that means it's a handmade Christmas. I'm giving them something that's very precious to me - time. I'm spending time making things for them instead of just pressing a button and having something shipped.

I don't know if amid the flurry of wrapping paper and electronics my gifts are going to be the stand out gifts of the season, but I do know I'm giving a part of me this year. I'm not just checking off a name on a list. I'm working toward something a little more special this year. And I'm returning to the Christmas of my childhood where the best gifts are the ones made especially for me.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Inspiration Thursday! Christmas is coming...

Every year I look for environmentally friendly ways to wrap Christmas gifts - I'm the girl who goes around folding up the gift bags Christmas morning to use them again! One of the solutions I've found is to use storage boxes to wrap gifts. They're pretty on the outside, useful in the home and I usually get a wonderful reaction from the recipients!

Take, for example, these boxes I found from Punch Studio - the same company I talked about last week! They're beautiful and colorful, are just the right size and I can close them up with a pretty ribbon and be done. And Punch Studio makes gift bags as well.

I keep my eyes open for new designs every year and have found a lovely variety thus far!