Tag Tuesday-Christmas Leftovers

Kard Krazy's Tag challenge this week was to use up some Christmas Leftovers. What a fun challenge, as I was cleaning my art table-what a mess! The tag itself was cut from a lovely Christmas card I received this year-the back of a card no less-in gray and white. I used a scrap of leftover vellum to punch one of TH's snowflake border, a Martha punch to create a cardinal from small scraps of paper, a few scraps of ribbon and ball fringe. I tinted the sky with Tumbled Glass and covered some print with gesso and glitter.

Progress

The amaryllis bulbs are blooming! What a lot of bang for your buck, when you buy those mysterious big bulbs. Note that the full red bulb is slightly behind-but provides a progression of flowers for weeks.

The Winter Solstice Fire

Three years ago today, we got a phone call. A poor abused little boxer needed an immediate home. She was quite young, but had already had one or two litters of pups. She lived under a mobile home, had a raging ear infection, and was severely underweight. When we went to meet her-she could still whip that tail back and fourth when you spoke to her. Wait! A TAIL! We had never seen a boxer tail before! She needed an immediate home, as the dog catcher wanted her out of the system before her abusive owner could reclaim her. We took her home, stopping on the way for extra calorie food, gentle shampoo and some special treats. After her clean up, she curled up next to the Christmas tree, clean, but so weak she just slept for hours! We worried. We argued over names. She was so emaciated-her bones clicked. I lobbied for "Cindy Lou Hoo" as the vet had said the poor little girl-was no more than two. I was over ruled. We discovered that at one time , St Lucia was celebrated at the Winter Solstice. S0 "Lucia" was the winner. Soon to become "Lucy! You've got some 'splaining to do!" The next day she discovered a basket of dog toys behind a chair. Her amazement at the riches she had discovered, had us lying on the floor crying as she took each treasure out and examined it. She had to often stop, and have a nap, she was so weak. Needless to say this story has a happy ending. These days, she is the queen of 4 acres. She has a wardrobe of sweaters, sweatshirts, storm coats-as she never wants to be cold again. She has two humans, trained to fill the bowl at a whimper. She has a silly big brother to run with. She sleeps in fleece jammies under the quilt with her head on Da's shoulder and her cold feet on mama. Life is good. And she is patiently waiting for Santa to come.
Celebrate Lucy!

Tag Tuesday-The Colors of Christmas

I made this tag for Kard Krazy's Tag Tuesday's Challenge. The challenge was to use Green,Yellow and Brown. That was easy-the real challenge was figuring out how to use my Silhouette cutter! I've had it for 6 months and done nothing with it. So, while channeling Tim Holts's 12 Tags of Christmas-I cut the tag and the two layered ornament with my Silhouette. The BG of the ornament was embossed with some crazy holographic powder-sent me by a friend!. Everything else is stright forward except the snow on the tree is a Snow Writer from Delta-with tiny little glass beads sprinkled in it-a change from my usual glitter. Thanks for looking!

Eskimo Kisses

This is the small tree in our great room. There is a roaring fireplace just to the left of it, so this is not a good room for a real tree. So I place this beautiful little pre-lit faux tree here.

Little known fact: my DH was born in the Territory of Alaska in 1953. Before Alaska became a state. No, he is not related to the Palins. His dad, pictured above ,was stationed in Alaska. They lived in a small trailer with out indoor facilities. DH was born in a quonset hut hospital-breech. No Kidding!

I put together this little tree using the "Frosty Friends" Hallmark ornaments my MIL has been gifting hubby with for 31 years. They all feature a little Eskimo boy with his dog, seal, penguins, whale,or bears. And they are a little heavy for a real tree-just fine on the faux tree. I added a bucket of ornaments from IKEA (last years). Then I red glittered a hand full of mini clothespins-and included childhood pics of hubby and family.

These are miniature muckluks that were his booties. Gotta keep them from the cats-they keep trying to kill them-again.

Just a close up of one of the sweet ornaments. The tree skirt is hubby's baby blanket-a thick wool plaid from England-a gift from a relative. You'd think DH would be thrilled-not so much. But I love my little tree.

The Tag IS a gift

A few years ago I started making tags for my Christmas presents. This was only possible because everyone grew up-and got only one or two gifts for Christmas. I offered someone a simple gift-done up in one of my gift bags with a tag, and apologized for the humbleness. They said: "But the tag is a gift too!" And promptly hung it on their Christmas tree. And hung it again the next year-adding the new season's tag. So the strategy this year was to take a pic from Hubby's childhood and make tags for his family and our children. I found this adorable picture of him with his siblings-he is the BIG brother. It is printed on printer ready fabric and stitched to felt. I tried to compose a whole 1960's vibe with color and ric rac and bottle caps and glitter!

I then jumped on the ruffle craze-who would have thought?!?!?! I have jugs and jugs of strips of cloth-I am a string quilter. The strips are from quilting classed I taught-and saved the good trimmings from the trash. I had a friend who worked in a quilt store, who saved all the bits from straightening the grain. So I ruffled and pleated and hot glued and used a Christmas paper doily. So the gifts this year, because of our new circumstances are humble. But the wrapping? That's from the heart!
I am linking this post to the Holly Bloggy Christmas on Tatertots and Jello.

Decking the Foxfire Hollow Halls

The definition of foxfire is " a magical light glimpsed in the forest". So our cabin like house, buried in acres of woods, protected on two sides by a friendly hill-is Foxfire Hollow. This year I painted the front door RED. I saw this configuration of 3 wreathes in a Martha catalog. I though how cool! Then did the math. Two doors Xs two wreath sets at $99 each-was the same as my electric bill! So I recreated the look for $15. Yep. Six wreathes from Walmart @ $2 each. Three stems of glittered holly berries @$1. I had the ribbon. I added sprigs of real pine, cedar and holly-cut from the property. Savings=$178. What is not evident is that I got the wreathes already to go-realized I would have to drive 6 nails into the door. Then realized the doors are made of STEEL! Fortunately the little trim bits are plastic, and I managed to work the nails into them. DUMB!

The entry way. The rug is a horse blanket. The wooden shoes from my honeymoon in Holland.

The living room all decked out for the holidays. A comfy quilt and some holiday pillows. I am growing 3 amaryllis bulbs-they look like they should bloom about Christmas-don't you think? Please see some more pictures of our holiday house in the next blog entry.

Decking the Halls-con't

This is a simple arrangement on the coffee table. I try to make my vignettes on trays and platters. That way, if we want to put out cheese and crackers or play a game, I can pick up my arrangement and set it aside. Makes dusting (wait-who DOES that?) easier also.

Okay, here is the family's dirty little secret-we LOVE the Grinch. I was pleased to find this Grinch Green tree in town. The skirt is a doily from the Dollar Store.

This is my dining buffet. The glass hurricanes were a great buy from QVC. The candles are on timers, this is the third collection of goodies I've displayed in them. They have a lovely bubble texture to them. The little floral arrangement is raised on a glass candlestick.

And this little vignette is in the kitchen. I made the banner from recycled cereal and cracker boxes. The trees, alas, are not quite finished. Hey I have two weeks to get them done. Well, two weeks minus a day.

Winter at Foxfire Hollow

We didn't set out to be a hobby farm. We're older, and a little tired of taking care of things. But, the universe had different ideas for us. And I'm glad.The two gentlemen in my life: Gentleman Jones and Chuck.

And Elvis Too is in the house-the hen house that is. Flashy fellow that he is.

And my new girl friends, okay it is a gratuitous shot of hen butts. Reminds me of those ruffled panties I wore (and not happily) when I was a little girl.

More snow is expected-for 3 1/2 days. So we have made sure there is feed for everyone. Really, we had to get eggnog and rum. C has overfilled the wood box. The heaters are turned on in everyone's water bowls. Fortunately, the eggnog will not freeze with that much alcohol in it...
'

My advice: get yourself some chickens, and a thoroughbred who thinks he is the family dog, a handsome husband, and lots of eggnog...