Christmas "Copy-Cat Challenge"

I TOOK THE CHALLENGE!

I've saved this photo from Michelle's beautiful blog, 

 "Sweet Something Designs"  

for years, intending to replicate it someday.

When Cuisine Kathleen issued her December

 "Copy-Cat Challenge" for the "Lets Dish" party,   

I knew exactly which one I would do.   

We were encouraged to find 
a tablescape either from 
a magazine or online & 
try to duplicate it, using our own dishes.

 I have several milk glass compotes to choose from as well as the burlap runner that Michelle used.  

The only hurricane cylinder I own, was from Bombay Company, years ago, so I did a single arrangement,
instead of two, like Michele used.

  My ribbon was not exactly the same, but close!

I was even able to use my very similar RED cookie platter

 (from Hallmark) 

with snowflakes around the edges.

Continuing on with the challenge, 

another little photo that I had saved was a

darling little mug rug, for Santa's cookies, 

  The pattern is by "Pleasant Home"& is available here.

 I made a PINK & GREEN version 
for Ms. C. to set out, 

with some hot chocolate & cookies at her house.

I used my embroidery machine to do the holly & lettering,

 then just created a little patchwork sample along side of it. 

 I put a narrow striped binding, cut on the straight of grain, at the top of the pocket, 

then sewed the patchwork onto it as well as the second
PINK POLKA-DOT layer. 

After adding some thin batting & a backing out
of that same PINK POLKA-DOT fabric, 
I quilted just the patchwork portion,
making sure to leave the pocket open.
 

I cut a striped fabric on the bias to make
 the binding all around.
I love that diagonal stripe effect!

Then from Cathy's cute blog, "My 1929 Charmer" 

I saved this cute display of quilts &
 stockings on a ladder with a basket at the base.

Since my thoughtful nephew painted this vintage ladder
 for me last summer, 
I tried to duplicate the her scene. 

 I hung two stockings & placed a basket 
filled with 'Sew Beautiful' magazines at the base. 

This is in my sewing room, 
near my table where I keep 
hot cocoa, tea, coffee & 
some nibbles for company.

I get more company in my sewing room 
than any other room in the house!  

I'll show you more of these cute snowman dishes 
 & how I change the scene 
on that table according to each season, 

sometime next week.

When Phyllis of Henhurst Interiors

shared her sleigh bells on a door knob, 

I remembered to pull out my leather strap of them & added them to a door, as well.

 

I love to hear them jingle every time I open this door!  

It has been opened A LOT lately, too...

don't you just love online shopping? 

 What a pleasure not to have to battle crowds & cold temperatures...
it was bitter outside the gazebo this morning! 

 Brrrrr!

Stay warm & thanks for visiting "The Gazebo House" today.

I'm not only joining Cuisine Kathleen,

 but Between Naps on the Porch, as well for 

Tablescape Thursday
& The Tablescaper for
Seasonal Sundays. 

My Chickadees!

I realize this little quilted wallhanging falls more under Christmas decor but I just finished putting the binding on it last week. Hey, I'm EARLY for next year, right?

It matches the table runner that I used a for Valentines Day dinner HERE.

The feathered circle in the center was done by machine embroidery. It is a design specifically digitized to look like a quilting motif but it is all done by my embroidery machine. All I had to do was get the quilt top, batting & backing evenly centered in the hoop...not always an easy task!

I was a wee bit unhappy when I noticed that a very small section of stitching ran into the beak & body of my chickadee. Oops... I didn't think the design was big enough to go over that far.

I disguised it by using my micro tip permanent ink pen & just lightly touching up the few cream threads that were on the black areas.

There...MUCH better!! I'm slightly anal-retentive, I know. Most people wouldn't be bothered by such things but I am.

I don't know if you can see the stitching, but I went around all those little pine cone scallops with smoke colored Mono Poly thread.

It is made by Superior Threads & is polyester, not nylon like other invisible threads. It has a higher heat resistance, won't discolor & does not get brittle over time. I met the owner at the Houston Quilt show & he is extremely knowledgeable & very helpful.

(not affiliated in any way, just a very happy customer)

I LOVE MONO POLY for quilting!!

The center panel has some scroll work designs in each corner & by adding extra batting beneath just those areas & then tightly stippling at the edges, you get a trapunto effect...puffed up & more dimensional in those spots.

The earliest known example of trapunto is Sicilian & was made in the 14th century.

In those days, they would cut the backing & stuff whatever areas they wanted to highlight from behind, thus throwing the shapes into relief, then carefully sew the cut section closed. This newer method is much better, in my opinion...no damage to the backing.

I hope this photo gives you a better feel for the 3-dimensional effect achieved.

I put a hanging sleeve on the back of this, intending for it to hang on the wall in the sunroom but while laying it out for photos, I discovered that it fits PERFECTLY over the glass insert in my coffee table.

SERENDIPITY!

I love it when stuff like that happens.

I was recently the lucky winner of a beautiful chickadee tea set from Mary at

Home Is Where The Boat Is

in celebration of her 2nd year of blogging. Can you believe she has only been at this 2 years??? Thank you Mary...I love them & I collect teapots, ya' know!

I used the teaset last week when my *Smock & Talk* group came here to my home for a morning of stitching & gabbing...and eating, too!

I knew they would go with my chickadee wallhanging beautifully

the minute that I saw them on her beautiful blog.

The set is by Kate Williams, Global Design Connections & I just love the grey twig rimmed edges on the plates & the detailed spout & handle of the teapot.

Everyone who has seen them has immediately reached out to touch the little birdie, including ME!

The little red berries on the branches echo the ones in my wallhanging as well.

I used my wicker serving tray to carry my Wicker pattern, by Oneida, cups & dessert plates down into the sewing room.

I call it my "play room" & I am happiest when I am down there, stitching away the day. Its SEW nice to gather with friends who share your passions & understand.

I made individual lemon meringue tarts for everyone.

I cheated & bought the little pie shells already made & I used Durkee's lemon pie filling, from a box mix, which you can find in the Jell-O section of the grocery store. The meringue directions are on the side of the box, too.

I got up early on the morning that they were coming, so I could make them fresh that day. I don't care for meringue that has been sitting for awhile...it gets rubbery. (is that a real word?)

Be sure to stop back next week & I'll share where we gather to sew & you will get to see some of our recent projects. These gals are good & are so much fun!

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for her Table Top Tuesday,

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday,

Michael Lee at Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday,

and The Tablescaper for her Seasonal Sundays.

Please visit each of them so you don't miss out on seeing what pretty things others are doing!

P.S. I saved one just for YOU!

Nativity Scenes~"Reason for the Season" Party & Tabletop Tuesday, too!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Won't you join me at Lynn's Nativity Party at

Happier Than A Pig In Mud

I just realized that this post qualifies as a Tabletop Tuesday entry so
I'm going to join Marty, too at A Stroll Thru Life!

My handmade Nativity set was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law Patti in 1978.

I cherish this gift so much & have lovingly & carefully positioned each piece every year.

I could have cried last week when I accidentally bumped & chipped the ear on the large camel.

I think I can camouflage it with some brown marker but I'll always know it is there.

I have the set on the bottom shelf of a table, down low where the grandchildren can see it.

I want them to know & understand.

It is on an embroidered Sturzenegger linen tablerunner

that was a gift from my step-son & his wife.

They brought it back for me from their honeymoon in Switzerland.

Sturzenegger Linen shop is in Zurich, Switzerland.

I was told this century-old, wood-paneled store is a good place to buy all kinds of

delicate hand-embroidered items,

including Swiss-made lace.

I do have an obsession for lace!!!

I wish I had known about it when we visited Lake Lugano in 1998.

We bought Swiss Army knives & silk scarves for the grandchildren

& I brought back a sterling silver spoon for myself.

My trick for keeping the pieces from toppling over is to use

a small piece of blue sticky tack poster putty.

It never does any damage to surfaces & provides a nice stable base.

Thanks for stopping in The Gazebo House &

a special "thanks" to Marty & Lynn for letting us

share with each other our most cherished symbols of the season.

Polka-Dots for Christmas in the Kitchen

I keep all my Christmas RED & GREEN colors here in the kitchen,

where the *grandkidlets* spend most of their visits with me.

The rest of my home is much more formal & done in soft creams with gold tones

for Christmas but the kitchen is all about FUN with the kids!

I made peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips as well as Nut Gem Cookies

(aka "Butterballs or Russian Tea Cakes"...recipe from book below)

The pedestal mugs are by Pfaltzgraff &

the little woven ceramic basket, holding lemon drops

was a gift from a sweet friend, long long ago.

The idea for LIME GREEN & RED polka-dots has just sort of evolved over this past year.
I found the 3 RED polka-dot plates at T.J. Maxx but I didn't care if there were only 3.
I never hesitate to purchase an odd number like that. I figured I could just use 2 plates for tea & cookies with Caroline or perhaps for dessert with just hubby & I.
If one plate somehow was broken later on, then I'd still have a back-up to complete a pair.
A few weeks later, I luckily found 3 of the LIME GREEN polka-dot plates, same maker, at the same place.

Serendipity!



So, now I could mix & match & have enough for 6 people. Back in January at the clearance sales, I found the really

FUN & WHIMSICAL Department 56 cake cover with

the RED bow & LIME GREEN polka-dots.

Remember when Susan found hers? You can see it here Between Naps on the Porch

The cover was going on eBay for $50-$75. She found it at TJ Maxx for $19.95. I paid $10 after Christmas...shhhh, don't tell her!
I'm joining her Tablescape Thursday party today.

It fits perfectly on my Mikasa Christmas cake stand with matching server.

I wanted to include a review of this little book, Christmas Teas of Comfort and Joy,

by Emilie Barnes so I could join Jain's Food For Thought party on Saturday.

Jain is reading & cooking from all Christmas/Holiday themed books this month.

I've missed being a part of that wonderfully creative & well-read bunch!

Emilie Barnes is a new author to me & she has a whole series of wonderfully thoughtful &

inspiring little books, all with a tender, meaningful theme of some kind to them.

It is a very sweet & inspirational book with recipes for cookies &

Wassail punch as well as traditional tea party items such as cucumber &

watercress sandwiches included.

It would make a great stocking stuffer!

Nut Gem Cookies

1 Cup butter
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons rum extract (I used maple...I like that flavor better)
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix, chill & roll into small balls. Bake at 300º for 15 minutes.
Roll in powdered sugar after balls are slightly cooled.
Repeat the powdered sugar rolling if desired, just before serving.

She gives lots of suggestions on how to make your home

more special over the Christmas holiday season.

Speaking of special homes, I'd like to tell you the story of how I came to own this treasured Department 56 Gingerbread House.

My parents loved to attend flea markets together, once my Dad retired. They never spent much money on items they found. They just loved the fun of the hunt!

I doubt that my Mom paid more than $3 for this little gingerbread house, if even that much.

She gave it to me when my only child, a little daughter, was very young. (sweet Caroline's Mommy!)

For years, I put it out at Christmas, not even knowing what Department 56 was all about.

My DD grew up & married (sweet Caroline's Daddy!) & his family started giving my daughter Department 56 Christmas in the City houses each year as one of her Christmas gifts. Her collection has grown over the years & one day she was visiting & happened to pick up the little Gingerbread House to examine it closer. It had the Department 56 sticker on the bottom.

DD: "MOOOOMMMM, this is a Department 56 piece!!"

ME: "What's a 'Department 56' ?"

DD: "MOTHERRRR, don't you know anything about them?? This is a cherished collectible!"

A bit like Woody in the movie, Toy Story.

Well, it turns out, she was right! It is one of the original series in the Snow Village collection.

Worthpoint says "This Department 56 item is a bit of an original from most of the houses in the Snow Village collection. The Gingerbread House, item#50253, was issued in 1983 and retired in 1984. It depicts a house made of Gingerbread dripping in a multitude of confectionery delights. the roof is brown and has a heart made out of Candy Canes on each side, a bay window on one side of the house and cookies and candies covering both the front and the backside of the house."

I just know my Mom is smiling down from Heaven every year when I put it out on display!

Lots of other mementos complete the bakers rack shelves...little Lolly the Trolly favors from a party we attended one year, that included a tour of the Christmas lights in downtown Cleveland via the Lolly the Trolly cars . Looking back across Lake Erie towards the city lights from the west side of town is just spectacular!

Have you ever tried Lemon Drops in your tea for a sweet-tart touch of flavor?

Now for a sewing project...

I made this VERY EASY little table runner for the baker's rack last week.

The pattern is called Easy Striped Tablerunner ...

I know, I hear you laughing

"very original", huh?

It is by Karen Montgomery, available from

The Quilt Company & has only 5 seams.

You must use a border or striped fabric & a 60º triangle

to get that special effect of the stripes angling together at the ends.

Very specific & precise cutting methods required but after that it is simple assembly & quilting.

The top, prior to quilting, is shown below.

I forgot to get a picture of it after I quilted it...

I was so anxious to get things into place & the house decorated!

Since it has poinsettias on it, I'm joining Beth's Poinsettia Party on Sunday

at her beautiful Food as Art blog.

The party runs from Dec. 5th through the 15th, so you still have time to join in.

I hope you're enjoying some old fashioned holiday fun in your homes &

have some well-loved rituals & cherished collectibles

to help celebrate this most wonderful of seasons.

I'm joining in The Tablescapers "Seasonal Sundays* for the first time, too!