Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year







































Wishing you and your family a blessed New Year!

Joyfully,

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

For Today







































The Christmas Amaryllis put on quite the show this year.  I'm always amazed at what beauty can come from a bulb.  There is so much going on inside of that bulb that we don't see until just the right time. Flowers are such a metaphor for life in so many ways.  As we are on the cusp of a new year, I wonder what is ready to burst forth.  There will be good with bad, joy with sorrow, happy with sad.  I'm so thankful that all of it rests in the hands of our all-knowing Savior who did not give us a spirit of fear. Let's go boldly into the new year with a thankful and trusting heart.  Blessings!

xoxo,

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Pairs of Mittens







































With the whirlwind of festivities over, I sat down to do some sewing of my own today.  It started snowing yesterday and we are now covered in a blanket of white.  I made some hot chocolate and got to cutting and sewing row 8 of Lori's Row Along.







































It was fun picking out the different fabrics for each pair of mittens.  I am so happy to be caught up with my rows.  I am enjoying the much needed slower pace with the Christmas rush over.  The snow is keeping me inside and I've been able to try to get organized again.  I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and are having a relaxing day of your own.

Blessings,

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!




O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ The Lord!
Merry Christmas!

With love,



Sunday, December 23, 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Tree Love


Oh my word!!!
I am in love with this quilt!
It is a work in progress over at Crazy Mom Quilts
You can view it here

Time to get back to our regularly scheduled Christmas duties…

Hugs,

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Snowflakes


Popping in to say hi!  I know we are all on the mad dash to get things done before Christmas.  I'm sewing and knitting up a storm on my end.  I'm making a special quilt for a friend who just had her home burglarized and I'm determined to get it done in the next couple days.  Yesterday I went down to the cafe to help the girls get 178 snowflake cookies decorated for a special order.  I took this picture with my phone.  It was a lot of fun decorating them, but a lot of work!  There are rumors of snow for our part of Michigan in the next day or so.  We may have real snowflakes by Christmas.  Would love to hear what you've all been up to.  Blessings!

Joyfully,  

Monday, December 17, 2012

For the Graduate







































On Saturday I celebrated the college graduation of a special girl.  I was inspired to create this little collage box by the adorable graduation figurine.  I have had it for some time, not knowing what I would use it for.  She makes the perfect focal point along with a Christmas tree and vintage embellishments.  The gift will be a reminder in years to come of a special graduation day during Christmas time.  Have a blessed Monday!

Joyfully,

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Glitter ~ Sparkle ~ J-O-Y







































The sun is shining brightly today and I grabbed the opportunity to take some pictures of the dining room in all it's Christmas finery.  I have been collecting the retro deer for the past couple of years. They are hard to find.  The large one is reproduction, the other is vintage, flocked.  I took some Christmas sheet music to Kinkos and had it made into 24 x 36 inches and then cut it into snowflakes. Three of them fit my 72" round table quite nicely.








































This is a picture of the back side.  Lots of glittery, snowy wonderfulness (how is that for a description?) Oh, how I love this time of year.  I would wear glitter and sequins daily if I could!








































My little vintage silver tree is in need of a tree skirt, for now a lace tablecloth does the job.  I either need to make one or find a vintage one thats not very big.  I add a couple of new vintage ornaments every year. 








































This little tree I decorated a few years back.  The garland is sheet music.  The ornaments are old pieces of jewelry, buttons,  tiny ornaments and even the ballerina from a music box.  The star I made with felt and an old beaded applique from a long ago garment.








































The pillows are new this year.  I bought them on sale at Pier 1.  They sit next to a wonderful snowman that I purchased at a craft show when my kids were little.  The church pew is the very first antique I ever purchased.  I have often thought of painting it a different color but in the end I love imagining it just as it was in the church it came from, with another traveler through life praising God at Christmas time.



Lastly, my favorite nativity, the one my Mom cross-stitched for me years ago.  It is the most important decoration in the house, the reason that we celebrate this Christmas season.  God coming to earth, to his people, to gather us back to himself.  Oh how precious he is, our Lord and Savior!

Tidings of great joy,

Monday, December 10, 2012

O Christmas Tree







































It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.  Saturday I was able to finally get the main tree up.  I have been so busy sewing that I haven't had time to even think of decorations.  I still have more to do this week before Taylor gets home from college.







































I have a new white tree this year.  It was a great deal on Cyber Monday.  I was so happy to find one that was unlit.  I weaved 500 lights onto this tree.  I love sitting in the room with the lights out.  I am always thrilled to add the dancing ladies and gentlemen garland to the tree.  It was made by my Mom years ago with a Martha Stewart pattern featured in her magazine.  It always draws a lot of attention.







































The kitchen tree is up in all its dessert finery.  It goes rather nicely with my Great Granny Along quilt.  It makes the kitchen so festive.







































I had so much fun making the cupcake liner garland last year.  If I could squeeze more ornaments on this tree, I certainly would.  There are so many cute dessert ornaments in the stores.  I think my little tree has all it can hold, well maybe a couple more…

Have a good start to your week!

Hugs,

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Giveaway Winner & Art Hop







































The winner of the December giveaway is Brenda from Quilting Along Life's Way.  Congratulations!
I took some pictures at Art Hop last night.  I was able to complete five quilts this month and added two from my quilt stash.








































I had a small space to work with so I thought going vertical would be the best idea.  I found this ladder at a resale shop this week and Maddie painted it for me.  The lights are a vintage strand I found on a recent thrift outing.








































I had some fun with the tags.  Keren from Free Pretty Things For You designed the tags for me when she designed my blog.  I used a recycled measuring tape and button pins to complete the look.








































I made two extra buntings when I was making them for the cafe and had them for sale as well.  I don't know what it is about bunting that makes me so happy.



















There were lots of fun and pretty treats for customers and Christmas carols never stopped playing. Lots of twinkly lights and laughter, the best kind of Christmas merriment.



















Vintage Santa mugs kept winking at me all night long.  They are just so adorable.  In the end, I didn't sell as much as I would have liked, but I know that purchasing an expensive quilt is quite a commitment for people.  Today we have a showing on our house and I plan on spending the day with my husband who is home from work for the weekend.  Maddie has her Christmas formal so hair and makeup are on the agenda.  Have a blessed day, friends!

Smiles,

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

December Giveaway







































Today I bring you giveaway number 12, the last of my monthly giveaways for 2012!  I have so enjoyed giving to all of you this past year.  It is so fitting to have this last one during the Christmas season. One winner will receive:


The book, "Quilt Love" by Cassandra Ellis
Six fabulous fat quarters
One set of six #8 Perle Cotton variegated thread
(oh, and the candy cane too!)

To Enter:
Be a follower of Sewn With Grace
Leave one comment on this post telling me your favorite Christmas Carol

The Giveaway will be open until Friday, December 7 at midnight
Winner chosen by Random Generator and announced on Sat., December 8

My favorite Christmas Carol is "O Holy Night".  Have a blessed day!

Joyfully,

Monday, December 3, 2012

Holiday Tag-a-long


The blogs, Pretty by Hand and NanaCompany are hosting a holiday tag-a-long.  I decided to join in on the fun to see what I could come up with.  I'm so used to following a pattern that I thought it might be good to stretch my creativity a bit.  Here is contribution to the tag-a-long.  They have started a flickr group and Amy's blog is here and Kristyne's is here.  Come back tomorrow for the December giveaway. It is the last of the 2012 monthly giveaway.  Happy Sewing!

Smiles,

Sunday, December 2, 2012