Sunday, December 21, 2014

Christmas is almost here!!

Are you ready?  All the shopping, decorating, wrapping done?  As of today I'm in pretty good shape I think, although I was really late with the decorating this year.  I think I've been too obsessed with the antique sampler I am trying to reproduce.  Time has gotten away from me.  Here is a sneak peek of my progress.  I thought when I had managed to chart the design that I was home free.  But choosing colors, stitching, ripping it out and picking different colors...aarrgghhhh...this is harder than I thought it would be!


Here are the stitched ornaments that I have made through the years.  I have added 5 more this year, but they still aren't assembled.


Now to some Christmas decorating...if you follow my blog, you know all about my cats and kittens.  The tree this year is nothing but soft, unbreakable ornaments.  This morning when I came downstairs, there were four of them on the floor.  But at least they weren't broken!  Hopefully in a few years when the kittens are older and settled down a bit I'll bring out all the shiny breakable ornaments again.
Beneath the tree is my mother's toy piano from when she was a child.


Here is my reindeer display.  Some of the celluloid reindeer were my parents', and I have added to the collection, always keeping my eye open for them in antique shops.  The beautiful painting on the wall is a treasured gift from Lauren of Rugs and Pugs.


Here is a collection of Santa and his reindeer from Hallmark, circa the 1990's.  I love them, but I can't tell you  how much I spent at Hallmark that year ...you had to make a purchase each time in order to be "allowed" to buy a piece of the collection.  The last reindeer has a broken leg, so he is propped up on a piece of boxwood.


The rest of the mantel.  I didn't take any thing down, just added some little lights.  One of the kittens gets up here too, so I didn't want to add anything breakable.


My angel collection.  The choirboys and noel angels were my grandmother's.  The small ceramic angels were my late husband's father's, I think he got them in Germany when he was stationed there after the war.  The large angels with instruments are my mother's.  The cats don't get up here in the pie safe, so hopefully all this will be fine.



I would like to wish all my friends in blogland a very happy and joyous Christmas and a good New Year!
Melinda

16 comments:

  1. All your Christmas ornaments are wonderful! Your home looks very festive and ready for Christmas!! Have a very Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You home is so nice. We need more of a tour! The Christmas decorating is a perfect balance and the piano is so special. Now that sampler - very interesting. I do the same with my little freebies on color changes. Does your program have a real view option in DMC colors? I use that because there aren't as many colored pencils as there are DMC choices! Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and the kits.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your stitching and decorations are beautiful! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful decorating! I've been looking into how to chart an antique sampler...it's something I'd like to do in the new year.
    Have a Merry Christmas!
    Robyn

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this peek into your home. Gorgeous decorating. Happy Christmas and give all the cats and kittens some scratches and pets from me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Melinda.....not a spot where those kittens don't jump! I am in the same boat and dare say it doesn't get any better. At least it hasn't for me. My three boys are three years old now and as rampageous as ever. When I had my old boy Felix he never did anything wrong. An only cat and he was sooo good. I think I know what I did wrong:) Happy Holidays to you and yours! Love your start to the new sampler!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely decorating! Always a challenge with kittens around! Love the toy piano by the tree -- an heirloom piece for sure! Happy Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your beautiful stitching and home decorating. Hope Santa is good to those naughty kitties....and you too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Melinda, such a lovely home decorated for Christmas. Love the tree, so magical, very nice. Christmas Blessings to you,Francine.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Melinda your home and your collections are so wonderful ! It was such a pleasure taking your Christmas tour. I seem to be running late with decorating and I finally decided no big tree this year - just my small ones scattered around the house. Hope Christmas is magical for you this year. Mel

    ReplyDelete
  11. Melinda ~
    You are so blessed to have so many family treasures!!!
    Everything looks just perfect. I, too, have those Hallmark ornaments but they are tucked away somewhere unknown in the attic...lol.
    Merry Christmas, my dear friend.
    Hugs ��
    Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your decorations are all so beautiful, Melinda! Wonderful how your stitching enhances your home. Keep going on your sampler. It looks so sweet. Merry, Merry Christmas to you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is a whole bunch of beautiful ornaments, have a wonderful Christmas and an amazing New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the displays Melinda and I am so excited to see your reproduction even if it is just a sneak peek. Your house looks so christmasy, love it. Have a Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Warm and cozy home...beautiful ornaments. Glad to have found you on fb. Let's get to blogging together again!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello Melinda...you have a gorgeous old primitive home! I just LoVe it! You have a real talent for making it feel so cozy and inviting! Decorated for Christmas...perfect! Home Sweet Home,..nothing gets better than that, except the ones you share it with! Hope your Christmas was all you hoped for and a wonderful Happy New Year to you and yours!
    Hugs Marg.

    ReplyDelete