Sleigh Bells

An old-fashioned style Christmas in our circle of friends this year.... delightful!   We joined neighbors, their children and grandchildren on a sleigh ride through the snowy woods.  The horses were simply amazing taking us up and down hills to eventually stop at a warming cabin complete with hot chocolate and a sizzling fire in the wood stove.  The view was fantastic overlooking Lake Michigan and N. and S. Manitou Islands off the shore of Leelanau County. 

Christmas Eve found us at the charming home of friends where we shared a potluck supper and went to a candlelight service with traditional holiday music and carols.  

At home I set our dining table with my husband's Aunt Martha's etched clear and red fruit bowl and candle holders.   Always brings back fond memories of her.

Hope your holiday has been happy!

Happy Solstice

And tomorrow the days will begin to grow a wee bit longer.... day by day.  In the meantime, I am loving all the beautiful lights of the season.   One of the greatest pleasures of this season for me is putting on some good CDs and baking cookies all day!  Yesterday I made mincemeat bars, 7-layer bars, almond shortbread, gingersnaps, Russian tea cookies and two kinds of fudge.  We immediately wrapped and boxed them and today they are on their way to my husband's customers, to friends and family.  Enjoy your celebration of this beautiful season!

Vintage Sleigh Project

Here is the darling wood sleigh we have been enjoying making this season.  Found a homemade antique sleigh, refurbished and restored it, made a pattern from it and gave it a couple coats of paint.  Trimmed the hemlock tree and tramped in the swamp for some cedar boughs, tied them up in vintage velvet ribbon, and..... voila!   We have made several reproductions now and expect there will be more in the future.  It looks darling on the front porch.  One lady bought one from us to display her Victorian dolls!

Kitchen Window Panorama

Winter's First Blizzard

For those in the south who don't like to hear whining about the weather and wonder why some of us spend our winter's in the north.... I will post mostly pictures here today.  For those in the north who understand, I hope you will enjoy knowing you are not alone.  Although we spend time shoveling, we also spend time playing.   Our house is at the bottom of a steep hill near the lakeshore.... wonderful in the summer.... challenging in the winter.  The garage, cars, mailbox, newspaper, etc. are all at the top of the hill!  

Here's a shot of me bringing a package from the mailman down to the house on my plastic sled.
And also the gorgeous panoramic view from my kitchen windows! 

Upcycled Vintage

My booth sales were fantastic at my favorite annual Holly Berry Arts & Crafts Fair in Frankfort, Michigan.  Frankfort is a friendly and welcoming small Lake Michigan village.... delightful to visit
during any season.  It has art galleries, funky shops and a variety of good restaurants. 

Back to my booth.... the catnip fish sold out - wish I could make hundreds, but there isn't enough time in a day.  Vintage wool, velvet and corduroy made popular quilted pillows.  Hard to find that great wool, however.  Perhaps my favorite upcycling involves odds and ends of vintage furniture which my husband restores and I paint.... often with snowmen and winter scenes.   Nearly every item found a new home this year.