Day Four - Season of Giving

 Earlier today I had for myself a question being, "During this season of giving would it not be fitting to host a Giveaway?" To which I replied, "Oh yes, let's do just that!" And so off I went on a romp through my dishes to find a sweet piece of green depression glass because I do so think it lovely and sparkly to have around during Christmas time. Seemed to me this little candy dish would do the trick.

 

 But then, because it looked a tad bit lonely just sitting there by itself, I thought, "Now wouldn't it be nice to make up another little bird ornament to nest inside the dish before I sent it out into the world?" To which I again replied, "Oh yes, let's do just that!"

 

Now it's time for you to ask yourself a few questions.

Would you be in need a sparkly candy dish? Would a fine, not so feathered friend find a limb to roost upon on your tree? Would you be willing to leave a wee message here?

 

If so consider yourself a giveaway candidate!

To become a full fledged member of the giveaway hoopla here's what you'll need to do....

 

Leave a message in the comment section between now and 8pm Friday, December 6th.

Why so soon? Well for one I want to make sure you get your goodies in time for Christmas and two, because what could be better than to coordinate the giveaway reveal with St. Nicholas Day considering the guy is a pretty big deal as far a gift givers go!

 

I'll pick a name that night while enjoying a slice of Dundee cake and a cup of tea. Then, once I have the dishes clean and tidy I'll head on up and post the lucky winner's name for all to see.  

How much fun! I can hardly wait to get a needle and thread to work on that little bird tomorrow. Think it might be best to restrain myself a bit....I won't stuff him until I've had a chance to ask the winner one more question, "With lavender or without?"

By the way, if your wondering about that little bird just click HERE!

 



Day Three - Making Lists

 My plan of attack for any project is to first make a list.

Christmas is no different.

 

So this morning I gathered up some goodies and prepped them for an after dinner wish list extravaganza. At that time everyone gets to write down anything they wish for.

There is no guarantee that everything on the list will be acquired but if your very, very good chances are you'll be happily surprised!

 

We've done this for several years now and it has proved quite helpful. Often I try to have a theme to my list. Last year it was "consumables." This year however, it's "black" as in black Sharpies, black composition notebooks, black tea, and my really hoped for, black skeins of yarn for some granny square goodness I have a hankering to try.

 

 Then, during tea time, I settled down with a cuppa and the last of the Tree Nite cookies and started a list of possible Christmas projects from my stack of Mollie Makes magazines. Let me say this was lots of fun...well maybe not the part where I realized there were no more cookies left!  

 

My third and final list was made once everyone had hunkered down for the night. It is very secret and so I'm only telling you. I keep it in this itty bitty notebook but its pages are chock full of secret shopping plans. Based on the results of our wish list making after dinner I devoted the first couple of pages to shopping destinations. More detailed information follows but that I cannot

show even you!

 

 Did you notice Dunkin Donuts is up at the tippy top? That is most essential first stop for someone like me who would really prefer sitting home warm and cozy making their gifts. Not only does having a cup of hot coffee in hand help to keep me toasty while roaming the plazas, it also gives me the energy to keep up with the crowds and stand in the lines. And so, until such time that I can maneuver the ins and out of stitching a Nerf Gun Alpha Trooper CS-12 into being, you'll find me walking the aisles of Toys-R-Us sipping away on my paper hot cup.

 

Day Two - Homemade Ornament

 More often than not I buy a book based on it's cover which is exactly how I came to add Joelle Hoverson's delightful book Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. Although filled with oodles of inspiration in the homemade department it was the two patchy birds on the cover that sold me. For years now I've intended to make up a flock of them but somehow time just flew away from me. Not this year however! A new cut of red fabric and a package of sweet lavender from one of my favorite places inspired me to give it a go.

 

 Being that it only required four cut pieces and an estimated completion time of 45 minutes I figured I could sneak one in between morning errands and afternoon pick ups.

And guess what?

I did!

 

 A few quick seams, a bit of pokey work turning it right side out, and before you know it, it was time to stuff the bird!

 

To be honest I wasn't totally happy until I added the ribbon around the neck...ribbons just make everything so much more gifty don't you think?



Day One - Tree Nite

 We decided to welcome  December with our annual Tree Nite celebration. First things first, the tree is retrieved from the wee corners of the basement, assembled, lit with twinkle lights, and adorned with trinkets.

 

 "Elf" became a family favorite years ago and ever since has been set to play in the

background during the festivities.

 

 By the time the New Yorkers in the movie start singing Christmas carols to keep Santa's sleigh afloat most of the decorating has been completed and a round of winter Oreos is enjoyed by all. Well, almost all. Our wee Bichon never seems to get his fair share in this department and he can't quite seem to figure out why...

 

.....especially since he always does his part to decorate the tree!



Christmas is Coming

 I was well aware that the holidays were upon us. 

As always, once the Thanksgiving dishes had been washed and put away, thoughts of festive decorating, gift giving, and cookie baking began to dance in my head.

 

 It was not until I revisited the pages of A Gift From The Lonely Doll this morning, however, that I became truly aware of how very soon Christmas will arrive this year.

 

 In the book Little Bear and Edith (the lonely doll) have only three weeks and four days to make their preparations. Most years when I reread the book I pity them for how can anyone orchestrate a Christmas celebration in that amount of time? I'm not quite sure, but with Thanksgiving running so late this year that is exactly the same amount of time we have to work with.

Three weeks and four days.

 

 While I'll admit to toying with the idea of heading out directly to the mall in a mad dash to get started, by the time I'd turned a few more pages Edith had set me right by reminding me that "a present you make is nicer than just a bought present." Now that is something I know to be quite true having been on both the giving and receiving end of just such a token. Case in point being this treasured blossom fairy made and gifted to me one year by my wee dear daughter way back when she was not near so much of a teenager as she is now.

 

Edith decides to put her knitting abilities to use and create a cozy muffler for Mr. Bear. Now considering I too have some knitting abilities like Edith I thought perhaps I could
follow her lead.

 

 But, considering I am still working on the very same scarf I started some 4 or more years ago, I am in very little danger of following in Edith's footsteps and making it too long. Just making it long enough to wrap around my neck it would be a miracle! With that in mind it was apparent a host of knitted gifts is out of the question.
 

Lucky for me I have a much better track record wielding needles of the sewing variety than I do with those of the knitting. And luckier even still, I found oodles of inspiration for such handcrafted gifts in the pages of other books...

 

...and magazines as well!

 



And "sew it seams,"

ready or not,

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!



Patchwork Plans

 Up in the sewing nook earlier this week a very scary realization came upon me...

it's beginning to look

like the holidays

will be here

SOON!!!

 

 I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and goodness knows there are a lot of rough patches all throughout the house that need to be put into an order of one sort or another.

 

 Now by no means do I expect complete perfection.

Realistically, if I can stitch up the rough edges I do believe I'll have a solid enough surface

upon which to stage not only that feast of thanks....

 

 ...but oodles of Christmas festivities as well!!!

 

 If someone had asked me last summer what I expected to be blogging about during the holidays I'd have optimistically said "Christmas in a Summer Cottage." Now such a thought has me laughing all the way to Savers every week as I continue dashing around in my declutter and donate phase. I've actually accepted the fact that the underling aesthetic of the house will be lacking when it comes time to deck the halls and trim the tree.

It won't be the end of the world.

 

 I'll simply bind things up as best as I can...

 

and make the best I can out of a very

Patchwork Christmas!

 



F is for FUN

 Recently the Nellie Perkins Doll and Miniature Society (to which I luckily belong) hosted a very special workshop. Judith Phelps was the honored guest for the day and gifted us with the ins and outs   of making doll hats. Our kit was that of the "Cherry Blossom Time Hat" and our program akin to the one she gave at last summer's UFDC convention. The write up read as follows...

 

 

                                     Cherry Blossom Time Hat
                                     Instructor: Judith Phelps Tuesday, July 30, 9AM - Noon
                                     Join Judith in making a hat that will celebrate spring and the 

                                     blooms of Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC. This hat is made of 
                                     organdy wire, trim, and flowers and will fit a Bleuette or similar
                                     sized doll head.  

                                     No sewing is required. Please bring small pointed scissors.
                                     Skill Level:** - some skill or dexterity required



 

 Everything about the program was amazing. The kits were beautifully packaged, the instructions very clear and concise, and Judith's company a delight. I was most impressed with her attention to detail. Look here for example at the sweet little trim she had us use to cover a seam on the underside of the brim. I love when things are finished up just so like that!

 

What I didn't love was the fact that upon returning home I had not one doll to my name on which this hat would fit. That is what you get for having a tendency for the tiny I guess. 

 

 As it turned out, however, someone in our house did have a size appropriate doll....

dear daughter!!!

 

It's been nearly a year since I featured her Tasha Tudor inspired Annabelle ensemble but I thought this would be the perfect time for a peek back at that post. I've been considering which book to feature for October and having a tough go of it. I first thought to try and tie it in with a Halloween theme but with only three selections left for the year I wanted to make sure not to waste it on a book that really wasn't a tried and true top 12 favorite.

 

 In the end it was the hat that firmed up my decision to revisit A is for Annabelle.

Honestly I don't think it could have been designed more perfectly to match the beauty of the book's illustrations....

 

...or to be a better size to fit our Annabelle's head!

 

If you haven't done so already be sure to peek back HERE for more details from the pages of Tasha's exploration of a doll's alphabet.

 

 



Over and Out

 

 It has come to my attention that my days of purchasing
 everything that has anything to do with any one of my assorted passions
(e.g. dishware, doll houses, scottie dogs, L. M. Montgomery)

are OVER.

 

Now don't get me wrong...this does not mean that I don't on occasion find treasures to bring home, it's just that I make a conscious decision as to their true "treasure worthiness" prior to purchase. This is fantastic in my book because it makes me feel really good about #1 on my new
Cottage Quest list.....to stop buying stuff!

 

Of course this means it's time to seriously start considering #2....
 declutter the stuff you have.

Let it be said this may take awhile. A long while. Even so I am proud to say progress is definitely in the works. Daily progress in fact. No matter what craziness is on the agenda I have made it a standing habit to send at least one of something OUT THE DOOR before my head hits the pillow. And most recently my means of disposal has branched beyond the trash, the donations, and the Craig's list offerings to...

 

 

THIS OLDE STUFF!

 

This just so happens to be a long time favorite haunt of mine. Only this time instead of browsing the rows...

 



 

I'm stocking them!!!

 

 

Things as They Are

 

 Yesterday I attended the Southern New Hampshire Doll Show and Sale where I saw an abundance of "most wonderful" dolls.  Much like the collection of dolls detailed in Phyllis McGinley's book The Most Wonderful Doll in the World, there were baby dolls and bride dolls, china dolls and dollhouse dolls, dolls with braids, dolls with bows, and dolls for every occasion. When faced with such a glorious array of creatures it's funny how you begin to pick them apart. Each was beautiful in its own way but it seemed whenever the decision to purchase one of them came into question suddenly the critic came out. One had such sparkly eyes but the mouth was painted far too bright. Another sported the most adorable dimples but sadly not the blond hair that was hoped for. Such dissatisfaction with details can unfortunately have disastrous side effects. Luckily I had recently read McGinley's book and knew better.

 

 

The Most Wonderful Doll in the World you see, is not really a book about a doll at all. Instead it's about Dulcy, a little girl who "found it hard to be satisfied with Things as They Are," and as a result forgoes playing with any of her dolls because not one of them can compare with her exaggerated memory of the misplaced Angela.

 

So who did I come home from the doll show with?

 

Well she didn't have a skating outfit...nor could she skate.

 



 

She could not sing or say "Mama" or wave her hand.

 



 

She did not come with pajamas, a bathrobe, a riding suit, leather shoes, gloves, or a purse and in fact the one little pinny she did have had definitely seen better days.

 

But...

 



 

...she did have a need for a home where she would be welcomed 

Just as She Is!

 

*****

 

In defense....let it be known!

 Technically I did not buy her at the doll show and thereby ignore item #1 of the previously revised Project Cottage Quest list which stated "Stop buying stuff."

No siree, my mom wanted to buy her for me and I merely let her.
Thanks Mom!!!  

 



Next...

 

 Leo Babauta...that's what's next, is right now, and  has been for the past four months!

 I stumbled upon his blog last spring and soon after acquired one of his books. I loved reading his take on simplifying. Whether your looking to declutter your house, your schedule, your mind or your entire life, he's got some great suggestions about where to start and how to stay motivated. 

 

I was so inspired by his words of wisdom....

 

 

 ...that I soon after purchased several more of his books. I know, I know not exactly a progressive step in the simplification process on my part. But then neither were those endless to-do lists I created in relation to my cottage quest endeavor. That's not to say the seeds of a more minimalist mentality had not been planted however.

 

 

I'm fairly certain they were planted. Planted quite firmly in fact and that they merely needed a nudge to sprout. Thanks to last week's pillow progress they did. 

 

 

So what happened after I threw out all those lists?

I made a new list. But, not before I fully embraced these words from Leo.

 

Simplify your list down to the barest of

essentials, and you can eliminate the need

for complex planning systems.

 

Easier said than done that's for sure but after several days of contemplation on what was essential and multiple edits of the list it now looks something like this.

 

 

PROJECT COTTAGE QUEST

 

1.stop buying stuff

2.declutter the stuff you have

3.pare down paperwork

4.refresh the house one room at a time

5.develop an upkeep routine

 

Now to stick to it...

 

 



Puzzled

So....all I wanted to do was make a self lining pillowcase for dolls.

Working out the details of this little pillow project had me puzzled more often than not this past week. Typical of my nature I made things far more difficult that they had to be. It wasn't until Friday afternoon that I finally had one of those light bulb moments and all was revealed! I was astounded by the simplicity of the steps I would need follow in order to achieve my desired results and honestly felt quite stupid for not having realized them from the get go. I was, however, smart enough to write out those simplistic steps so that next time my brain will have an easy go of it. I was also smart enough to see there was a life lesson in this past week's pillow project.

 

The steps needed to achieve most anything in life are often quite easier than I predict them to be.

That's it...that's what a little pillowcase taught me.

 

My predictions of complication manifest themselves over and over again into reality. Most recently I infected my "Cottage Quest" endeavor by creating such an enormous mountain of to-do lists that I  completely overwhelmed myself. No time for a game of cards with that thing hanging around. So guess what I did this weekend?

 

I threw it out.

 

Every bit of it.

The list on the fridge...GONE!

The pages in my day-timer...GONE!

The mini notebook in my purse...GONE!

The army of sticky notes throughout the house...GONE!

 

But I'm still here.
So what's next?