I Love You Because...: Christmas

December 25, 2012

Christmas Traditions

Posted at 08:47 AM in Christmas, Cousins, Florida, Tradition | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 21, 2012

Aspen's First Christmas

Posted at 01:29 PM in Aspen, Christmas, Dogs | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 14, 2012

Our Wonderful Life

I love this Christmas song... LOVE IT.

Joanna

ps- 2010 Christmas.

Posted at 09:47 AM in Chalkboard Certainty, Christmas | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 13, 2012

Last January I set a new years resolution to learn how to quilt in 2012. Then I took a trip to BettySue's and called Alicia and talked her into navigating her way through the unknown with me. We picked a simple brick pattern from pintrest and since we can't leave well enough alone we opted to change the design and pattern a little. BUT... WE BOTH FINISHED!! Yes, since I've finished this one I've made more and now I can see the mistakes I made BUT that is part of the process... grow and learn and move on.

(and on a side note, if you're wanting to get into quilting this brick idea really is THE BEST BEGINNER QUILT OUT THERE!! 100% basic!) We used some fun Grinch Who Stole Christmas Fabric by Kaufman and I added some pinks/turquoises to bring out the cindy-lou-sho character. I made mine a single size for Lorali's Bed and named it Lorali-Lou-Who.... since the Who Hair has turned into her little Christmas Eve tradition - 2009 & 2011.

And since the world seemed to align for me, just this once, Pottery Barn came out with these AWESOME Grinch Sheets and well, I couldn't pass them up. After whipping up a few Grinch-y pillows and adding a few who-ville decorations to her room, She LOVES it all!

It also adds to my goal to get a Christmas Quilt for every room in the house! (I already have a Santa's from Around the World quilt & Snowmen at Night quilt but next year I plan to get a holiday throw for the living room done and a King Size Christmas Quilt for my room)

How do you decorate for the holidays at your house? Do you decorate bedrooms too?
Joanna

Posted at 08:43 AM in Christmas, Lorali, Quilts, Sewing | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 06, 2012

Advent Boys

I swear this Lego tradition is almost as much for the kids as it is for the Dad... almost... but not quite.

Another favorite Ethan Advent Calender Memory of mine? Two years ago.

I sure do love these boys.

JJW

Posted at 07:37 PM in Brothers, Christmas, Doug, Ethan, Lego's, Owen, Star Wars, Tradition | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 04, 2012

Christmas Chalk

Posted at 03:59 PM in Chalkboard Certainty, Christmas, Decorations | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 28, 2011

Homemade Gifts 2011

Speaking of traditions, this one is another one of my all time favorite traditions... HOMEMADE GIFTS! Every year My siblings and I homemake our gifts to eachother. Every year it's different and fun and always heartfelt. It just brings such a personal touch to the gifts and puts their personalities in our lives and in our homes. We went to Florida a few weeks ago for my nieces baptism and it was so fun to see the same decorations and family themes decorating their house too. As I was getting ready for this post I realized that in EVERY room in my house you can see evidence of homemade gifts over the years....

A tableloth pieced by Teri in Owen's room.

In our living room, Sean's Photography... (I wish I had more!)

In my kitchen, Emily's recipe boxes (she took all my Grandmother's and Mother's recipes, typed them up, printed them and laminated them for us one year... This is probably the MOST USED GIFT EVER!!)

In our entryway, from April and Gentry the ledges (he made those!) and from Spring and Sean the Santa cross-stitch (yeah, crazy, I know but, I love it!) and that picture of Christ? It's cross-stitched as well, My Mom made it for me 15+ years ago. (now are your starting to see where we get the craziness from?)

and in every bedroom, This year Teri and Chad gave us Christmas Pillowcases... (the kids are so mad at me because I took them off today to wash them.)

This year my Mom also made me a Santa Quilt, it's in Lorali's room and it's so beautiful. Santa's from around the world, all appliqued on, I LOVE IT! ...

This year Sean and Spring gave us a super thoughtful gift, it's a little candy cane countdown to Christmas, exactly like the one I grew up with (makes me smile every time I see it.)...

Then Emily really out-did herself this year, I have no idea how the heck she found the time to make this with her busy schedule but, I'm not complaining it's perfect and I have the perfect spot for it this fall in my entryway...

and what did I make this year? All November my dining room was turned into a leather workshop, Yep, more leather projects just like last year. I now realize how my Grandpa had it as his lifelong hobby. It's addictive! I already have ideas for projects to keep me busy all year. This time it was just for adults... Blank Leather Books. Fishing Logs, Hiking Logs or Journals, whatever they're used for they're all personalized.

I've already made some for most of the grandkids but decided not to give them at Christmas but to give them to the kids one at a time for thier birthday's this year...