Beautiful Nativity Sets...Vintage, Paper...and Living!

Good evening, everyone! I'm freezing tonight, and I'm in California! How's everyone else doing? I've got my flannel Nick & Nora vintage print jammies on (my favorites!), some thick socks, and I'm still cold!

I love Nativity sets! Whether they're vintage or modern, reproduction or made of Play-Do, they always touch my heart...

...and I just have to have them! I love them so much, that I leave one of mine out year round...

...a couple of years ago, when putting all my Christmas decorations away, I thought...this isn't Santa Claus, it's commemorating the birth of Christ--why not leave it out all year to help us remember? So, I do...and I love it!

This nativity is by Nicole Sayre--I love her work! Kind of a mix of vintage and folk art--just beautiful! Lovely pastel colors...just a little sparkle...perfect!

Here's another of the sets I love...this one is by another favorite artist of mine...Teena Flanner. She does these beautiful papier mache' figures using antique chocolate molds--so they really are vintage pieces in a way--I love that!

If you're at all interested in the history of nativity sets, as I am, I found this great site that has tons of information...

Since I was thinking of nativities today, that's what I used as the subject for my card...

This beautiful image is from Crafty Secrets' "Christmas" Images & Journal Notes--you know I love using this booklet!

Isn't the image just gorgeous? I love the calligraphic font used underneath--beautiful! I remembered I had a pack of brads that I've never used that were perfect for this--can't remember who made them, though--got them at Michael's...

...perfect, aren't they?! The flourishes around the letters are so similar to those in the image!

Finished things off with my new favorite Martha Stewart "White Gold" fine glitter...I'm telling you--this stuff shines like you wouldn't believe!

Did some hand drawn flourishes along the border...added some ribbon and lace, and that's about it!

Once a year here in our town, a local church puts on a HUGE nativity--live! They work on it all year long--have even altered the church itself and the surrounding area to accommodate the show and all the people who come every year.

I took a lot of pictures of the Bethlehem street scenes, Joseph and Mary being turned away at the different inns--on a real donkey, mind you! Angels singing over the hills of Bethlehem--using cranes--they're really up there! But I thought I'd limit my picture for the evening to this...

...what can I say? Just perfect--peaceful and beautiful--the reason for the season...

Sweet dreams!

Just a Reminder About new Vintage/Retro Design Team Call!

Good afternoon! I wanted to re-run this post to let you know about an exciting new challenge coming up soon! I think it got lost in all the posting I did yesterday, and I don't want anyone that's interested to miss out! This will be a vintage/retro-themed challenge group, and we're looking to have a lot of fun with this!

Julie Ranae is the head designer of this new challenge group, and has kindly asked me to join her as a designer in this new adventure...and we're looking for more talented, vintage-inspired artists to join us!

***Classic Vintage***


Here's what Julie posted on her blog:


DeSiGn TeAm CaLL......

There is always something new going on and
now we are looking for some new designers with a vintage edge.
Are you a vintage girl or guy?
If so, then we want to hear from you!

We are looking for designers who would like to participate
in a brand new challenge beginning in January 2010 which
focuses on a style reflecting pre-1975.

Call it vintage...call it retro...are we calling YOU?!?


Here is all you need to do:

Send me an email with your name and blog link.

If you would like, you can send up to 3 JPEG files
of favorite projects you have done which reflect your vintage-style.

Send a list of any online galleries you participate in
such as Splitcoast, Graphic45, The Play Date Cafe, etc. and please let us know if you have been or are currently on any other design teams.

We are asking a 6 month commitment to the team contributing one project per week
with possible hosting once per month.

SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO:

julieranae@hotmail.com

Deadline for design team submissions is Sunday, Dec 20th.

We welcome designers from all over the world!



***Fabulous Retro!***


...and...

DESIGN TEAM CALL

If you hadn't heard, The Open Window has announced a design team call for those who specialize in vintage/retro paper arts. There are so many wonderful places to draw inspiration from for lovers of vintage and we have a new challenge blog that we want to include in that list.

To get more details, click HERE!

Some of my favorite vintage-style blogs are: A Vintage Chic, Iralamija, Lilybean's Paperie.

Some of my favorite retro-style blogs are:
Gauche Alchemy, Just Add Glitter & Stir, A Vintage Spirit and Chronically Vintage.

Visiting these blogs may help you to know if you have THE STYLE!

Well, I can't say it any better than that, so if this strikes you as something you would enjoy, please get in touch with Julie right away! We're looking forward to hearing from you!

The Play Date Cafe' Challenge #7--Classic Santa

Hello again! Two in one night once again--makes me look very chatty, doesn't it?!

It's time once again for The Play Date Cafe' Challenge! This week our host is the lovely Sandi, and here are the colors she chose:

Wonderful, classic Christmas colors, aren't they? So, of course I had to do a little something like this...

It just had to be vintage Santa, didn't it?! This beautiful image is from Crafty Secrets' "Christmas" Images & Journal Notes booklet--I've been using it alot this season!

Made some more of my chunky, glittery snowflakes with Martha Stewart's lovely snowflake punches, topped them off with crystal rhinestones for just a bit more sparkle...some crisp white lace and plaid ribbon, and that's it!

Love that German gold glass glitter--so wonderfully sparkly--especially in person!

Can't wait to see what you all come up with! Make sure to link your creations to The Play Date Cafe site so we can all come and see what you've made!

Sweet dreams!

Vintage/Retro Design Team Call!

Good evening, everyone! Just a quick post to let you know about an exciting new challenge coming up soon! This will be a vintage/retro-themed challenge group, and we're looking to have a lot of fun with this!

Julie Ranae is the head designer of this new challenge group, and has kindly asked me to join her as a designer in this new adventure...and we're looking for more talented, vintage-inspired artists to join us!

***Classic Vintage***


Here's what Julie posted on her blog:


DeSiGn TeAm CaLL......

There is always something new going on and
now we are looking for some new designers with a vintage edge.
Are you a vintage girl or guy?
If so, then we want to hear from you!

We are looking for designers who would like to participate
in a brand new challenge beginning in January 2010 which
focuses on a style reflecting pre-1975.

Call it vintage...call it retro...are we calling YOU?!?


Here is all you need to do:

Send me an email with your name and blog link.

If you would like, you can send up to 3 JPEG files
of favorite projects you have done which reflect your vintage-style.

Send a list of any online galleries you participate in
such as Splitcoast, Graphic45, The Play Date Cafe, etc. and please let us know if you have been or are currently on any other design teams.

We are asking a 6 month commitment to the team contributing one project per week
with possible hosting once per month.

SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS TO:

julieranae@hotmail.com

Deadline for design team submissions is Sunday, Dec 20th.

We welcome designers from all over the world!



***Fabulous Retro!***


...and...

DESIGN TEAM CALL

If you hadn't heard, The Open Window has announced a design team call for those who specialize in vintage/retro paper arts. There are so many wonderful places to draw inspiration from for lovers of vintage and we have a new challenge blog that we want to include in that list.

To get more details, click HERE!

Some of my favorite vintage-style blogs are: A Vintage Chic, Iralamija, Lilybean's Paperie.

Some of my favorite retro-style blogs are:
Gauche Alchemy, Just Add Glitter & Stir, A Vintage Spirit and Chronically Vintage.

Visiting these blogs may help you to know if you have THE STYLE!

Well, I can't say it any better than that, so if this strikes you as something you would enjoy, please get in touch with Julie right away! We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Happy December! A Snowy Challenge, Vintage Bakers, and Eggnog Cookies!

Good evening, all! Hope you've had a lovely first day of December...can you believe it's here already?! So excited for the month ahead, and SO much to do!!!

Had a good but busy day today...taught two 3rd grade classes about the Ohlone Indians who lived in our area...I love teaching! Spent the rest of the day getting projects ready for a craft fair I'm involved with on Saturday...I'm WAY behind!

On Splitcoast in the Crafty Secrets' forum, Lori is hosting the challenge for this week--and it's to use our favorite Crafty Secrets item--stamps, printed images, whatever...and then add 5 embellishments...here's what I came up with:

I really love everything Crafty Secrets has to offer, but recently I've been having so much fun with the "Christmas" Images & Journal Notes, so that's what I chose to use. Love this soft, sweet vintage image...I've also been having fun making chunky, glittery snowflakes lately, so I decided to add 5 of those...

Look at all that pretty glitter! And I love my crystal rhinestones! Used my new Martha Stewart snowflake punches--having lots of fun with Martha lately! Also, check out the sparkle on this glitter! First time I've used MS' "White Gold" glitter, and it won't be the last! Wish you could see how much this REALLY sparkles!!! Sorry I hurried to photograph this, and the glue's still showing! My light was fading fast and I had to hurry! Just pretend you don't see it, please!

I've been making a lot of Crafty Secrets' Vintage Postcards from their wonderful kits--another thing I'm having so much fun with! Trying to get a bunch done for little gifts for friends...here's one I finished today:

After I took the picture this afternoon, I hung it on my kitchen Christmas tree--which I haven't even decorated yet--(such a slacker!)--and I LOVED the way it looked tonight, so I took a couple more pictures...

Isn't that pretty?! Used Martha Stewarts' new Red Tinsel glitter for the border--really fun & sparkly! And the tiles from the old Scrabble game I raided...(shhhhhh!!!)

I love this little tree--very retro and fun! I'll show it to you again later when it's all decked out and ready for the holidays!

Well, these little vintage bakers got me in the mood to bake something sweet and Christmas-y, so I pulled out a recipe I've been wanting to try since I saw it on Julia Stainton's lovely blog, last week for Mrs. Fields' Eggnog Cookies! (Just click to get to the recipe!) Here's what they look like:

Oh, they are DELICIOUS!!! The only thing I changed was to make some creamy, eggnogy frosting to top them off with--just did the usual softened butter, a touch of vanilla, lots of powdered sugar, and eggnog...I never measure ingredients for my frosting...just do it to taste and till I get the right consistency--easy peasy!

Sprinkled the top with some lovely, fragrant nutmeg and some granulated sugar for the necessary sparkle!!!

My daughter, Annie, nobly tried them out for me....YUM!!! Thanks, Julia, for sharing this--and other--delicious eggnog recipes! Go visit her lovely new blog--you'll love it!

Lastly, I couldn't let the first day of December pass by without one of my vintage family Christmas pictures, so here's one from the 1950's...

Just look at that fabulously '50's shiny tree! All those perfectly wrapped presents...and my grandparents, Dow and Velda Ostlund...Ah, the good old days!

Hope you have a wonderful night, and I'll see you very soon....Sweet dreams!

A Very Kitschy Chistmas To You!

Good evening, everyone! Hope you've had a lovely Sunday...restful after this Thanksgiving week...

I've got a few things to share with you tonight...first off--I said I would post about my Thanksgiving Casserole yesterday, and the day just got away from me, so I didn't get that done---but here it is, now! Hopefully you still have some Thanksgiving leftovers so you can give this a try--I know I do! It's quick, easy, and oh, so delicious!

I came up with this about 5 or 6 years ago, and...really....my family would almost rather just go straight to this casserole and forget the original dinner!

Look at all those yummy layers of Thanksgiving goodness just bubbling together in the pan...!


This is all you do...shred up a BUNCH of turkey--white meat is our preference...top that with the gravy--seeps in and around the turkey--yum! Next, a layer of potatoes--make it thick! On top of that goes a delicious garnet-red layer of cranberry sauce...and the best of all...a thick layer of stuffing! Stick in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until the stuffing is a little browner and crispy and the rest is bubbling and ready! Serve it up with some left over green beans, and you're ready for dinner!

This is really a great way to get rid of all the separate little dishes of leftovers in the fridge--consolidated into one baking pan...if it lasts long enough to get back into the fridge! Enjoy!!!

I started listening to Christmas music just before Thanksgiving this year...I usually wait till the day after, but I've just been in the mood early this year! One of my favorite groups is from the 1950's...I remember listening to these albums all the while I was growing up in the 1960's and '70's...I think my grandparents gave these albums to my folks, and I would lay on the floor by the Christmas tree in the living room, and replay these albums over and over again. To me, they are the best of Christmas music and will always remind me of my childhood Christmases...

...Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians...anyone else listen to this lovely group?

You can check them out on iTunes or Amazon if you're not familiar with them--I SO recommend it--you'll feel like a kid again! At least, I do!

While listening to my Christmas music today, of course I was making a Christmas card to share with you.....and it is VERY kitschy today--an image straight out of the '50's! This is from Crafty Secrets' new "Christmas" Creative Scraps--so many fabulous images!

Love this image of Santa! This is classic Santa to me...just like the pictures I loved when I was a girl...


I went seriously overboard on the trims for this card...but isn't that what kitschy is all about?! A bunch of silver glitter, some buttons, and that's it!

Now, to round out the classic, kitschy Christmas theme for the day, I found some photos of my creative mother, Karen, when she was a girl at Christmas time in the '50's...I've told you before how talented she is, and she's had that gift since she was born, I think!

These photos are of her Christmas window paintings she did on the family house...what a wonderful way to decorate...and what confidence her parents had in her skills, right?! These are from a couple of different years...you'll see the difference in my Mom...(she may not thank me for posting these...oh, well!)


Sorry some of these are so dark, but when it's all you've got, you just love it anyway! Here's my mom with her younger brother, Glenn...

Don't you love her pinned-up hair???

The proud artist!

I need to ask her how she did that beautiful gold on the package.....Hope you still love me, Mom!

Before I close for the night, I need to share such a lovely gift I received from Maureen at Celestial Charms--

I won two beautiful vintage aprons in her blog giveaway a couple of weeks ago, and was so surprised to find added to the box, three beautiful spools of ribbon, a booklet of vellum baby sayings, and a stack of amazingly adorable vintage baby cards! Oh, my--what a treat!!! Thank-you, Maureen, for your generous heart! Guess what I'm going to be doing with those lovely cards.....!

Lastly, hopefully by now you've discovered the fabulous magazine "Where Women Create"...Jo Packham, the amazing editor of the magazine, now has a lovely blog...and starting December 1st, she will be hosting a great giveaway celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas...go check it out here!

Well, that's it for tonight! Sometimes I just have too much to share--thanks for bearing with me! May you have a lovely Sunday night with your family, and lovely kitschy dreams!