Attic finds ~

 

It is officially winter ~ and albeit slowly ~ the minutes of daylight will be increasing.  Where I live in the Eastern Time Zone, sunset is currently 5:02 pm.

Today I will share a few of my attic finds.  Things I came across in the attic when I was up there cleaning/purging in the spring.

I believe I already showed St. Nick, made by the talented Rhonda, who got tucked away in a box and not put with the Christmas items.  I was so happy to finally have him back under the tree.

In the same box was Santa whose coat is an old quilt.

A snowman gourd purchased many years ago at a craft show that I had completely forgotten about.

And last but not least . . . I have mentioned many times that my mom did beautiful ceramics back in the day.

Another snowman.

Little Santa that had not been antiqued.  I didn't do the best job antiquing him but wanted to display him nonetheless.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

I saved the best for last.  I don't know why the Little Drummer Boy had been tucked away for so many years.  My mom was so proud of this piece and I am thrilled to have him.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'd better go check my list!!!  Lots of piddly stuff on it that I need to accomplish today.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Santa Claus is coming to town!

 

A few of my Santas!  Believe me, there are many more.

(Most of the pictures are washed out because the sun is actually shining in northern Ohio!)

In the kitchen.

The little tree only has ornaments made from the old figural light bulbs.

An old slaw cutter with hard plastic Santas.  Little sampler I stitched.

In the dining room.

Great cubby made from an old crate, filled with part of my treenware collection.

Vintage Santas.

Vintage chenille Santas.

Atop the jelly cupboard, one of my first antique cupboard purchases decades ago.

Top of pie safe.

My favorite Santa purchase this year.  He is hand carved.  Friend Laura suggested the feather tree sprig and putz sheep in his hands.  Perfect!  (Laura also made the gold pipe cleaner tree.)  And two recently purchased vintage putz sheep.

Sweet little hanging cupboard (not old) purchased 30+ years ago, filled with vintage cotton batting batting Santas and bottle brush trees.  All Santas are vintage except for one.

My new to me antique cupboard purchased this summer.

The bottom two shelves are filled with mostly vintage pieces.

And lastly another wall box with a chocolate mold that I'm sure is not old, but don't remember where or when I bought it . . . sigh.  My mind is gone.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Snow folk ~

 

Since we are less than a week away from Christmas, I thought I'd better show some of my Christmas "stuff".  Year to year my decorating is very similar, but some things are changed around a bit and there are a few new additions 😁

Today I will start with my snow folk!

These are in the living room at the base of the stair.

Hanging above the snowmen shown above.

A vintage snowman snow globe.

Can you tell I like wall boxes?

A Kelly Belfast rug won years ago.

Snow folk tree in the upstairs bath.

Hooked and constructed in a class many years ago.

And my only blow mold Snowman.

On the little landing leading to the basement.  

Hanging on my drapery stretcher.

What a busy time of year.  Thankful that I started decorating early because I have been gone so much lately I would be crazy-stressed by now had I not.  About the only things left to do are grocery shop (one of my least favorite tasks!) and polish the silver.  I only use it at Christmas so it needs a bit of cleaning.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Fully finished ~

 

I am happy to report that my heart hook along rug is fully finished.  Hooked and bound.  

Even labeled!!!

Now to finish my Donna Hrkman Santa.  I am so close!

Gotta scoot.  Hooking guild this morning.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

It's been months since I worked on my Santa, started in a class with Donna Hrkman.  I didn't have much left to hook but it got put aside for other projects and the fact I needed to reverse hook the antique black border.  Even though a well known teacher said the black was fine and not to change it to brown, I just found it too harsh.

Yesterday while hooking at the historical society I was changing out the black for a dark brown.  Much better me thinks.  Hopefully this will be and hooked and bound before Christmas.  (The color in the above picture is more accurate.)

Today was the annual TubaChristmas at our downtown theater.  Cheesy fun as always.

Many decorate their instrument.

Our downtown theater is the Lorain Palace Theatre.  It opened in 1928 with a cost of $500k.  In today's dollars that is nearly $9.5 million.  In 1928, it was the largest one floor theater in Ohio.  Over the years there were hard times, but it never closed.  It seats 1,441.

The chandelier weighs 3/4 ton and has 87 40 watt bulbs to light it.  The cut crystals are Yugoslavian.  (I am proud to be Slovenian on my mother's side.)

A few pictures of her beauty.

My sister worked the concession stand when she was in high school.  I was able to go with her on Saturday afternoons and watch the cartoons and film.  That was a VERY long time ago.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Working on my Christmas miracle ~

I have been busy as all get out trying to finish up my holiday preparations.  Decorating is done except for a couple piddly things that may or may not get done 😁, gifts are wrapped and cards are mailed.  I am usually at this point only a couple days before Christmas.

The next few days are busy ones!  Tomorrow I volunteered to demonstrate hooking at a historical society in Bay Village, a western Cleveland suburb, Sunday is the annual TubaChristmas which is cheesy fun and Monday heading a couple hours south to visit with my dear college friend Wink.

I got my greens in crocks today.  I am not much of a floral decorator, but after watching friend Laura arrange my crocks last year, I gave it my best shot.  Not the best, but I am pleased with my results.

On the front porch ~

By the garage ~

And the baby bathtub ~

Please keep my Alabama sister in your prayers.  She has been in the hospital for over a week with some major health issues.

Thanks so much for stopping.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren