Christmas is coming!

Nice to have a few days before Christmas to get together with family and friends and enjoy some of the decorations and traditions.
First up is decorating the sugar cookies. It was a little rushed but AMac did a great job. He is getting much more detailed every year...

I love having the beautiful arrangements outside and inside. I was lucky to get a Christmas Cactus from my special girls, I think they are so interesting and this one was so unique; a very pale pink, almost transluscent and it bloomed just in time for Christmas vacation.

I bought a couple of these arrangements at Costco for an Auction and they were so nice, I went back and got another one for myself.

I love putting out my stained glass Nativity. One of these years, I will finish it off and make a Creche to really complete the set. Too many crafts, too little time.

I love putting out my special pieces. This year, I decorated my tree with vintage ornaments from my childhood. I really like the look and now I'm sorry I got rid of some of the old decorations.

Christmas Centerpiece

I was given this beautiful fresh floral centerpiece for Christmas by a friend who knows how much I appreciate flowers and greenery in the house. The reason I'm posting it today is because it stayed fresh for over a month and I just dismantled it this morning. I think this arrangement was the reason I had more company over the holiday season so we could sit around the table and enjoy.
You can't really see the details but the bows are burlap and there is a lovely willow nest with a candle that can be used again. I guess this scrapbooking trend to use burlap has also made its way over to the florist world or vice versa.

Christmas Cutlery Holders

It's been a very busy season. I went through 10 kg of flour doing my Christmas baking and worked on a couple new ideas for my little fundraising sale that I hold every year at work. I think I could have saved myself some time and only made shortbread but that would get a little boring.

Saw this cute idea on Pinterest. I happen to have the Tim Holtz Pill Box die and like to get my money's worth so this was another good way to use it and they work up really quickly.

You just cut off the notched edges, make a black band and a square of gold glitter paper and a smaller square of black, add a couple of black Dewdrops and you're ready for Christmas dinner.

Christmas Urn Arrangement

Every year, I pick up my gorgeous urn arrangement from a lovely little garden and gift store down in Cambridge called The Living Outdoors Garden Store. They always burn the most delicious smelling candles and have many unique items and giftware as well as fresh greenery. The gentleman who does the arrangements does a beautiful job. You can custom order what you would like or just pick up one of the many varied arrangements that he comes up with. They are very reasonably priced and each one is unique. The photo doesn't do it justice but here's another try....

While I'm there, I pop across the parking lot to Valley Feeds, formerly known as Grand Valley Fortifiers. They have a great selection of bird seed, feeders, dog treats and food and you can even pick up some supplements for your horse. I buy my brother a big bag of custom made birdseed for his birthday so he can enjoy feeding the birds throughout the winter. Love shopping at the non-mainstream non-box stores. I hope you will too. Check them out.