"Silver Bells"

Have you heard your first Christmas carol of the season yet? Feeling the hustle and bustle of passersbys as they hurry home with their packages?
The Christmas spirit has definitely come to my craft room after receiving Paula Clare's beautiful inspiration book filled with vintage images of the holidays. It is just what I needed to create my own book. These snowmen remind me of my favorite holiday song, "in the meadow we can build a snowman...".
Green! It won't be long before I'm on the hunt for my Charlie Brown tree. The more holes in it the better! Balsam trees are the most fragrant and rare to come across in the Midwest, but I'll search high and low (or at least as far as my husband will drive)!
I love getting appliances for Christmas, but not so my son. He will never let me forget the year he was in high school that I gave him a blender. "Oh yeah guys, I got a blender for Christmas. It has three speeds. MOM! What were you thinking!"
Oh our Christmas trees of my years in the Neighborhood with Hills! My mother's artist years saw white flocked trees whose fumes nearly killed us. Trees with blue silk balls only one year change to gold the next. Folksy trees, European trees, paper only trees. Bubble lights and tinsel, snowball lights and house lights with reflectors. Our trees were never the same!
Midnight Mass and candle light. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful". A first present hoped to open waits until first morning light.
Belief! In all things good coming our way if we keep the spirit of the season alive in our hearts throughout the year.
Thank you Paula for your wonderful gift that helped me create my own. It was so much fun!

Here are images for you to create your own Christmas Book. Many images can also be found on my flickr as well as black and white photos in my favorites page.




NOTE: These images are for personal use only.

Thankful Moments Every One!

A personal thank you to each and every one of you who were so kind to share "Your Moments that are the Same." It seems Thanksgiving Day more than any other holiday is the one we treasure all of the littlest of family moments. From lines on canned cranberry sauce to watching the Macy's Day Parade. From gravy to stuffing and filling ourselves only to make room for more. I love this holiday and all of it's moments.

I chose Sarah of ColorKitten to win my giveaway because her post reminded me of moments with my mother that I had forgotten. The settling on couches and floor space, the loosening of belts, football cheers and contented sighs. In the background the tinkling sound of my mother washing the "good china and the good crystal" the very last items left. I was always drawn to the kitchen at this moment knowing that I would not be allowed to help. At least until I was old enough to understand the importance of these items handed down from mothers past. Recently I asked my own son to get out this very glassware from my china hutch, and he looked at me in surprise. "Are you sure! I've never dared open that cabinet before." The time was right, the memory passed on.


I wish each of you the Blessings of Thanksgiving for those gathered at your tables and at tables past. The Moments that are the Same make this a most wonderful day!

Have You Heard?

Have you heard there is a Christmas Tag Swap in progress? Me, Elizabeth, your hostess is here to tell you that this is the cutest swap ever! Our piles are growing, vintage goodness inches thick. My own tags already hanging on their ring inspires holiday cheer whenever it catches my eye.
Betty's, She's Sew Pretty, tags arrived today. Shiny and bright images that jump right off the tags, a big grin to enjoy the rest of the day!
When I opened Lindsey, of Two Crazy Crafters, box, a flourish of Christmas red and green spilled across my kitchen counters. These definitely shout out the cheer of the season!
Tag Along Deb of Garage Sale Gal sent me a tag made of my favorite image! How did she ever know? An angelic choir boy singing the joys of the season. Her corded tassel sets off her image beautifully.
Tag Along Sandy of 521 Lake Street, the cutest address on the block, has sent kitchen goodness my way with her gingham tag and cookie cutter. I'm in rick rack heaven!
Now Ladies, There is no need to shout, no need to pout. You still have plenty of time to work on your tags. I will be mailing them out to you on December 9th; so I just need to receive them by then! My address again:

Elizabeth Andrus
112 Gibraltar Ct
Delaware OH 43015


Must go now! Busy as an Elf here. Speaking of elves ... did you see the cute pine cone elves in MS's magazine? I'm off to the woods in search of the perfect ones to make for name cards for my Christmas dinner!

Celebrate with a Giveaway!

I love the holidays because they are the days filled with "Moments that are the Same." My son who is hosting his very first married Thanksgiving called to be sure I brought cranberry sauce in the can! "Don't cut it Mom, I have to see the lines!"
A call from Twirly Swirly Girl, "Mom, I hope you are bringing blueberry bread. Make sure it's extra crumbly on top!"
I absolutely live for these "Moments that are the Same." Our lives are busy with our own day to day patterns, but during the holidays it are these tiny details that bring forth the gladness of all the days we have lived. These are the moments I am most thankful to have.
I hope you will share with me that one small detail on Thanksgiving Day that freezes time for just one moment, the moment that is filled with your blessings.
A little pegdoll elf with her dog Snoopy. A candy cane heart ready to hang on the tree. I will choose one "Moments that are the Same" to receive this small token of friendship this wonderful holiday season. I will announce the winner this Friday and post your package on Monday. (Please have a blog that I can contact you through)

I hope you enjoy my banner for this holiday season. I had such fun creating our Block Party blocks it occurred to me that I could create a new one for each season! Such fun!

"Paper Place"

The pattern of my Jr. High School days was always the same. Homework right away, the television tuned to the afternoon movie classic. My personality was shaped by the theatrics of Hollywood. No wonder I am so dramatic! The autumn splendor of "Peyton Place" and the heroine's love of writing became my own.
The Half Way Woods my Vermont countryside. Romantic daydreams in the crook of silver maples for hours on end.
Gingerbread cookies made perfectly so by Doris Day in "Young at Heart" for Frank Sinatra. The hope of someone to love all my own.
A Christmas tree with tinsel, the table beautifully set. Loved ones in their holiday attire, kisses underneath the mistletoe.
Little did my husband know that he was marrying a bride filled with the romantic notions of brides not her time. I was embarrassed to tears that my husband did not wear pajamas when he went to bed. The men in the movies always did! I, however; always wear slippery nightgowns.
My Days with Children found a mother always dressed beautifully, manners at the table learned from three to five. My children thank me now for what seemed so silly to them at the time. They can thank "Cheaper by the Dozen" for my strict ways!
Truly, when I married and began my own family, it was the images of the afternoon cinema that I longed to create for myself.
My brother will tell you that the stories I tell are the "romantic" version of our childhood.
Yes, they are. I do not think I could have survived my childhood without the safe haven of make believe and the hope that my life could be as I saw from three to five.
My life is a simple one. It is constructed from from all the of the movies I so loved as a child. I have never traveled far from their happy endings,
but my children who were raised in this secure cacoon have now blossomed into the lives I always dreamed to have.

Hearts A' Plenty!

And still they come! My new mail carrier isn't sure what to think about the continuous stream of packages that come to my address. I answered her inquiry, "No, I don't order anything.", "No, I don't sell anything." "They just seem to come on their own!" Her response, "Well, they sure seem to make you happy!"
Yes Sally, your heart makes me very happy! A bluebird in a nest? I love it, of course I do! I have just the spot to hang such cuteness.
Very close to my bluebird heart received from Julie of Pieceful Bits.
Julie is my Glitter Go To Gal! Everything she makes brings a smile to the holidays! Her heart looks so sweet next to my yellow gingham bowl and TSG.
I hope you all are visiting Mary Lou at her House of Whimsy on Wednesdays to share in her mother's beautiful life. M.L.'s work is also very special to all of us who know her. Every detail is just exquisite!
My Friendship Garland is spreading out! Her heart is stitched with my colors and looks wonderful hanging near my Dutch Tulip bowl.
Mary Holcomb's heart is so her! Cute in every way. A little garden girl in her galoshes and rain slicker.
I have hung her heart near the pink netted wreath she made. The "Silver Bells" are the perfect nostalgic touch!
Dear Friends, How can I ever repay the kindness you have bestowed upon me? (Yes Mary, I did have blond hair as a girl, and this is a sheepdog whose story has yet to be told.)
The strength of friendship has allowed me the opportunity to struggle through such embarrassing moments of panic and return again to this creative community that I love so very much.
One Bluebird twittered to another that a friend had left the nest. Jane, of Wyldhare, I hope you will accept this gift of friendship for reminding me that that I am not alone.

I wish that I could make each and every special one of you a heart in appreciation for all that you have given. I am working on a Thanksgiving giveaway that I hope you know you have inspired! Elizabeth

NOTE: So much has happened this weekend that I have had to post multiple times to express what joy has come my way. I hope you will scroll down to share in my happiness.

O K L A H O M A !

When I was in my teen years, I had a little white music box that opened to the tinkling strains, "Oh what a beautiful mornin', oh what a beautiful day. I got a beautiful feelin', everythin's going my way." Tonight my husband and I are going to visit Ralph's teen in her school's production of this beloved play. It is in this frame of mind that I write my post today. Glorious!
Heleene of Dutch Colours sent me a wall quilt made from the 1930's reproduction fabrics that I sent her to make herself a kitchen quilt. This is most unexpected, and most appreciated. She and her sister are such talented quilters both. I am thankful now that I didn't repaint over the vintage green I chose for my bathroom because her quilt makes this small space charming.
True to the spirit of the 1930's, not a bit of fabric was left unused. She included a pincushion which matches my sewing basket perfectly. I just love it! My little pegdoll for my Giveaway awaits her hair!
Visiting both sisters' cheerful part of this world through their blogs is like "the wind come rushing down the plains." I always leave feeling uplifted and light of heart.
Heleen also included this calendar book the likes I have never seen. She calls it a "Pip". It is so beautiful, I hope I can bring myself to write on it's pages!
Heleene, You may not know of this American musical, but on this day, this wonderful day, your beautiful quilt perfectly captures it's glorious feeling! Thank you so very much! Elizabeth