~A New Year to Create~

I'm back and boy have I missed you! It seems like forever since I have posted. Before I start my post I want to say "Thank You" to everyone that has left me such sweet and kind notes here on my blog and in  emails. Your compassion just filled my heart with love and my eyes with tears..."Thank You" for caring about me and my family. 

 Sometimes you just need a break to regroup your life and sometimes its just good to rest your mind and heart.

I can't wait to catch up with you all and to see what you all have been up too. I have been keeping my hands busy. Many many years ago I made this counted cross stitch cabin and had put it into a frame but grow tired of it in the fame, so I took it out and cross stitched the hearts and trimmed down the size and made it into a  little pillow to sit on the demi chair in our guest room. I went to my fabric statch and found left over drop cloth fabric that I had used to sew the pleated chair cover, now they both match. 

It's the perfect little chair to sit on to put your shoes and socks on.

For my first quilt of 2013 I have begun sewing a quilt I found in the Nov./Dec. 2012 Quilt Magazine. I fell in love with the cover quilt call Star Light Star Bright.

Each square is 16 inches and there is only two squares to the pattern along with sides of different fabrics.

This star has 37 pieces to it.

And this star has 21 pieces.

Here's a  picture of three squares sewn together. It was raining today and very dark inside the house so this picture is looking a bit dull..but you can get the general idea of the pattern.

I of course changed the colors and fabric from what was 

shown in the pattern. Red always stills my heart, so my

Star Light Star Bright quilt  is going to be red.

At night while watching TV I have  been knitting a scarf, but I ran out of yarn so back to the store I go...It's a very simple pattern. All you do is,  row one knit one purl one across, second row knit the row...and repeat.
So tell me what you have been creating.....

Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful week.

Sharing this post with;

Kim~Savvy Southern Style WOW Us Wednesdays

~From the Heart~

This post is from my heart so please bare with me....
As many of you know my sister passed away this May very unexpectedly. I know each and everyone of you has experienced lose of one  very dear to you, so you will understand that this Christmas is very hard for me and my family.

We are going about life as expected of us, planning holiday dinners, shopping for Christmas gifts for the kids, writing out Christmas cards and listening to Christmas music. But Christmas is just not the same when someone you love and miss dearly is spending Christmas in heaven without you.

As a strong family we will be together getting through our first Christmas without her, like we did Thanksgiving.

I will miss my sister Margo singing Christmas carols and us watching White Christmas together in our pj's eating popcorn and singing along with the song (sister's) we even did the fan dance with much laughter . I have not yet watched White Christmas because I know I will cry my eyes out.. we all have songs that touch our heart about someone we love.

I want you all to know how much your friendship means to me via our blogs.
I pray each and everyone of you will have a Blessed Christmas Season and a
 New Year blessed with  health, peace, safe travels and joy in your hearts.

I will be back to posting after the New Year..until then


Feliz Navidad

Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

~Please Pass the Salt & Pepper~

 Happy Monday and Happy Thanksgiving Week.
Isn't it funny how salt and pepper shakers come in every shape and size, they are fun, whimsical, pretty and then there is practical. These two Patriotic sweeties I won from Cindys Blog Retro Rivival 

 Cindy blog is all about vintage (I love vintage) she sews and creates aprons, she also shares with us her vintage finds and how she re purpose's them. If you have not meant Cindy yet please stop over for a visit. I know you are going to love her blog, just like I do.
 There are salt and pepper shakers shaped like fruit, I have apple salt and pepper shaker's that sit on apple tree leaves.

 Then there are animal salt and pepper shakers, these turkey's are so cute and sit in a basket on the dinning room table.

 Of course there are the pretty ones, these pink rose salt and pepper shakers match my china.

 I also have these very tiny salt and pepper shakers for one....they sit beside each place setting so you don't have to say please pass the salt the pepper...you have one for yourself.

 Practical indeed, I have two sets of these that match my everyday set of dishes for 24.

 More practical and everyday salt and pepper shakers we use.

 
 There is only one of these, as time goes by some things are broken and only one survives. This Crystal shaker belonged to my Grandma.

 The most vintage of all is this hand painted salt and pepper shaker that is well over 100 years old. I love the hand painted roses and the gold tops. Just look at all the holes these are a bit hard to tell what is the salt and witch one is the pepper. I love these, they belonged to my Great Uncle's Mother.

 November is the time to gather the family and friends to share dinner, share laughter and stories of loved ones that have passed.  We bring out the turkey platter that has been in the family since I was born.

 We hang up a few decoration.  A Simple Wreath that anyone can make, I put this one together in less than 30 minutes.

 Bring out the candles to lite on the table.

 The turkey table runner and a basket full of pumpkins, chickens and turkey's all help to celebrate the day of thanks and giving.

Gary and I are thankful for our family for the ones who have passed that have taught us so much. The ones we will always carry with in our hearts forever. Even through they are not with us in body we know they are with us in spirit.
Thanksgiving is also a day of hope and celbration to bring family and friends together around a table to hold hands and pray before the meal to thank God for all he has givien us.
We are thankful for you are dear frinds, who read our blog and leave us your kind words of wisdome.
May your thanksgiving be bright and happy and may your hearts be full.
We will be missing someone very dear this year at our table, but WE know she is with us, beside us and holding our hands during prayer.  

Wishing you all love this Thanksgiving,
Elizabeth and Gary

Sharing with the following Blog  Parties.

Mary-Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday
Susan-Between Naps on the Porch metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn-The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday

Alderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday

Kim-Savvy Southern Style WOW us Wednesday

Jan-Have Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson Share you Cup Thrusday

Honey-2805 A Potpourri Party every Friday

Courtney- French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Sherry-The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home Party Fridays

~Cutie Patootie Baby Sweater~

 Happy Monday everyone! I hope your week was a good one.
I have been busy clanking my knitting needles to make this little sweater. I have had this pattern for years and just never made it. I went into a little yarn shop in town where I live and saw a variegated yarn that caught my eye. I always have fun using a variegated yarn since you never know what  its going to end up looking like, its a big suprise!.  And then this pattern for the Cutie Patootie Sweater came to mind and I thought it might make up  nicely using this yarn.
The yarn is Jawoll Magic by Lang Yarns it a 150g ball and is 6 ply. I used one ball and had left over yarn. Jawoll Magic was $28.00 for one ball.  I used the same yarn but doubled it when I crocheted the trim around the neck, hem, front and sleeves.

 If you'd like the pattern for the sweater here it is  "Cutie Patootie Sweater"

 With the leftover yarn I knitted up these little booties.

While going through my yarn stash I found leftover yarn and decided to knit up these very simple little hats. I think I will add flowers to them.I just have to find a crochet flower pattern I like and then I will make crochet flowers for them..

So what have you been working on?. Right now I'm knitting hats for the boys, don't tell them OK...the hats will be for Christams...

Enjoy your week  everyone!

Joining in on the following link Parties

Mary-Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday

                                         Susan-Between Naps on the Porch metamorphosis Monday
                                          Kathryn-The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday

                                         Sarah-Alderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday
                                       Kim-Savvy Southern Style WOW us Wednesday
                                      
                                     Jan-Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson Share Your Cup Thrusday

                                        Honey-2805 A Potpourri Party every Friday

                                   Courtney- French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

                                Sherry-The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home Party Fridays

~ If for Girls ~

While going through some of my sister's things today, I came across a card that was given to her 30 years ago from our Grandparents. She  must have loved it to have kept it all these years. It touched my heart so much while reading it and really made me think about the words written, so I wanted to share it with you too.
                                                                 If For Girls

If you can trust yourself though others doubt you and conquer fears that limit what you dare So you can freely give to those about you the skills and talents that are yours to share;

If you can live, not for your pleasure only, but gladly lend your gentleness and grace to warm the hearts of those whose lives are lonely and help to make their world a better place;

If you can balance dreams with practicality and deal in facts, but never lose ideals, If you can face the harshness and reality and find the truths that prejudice conceals;

If you can be courageous when defeated and humble in the face of victory, or give your best until a task’s completed, however difficult that task may be;

If you can temper facts with understanding and seek to gently guide not to control, and neither be too lax nor too demanding, but keep in mind the worth of every soul;

If you can strive, not caring who gets credit, and work at building bridges and not walls, or hearing idle slander, just forget it and never fail to help someone who falls;

If you can give your help without begrudging the patience, time and effort you impart or look at others weakness without judging and see, not with your eyes, but with your heart;

If you can take resources that surround you and use them in the way you feel you should, You’ll be a woman… and all those around you will be the richer for your womanhood!
Author ~ Gale Baker Stanton

May your week be peaceful and your hearts full.

All the Little Pumpkins

Happy Halloween from all the silly little pumpkins at Home is Where the Heart is!
We hope all your little pumpkin's enjoy tricker-treating.
I told all my little pumpkins they must save all the Kit-Cat bars and Almond Joy's for "me"...giggle, giggle
and if they try to eat them their teeth would fall out.......I love all my little pumpkins and want their teeth to stay in so they eat all their broccoli...hehehe XO
 

~Sweetheart Blanket~

 It's another Beautiful Monday and the start of another week, I hope it brings you joy and good health. This weekend I finished a crochet blanket I have been working on. The pattern is called Sweetheart Blanket at the end of this post I have attached the pattern for all my crocheting friends. I have made this pattern many times and in many different sizes. I always use the basic pattern and then add  a row or so for a bigger size blanket or even a small one for a baby blanket.
I adore this pattern it is made in strips and is very easy to bring along with you. Since I commute 6 hours a day and take three modes of transportation this is a great project for me to pack and carry on. I can get a lot of crocheting done while traveling.
I used Red Heart  Yarn in Pale Yellow for my blanket, I find Red Heart to be a very durable yarn and it washes very well.

 Lots of yellow hearts!

 I always have fun with my trims and never know what I'll end up doing. This time I crochet in a cotton thread in white, just something different to do and I have so much cotton thread just stored in my yarn box so I thought I would put some to good use.

 There is nothing like a home made quilt and a home made crochet blanket to snuggle up with. I can't wait to light the fireplace and snuggle up in our blankets.

I sure hope you can read the pattern I scanned it and also Extra-Larged it while in pre-post.

I will be joining in with the following link parties, I hope you can join in too.

Mary-Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday

Susan-Between Naps on the Porch metamorphosis Monday
Kathryn-The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday

Alderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday
Kim-Savvy Southern Style WOW us Wednesday

Jan-Have a daily cup of Mrs. Olson Share Your Cup Thrusday

Honey-2805 A Potpourri Party every Friday

Courtney- French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Sherry-The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home Party Fridays