Granny to Glamourous

Christmas Snowflakes (otherwise known as ‘doilies’)

I renamed my ‘doilies’ and thought that they looked more like snowflakes especially at this time of year.  After seeing an article in Martha Stewarts’ magazine, which I thought was beautifully done with a twist of contemporary, I knew I had to try it.  And that is the twist for sure – using the doilies and adding a contemporary flair to your arrangement.  I’m not sure I have captured the look I have in my thoughts but I’ll need to go shopping to get that effect, but this Christmas I’ll make due with what I have.

I started by going to the local thrift store and found 2 wooded racks holding all sizes of snowflakes.  To sum it up, I cleaned up.  Some were as little as .30 going up to 1.30.  I bought a total of 24 that cost me $9.90.  I have no idea how they decide on the price and the lady who rang up my purchases obviously had the same thoughts as she had to ask her helper if these prices were right.  Both looked at the snowflakes and hummed and hawed over them.  I said “maybe it’s the time that went into the task.  Just hurry it up so I can get home and see if this idea is going to work!”  (I didn’t say that but was sure thinking it) My husband Greg made a comment as we left saying I should feel bad that I cleaned them out and some old lady’s going to go there looking for some pretty doilies for Christmas and find none hanging on the racks.  Ah, I say she should have been there early like me.

That evening I had to take the price tags off gently as to not snag the delicate stitches with the staples.  It took about 30 minutes to arrange the snowflakes into something I liked.  Not as easy as you’d think it would be.  First it looked too symmetrical as I tried too hard to make it perfect.  It’s not in my nature to create something so random looking and be able to leave it that way.  Then I ‘threw’ them on the table to see what I got and then flattened them out.  Nope, not good either.  Finally, a random large and small placement that didn’t look to ‘placed’ was making me happy.  Of course, thru all this, my husband is such an encourager.  His giggling and snickering at me, just made me more adamant to make this happen.  I began to gently stitch the snowflakes together only to realize I was going to be there all night!  I really don’t want to use the glue gun, but alas, because I just couldn’t wait to get it done, out came the glue.  Later I can stitch them together if I really like them.  Can you imagine my patience to crochet? Not.

An alternative look is to spray glue on the snowflakes and toss some glitter on them.  You may like this but I thought I’d try it plain this year.  Next year.  I may also dye a snowflake or two to match my colors of Christmas and toss them ‘randomly’ on top to add that special something.

I have to say, I think this is one craft that is probably not a real hit with today’s young crafters.  It may be soon lost and my Christmas doilies may be worth a lot of money some day.  I best start collecting them now.  I remember my mom and even my grandmother with crochet needles working away while they visited or whenever.  Can you imagine if you invited your friends over for an evening and brought out your crocheting?  Actually they may be intrigued with what you’re creating but on the way home, they’d be saying, “what’s with that?”

Armoire Decor

 

One evening I got into a decorating mood and I decided I'd waited long enough in changing some décor for the fall and that mid-November is not too late to spruce things up on the amoire in the dining room.  I realized when I was done that I could easily change up a few things to bring in the Christmas theme, specifically like the vase and candles.

This armoire is my mother-in-laws and I’ve grown to love it.  When we moved into our new house, I didn’t know where to put it.  With the ‘open floor’ concept in a lot of newer homes, we didn’t have a lot of walls to place things.  Today it displays pictures and other memories.

 

My gold framed mirrors I bought from a garage sale in a neighbouring community.  I always thought I would paint them but sometimes things are better off just the way they are.  And I can’t decide what color they would look better in.  I've grown to love them the way they are.

The feathers in the vase are my huge purchase from the Dollar Store.

 

The armoire holds lots of family pictures, such as our daughters wedding photo, taken at the Calgary Zoo.  

 

My mom gave me the linen doily which I confess to changing (or cutting) the shape of it to suit my desire.  There is a name for this craft but couldn't even google it because I didn't know what I was describing.  You actually sew by hand special knots around a design and then cut out the pieces of fabric in between, thus leaving the open spaces.  It's very beautiful when done but very time consuming.  The glass & metal plate I received from my daughter years ago, so I’m guessing it was a Christmas gift.

 

I remember the day we took these cute pictures of our children.  I think they had to be 5 & 6 years old.  The frames were also bought at a Dollar Store years ago.

 

Our daughter had these animal picture holders at her wedding and I couldn’t resist having a set of my own.  I took out the pictures just for taking the photo as it looked too cluttered.

 

So you can see and read that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to decorate and make your home warm and inviting.  While it’s nice to buy those more expensive items, it’s not always necessary.  Sometimes you just need a few items to get you going and you’ll create something you can be proud of.

Like Sands Thru the Hour Glass . . . . . so are the Days of our Lives.

From my journal…..

It’s the end of September, a very busy month and I sat and reflected this morning on this past month of September and especially the weekend we just had in Calgary.   There are so many memories -  A conversation, A feeling, AN atmosphere, all seem still so vivid.  They make me smile and sometimes, most often, bring a blurriness in my eyes.  I always have mixed feelings about leaving and going to Alberta.  I start out excited, then I think I will miss my house (I love my house), then as we actually go I’m happy again to see our children and family, then I know that the weekend will go way to fast and I’ll have to leave them behind and drive many miles away from them.  It’s hard not to see our children when I want, when so many things have been happening in their lives and be able to pop in for coffee or go see a dragon boat festival or help renovate their home, but that is life (for now).  That brings me to this blog.  I’ve procrastinated long enough and finally got this writing done so hope you enjoy a bit of our  month.

September

Crystal & Mick have officially filed their adoption papers and we are so excited for them!  It seems so surreal to me but I think that’s because we’ve never been through an adoption before.  I can only imagine what it feels like to them as they sit and think about it.  This is huge!  Each time we saw them they had an update of meetings they had attended on adoption and things they had to think about and do.  It will be a new road for all of us and I am so hoping that things, meaning the paperwork, happens in the right timing that they need to prepare for this new addition to their family.  We’re talking about a human person here and speaking of the ‘paperwork’ that has to be done.  So bizarre, but necessary.  I just hope Greg & I can be the encouragement they will need and the shoulders they need when things might get scary.  I know they will be great parents.  I hope I will be a good grandparent.

September  2

I was looking forward to visiting the in-laws at the lake where they spend a lot of their summer days.  As Greg and I drove out to Alberta, we received a call from Greg’s mom saying that she took dad to the hospital with a sore foot and it looked infected.  The doctors had thoughts of removing the toe and perhaps more of the leg.  So our plans changed a bit and we spent time at the hospital in Calgary and with our children.  It was hard to drive back home without knowing what was going to happen to Greg’s dad.  At the time, dad seemed older and maybe sadder but he did manage a few smiles.

September 22

We celebrated our 32^nd anniversary.   That’s pretty fantastic.

Greg never seems to remember the date but he honestly tries each year and it’s quite funny.  I smiled when he messaged me at work and said, “Do you know what day it is?”

I thought, ‘I know where he’s going with this’.  “I do, it’s the 2oth, why?”

He says, “Crap!! When is our anniversary again?” 

I told him it’s on the 22^nd and he said some mushy stuff that I’m not about to share. 

So that evening when I got home from work I was feeling sentimental and I pulled out my wedding dress from the back of the closet and took off the plastic.  I believe that’s the first time that I’ve done that, that I can remember.  I took some pictures of it and will post them on a later day.  My husband said, “Try it on”.  Ya, I knew better than that.  I don’t need to see him laughing.  Although I just need to remind him how well his suit would fit today.  Where is that thing anyways?  Some people rent their wedding dresses but I’m glad I didn’t.  Of course, back in the day, I think it cost $250 or something crazy like that.  But that was probably lots then.  Anyways I want to scan all the wedding photos and do them up properly in a new album.  It’s going to be a winter project, much like all the other pictures that need to be done.

September 23

We left for Calgary again to see Greg’s dad.

On the 9^th of this month, they removed his toe and hoped it would heal quickly.  We didn’t realize or hadn’t thought much about how dad might be feeling so seeing him this time made us take a step back.  He was very tired all the time and kept his eyes closed most of the time.  Only when someone asked him a question did he respond with a head up, a smile, and a quick answer.  Then back to what seemed like sleeping.  His body has taken on lots of medication so hopefully it’s his body’s way of saying ‘I need to heal myself, let me sleep’.  Dad loved to go outside and sit in the sunshine, he missed the sunshine.  We often bought him a coffee and wheeled him outside.  It tired him out a lot but probably felt good to get out of the room and the bed.   Again it was hard to drive home and we had a few days of car trouble that added to Greg’s stress.  Since then dad has had a great improvement and we’re hoping it continues and he can go home again.

September 30

Craig is in the final stages of buying a yoga studio.  He’s a great yogi.

To say the least it’s been a ride and a half for us in this new adventure.  I can’t remember the exact day that Craig phoned us, although I bet he knows, and said he might have the option of buying the studio where he taught yoga.  Today is ‘the’ day and everything looks to be in place so as of today, Craig will own his own yoga studio.   We are so excited for him!  This isn’t a regular yoga studio, it’s Calgary Hot Yoga.  Greg & I attended a class once and let me tell you, it was something else.  At one point I did feel a little faint and had to sit on my mat and wait out the dizziness.  I think I could really get used to it and we did feel invigorated after.  It could have been the joy of making it thru the class still breathing too.  I’m very excited to see what he does with the studio in the terms of making it his own and hope he enjoys each day that he spends doing something he loves.  It could just be the beginning of a chain of studios for him, who knows what the future holds.  But we will be there to encourage him and even take a class or two when we are in Calgary.