Saturday, December 13, 2008

My Mom's Christmas Magic

My Mom has a magical touch at Christmas time. Her house is a vision to behold. It always brings me feelings of joy, wonderful childhood memories, and it embodies the Spirit of Christmas to me.
My Mom decorates so beautifully with bits of whimsy here and there that just add that extra something happy!
Every year in December my Mom and I try to do a special day together before Christmas. Usually we go shopping. This year due to lack of funds we decided to hang out at her house (my childhood home) and she was going to learn to cross-stitch.
My Mom already is a great knitter, quilter, and needlepointer; but she has not cross-stitched and that is the only needlework I know how to do. So, she made us a wonderful lunch, we walked around the house looking at the decorations, and remembering where all of them came from; and then we sat down to stitch.
My Mom is working on a little Swedish girl ornament which I will show you when she is done. It is totally cute.
On December 27th my Mom and I are going to take a little mother-daughter trip up to Crystal Lake, IL to a cross stitch shop I have not been to.
Also in the new year we are hoping to take a class on stitching on linen at The Country Cupboard in Orland Park. Great place!
We wish that my Grandmas were here to go with us.
Also in the new year we want to make more ornaments like the one above. We love, love, love them. We learned to make them at Red Lead Paperworks in St. Louis.
My Mom's mantlepiece is always a wonder.
I love how she decorates for Christmas with old toys.
These are the stockings my brother and I have had since we were babies. My Grandma made mine and my aunt made Todd's.
Merry Christmas. God Jul.

Wishing you a season of joy, wonderment, and peace.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh, it looks like photograph heaven there! And one of these days, I am going to get to Red Lead myself.

Flor Larios Art said...

Great post.
Happy Holidays!
Flor

Patti said...

I love the peek into your mom's "magic." She sure seems like a special lady! I love the Storybook dolls- I have my mom's- aren't they neat? I also love the Muffys, which I also collect! I jusr ordered (and received)some stuff from Red Lead- what a great place. I'm sure the real store is amazing! Have a great week!
~ Patti

dogfaeriex5 said...

gosh, your posts brings back wonderful memories..i want to live in fannie farmers neighborhood with the good neighbor..........
love you!!xoxo

Cindy F. said...

What a wonderful post! Such beautiful memories and pics! Your mother truly is a very talented lady:)

Jeanne said...

Thanks for sharing all the lovely decorations with us and sounds like your mom and you had a great day. And thanks for the added bonus of some snow in the pictures! Happy holidays Laura and give us a report on the shop in Crystal Lake!

Jeanie said...

Oh, Laura -- this IS Christmas magic. I love each and every photo! And I so love the idea of doing the cross stitch day instead of shopping for you'll be able to talk the whole time! And learn. That's wonderful.

It's times like this I especially miss my mom -- Christmas Queen in our world. How very fortunate you are to have your mom at hand and able to "play."

beth said...

what an amazing connection you have with your mom....and how special that the two of you can have so much fun together....

thanks for the walk through your mom's house.....

xoxo

Relyn Lawson said...

I am cracking up (no pun intended) at the bare bottomed angel. I love it!

Trixie said...

What a great post! I loved seeing all the Muffy's! You were the reason I started collecting her clothes! Looking at the family Christmas tree is like looking at the past. Each ornament brings back memories of childhood. Thanks for showing yours!

Joanie said...

Oh my! You've brought back wonderful memories...I love vintage decorations and your post of record albums, wow, I remember ALL of them, and I have my Dad's Whipped Cream and Other Delights album.

LOVE your blog!

Patti said...

Hi~ Thanks for the comment..the church is in Flossmoor- if you ever get a chance to drive through the town (on your way to Sanfrantellos)- if you haven't already-the houses are beautiful as is that church! The church is huge too- my pictures didn't do it justice. Please don't worry about the book. And where is the new bookstore in Oak Brook? It sounds wonderful!

Unknown said...

What sweet decor. I bet you had a wonderful afternoon with your mother and will vave another great day shopping cross stitch after Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Veleta (Sammy) said...

what a wonderful day with your mom, makes so wish my mom was still here... that what we would do just spend the day together /treasure every moment with her! smell and hug her often!