One last celebration . . .

Because Kristen and Andrew were away during Christmas, we still had to celebrate together . . . I truly didn't like that they were away but they have their own lives and I get it!

I stayed with some of the same theme from the cocktail party because it was only a week prior and Chili and Garlic Bread was on the menu . . . not really a Christmas themed meal but it was awesome none the less.

Here are a few pics of the table!

I made the napkins last year to go with the swag on the window!

And here they are in their all their glory!

I never purchased one thing for the table . . . well that's kind of a lie - I bought them each a Christmas ornament and put that in the bowl.

Cocktails for 10!

Christmas is over, I didn't celebrate New Years (only because I don't care to) but I'll certainly have a couple of people over for cocktails!

What's on the menu:

Martinis, wine and beer
A cheese tray
Hummus and Greek Garden Pie
and Bob's yer uncle!

How fun . . .

Red Pepper Hummus and Pita Chips

Cheese Tray - it looks like I got really lazy on this one . . . 

Flowers in recycled Perrier Bottles (and some spiced peas)

Greek Garden Pie and Pepper and Olive Oil Triskets

Next ! ! ! ! !

Cork Decorations

Every year I make gifts for the girls I work with. It usually ends up being about 30 items so I try and keep them small (and easy).

What to do with a million (well that's an exaggeration but there are LOTS) wine corks - make tree decorations.

Super simple.

Take a wine cork and poke a jewellery pin with a hook on one end through the cork. I took small deconstructed flowers and glass beads and added them at either end and then attached a "charm" at the bottom. Voila!

TOTAL TIME: About 3 hours working feverously TOTAL COST: Approx $30.00 for everything

A couple of hostess gifts!

It isn't Christmas without getting invited somewhere for dinner or drinks.  This year was no exception particularly because my daughter and husband were away.

I'm not usually a last minute person but I'm becoming one; and because I hate arriving empty handed I wondered what I could take to both a dinner and a drink party that I could do quickly but would be appreciated.  I had four pieces of Christmas fabric in the closet - how about napkins.

I cut each one 18" square and simply serged the ends.

Done

and Done (this set is wrapped with a doggie scarf for Whiskey)!

And yes, Kenzie got in on this one too (but after I finished sewing this time)

Some Orange Hats

For the past few years I've been giving hats to my brother, his wife and their five kids for Christmas (I have breakfast with them on Christmas morning).  This year Dina (my sis-in-law) called and asked if I was doing the traditional give of the hats.  Yes, I say, why?  Well she has an idea.  The older boys will participate in a ski weekend and they all want to wear the same ones, would I be interested instead of buying the hats making them something "orange".  I pause for a moment and then think . . . WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

Will she give me creative license to do what I want . . . OF COURSE she will . . . so while Anna and I are shopping for fabric for her mom's apron I come across this really funky orange winterish looking t-shirt fabric that I HOPE will be warm enough for their tender ears!

I borrowed a hat that they "kind of already like" but is a bit small and get to work.

FOR THE GIRLS:

Make a "sock" to go over a 1" elastic 3-4" in length

Serge both sides of a 20" X 9" piece of fabric (the short side is what gets sewn on to the elastic)

Run a gathering stitch on the short sides

Circle the short side AROUND the end of the elastic; pulling the running/gathering stitch and overlapping the ends

Stitch down OVER the elastic

Flip inside out (DO THE SAME FOR BOTH SIDES)

FOR THE BOYS:

Cut a piece of fabric 22.5" x 11.5"; Serge the length on both sides then sew the short side together

Flip over one end 2.5" and sew down with a straight stitch

Pin on the seam and then half way between that and the ends (you can sew these down 1" if you wish but I didn't bother

With the end facing you fold the opening in half towards the pin

Then take the second opening and fold that in half towards the centre

Do the same with the remaining two openings and pin down

Sew a 1/2 running stitch at the top

Then take two of the folds and pin them together and pin the other two together (you should have four pinned parts all together (two on each side)

Stitch down the four pinned folds

This isn't a great picture but . . . 

Turn it inside out and voila! this is the top!

Here is my awesome brother, his wife and their five kids in the hats - they LOVED them; Sam (the youngest) said he wasn't going to take his off - he was going to wear it ALL DAY!

Thank you for letting me be creative on these - one type for the boys, one type for the girls (and it won't ruin their hair) and I think everyone is happy (see their smiles)!

I made in total three girl headbands and 8 boy hats - You never know who's going to be the lucky recipients!

Christmas Dinner with Friends!

Cheryl and Dave moved here about a year ago from Toronto; Dave is from Edmonton, Cheryl is from Toronto.  He tried to live in her world but was just too sad being away from the weather here (I guess - I can't imagine what else could have brought him back here . . . oh yes, sorry I got distracted . . . he wanted his old job back) . . . and because my daughter and hubby are going to the Bahamas for Christmas, I need someone to eat with (and decorate the table for)!

Jysk here I come . . . I have a budget of $20 to decorate the table . . . can I do it . . . well OF COURSE I can . . . here's what I bought.

Four turquoise charger plates; three glass dove/pigeon candle holders; and three butterflies (that I think I can work with).

here's what I already had:  white plates (they are a must for everyone's arsenal of dishes), cutlery, napkins, napkin rings, jewels and mercury glass containers (gawd I'm having da je vous right now - I feel like I've blogged this already . . . must have done so in my sleep).

Put it all together and this is what you come up with.  Just had to purchase a couple of white flowers, severely cut them down and I think it is fantistically beautiful.

This was before dinner (Kenzie loves Dave)

This is Dave after dinner because he thought it was cold in my house (you can't see the pashmina around his neck)

This is the lovely Cheryl writing in my Guest Book!

Window and a Mirror Christmas Decore

Obviously I am not bored.  I saw this really cool idea on Pinterest where you take ripped pieces of fabric and tie them on to twinkle lights . . . four pieces of 1 yard each of fabric in all the colours of my living room, a string of lights, an hour in front on the TV and it's done!

And because I have some left over strips of fabric I decide to wrap it around a foam wreath and wrap that with a piece of left over pom pom and bell string from last year's gift wrap!

I think it's complete now!

Can't wait to decorate the table for Christmas Dinner with friends!