Goodbye…Hello!

Goodbye…

This is the computer I have been using for the past 5 or 6 years.

It was a "hand me down" from my daughter Kate

when she graduated college.

She was updating to an Apple laptop at the time.

Since her "cast off" was newer than the computer I 

was using at the time,

I was delighted to get it.

It has served me well for the past few years.

However, I read several months ago that

this spring, its operating system, Windows XP

would no longer be supported,

(plus it was starting to get a bit crotchety).

So…time for an update.

Hello!!!

This is my after Christmas gift to myself!

I have had it about a week

and it is amazing how much of my time

it has consumed.

Apple's operating system is 

quite different from a PCs

and I am step…by…slow...step

learning the ins and outs.

One thing I have learned during this process is that

you CAN teach an old dog new tricks…

it just takes a LOT longer.

Woof, woof...

Our 2013 Holiday Show

We finally have things back in order after our

2013 Holiday  Show and Sale.

This was our fifth year,

and I think one of our most special shows.

We call ourselves the 

"Friends of Buttermilk Cottage"

and each year, 

for the weekend before Thanksgiving,

the ten of us 

turn my house into a boutique,

present our work from the year,

and host a show and sale.

Fiber is our specialty.

Our work ranges from practical,

to whimsical.

Several of us love to up cycle.

There are some amazing things you can

create with used sweaters!

But newly knitted sweaters can also be found here!

My hand knitted sheep ornaments 

and some Sweater Pillow covers.

My sister Nancy was into succulents this year.

Felted dryer balls by Karen were new this year and will

probably be in many Christmas stockings!

Nancy's newest passion is

felted wreaths from up cycled sweaters.

Some of Reneau's turned wood mushrooms.

Ann, who started keeping bees a few years ago,

has developed a wonderful line of soaps, lotions and balms.

Marianne has been developing her

jewelry line and produces some wonderful things.

Ann's honey is the best I have ever tasted and was

totally sold out by the end of the show.

We could even supply your gift decorations with 

Elisabeth's sweet tags.

Over view of the living room, umm... boutique.

Carolyn's newest design this year is the "Leisa Wrap."

Some of my Sweater Pillows.

Each year I make spiced nuts,

and brownie kits.

Hand made ornaments are always a specialty at our show.

These are hand knitted, beaded ones made by Anne,

and some of my up cycled sheep ornaments.

We always have a wonderful selection of bags.

This is one of Katherine's felted ones and

one of Carolyn's felted ones.

Manning the show

once our customers arrived.

Hope you've enjoyed these glimpses of this year's show.

It was a wonderful event!

Linking this week to:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

My Quilted Pillow Holiday Collection

(Today I am repeating part of a previous post.
It was originally published December 20, 2010.
You can find the original post here.
I'll explain why at the end.)

I adore quilts.

In my "next" life,

I might even become a quilter.

However, knitting is my passion in this life.

Therefore, I don't make quilts.

I have made a couple in the past, so I know what

a major project one is.

Thus, I've contented myself with making quilted

pillows instead of full sized quilts.

I've limited my quilted pillows to Christmas ones.

Several years ago I decided

I would make one new design each year,

then in a few years time,

I would have a lovely collection

to bring out at holiday time.

This is the first one I did.

I always quilted the year the pillow was made

somewhere on it,
so I can tell you without a doubt, 
this one is from 1991.

Here is 1993's pillow.

Unfortunately, I did not continue the tradition to present,

but, I did do it enough years to accrue a nice collection of
Christmas pillows.

This Celtic braid pillow is from 1994.
That was the first year I was part owner in a yarn shop
with four other dear friends.
Each of them got one of these pillows that year.
(That was almost like making a full quilt!)

This is one of my favorites.
You can see the year, 1995,
quilted in the center.

Now,  my reason for reposting...
I love my collection of quilted holiday pillows.
However, these days I am in a smaller house
and find my holiday decorating has
become a bit more streamlined.
These pillows are too special
to keep packed away,
so I have decided to let them go.
So, if you'd like to purchase 
one of them, please visit my
Etsy shop
and read about each one.
Perhaps each one will find
a new home to help decorate
at holiday time!