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! 

What Became of All Those Holiday Sweaters...

...we ALL used to wear?

My sister Nancy, I'm guessing about 25 years ago...

 ...wearing a sweater I knit for her.

At that time I had a knitting business called

"White on White."

This was my nifty label,

designed by my friend Mark.

This sweater was very popular

and I knitted a boatload of them.

Back to my original question,

"What did become of those sweaters?"

If they're lucky they get re purposed into fun holiday

up cycled  "sweater pillows!"

The thing about a well made, hand knit sweater

is that is will last forever!

By the way, I had one too!

Nancy and me proudly wearing our holiday sweaters!

(I have loved sheep for a very long, long time.) 

A little confession...

I still have mine and manage to wear it 

a least a time or two during the holiday season.

But that's okay because...

Hold the phone!

They're making a comeback!

Have you seen the current,

December 2013 copy of

GLAMOUR Magazine?

Linking with:
Time Travel Thursday at Brambleberry Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Give Me the Good Monday at Rain on a Tin Roof

I Am Lovin' this Tray from IKEA!

I am in love with this simple, metal tray from IKEA.

It is not new.  

It has been in their regular stock for some time.

However, I find myself reaching 

for another one each time 

I make trip to IKEA.

Which is not that often, 

since a road trip is necessary.

It is called ROMANTISK 

and retails for $10.00

I find them handy in places all over my house.

They are great to corral books and magazines

in the bedroom.

Have a dark bookcase?

They make great backdrops

to lighten up a dark area.

How about in the living room,

atop a stool to give a little extra height  

to an end table?

By the way,

isn't my lamp gorgeous?

It was hand woven by my 

friend Katherine, 

who is an outstanding basket weaver.

This week I found another use for my

favorite tray.

I have wanted a chalkboard in my kitchen

and created the perfect one!

Bet you could find all sorts of handy places for one too!

Linking this week with:
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple
Brag About It Tuesday at BeBetsy andVMG206
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

The Yellow Painted Wardrobe

Don't you just love it when a project

turns out as you envisioned it in your head?

An ongoing project for me since last year

has been to lighten up my house a bit.

This is the view from the front door 

inside my entrance.

I know,

a lot of brown,

a lot of wood.

I have had this wardrobe for a long, long time.

Its size is perfect for its space

and since I do not have a coat closet

it is a great place to hang my coat.

It is a given for me that I will not be

painting the oak wood that is a part of the house

(i.e. stairs, room divider, woodwork, etc).

So, I have been debating painting the wardrobe

since last Spring when I painted the one above,

in my bedroom.

Yes, I'll do it.

No, better not.

Yes, no, yes, no.

I've gone back and forth for months.

About two weeks ago something popped up 

on my Facebook feed from HOUSE BEAUTIFUL Magazine,

titled something like "How to Make Your Home Look Happy."

One of the suggestions was to add a "pop of color" 

to your entrance.

That was the just the push I needed.

I love the mustard yellow background

in one of the fabrics of my window treatments.

That was the color I would go for.  

I found it in Lowe's Valspar, "Autumn Moon."

I also decided I was going to use chalk paint

since I had had good luck with it with my

other wardrobe.

My chalk paint inspiration is from Sherry at

No Minimalist Here.

She's the expert and you can get more info 

about the technique from her.

So last weekend, I finally took the plunge.

The wardrobe is a BIG piece of furniture,

so it would have to be painted inside.

I emptied it out, 

moved it away from the wall,

and spread plastic.

Here goes.

First coat on.

This is always the point when I think,

"Have I made a horrible mistake???"

Carry on and paint another coat.

Then came the "distressing."

This was the step that gave me the most anxiety

since I had not done it before.

However, I watched several You Tube videos and

stoked my courage.

.

I could not be more pleased.

My test of success is,

if I saw this piece in an antique store,

what would I think of it?

My answer,

"Wow, that piece would be PERFECT

for my entrance!"

Linking this week at:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Give Me the Goods Monday at Rain on a Tin Roof
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Open House Party Thursdays at No Minimalist Here

Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted in Thyme

Our fight continues.

You can read Pinky's story here.