Christmas party, lovely

Being with the antique collector's group I have been part of for so many years is a recurring joy. So true that we can make new friends, but we cannot make old friends! A Christmas party with 18 of us in attendance at Barbara's home helped get the season really under way. The first thing we were treated to was a stunning punch bowl arrangement, with a ring of gorgeous stone fruit around a bowl full of bourbon slush. This icy delight was like a slurpy for grown ups, or a soft bourbon snow cone. May Santa bring something so nice to you too! Lunch was a green salad and a large mug of hot bean and cheese and celery soup, and a pretty helping of bread pudding to follow. Barbara's Christmas collection is awesome, and her lovely old naive paintings are every where. The deer painting is an almost life size head.

After the luncheon, two friends stopped by our house to see how Jack and I have decorated so far. We do not have a large number of Christmas collectibles, so we go in for more wreaths and greenery, and of course our trees.
Here are some photos to share from the party yesterday. Warmly, Edyth

Another package to go today!

Today I am packing a vintage doll from Helen in Weatherford, another vintage doll, a boy, from Ann in Fredericksburg, the doll I finished over the weekend, And another marvelous doll quilt, this one from Lori in MI. Lori that is the best looking pink on the back, is it still available so that I may purchase some of it for doll clothing? I would love it in pink, or brown.. if wishes were horses, beggars would ride, my mama always said.

A doll shower is beginning.

Thank all of you who have responded with a doll and in other ways. The group photo represents a package sent to our honoree on Friday. They are even more wonderful in person! The little doll size Log Cabin Quilt is the work of talented quilter friend Martha. Awesome! One of these dolls came all the way from Nebraska. Be sure to click on the photos to see them larger. I made a simple dress for my little cloth girl today, the doll just loves the color! I hope to mail a second package of a few dolls early in the week. Warmly, Edyth

Women power! An opportunity to help our sister!

Dear Friends, This email below is from a quilting friend who is no longer able to get out and about much. Is there any way we can give her a shower of black rag dolls, a beautiful Christmas project? She has always been a textile person with good taste and tiny stitches and a good woman who once helped many others. For privacy you may ship them to me and I will forward them? I can stitch up something and send! Will picture that! If more come I will picture them here on this blog. Edyth Email follows:

I was goingn to call you, but it's very dark up here i North Texas, and I don,t want to get youout of bed. 'm about ready for a nice,l hot
bath, but don't want to waste that effort til I am reasonably sur \e that I can get to sleep.

I think that I reaally need a confession time. Throwing rocks over the fence would be more satisfying, but might get cajught, evem if we do bvaaaack up to a vacant lot!! That is a real p;lus.

I have been yearning for a black rag doll. Since I can't drive anywhere, and even though I watch the sky in case one should happen
to falll in my yard , but no luck so far. f my nerves weren 't so frazzled I could make one as a last resort. There's no need to blow my
blood pressure our the roof over it. At least that is what I keep telling myself, and there certainly isn't anyone around here that cares.

I'm fast getting bey;ond beyond being able to think or see what 'm doling (I yhinkF) so I might as well go on to bed. I still want a black
rag doll, period. I'm getting old, fast and I don't need any more reason!!!!!!11So there.

Do you think should get a hot bath and call it quits! I thought it was 9i.30, but it is onlyh 7:30. I know how to fix that ___don't
look at my watch anymore.. I'm still okay, because no one from from South Presa has tried to pick me up yet!!! OOps, I think
that someon mayh be pulling into my drivesway. I'm sure it will all get better her. Go aheaad - reassure me!!!!!!! ove, (name)

Lillian's lovely blue staffordshire

Lillian's lovely blue staffordshire glows a rich saphire color in our dining room. Almost forty years ago I met Lillian O'Neill in Ft Worth where we were both living in the same neighborhood, and both collected Blue Staffordshire. She was a collector, an artist and a lovely woman, I could not have guessed that in time she would become my mother in law. She had such an eye for beauty! One of the jewels we have now from her collection is this tiny child's tea cup and saucer. The scene is that of cows and a milk maid. It is thin and delicate and early, perhaps 1825 or 30.

Dear Rose Ellen, Thank you for a beautiful picture of Panther pond woods
dusted lightly with snow this morning. I can see it in my mind's eye. We
had our first real frost last night, Jack covered the tomatoes lightly with
a blanket, will have to see if they made it. There are still a lot of green
tomatoes not large enough to pick.

Fall is bright and pretty for us this year. Part of our family will have
Thanksgiving lunch with Granddaughter Sarah and her family. My Jack will
cook the Turkey here and carry it with us. We will take 4 pies and my
brother in Austin will come with Hyde Park fudge cake, a famous treat from
an Austin bakery. We will also have friends and family in and out here at
home with plenty of pies and tea. Jack's Pecan pie is much celebrated!

A Connecticut friend sent a box of bittersweet branches last month, they are
decorating our breakfast room. I have faux berries in wreaths and
candle wreaths for the dining room and more on the front porch with a
pumpkin. We have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

Christmas decorating will replace it all this next Friday! Already I am
enjoying the CD's of Christmas music. And the dolls have put their
Christmas tree up this week, a precious old feather tree with ornaments
carefully collected back since we moved. Happy Thanksgiving to you and
yours. Warmly, Edyth
Please click on the photos to make them larger

I hear Christmas is coming

Doll making friends Elaine and Martha came to Fredericksburg Sunday for a visit. While we had pumpkin nut bread and tea in the kitchen, the dolls had a party of their own in the dining room. Look how many dolls Elaine has made and finished since the last visit a few months back! The red bed is one I got at the Withington Auction in October, Martha made a precious quilt for it that just fits!

The Belsnickle in a blue coat is one I made in 1986, he lives with my daughter Beth. I enjoy him because he is a doll not just a figure. When it is not Christmas season, he can take off his coat and show off neat little every day clothes. His beard is quilted as are his applied ears. He is a cloth doll with oil painted face and hair.

At our house, I always get a feather tree up for the dolls before our main tree. I started that today, Monday. Old dolls look their best at Christmas around a tree, or at least nearby.

Maybe you know what Flash mobs are, here is a video of something wonderful created by a flash mob technique. My friend Virginia sent it to me, she is a bit my senior and is always on the cutting edge of technology, with what her husband described as the fastest double click in the West!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=player_embedded