Amazing Christmas Ornament Wreaths

Just a little post with some gorgeous ornament wreaths that my friends and I have made over the years. 

This one is LaVern's. I love the traditional colors. 

The red one is Wendy's, it has snatches of other vintage Christmas items, like a grouping of jingle bells, and old Christmas light reflectors! 

How stunning is this second wreath of Wendy's with pastel colors? 

This one hangs on Joanne's front door. It seems to be made of sterner stuff!  Don't you love the beaded garland draped on this one? 

Last of all is my pink ornament wreath. I made it 6 years ago, and loved it so much that I left it up in my dining room all year that first year. 

I still love ornament wreaths. Maybe I'll make a pink and red one for Valentines.  ... Oops gotta go, I think I saw some heart shaped ornies out there .... Somewhere ...

Jo Packham's Amazing Remodeling Sale!

So, have you ever had the thought, 'if I don't do this I'll regret it?  

Well that is what I felt when I saw this on IG posted by wherewomencreate last week. Jo Packham, who is the editor of the Somerset magazine that bears her IG account name, lives in a town 90 minutes north of me.

I've been addicted to a few of the Somerset  Magazines for a long, long time, after being introduced by my friend Stacy of Stacysshabbyshoppe fame 

Timing couldn't have been worse. My calendar for the week was overflowing... The day of the sale  I was scheduled to work and had the opening slot for a progressive Christmas home decor event that evening. 

Nevertheless I heeded that voice ...

Here I am with Jo and Joanne, whom I enlisted in the insane plan!  Meeting Jo was great. Such a kind and generous person!!

So much fun eye candy ... Is this the sweetest tree ever?  At $500 it was a budget buster for me!  But still ...

... I adored it... After all I do have Elphaba on my license plate!  

There were goodies too

This shard tiled washstand was a huge temptation too!

And for my cubby, multi-drawer loving self, this one was hard to leave behind. 

And, as always, architectural salvage is hard to resist.

So many wishes, and this German glass glittered wish, left behind because it was unreachable, typifies our feelings as we left this charming space with arms full of treasures!! 

I thought you might enjoy seeing my bounty!

Repro locker baskets!! 

A charming cupboard made from reclaimed wood and part of an old teller's cage!! 

A sweet set of fancy sewing machine drawers.

And best of all, is this drawer set, which was actually made by Jo...

On which she decoupaged the art work prints of friends!  What an heirloom. It will take a major shakeup in my craft room to fit it in, but then my craft room definitely needs a shake up What a great project for January!

Thanks for joining me for part of my perfect day, and no, I don't regret loosing a day working!  So glad Joanne is such a good sport!!  Thanks to Joanne and Jo! 

Breakfast in Bethlehem

Come along with me to the market in Bethlehem and have breakfast! 

The townspeople begin to gather ....  

A boy buys bread for a penny at Ruth's Bakery ... 

People line up for new wine and fruit juices at the Bishop's 'Winery'. 

There are fresh fruits at the fruit market ... 

and savory meats at the meat market too! 

I'm just glad they subbed biscuits to go with the gravy at 'Ye Olde Bethlehem Inn'

One young wife, separated from her loving husband, somehow finds a way to communicate with him far away... (He's on a humanitarian trip in the Himalayas.) 

The Bishop's is able to talk to him too...

Many of the towns' people wear elaborate garb ... 

Some not so much. 

This Sister even sports an anachronistic arm devise!  ... and I'm not the only one preserving memories! 

Everyone is gathered to see a historic pageant! 

The Inn Keeper share's his story .... 

The Village Children join in sacred song!  

The Shepards add to the story ... 

And three wise travelers tell what they saw! 

Mary and Josroh share their experience ... 

And then a rendition of 'Mary Did You Know' that was so stunningly beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. 

The Villagers were mesmerized ! 

Last of all, my dear husband concluded the program! 

I wanted to give credit to the master minds who made it all happen... They are members of the High Priest Group leadership (the men's group in our congregation) and their help meets. 

Another help meet, 

And her husband, whose doing a bit of help meeting himself, helping their daughter wrangle her youngsters.  

The others are the innkeeper and the baker, already pictured, they round out the group of worker bees who did such a great job! 

... And just a few more fun pictures of villagers .... 

And a picture to represent villagers who came dressed as time travelers, like me! 

I also had to share this anachronism. Everyone's favorite history professor shows the mountain climbing staff he used climbing mountains in Japan, the year I was born ... It was branded for a farthing (or something) at each site!  

It was awesome and now you know just when I was born! 

Last of all, our bishop poses, in his awesome costume, with one of garden slaves I bought last spring at the Girls' camp fund raiser.  I've so come to love these girls (Did you notice this is the third picture I took of her?  Her compatriot missed the event, and I missed her 😔) 

Thanks for coming along to Bethlehem. I hope it will help you remember the reason we celebrate Christmas, I know it helped me!