Recent Photos

These are Christmas Candles that Mom has put in her window for years.  I just love them.  They are electric, red candles with clear plastic halos around the bulbs.  There is greenery on the front side.

I was home for 3 days over Christmas and the weather was very cold.  Plug in cars and stay inside as much as possible.  I'm so glad Mom and Dad can get their exercise in the hallways and stairways of their building now and do not have to go out in this cold.

I had to go outside in -30C degree weather to take this photo.  I have applied a watercolor filter to the photo.

This is so Christmas to me.

I brought home three of these clear plastic bells for my Christmas tree from my trip south to visit my niece a few days before Christmas.

Loving clear and glass things makes photography a challenge.  I set up the tripod and still took many shots to get a few in focus ones. 

We are stuck in a deep freeze here in Canada.  I know that areas on the east have lost power and received tons of snow so I am grateful "It's just cold!"  We have ski hills closed, New Year's festivities cut back or brought indoors.  I have been hibernating with tea, books and TV. We are going onto a week of crazy cold.

My Christmas have been placed on my card  holder.   Of course, much fewer than in others years.  There are some great ones though.  The 2 central ones in the photo are ones I especially like - the watercolor red poinsettia and the soft nativity in warm tones.  I received some lovely cards this year.















I finished this book this week which was recommended by my sister. It is a true account of the author's work in Pakistan to build schools to educate girls.  The book's title was inspired by a saying Haji Ali shared with Greg Mortenson: "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family..."^.

<sup>I found a Christmas mug at the thrift store while visiting my niece before Christmas.  Upon some research it is by Johnson Brothers - Victorian Christmas coffee mug.  One of my favorite makers. 

The bow is more burgundy than red which does not quite match my color scheme but I am happy with my purchase.  I had several to pick from and this one was light in comparison to the others and it just felt right.

Sharing with Share Your Cup #277 hosted by Jan at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson.

Through my Lens hosted my Mersad.</sup>

Merry Christmas to You!

I am wishing you all who visit my blog a very Merry Christmas.  Unplug and enjoy time with those that mean most to you.  I will be with family today!

You can check my Flickr photo stream.

Advent Wreath - Christmas Day

Light all the purple candles and the white candle

Read Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 2:1-20

We praise you, Lord God, because on this day, your Word became flesh in our Savior Jesus Christ, was born of a woman, and walked among us as a man. Help us to imitate your incarnation, by manifesting our faith in our conduct as well as in our speech. To you, O Lord, we give our honor, praise, worship, and love, in the most holy and precious name of the One who is born today; because He lives and reigns with you in your glory, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Advent Wreath - Christmas Eve - PEACE

I lit the 4th PEACE candle on my Advent wreath today. 

Lord God, we light this candle to thank you for your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace. We who live in discord and strife have found peace in the promise of eternal life, through Jesus Christ. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus' name, because he lives and reigns with you in your glory, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Recent Photos

I lit three candles on my advent wreath.  I have added a tall slim glass in the center for the fifth candle which makes up the wreath. 

I love the warmth of real tealight candles.


I read this book recently about a woman who connects with an Amish woman.  A storm keeps them together and an emergency forces them to see what is important at Christmas time.
Family tops the list.

I have been adding to my collection of blue and white pieces. 

I bought the ceramic decor ball with floral elements a couple weeks ago.  I was looking for a base to use to display it.  I found this rice bowl with the right colors and pleasing patterns. 

The small vase is only 4 inches tall but has pleasing floral decor.

The set of napkin rings in alternate blue & white and the alternate colors.  Lovely floral decor.  They are hexagonal.

I have a full shelf and a good number of items to develop table still lifes in the new year.

I have been looking for a cheese board for a while.  While vising my niece we had a couple hours to visit the local Goodwill.  A new store which was large and well organized.  The photo on the left is what it looked like before I transformed it.  I wanted to be able customize the board for the seasons.  I was able to remove the photo on the bottom of the glass with my heat gun.  Now I can add a doily or other seasonal decor under the glass. Love it!

I am currently reading this book which is about a woman at crossroads in her life. She has some amazing events take place for her.  I look forward to the rest of the book and how her life improves.

Sharing with Share Your Cup 275 hosted by Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs Olson.

Christmas Card - Poinsettia

This card headed to a friend with a photo calendar for Christmas.  There is plenty of room in the card to accommodate the 4x6 photo calendar.

It is a sample from a previous class but I chose to change the material for the flower.  You see that one here.

It is also her birthday so a card is also included to remember that event.

Mosaic Monday - Christmas Decor

I spent some time at a local nursery which does up Christmas in a big way.

There must have been 40 trees set up with several types of needles. Many were green, some silver, and even a few black ones.  The ornaments came in every color of ornament possible.  Red, blue, purple, silver, lime green, and cream/ivory to mention a few.  Some of the decor was rustic with wool, wood, and natural elements; some were glitzy with silver and sparkly ornaments; and some in the traditional colors of red and green. Ribbon in wide, organza, cotton, narrow and everything in between.

Several folks were asking about clearance or sales items and there were not to be had they were told by staff.  I guess they must practice true Boxing Day specials.

The gift area carries some lovely Christmas home decor items.  I found several really nice nativities with a life sized one being featured.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #66 hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.

Happy Birthday 80th

I made this card for a friend who is celebrating her 80th birthday.  I have been invited to a party for her this afternoon.

I wanted a larger card as I will include a 2018 Fridge Calendar.  I chose to make a 5x7 inch (A7) card. I started with the 3.5x5 inch photo of a pink cosmos.   I created the greeting layer and since this photo is not the same proportions of a 5x7 I had to adjust the border spaces.  I chose Regal Rose for the frame and Not Quite Navy for the greeting.  I printed the greeting layer then trimmed it close to the border. I adhered the photo above the words.

I chose a deep warm blue card and cut down the 8.5x11 to create the card.  I cut the 8.5 down to 7 1/8. Then I scored at 5 1/8th and folded then I trimmed the other half to be even with the front.

I chose to align the greeting layer with an even border on the top, left and bottom edges. That left a wider border on the right.  I decided to add some soft seam binding wrapped around the card front and tied in a knot on the left.  The greeting layer was then adhered over the ribbon onto the card front with 3D foam tape.  It adds a nice dimension to the card.

I can put an insert which measures the 5x7 on the inside and it is ready to give.  I chose a nice A7 envelope from Paper Garden - Pink Lemonade.

Recent Photos

It is the second week of Advent.

My Christmas cards are ready finally.  I guess it is like the cobbler whose children have no shoes.  I get my Christmas card orders done then I can get to my own.

Before craft sales came into my life I would have all my cards, my shopping done and parcels mailed off by December 1st.

Those were the days!

Take time this week, even just an hour to relax, have a cup of tea, put your feet up by the tree and enjoy Christmas.  My tree goes up today!

I was able to whip up a last minute gift this week because I had a Ready2Fill calendar left over from craft sales and 12 photos of various subjects in my photo organizer.

With a bit of double sided tape and some pressing this calendar will be headed off to its recipient.

My photo organizer is designed for cards but I use it to store my stock of photos.

It keeps them dry, dust free and out of the light.


I store the following.  Now they are all in one place and easy to find and labeled so I know if I have store of any particular size

• 3.5 x 4.75 for photo cards sorted by wide and tall
• 3.5 x 5.00 for half sheet calendars must be wide
• 4x6 photo calendars usually 4 different styles in any given year
• 4x6 photo for half sheet photo cards sorted by wide and tall
• 5x7 & 4x6 photos for framing sorted by wide and tall

Finished The Lilac Bus this week.  I generally love her books. This one was okay.  Story about how some residents from a small town in Ireland travel home from Dublin each weekend on the Lilac Bus.   Some are helping family with a local pub, some are keeping secret relationships and do not want questions asked,  and others miss their home town and friends so visit to catch up.

My Christmas Tree is up!!  It took a lot of plugging to the task to get it done.  It was not as easy as other years to keep motivated.  Not sure what is up with that.











I always put clear lights on the tree.  This year I chose to include mostly clear ornaments with a few precious ones from years past.  The one on the left is one I received from Mom when she downsized her collection which were on the tree when I was a kid.  Clear lights with a diffuser helps to spread the light. The one on the right is clear glass with wire wrapped around it. 

I set up Christmas tea this morning.   A Lancaster County Christmas adds to the background in the top left.  I realize I don't have a Christmas Teacup so I will on the search. I used my red mug with the white tea pot.  I brewed a spiced black tea in the Marsala tea.  Some yogurt and banana, 3 cheese tea biscuits and a couple sweets rounded out goodies today.

This Christmas candle centerpiece was a gift from my sister many years ago.  I added a safe battery operated pillar candle in the glass rose bowl and it was perfect. Set on a Battenburg lace doily and was the focal point on the table.

Sharing with

Friends Sharing Tea hosted by Bernideen
Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth

500 Tea Pots

I took this book out of the library this week.  What a pleasure to see all types of teapots.

Many in this book likely would not work very well for pouring tea but are interesting, racy, and very different.

The 3 on the right provide a range of the variety included in the book.

There were several tea sets in the book where either cups, or creamer and sugar containers were produced to match the teapot.  Some included a tray.  I chose this ivory with black and teal in the top left corner.

I love the glaze on the teapot in the top right hand corner.

I loved the colors and lines on the green and burgundy in the bottom left hand corner.  The one in the right hand bottom corner does not even look like a teapot.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.

I will track down the first volume of this book.  This one was great eye candy!

Tea Cup Set Card

I had a request from a friend for a card made with this tea cup set.  Here's the first card I made with this photo.

I trimmed the photo to 3.5x3.5 and added a light pink layer.  I printed the greeting on the same card stock in dark green ink.

The square element was adhered to the card front.  I ripped the top and bottom edge of the greeting and adhered that below the photo.

With the number of colors in the tea set the card colors I can use are varied.

She bought a few Christmas cards as well.

Recent Photos

We celebrated the first Sunday of Advent this week.  I put out my Advent Wreath which are a set of 4 glass vases with crackle glass votive holders. 

The bottom of the vase is filled with glass marbles and the candle in placed inside the holder. 

The vases are place on a glass charger plate with the space around covered in frosted glass marbles. 

I did not manage to find colored votive candles this year so they are all white.


It was Dad's 88th birthday this week so I was home on the weekend  to celebrate with 17 others for a great time with food and family.

I am still on the hunt for winter barn photos so I stopped several times on Sunday to take photos.  This one was well situated, not too many distractions but the sun refused to come out from behind the clouds so the image is not as great as it could have been.  It was 20 minutes down the road before the sun came out.  I'm glad I did not wait.

I caught good light on this building.  It is not a barn unfortunately but the snow was sparkling and the eves of the building were bright.

The clouds in the background were heavy on the horizon.  The fence posts provide some elements in the fore ground.

I dug out the Christmas Tea for my afternoon snack.

It is a black tea from Epicure which I purchased a while back.  It was good with a bit of honey and milk.







I had a mince meat tart which is one of my favorites with a little whipped cream.  Some tea biscuits with Black Current jelly.  These were left overs from our card making & quilting women's group get together on Monday night.  We sang songs, played a couple of games and had good fellowship with good finger food.

My photo calendars are available for purchase.  This is the Nice Cuppa one which features tea cups and mugs in the 2018 photo calendar.

You can check out my Calendar Page for details.

The Miniature Show reception was held on Friday evening.  The show runs to December 23rd.

I have my photo calendars on the first row of the display.

Christmas cards on the next couple of rows.

Fridge Calendars in both English and French versions on the bottom row featuring flower, nature and tea photos.

Sharing with the following:
Friends Sharing Tea hosted by Bernideen

Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth

Through My Lens hosted by Mersad

Christmas Card Order - Layered Cards

More cards in the Christmas Card order. 

This is the QuicKutz Nativity Border die cut in black card stock.  It was mounted in front of a gold stars on a white background card stock.  I chose a black card to repeat the black in the foreground.

I added a punched gold star with the Creative Memories Sparkle punch from sticker paper and adhered it to the star above the stable.

This is a lot of gluing to get it well adhered to the card.

This is a nativity graphic I found on the web. 

I created a graphic which included the holy family and a greeting. This was then printed on vellum and embossed with silver powder. It was trimmed close the border.

The vellum was layered onto a piece of blue alcohol ink background card stock I created a while ago. 

I added 4 tiny pewter colored brads in each corner.  I placed 3D foam on each corner and adhered this layer to the blue card front.

I chose several pieces of alcohol ink backgrounds. This card features some aqua background paper with coordinating card stock.

I created this card using the Penny Black Manger die on copper metallic card stock.  I added it to a green ornament die cut. This is the Sizzix Ornament #2.  It is held in place with a tiny copper star brad.  I added some dark brown seam binding on the ornament hanger. 

I embossed a piece of cream pearl card stock with the Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls folder.  I added it to the front of a dark brown card. 

The ornament was then adhered to the front the card with 3D foam ornament. 

I did a few with a cooler green colored ornament as well.

The order will be delivered today!

Christmas Card Order - My Photos

I had an order for manger cards again this year.

I made a few Christmas cards in this set with photos.  This one is the Nativity which used to sit in my office when I worked.

I love the stars in the deep purple sky.  The big star above the baby.  I used gold mesh as straw on the floor.

The blue green below is a batik wall hanging.

This one is burgundy velvet curtains in the background with gold holy family in the foreground. These had color printed frames.

 I photographed this holy family at a nativity display.  I replaced the background on this one with a purple handmade paper digital from my collection. 

I then added that to the solid 3.5x5 inch photo. 

I added the words from "O Holy Night" on the right hand side.  It was adhered to a deep purple card base.

This is my small nativity which I photographed a while back.  It comes out every year.

I cut the photo to almost square.  I mounted it to  a brown Tim Holtz Cameo Frame with 3D foam tape. 

This was adhered to a tan card. 

Recent Photos

I have been asked for barns in winter so on my way to a craft sale out of town on the weekend I stopped and snapped a few shots.

It was late afternoon and the sun was catching the grass in the front and make it brighter.  The white on the barn was also brightened.

Of course most folks would prefer a red barn and as luck would have it there was one of those as well.

There is not much snow yet but  there will be opportunities later in the winter for more snow in the shot.

Breakfast was near the couch this morning.  I have a new to me teapot.  I decided a needed only one more teapot and it should work with the blue dinnerware.  At the second hand store yesterday there it was and on sale to boot!

I prepared Earl Grey tea in it this morning.  I brought breakfast out on a large oval golden yellow tray.  I am using a bowl and mug from the said blue dinnerware.  Works well.













I found the book at another second hand store the other day.

I have not found much information about the teapot.  The label on the bottom has Signature Housewares Inc. on it. I see that Costco carries this brand so that may be it's origin.  It is a 4 cup which a perfect size for 2 people.

This is a book I read recently.

This girl is fed up with her job and has a dream to live in Paris when someone poses the question. "How money would it take for you to quit your job?" What an idea.

She applies herself to the numbers, once the number is determined she goes about to achieve it.

She does get to Paris but I will not give you the whole story in case you want to read.  I believe it is a true story and the Paris Letters were a small way to raise funds to support her stay there.

I am sharing with

Share Your Cup #274 hosted by Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson

Friends Sharing Tea hosted by Bernideen

Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth at Antiques and Tea Cups.