marymarcotte.com

Tag: Christmas

  • Christmas… is it really over?

    Not in the Marcotte home. We always wait until after Epiphany to take down the tree, pack up the nativity, and roll up the leftover paper. The wise men need to visit, after all. It gives me some down time to truly appreciate our many blessings.

    Meanwhile, I’ve been working on the last of the grandie quilts (more on that later) and embroidering some small Christmas ornaments for the coming year.

    This embroidery business is taking over! It started with the nativity scenes that are on the tree now. Then, we discovered another stash of thread in my mother-in-law’s things. I decided to put those on reels and add them to my already huge collection.

    But I saw a squirrel of snowflakes on another blog and followed the link. I am now the happy owner of 400+ embroidery motifs. Of course, it took a long minute to figure out how to print what I needed. Adobe couldn’t just do! So I created my own snowflakes to practice on. Not bad, really, but now I can do it correctly. Hopefully I’ll get better results.

    I started just folding the fabric to find the center and used the creases to draw lines with a Frixion marker, which is removed with heat. The designs are stitched in an improv manner.

    Finally, this afternoon I finagled a solution and printed my first snowflakes. Aren’t these going to be sweet? I was able to reduce them to fit my 2.5″ embroidery frames, which will also hold the pieces for hanging.

  • Catching up for Christmas Eve

    Back in August a former student contacted me and asked that I make quilts for her two boys. She had been saving their matching tees for a couple of years and had enough to make each boy his own small quilt. They are meant to be quilts to cuddle under while watching TV or playing games. Read the post about the trials and tribulations of these quilts here.
    Although she posted a picture of the two boys on Facebook, I decided to block out their faces for my own social media.
    Today, I rummaged around in some scrap fabric that a friend gave me. Pamela owns a drapery shop called Window Accents, LLC, so everything she gives me is heavy. There’s the occasional embroidered silk, as well. Though most of the pieces are small, many of the pieces are large enough to make big bags and other projects. Today I found a long sheer gold piece and made a scarf for Christmas. I bought a red knit dress but it’s rather plain, so this should dress it up a little. We’ll see.
    Then I decided to make the Christmas stockings that have been on my mind since I made these above for another client.
    The only real difference is the fabric. Isn’t it amazing? I used the same pattern for both sets.
    The one on the left is Richard’s, and the right is for me. If you pan in on the individual stockings, you can see that the fabrics coordinate, and I used the same fabric for the cuff. This is meant to make them dressy but not overly matchy. What do you think? Isn’t it a great idea for scraps?
    Here’s wishing you and yours a beautiful, merry Christmas with family and friends.

  • CQG Christmas and Surprising News

    The Cotton Quilters Guild had a wonderful Christmas party at the beginning of the month. We celebrated with turkey and all the trimmings, including delicious sweet potatoes, green beans, and rolls. The cornbread dressing was the best! Better than Richard’s mom used to be (back when she cooked) …and hers was fabulous.

    Of course, everyone had time to visit and chat. We ended the party with a wild game of “Dirty Santa.” It’s always fun when Mrs. Virgina gets serious. She wanted that organizer in the photo above. Mrs. Ramona was having none of it. However, it was all in fun, so Mrs. Virgina got the organizer…for a short minute. In the end, everyone ended up with a great gift. One lady even got a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.

    Since we started early, to have time for lunch, we closed out 2023 meetings early. But wait! There’s more!

    We also voted for new officers. Guess who is the new president? You’ve got it, moi! We were desperate, I suppose, because there were options. I’m thinking maybe it’s because they like me but love my competition. Regardless, we are going to have fun.

    And, do you remember my free improv class? Oh, yes, they are going to be my guinea pigs, because it’s also going to serve as the block of the month for CQG. I mean, I have to do the work. This way, I’ll get double duty from the work. Smart, no? Well, we’ll see. I’ll post pictures of CQG blocks. They also know how to access my blog, both to review the directions and to post photos.

  • Christmas 2021 Fare Thee Well

    Mr. and Mrs. Santa, as Milly calls them, set a backdrop for a few of my small Christmas decor pieces.
    I’m hoping that your family is well and ready to ring in the new year. We have several sick ones–a positive for Covid, a couple of ear infections, and a stomach bug making its rounds–but we’re all here! We spent Christmas with the kids, grandchildren and great-grandies. Some came and went; others ate lunch and stayed for supper; and one or two I barely saw. Of course, those one or two are the teenagers. I don’t expect them to hang out with the old folks.
    More of my tablescape, though I can see that little fingers moved a few things, as I expected! Because it’s all handmade, everything can be replaced.
    And hang out we did. The weather was picnic perfect! So, we made good use of it and ate Christmas lunch alfresco on the patio. Or, as we say in French, “en plein air.” It was a strange Christmas anyway. After the turkey disaster at Thanksgiving, we decided that we wouldn’t trust another turkey for Christmas. We bought a beef brisket and made a stew! Richard also boiled a picnic ham (how perfect, right?) and we enjoyed all the sides we never have. It was stress-free because what’s to stress about when the expectations are turned upside-down?
    Instead of a tiered tray, I decided to open this antique unabridged dictionary (to the page with noel) and use it. My sister, Sid, gave it to me years ago. It’s one of my all-time favorite gifts.
    We piled on chairs, benches, crates, whatever and opened gifts outside and laughed and created memories that the kids will (hopefully) remember for a long while. Here’s hoping the weather cooperates next Christmas, because my house stayed clean. I told you…. strange!
    Richard and I decided it’s time to get a grown-up nativity set, so this is our gifts to each other.
    The Wise Men and their camels are crowded into a little corner, but they are here, paying homage as should we all. Merry Christmas
    After the nativity arrived, Richard was so impressed that he quickly built a stable. I worried that it would be too big, but no, he has an eye for these things. He also promised to rework it so that it won’t be quite so crowded. My question is where will we put anything bigger?!
    But we have a full year to solve that issue. For now, I’ll enjoy the season, and it has been perfect in its own strange way. How was your Christmas? Leave links in your comments so I can come by and say hello!

  • Five Ways with Tiered Trays

    Have you been considering using tiered trays in your decor? If so, I have ideas to help you get started.

    1. Start easy — use what you already have!
    Do you have decorative balls, pinecones, or ornaments? Those will definitely work. Do you see that green gingham tree? It could not be more ugly! But it blends beautifully.
    Get a little creative and wrap one of the deco balls with yarn or string. Drop your pinecone into a candle wreath. Voila!

    2. Use color or not.

    I used a light green and natural neutrals, including the burlap bow. Notice the touches of red that add depth without overpowering?

    3. Make your own. Everyone loves handmade these days!

    I made the tree, the beaded string, and the birdnest.

    4. Include signs and phrases that you want to share with family and friends.

    Hand-written “Do not open till Christmas” made of poster board and pretty paper.

    5. Toss in some tiny little objects that you can pick up at the dollar stores.

    Bells, a stack of tiny gifts, natural items, cute bows. Any items that you probably won’t put on your tree.

    And here’s a freebie: things don’t have to match in size or scale, though it helps if you chose one or two colors and stick to them. Share pictures of your tiered tray with me at mary.marcotte@gmail.com. I’ll include them in another post.

  • CQG Christmas Party 2021 and My Costly Faux Pas

    The Cotton Quilters’ Guild had a lovely Christmas party. The food, catered from Bernard’s Catering, was delicious. Each person brought a small gift and we played “dirty Santa,” the game in which players can “steal” from someone who has a gift you’d like to have.

    Christmas wishes to all

    I walked away with a portable pressing mat, though I had to steal two gifts to get it. Gratefully, two people had brought mats. However, something transpired, thanks to my goofiness, that had everyone laughing until the very end.

    Dirty Santa gifts (and a rogue $20)

    I don’t think I’ll forget this faux pas in a long time. Here’s how it went down: I had a nice gift. Though I don’t remember what it was. I wrapped it in a fat quarter of beautiful Christmas fabric. All is good. Until Mrs. Smittie opened the gift.

    One of Sheila’s quilts from 2020 served as a nice backdrop for the serving line.

    There was a $20 tucked in the fabric! It was the money that I slipped into my bag to pay my dues! Oh my goodness! As soon as I saw it…

    Another of Sheila’s Christmas quilt was part of the decorations.

    In the end I got up and asked her if I could have it back! Yes, rude. But it all happened so fast that I didn’t really know what I was doing. At the least, I did ask her if I could have the money back. I don’t think I waited for an answer though. I’m not terribly sure. I apologized after the game was over.

    Smittie is such a sport. She noted that it was worth putting in her own $20 just for the laughs that we all had.Was I embarrassed? Well, yes, but also no. Everyone knows me and just accept me for who I am. If I make some kind of goof, it’s just something funny that happened.

    I’m taking just enough mental health medicine to embolden me and allow me to be authentic. It’s so freeing!No one expects anything else. I can be myself, laugh, and have a grand time. Then go home and tell Richard about my latest gaffe.

    After all that silliness, we needed something different, so we had a short show and tell. Then it was time to clean and pick up grandchildren from school. Before you go, here are two links you might want to visit: our last CQG Christmas party and my Pinterest board of handmade angels.

  • Baby, It’s Cold Outside. How Do Animals Do This?

    If you’re wondering what animals I’m referring to in the title, it’s all of them. My own sweet grands included. We visited the Alexandria Zoo to see their Christmas lights. Naturally it was dark but it was also cold. Breezy cold. I had a hat, gloves, coat, and boots. And I shivered.

    Hats, gloves, coats, boots. Yes, it’s going to be cold.

    I suppose if I were honest, it wasn’t quite that bad. The kids were fine, but they also move faster and more than I do. Most of the furry animals were sleeping. It was nighttime, after all. The owls did’t like the disturbance so much. The kids were appreciating the quiet couple when suddenly one flapped its wings and all six kids jumped off the bench.

    Meme didn’t fair so well as she landed rather hard, but she recovered well. The surprise gave everyone a good laugh. Also, the grownups didn’t have to remind the kiddos to be careful, quiet, slow down, walk, etc. quite as often.

    Playing by the Les Whitt statue. Les was a leader in zoology and raised funds for the Alexandria Zoo.

    It was rather kind of the owl to help out a bit, even though our party had more adults than kids. We walked around the park twice and cut through the center pavilion several times.

    Everyone take a picture with Santa!

    Once the crowd dwindled, we joined the Santa line. The little ones loved it. Since there were so few people, the kids got to take photos in family groups and all together. Santa was a good sport.

    Pappy and Meme racing down the slide.

    A jaunt through the playground to burn the last of the big and small kids’ energy and we were ready for goodbyes. I recommend you .

  • Farm Fresh Christmas Trees… But for How Long?

    I have a booth at Griffins Antiques where I can sell a few items. To that end, I’ve been making mostly Christmas trees: they are easy enough and fun. I especially like that I’ve been using some of the items from my stash of crafty stuff. (As opposed to sewing/quilting stuff.) It’s wonderful to have an idea for something and, voila!, everything is at my fingertips. I love that. I also love when the idea pans out. And I love sharing some of my creations.

    If I can dream it up, I make it. Little, green, bottle brush trees on slices of wood, simetimes with a deer or two. Siver bottle brush trees in glass, which I call “Forest in Glass” and add lots of faux snow to.

    Wooden trees that I conned Richard into cutting for me. (It’s his own fault that he has the extra work since he adamantly refuses to teach me how to use “the dangerous machines.”) Of course, all I have to do is draw a shape on a piece of scrap wood, and ta-daa, they arrive cut and sanded. All I have to do is paint, decoupage, distress, stain or whatever I can come up with.

    While I was researching trees, thanks Pinterest, I found inspiration for a couple of really elegant, high-end trees. These would be beautiful on a mantel or dinner table. Though they are all on the same pedestal, the trees are different heights and diameters, so they nestle together beautifully. What do you think? Would you incorporate them into your tablescape?

    It was difficult putting these into my booth. But I can’t possibly use all the items I make. I do not decorate that much! So into the booth they went, with tiny hopes that they don’t really sell. 🙂

    Most of what I make and put into my booth are one-of-a-kind pieces. It’s difficult enough to make a matching set of anything, like these ornaments, so making ten or 25 of something? No way!

    If a customer sees anything she likes, like a Christmas tree, she’d better snatch it up because, very likely, there won’t be another. (The moment it stops being fun, I quickly move on–probably to something like on this Pinterest board. But if you see something especially fun, come back and tell me. I love suggestions.

  • Christmas Crafting and Now Three

    The Christmas crafting continues! I’m having a great time making all sorts of little crafts, both for our tree and for my booth at Griffins. We just had a Christmas openhouse and there was a great turn out. I signed a few books and sold a couple of the bead ornaments.

    Little blocks that I covered in Christmas hymns and then finished off with greenery, berries, etc. from my stash.

    Richard and I love, love, love our grandchildren. Babysitting one for two or three days a week makes for a busy but happy day. Babysitting has become a whole different world for us. Now, before hearing my sob story, know that I agreed to the new arrangements and am thrilled to have this time with our little ones. Plus, Dusti loves her new position at the bank.

    Six ornaments from one session of Christmas crafting

    But I do have a sob story: we are now the happy owners of three child pickup details. Richard drops Meme off in Bunkie in the morning. In the afternoon, I pick Marley up in Cottonport, deliver her home, then pick up Meme. Thank goodness, there are only 10-12 miles between the two schools.

    And then there’s the internet business. Actually, there’s NO internet business of any kind. I’ve (finally) resolved the problems with the website security. However, to publish this post, I went to Cottonport extra early, and sat in the pick-up line to work on the computer.

    The Evergreen bandwidth must be diverted to Cottonport, because it’s lightning fast there and nonexistent here. Since I haven’t posted anything since the Christmas tree post here, I thought I’d share my “diy craft make” board again. And now, for me, it’s back to the Christmas crafting. Thanks for visiting!

  • Christmas On The Lowdown–Crafting Ornaments

    Have you been thinking of Christmas? I’ve been doing some Christmas crafting. Finishing the findings tree encouraged me to make a couple of ornaments for the real tree. I make a few ornaments every year: here are 2019 and 2020

    Pearl hanging ornaments with touches of blue…
    my favorites thus far

    We’ve been reading and seeing reports that it will be extremely difficult to find gifts, food, and decor. I’m not terribly concerned about our family Christmas. We seem to pull through regardless of the commercial status. That’s one of the positives of celebrating the religious season rather than the commercialism.

    Ornaments in green and pearl

    Admittedly, when the boys were still living at home, the house was new, and we had more company, I decorated like a crazy woman. But I always found the after-Christmas clean up was just terribly depressing. Then so much in our life changed. In one year we went from a house full (there were eight of us here) to empty-nesters. My mom became sick. Richard’s dad had a tramatic brain injury from an accident. There were littles all over the place.

    It was just too much. I dreaded the thought of dragging everthing out and then cleaning, organizing and storing all that “stuff.” We. Okay, I opted for the Christmas tree, the nativity creche, and minimal decor. Nothing extravagant. It was the answer to so many issues!

    Except. (Isn’t there’s always a “but”?) I enjoy crafting. I especially enjoy crafting Christmas decor. So I missed that. Granted, every year I make a couple of ornaments but, on a very small scale, it hasn’t really filled my need. Surely, there’s an easy fix.

    Two wire angels and hanging ornaments in purple and teal.

    I have enjoyed making these little hanging ornaments. Now that they are “finished,” I’ve had yet another idea, so they may change once again. We’ll see. Most importantly though, the season fills me with joy, and crafting brings the season on just a little earlier.