Valentine Swap

From Viv

 Happy February everyone! I have enjoyed this month so far. It has included a fun swap that Viv from Viv out on a Whim had this year! What a fun swap this was and a fun challenge for me, too!

We were to make a Valentine card and a decoration, and include lots of goodies or joy!

From Viv

 As, you can see, Viv really did a great job of spoiling me! I sure had fun opening each little present that she individually wrapped for me! I had an empty spot on my old Singer sewing machine which made a great place to put all her wonderful Valentines! She made a cute decorated Valentine box, a beautiful deer Valentine on a spool, a sweet girl on a swing, and the sweetest heart ornament with a key! She also included plenty of chocolate to keep me smiling, and some pretty towels for my kitchen! Do you see those cute paper globes? I have never had any of these before! I am excited to use them in my decorating throughout Spring!

From Viv

 I am really amazed by Viv's talent. I am thankful for her swap and the challenge it provided for me to flex my creative muscles. Bloggers are the most talented people and doing a little something outside of my comfort zone is fun in a challenging and learning way!

I sent Viv a package of Valentine fun as well, which she kindly has posted about on her blog.

So I hope you go give her a visit and take a look at those as well!

But here is a peek at a few things that I made for her!

Paper craft Valentine

I am so happy to be part of a fun online community where I have met some of the sweetest people on earth.

Felt Heart

I have made friends with gals that I share more interests with than the people most of the people I interact with every day. Thank you so much for your friendships!

Cupcake on my vintage music box cake stand

Thank you again Viv! This was a fun swap to be included in! And I hope everyone has a sweet Valentine's Day!

God bless you,

Little Susie Home Maker

Fun Making Christmas Toy Wreath with Vintage Ornaments

 Christmas time sure is a wonderful time to get creative.  Don't you think?  I really wanted to share the big toy wreath that mom and I worked on together.  It was so much fun to make!

Not only is it loaded with lots of different ornaments, but it also has lights! It is a little hard to see them in the picture,  but I did have them plugged in so you could see them twinkle!

This wreath has mostly vintage ornaments. Look at that little Santa Claus face! He makes me happy! The adorable little elf is new,  but so cute that I had to include him!

 The bear is a Vintage Avon toy, but was still new in the wrapper!  He is the cute toy that inspired me to make this wreath! I knew that when I found this sweet bear that he looked fun and needed an entire wreath to display him.  Haha!
 I just love home make wooden and felt Christmas ornaments. Do you remember making them when you were little? They remind me of my childhood!

 I hung this out on my front door for the picture so all the colors would look true and vibrant, but this is a heavy wreath,  so I think it is better for a wall!  I can see all the cute faces and homemade ornaments all the time that way!

 

Have you made any wreaths this year? Or other fun ornaments? I made several! I hope you don't mind me showing them after Christmas.

Wishing you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Little Susie Home Maker

Christmas in the Kitchen Exchange with Erica

 Merry Christmas everyone! Swaps are a lot of fun and Erica decided to do a Christmas swap this year that was kitchen themed! "Christmas in the Kitchen" Exchange 2014, Her blog, Golden Egg Vintage, is so much fun and she is such a delightful young woman! If you haven't already been visiting and following her, I urge you to do so! Thank you, Erica, for having such a fun swap!

All my sweet swap gift from Patti!

I was partnered up with, Patti , her sweet blog is called, Pattin-Patti. Yes! She is another fun and super talented sweet lady! These swaps are so much fun for so any reasons. But getting to know another blogger a little better is always the best part! Patti, was also very understanding that it would take me a little longer for getting her gifts made, as I have been suffering so many frequent migraines. I think I will call her Patient-Pattin-Patti! Thank you Patti for understanding.

Adorable measuring spoon snowman tag!

Now on with the swap! Her are photos that I took of all the, "Oh, so awesome" Christmas crafts and items that she sent me! Just look at this tag! Isn't it so cute and smart! Measuring spoons make the snowman! This really makes me smile every time I look at it!

Christmas cookie cutter ornament!

Here is such an adorable cookie cutter ornament! I was really excited to see this one! It is a combination of some of my favorite Christmas vintage thingies! The glass balss, The Christmas tree cutter and the cute little wooden bead Santa! Wow! Can you say, Cute!!!

Snowman Vintage Nut-grinder snow globe!

Now on to the bigger and very awesome kitchen ornament! Yes, you guessed it! It is a vintage nut grinder! All decked out in Christmas Winter wonderland! Isn't this just an amazing snow globe! Cute, cute, cute!! 

Here is a different angle so you can see the outside decorations better!

So, now I have some really fun items to decorate my kitchen with!

And of course Patti didn't stop there! She included a wonderful travel coffee mug that I have already been using like crazy! Candy which you know didn't last long! lol

Look at this adorable Mrs. Clause! Oh, my! I have just the perfect Santa to pair her up with! I will save that for another post!

All the wonderful swap items from Patti!

Did I mention the kitchen towel and pot holder, cookie cutters, match box Santa and craft stickers?

Isn't this candy filled boot so sweet!

 I really was happy and I had fun making the fun kitchen crafts that I came up with! So I am sure you can see those over at Patti's blog. I will post some of my own pictures later.

 Thank you both, Patti and Erica! And thank you for visiting my blog today! I sure pray that everyone has a safe and happy Christmas. Be blessed and keep a smile on your face!

God Bless You!

Little Susie Home Maker

Giving and Receiving

We baked up a storm and made candies galore! We gave baskets of food and much much more! Our lives are abundant and the blessings are full. I was so happy to share with others this Christmas.

 I know that receiving is fun, but I find giving so much more! The children and I had so much fun together creating love with food and crafts. 

We listened to Christmas music and danced and sang. 

It was fun putting our love in gift form.

Thank God for giving us the the gift of His Son, and the joy of giving!

With giving also comes receiving!

That is a blessing as well.

 Speaking of giving and recieving, that reminds me of Swaps! Swaps are such a fun part of the blogging community. We make new friends and share ourselves in really fun swaps. 

Debby at Cozy Blanket had such a fun swap called Cup Of Kindness. I hope you are following her blog already, but if not, she is a sweet woman with lots to share. She is a great crafter and she is a grandma and she is one of the nicest people ever!

My partner was Erica from Golden Egg Vintage and she also has a blog that you will want to follow if you are not already. Erica is one of the best vintage crafters and collectors and she specializes in Christmas theme!! I sent her my present and she sent me mine! Just look at her wonderful Cup of Kindness for me.

All so very Christmas Vintage!

Details! Make the cup even more fun! 

  I thought this was a lot to fit in one cup!! 

Erica, you must possess some Elf Magic!!

Vintage pipe cleaner Santa and cute Snowman, and decorated wreath! A vintage hand stitched Chicken /Scratch embroidered gingham apron!! Oh, Erica, you pay attention to what I like. You are such a sweetheart.

 See the pretty corsage that she made! 

Everyone loved this when I wore it for Christmas.

Thanks again Debby for being so kind in hostessing this 

Cup of Kindness Swap 2012.

Thank you Erica for being a wonderful Swap partner!

 Thank you to all my readers. So many have become friends and I am so happy and grateful for that! 

It was a good year and I am looking forward to seeing what blessings are waiting in 2013.

Live. Laugh. Love.

God bless you,

Little Susie Home Maker

Christmas Treats Table Decorated

Hello everybody! I am so glad you have stopped by to visit. To all my new followers, I am just so pleased that you have decided to hop on board. It is about one week until Christmas and things are a bustle around here!

Today I wanted to share with you my new little white tree that I decorated for the top of my goodies table. Yes, I have a goodies table and it it set up from Thanksgiving for all the pies and desserts, etc. Then I change the theme over to Christmas. I just fell in love with my moms little table top fiber optic tree, so I went and picked up a white one! I decided it would be so fun to get out some fresh cranberries and string them up on a nice heavy embroidery string. I used an upholstery needle and they just slid on effortlessly!

Then I had to add candy canes! And yes they are for decoration, but feel free to take one off and eat it, or use it to stir your coffee or tea! Yumm!!

Then to help with my pretty red and white theme, I had to add my pretty little handmade felt birds that I love to make. I also added a few others that I have purchased and some stuffed little animals. A fox, lion, puppy, owl, and a pony!!! Doesn't it just look so happy!

Do you see the pretty rake hanger with the hearts just above and behind it? That was from my sweet friend Cindy at Old Time Farmhouse. 

She made it so pretty with the hearts. I had to adorn it with a few more ornaments and my copper choo-choo-train cookie cutters.

To add to the cookie theme, I have these pretty assortment of Christmas cookie cutters both new and vintage that I added to my big pickle jar. 

Also, the pretty cupcake liners that I am addicted to buying displayed in another pretty jar.

So you get the idea.. Stacks of Christmas plates and mugs, add in some cookies that are being eaten at a pretty rapid pace by my hubby with a sweet tooth, and my kids and me. When people stop by they know that they can dig in to the peanut brittle and enjoy!

My daughter has turned out to be such a good baker and is baking constantly! Seriously, her father and her brother and her uncle are in heaven with the treats. I am thinking I better keep the fruit bowl full! Come January, this Mrs. Claus needs to work on reducing her middle! LOL!

But for now, the lights are lit, and the treat table is wishing all a very Merry Christmas! I am so thankful for all my family and friends, and all the wonderful people that I have made through blogging.

Christmas Blessings to all,

Little Susie Home Maker

Sharing with
 Creating Christmas Party 2012 

Sewn Bird Ornaments

I love birds and I really like the charm of a hand made ornament. I thought it might be fun to show you these little birds I am making. These can be done with felts or your favorite fabric scraps. 

Home sewn birds on my snow frosted tree.

These fit into my Christmas decorations, but any color would be so pretty!

I chose the red because I am doing a lot of red and white this year, and red is my favorite high light color any time! They are made of fabric and or felt.

So I started by getting out my paper and drafting a basic bird shape to use as a pattern for cutting out fabric. 

I chose pinking sheers to cut out because the raw edges are going to show.

Now I used a decorative stitch in contrasting color to sew on the wings.

So either hand stitched or used sewing machine, which ever you prefer.

I decided to try an embroidered french knot for eyes,

I also used buttons.

Next, I hand sewn in a looped ribbon hanger,

a dab of hot glue is helpful here as well.

Now it is ready to be sewn around the perimeter. Sew on outside with a decorative top stitch. Again, hand or machine, with ever tickles your fancy.

Be sure to leave open a small opening in bottom to stuff the bird a little to plump him up!

After, stuffing, sew him up on bottom and he is finished! I used cotton balls to stuff mine.

They look so cute just hanging around!

Added some more embroidery and some loopy ribbons on the tail.

 Here are a few close ups.

I really like the way way they look on my real snow frosted tree outside!

These little guys are fun to make, and I bet you could make them with many different little personalities.

I think they will be around for a while at my house.

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

Linking with
Old Time Party at Old Time Farm House