Thursday, January 7, 2016

Another post!

Hello stitching friends!  I hope you are sitting down when you see this, because I have done three posts very close together!  It's been a long while since I've done that!  haha

I am busy taking down Christmas trees, etc.  I always wait until after Epiphany, so that gives me a few extra days to procrastinate!  And it's never as much fun to take down as it was to put it up!!!

I thought I'd show these beautiful beaded Christmas balls, before they go back into their storage box. My mother made these back in the 1960s.  I remember it so vividly!  Since I grew up in SW Mississippi, we went to Mardi Gras each year on Fat Tuesday--for the Rex parade.  It was so much fun!  We had TONS of beads, and my mother got crafty and started using them for craft ideas.  She made these beautiful beaded Christmas balls and hung them on our mantle for years.  I guess you'd say they're made from vintage Mardi Gras beads, even though it doesn't seem like I should remember anything that can be called vintage!!!  I brought them to our house earlier this year, after she died, and I didn't know what to do with them this year, so I just plopped them on a silver tray and let that be it for now!  But they really are pretty, and I will think of something better for next year!



She was very exact in her colors, using ribbon and fabrics, and she even used some tiny silk poinsettias on one of them!  Aren't they fun?  My mother was extremely thrifty, and when those beaded kits came out, she wanted to use her beads and went and bought some longer pins and styrofoam balls at our local TG&Y!  (Do you remember TG&Y?!?!?!)





I've done some stitching!  I did finish this little Prairie Schooler freebie Halloween card!  I always seem to be "off" on Holiday stitching!  haha  It's on a scrap of some hand-dyed linen.  I think it will finish up really cute!



I also finished this precious little music ornament!  It was a little gift from our friend Annette and I just think it's so cute!!  It was a tiny Janlynn kit!  Love it!!   It's on the tree by a precious little felt snowman made by my dear friend Janie!  I love all my treasures!!!



Today would have been my mother's 86th birthday!  I cannot believe she has been gone eight months. Some days it seems like she was just here yesterday, and some days it seems like forever since we've seen her.  Time is so funny that way!
This is a sweet photo of her with our son.


I have joined a SAL from The Snowflower Diaries  You know I have no business trying to do 12 ornaments!!  HAHAHA  But, if I get only part of them done, it will be worth it!  When I saw this cute little fox, I just had to jump in!   AND, on Facebook, there is also a SAL for the 2015 JCS Ornament Issue!!!  I get that magazine each year, and I jumped in on that one, too!  HAHAHA  But, I have to give it a go!

Well, I guess that's all for now!  I hope you have a wonderful day and I also hope I can show some progress on my SAL adventures!!  Thanks for stopping by and do visit again soon!
Frances



13 comments:

KimM said...

What beautiful beaded ornaments and what beautiful memories they bring. Your mother was a talented and loving lady - it's apparent from all you write about her.
hugs
xxx

Jacqueline Morris said...

My goodness your mothers beaded ornaments are beautiful... So precious with the memories that go with them too. A lovely photo of your mother and son too.
Yes Han took our tree down for another year! Ha ha I am always behind with my stitching the seasons too... I start with good intentions of doing them at the right time. Then it all goes to pot and I just stitch what ever I like! Ha ha
Good luck with your stitching challenges!
Smiles :)

Ariadne said...

Those ornaments are beautiful! And that photo of your mum and son too! I am in the Snowflowers diaries SAL too. I looked up for the other SAL you mention but couldn't find it on facebook. Anyway Have a great new year!AriadnefromGreece!

Vickie said...

So glad to know you have those lovely beaded ornaments from your mom. The picture of her and your son is fantastic.

Angela Tucker said...

Good morning, Frances. Your mother's ornaments are absolutely gorgeous! And it's okay to be vintage...LOL I have high hopes to work on the SAL at Snowflower Diaries, too, but I need to focus. I will have to put away all the other projects I have started. The picture of your son and mom is very special. Have a wonderful day!

Andrea said...

Beautiful beaded ornaments, your mother was very talented. I saw the SAL on Snowflower Diaries blog too. I have saved the first part.

diamondc said...

Frances: Your Mother is beautiful.
Your Son is so good looking.
Love your Halloween finish.
I like what your Mother did with the beads, how creative and thrifty, love them all.

Blessings
Catherine

Karen said...

Those beaded ornaments are beautiful! What great memories of your mom and Mardi Gras.

Beth said...

What a wonderful photo of your mother and son. You can tell that she was a happy and vibrant woman - I do not think there is a time line for grief - my mom at age 72 said that she felt like an orphan after the loss of her father. I think love means there is grief at the loss of the loved one.

Marilyn said...

What pretty ornaments.
It brings back memories of my uncle, he used to make a lot of those.
Some he even put a penny on with the year he made them, so precious.
What a nice pic of your Mom and Son.
Happy new year!
Marilyn

Sheryl said...

Your mother´s ornaments are absolutely gorgeous, what a lot of work went into them and a joy for you to see each year and remember when they were made so long ago. I have joined the Snowflowers SAL also, but haven´t had time to get started yet as like you, I have been busy taking down the decorations, storing chairs, china, etc. Happy New Year.

Unknown said...

I and everyone from http://www.1writingservice.com/ love your mother's beaded Christmas Balls. It is actually hard to believe that they are 50 years old! They look like new! Your mother had a wonderful talent!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Hi, those beaded ornaments are lovely and so special. And what a beautiful photo of your Mom and Son. Quite a keepsake. I am in on the Snowflowers SAL. Those designs are just so cute. Happy Stitching and Dreaming about Stitching. :)