Sunday, November 29, 2015

A Very Special Santa

Sunday Afternoon Greetings dear friends & readers,

My friend Christine decorates her beautiful two-storey home each year for Christmas
Over the years she has commissioned lots of crafts from me to add to her Christmas decor
The Prim Santa below was one such item I made for Chris a couple of christmas's ago

Prim Olde Santa is a pattern by Kerry Daly of Primitive Country Treasures torn out of an old Homespun Magazine (dated 2009!!!)

This year as she embarks on her festive decorating I received a text message asking me if I could please make Prim Santa for her again .... but this time in blues please
I always find Christine especially easy to create for - for some reason I always know exactly what she is picturing in her mind & - so far - have always got it right 
I knew just what she was visualising with her blue Prim Santa & also happened to have the exact shade of blue fleece that I required already in my stash

I really enjoy making the toys, stocking & candy canes for Santa ... especially little Raggedy Anne.
 I found a small teddy in my box of junk tricks, so gave him a Santa hat & a blue velvet bow to tuck into Prim Santas hands


When Christine came to collect her blue Prim Santa, her face lit up with delight (& her eyes filled with tears a tiny bit) ... he was exactly as she had pictured him to be & she loved all the little embellishments I added


I hope to get to visit Christine Christmas Home in the next week so will remember to take along my camera & capture Prim Olde Santa hanging up in all his glory in my friends beautiful home



One of the things I love about crafting for Christine is that I get visiting rights to all the dolls, bears & Santas I create for her !!!!


I have been busy still with groups & orders 
 I finished an order for my elderly friend Margaret who likes to keep a good stock of lacey guest towels & lavender coathangers in her cupboard to give as gifts throughout the year

Her hairdresser gets one, the cleaning lady gets one & even the postie girl gets one ... Margaret also likes to give them when someone passes away - she tells me they "last alot longer than a bunch of flowers & are half the price"!!!


I had two groups in one day last Thursday - this has never happened before but it was simple enough to quickly nip out & re-write my blackboard

Heavy showers had been forecast ... I was so thankful they stayed away til the end of the day ... it just makes it so much more pleasant for the groups to wander around the garden or sit on the seats




The first group presented me with a rather beautiful handmade Thank You Card upon leaving ... one of the ladies handwork no doubt

Prior to their arrival I managed to quickly cobble together a bit of a christmas mantlepiece in the Cottage .... I usually have my christmas display done at the beginning of November but appear to have lost the weeks somewhere along the way this month ...



A few fairy lights dotted around all adds to the effect






Well dear readers - I am off to finish some Santa hats for Christines teddy bears (yes, some blue ones as well as red) ... I shall leave you with this picture of Madam Pippi who insists on "helping me" when I am on the floor cutting out fabrics .  .  .
.  .  .  but finds it all rather tiring having to "keep the fabrics warm for Mum" & has a wee nap on the job.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead & hope it brings you laughter & happy times
with much love & friendship to you all,
Julie, Blackie & Pippi Longstocking 
x0x0x0x

20 comments:

  1. Prim Santa both red and blue are heart stealers...love the little Christmas ted blue Santa is holding. A lovely post and I love your Christmasy mantlepiece....looking forward to seeing your friends decorating x

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  2. Love your prim Santa and your cottage decorating xx

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  3. Wow, love the Prim Santa in blue! The garden is looking beautiful! I love the cottage mantle, I do hope to be up your way before Christmas, not sure it will happen though!!! Would love to see photo's of Christines home! Enjoy what is left of your weekend,
    Michelle.

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  4. Lovely Prim santa's - the little toys he holds must take ages to make as they are so detailed. Betty

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  5. oooooO! My goodness! It all looks lovely! :).
    And Santa is absolutely splendid. Wonder why
    Santa is always in red...I think he'd look good in
    'pink'...But then l would!

    And, the coat hangers are lovely, l bought one in
    a charity shop, a novelty one. The arms either side,
    covered in pin stripped material, with a head of curly
    hair and wearing a dicky~bow! I'll try sending a photo
    of it later!

    And, on Tuesday, the 1st l shall be building the crib.
    Don't bother with a tree these days, not since my
    daughter went off to Uni. The crib it self, is about 65yrs
    old....I remember my mia Mama every Christmas building
    it..And baby Jesus going in on Christmas Eve, when we returned
    from midnight mass! Ah! Those were the days! :).

    HeHe! And, of course the ever helpful Pippi....Bless!x
    She probably gets confused on what to do next, that she gives up
    for a little nap! :>). Bless her little cotton...oooops! furry feet! =(^.^)=.

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  6. What a lovely post, really look forward to receiving them, I love the santa the blue and red one such beautiful stitching and lots of hours put into making them.

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  7. I don't know what to look at first!!! It is all so wonderful! Your Prim Santa is fantastic and those lacy towels a great gift. The mantlepiece ...what can I say but impressive!


    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  8. Hi Julie wow prim Santa is awesome,you are amazing ,I love seeing all the beautiful things that you make,Thankyou for sharing my friend xx

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  9. Love your blue prim Santa, Julie, he looks like quite a character, I wonder what mischief he'll get up to at Christine's house?! Your Christmas mantel looks great, so many goodies in there!

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  10. It's all beginning to look very festive...I rather like the blue Santa for a change and I love those skinny stockings, very 'elf' like. xx

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  11. Your prim santa's are beautiful, love them as I do the decorated towels and coat hangers. The shelf decorated with Christmas goodies looks lovely. Hugs Shirley

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  12. Hello Julie,

    I love the little Santa with the hat that Prim Santa is holding. Two groups in one day, your place must be a great place to visit, especially love the card that was gifted to you.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  13. My goodness, you are so talented, Julie. Your prim Santa's are so gorgeous. The little bear's cap is adorable. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment yesterday. Hugs, Deb

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  14. You are so very very talented Julie, that Santa is adorable, no wonder your friend had wee tears!!

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  15. Goodness dear Julie you are nice & Christmasy busy. Well done on managing the two garden tours in one day. I hope they all wandered through the cottage nicely & bought lots of your fabulous bits & pieces as well. Your displays look wonderful...especially with the nice lighting. Much love & friendship from the other side, Catherine x0x0x

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  16. Oh my such a gorgeous post filled with Christmas cheer, Julie! I adore your blue Santa and that teeny tiny Raggedy Anne....she's perfect. Your cottage looks lovely with all those Christmas pretties. How lovely for people to wander around your lovely garden and buy a pretty or two stitched by your clever hands. It would be heaven! Isn't it wonderful that Pippi loves to help you.. =)

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  17. Awwww my snowflake decorations look lovely as you've displayed them Julie, thanks again so much :) xxxxx

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  18. I love all the Christmas ideas happening and how cool is that Santa. I do
    believe I have older editions of Homespun that may have that pattern in it.
    It gives me ideas. lol. Gorgeous post as always.
    Cheers, Anita.

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  19. What a wonderful Santa...so nice you can create exactly what your friend is wanting....lovely too, to be able to go and visit your creations when they are all on display. Having two groups coming through must keep you busy...do you feed them too? So nice to see Pippi helping too.

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  20. Just got to your blog post today! I have started a part time 3 days a week job at a local medical centre - there is so much to learn that I am so tired when I get home and can hardly think! I hope I get used to it soon. I loved reading your blog this morning - such lovely pretties to see and read about. Made my day as I head off to work with a smile on my face - love Blue Santa! thanks.

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