Free Vintage Christmas Images & Clipart

I never got the chance to post these on my site but really wanted to share them. :) I think they are pretty neat. I pulled them out of a 1950's Time magazine.

So, for those who followed me here, enjoy!
xoxo~
Abbie

What a time, but we survived!

It is the time for resolutions, change, renewal and reaffirming. How about survival? My resolution is just to survive the next year with my three kids, three dogs, husband and mother in law. Survival of my Etsy shop. Survival of my creative spirit. Currently my creativity is being strangled by the heaps of laundry that are waiting for my attention. The survival of my youth... perhaps some exercise and diet changes are necessary for that one. The survival of my children. Right now they are cruisin' for a bruisin', (as the saying goes) and my two year old will be lucky to make to three. (I am speaking purely out of frustration and of course, would never actually hurt them, but I can now see how some parents snap.) So my resolution this year is simply to survive 2008."
(-my resolution for last year)

I survived! (so did my children..) Who knew? I have found a quiet pace to life this year which is nice. Something that is really helping, I have started planning out the meals for the week on Sunday. I check the flyers, coupons, recipe box, and get thoughts from the family, then grocery shop once, for the entire week. It is working nicely and it is so nice not to fuss over what to make each night. I know that I'll have everything on hand. With six in the house, it makes a big difference in my time management.

I am so happy that the holidays are over. It is a heavy weight off my shoulders for some reason. The halls have been un-decked and I spent way too much money at HomeGoods today buying lovely things to freshen up the house. Feeling very tired of red right now. Anyone else? Not sure how to handle the upcoming day of love, but I'll have to find some other color to show off my passion. Going with bright, sunny yellows and limes. I want to say a quick Thank you!! for all of you who visit my other blogs. (The Vintage Moth and Button Floozies) Between the two blogs we managed to raise $100 for The American Cancer Society!!! Whhoooohhoooo!! I am so excited! It is nice to see that the time I put into them can help someone other than me. That was in about 6 months so hopefully 2009 will be an even better year.

The only creative endeavours that I have tackled lately have been holiday related. A quick tip for those of you who have started following my blog since last Christmas, is to use your holiday greeting card pile as gift tags. I have mine all set to go for next year. In fact, there were so many tags, I didn't need to buy anymore this year. Recycling at its best! (see above image)

Happy New Year, things are brewing in the pot and I have lots of new changes around the home to share!

xoxo~

Abbie

A Christmas Treat

Oh! The delight of it all! Bright colors, sweets stuck to candies, chocolates and treats! Sticky frosting, that tickles your tongue,
and a large jolly man who lets you eat lots, but only if your young! Young at heart I say, only for those who enjoy the day. The sparkle, the glitter the shimmery sheen.
For those who think that candy is keen!
Ginger breads, gumdrops and kisses galore!
When he calls we come running, hungry for more!
He jiggles his belly with a "Ho Ho Ho!"
While tall gumdrop spires are lined up in a row.

Come one! Come all! Enjoy this fine season! Come on, have a nibble! Try it!
For when it is over, beware, for it'll be time for a diet!

Merry Christmas!

xoxo~

Abbie

The gingerbread house was made by my very talented children. It sits on a cake stand surrounded by cotton fluff in our kitchen. The Baking Santa is my favorite. Sorry about the very poor poetry. :P I am punch drunk from baking, wrapping, making and photographing.

Is anyone else tired of the holidays?

Well needed break from the depths of the internet..

A few of my favorites from Etsy. I plan on taking a well needed break from here until after the holidays. I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday and enjoys it with their friends and family!
xoxo~
Abbie

the trimmings.

I love Christmas time. The sparkle and lights just make me warm all over. These are a few of my favorite things.. shiny red glass ornaments...

Glittery snowmen...

Thankful babes...

Pouting angels...

Peeking santas with polka dot caps...

Tiny snowmen caught under cups...

Antique santas from Christmas past..

Little boys singing carols...

Fancy ornaments too fragile for the tree...

and little girls singing carols.

Happy Holidays!

xoxo~
Abbie

a Thankgiving Gift for you..

This lovely turkey image is for my personal blog readers. Thank you for visiting! My time is spread thin because of my other blogs, and I feel I have been neglecting you. My posts have gotten a bit different lately as I am having a great time playing with my camera. We will return to our regularly scheduled crappy posts soon! :) I think I'll take a break from my posts for a few days and spend my time visiting everyone that I am so Thankful for in Bloglandia.

The picture above I took a few years ago. The corn we were feeding them obviously was not as tasty as the what the little birds were getting.

xoxo~

Abbie

The way the other half of one percent lives..

Has anyone else seen this catalog? It is absolutely fabulous! We get one for the holiday season, and I love flipping through the pages.



Gorsuch has some of the most marvelous images, the ski slopes, the models, the staged living areas. You should check out their website just for the fun of it.


It reminds me of when we used to ski in the Alps as a child.

Mind you, we never wore $2000 ski jackets or $300 sunglasses but the essence is there. I love it! Will I ever buy something from it? Perhaps some socks, when I feel rich. But at $36 a pair, probably not.

Dream with me...
~Abbie

A Party!

In preparation for Vanessa's Halloween Party over at A Fanciful Twist, changes will be made to my blog. Do not be alarmed dear friends.. ;) We will return to our regularly scheduled programing shortly. You may follow the image to join in the fun or to peek around a whimsical wonderland!

Boo!

xoxo~

Abbie

The Sandwich Fair (Sandwich, NH)

Some of New Hamshire's Glory...

We went to the Sandwich Fair today. (Sandwich, NH -the town, not sandwich, as in the food) Oh, do I have some pictures for you!! The top image was taken off of the bridge that connects the rides/games at the fair to the animals/exhibits. The church is in the center of the small town we live in. My husband's best friend was married there this weekend. We went to the wedding, but stayed only a brief time at the reception because of my hubby's cold. Isn't that tree enormous?! That picture was taken in the cemetery where my father in law was buried in May. My husband and I have many relatives there. The third image is of the house/barn roof that is beside our grocery store. The tree in their yard was just a lovely shade of red, I couldn't resist. The last image is of the amazing horse farm that I had photographed this same weekend, last year. I think the autumn color is more vibrant this year.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
xoxo~
Abbie

Fair photos to come.. I have a ton!

My heart hurts...

I just visited the blog of my dear friend, Anke. She lives in Germany, not too far from where I grew up. She is the most fabulous photographer and has captured the countryside perfectly. If you'd like to go traveling, please stop by her blog for a visit.

Some more peeks from around the house and town. More Martha rats! I found them scampering over our Fritz Robbins prints.. those rascally devils.

And the one above is from an old cemetery not too far from where we live. I just love the black iron fence and the thin headstones. The foliage is peaking here right now, but alas, I haven't taken any photos. Perhaps tomorrow I'll go out for a drive. My husband has his brutal cold back so I might need to get out the house with the kids.

oh, rats..

I have been decorating for Halloween. This year is by far the most done up the house has been. I cut out rat silhouettes from Martha Stewart's Living Oct '07. They now are scampering all over the kitchen area. The one above is peeking down over the edge of the mantel casing. The kids think they are lots of fun, as Ratatouille is one of their favorite movies. The witch profile was also another tidbit from Martha's magazine. I cut it out of black paper, framed it up, then grubbied the frame and glass with brown and black paint.

Hubby has now caught my daughter's (both of them) cold and has had a fever, cough, congestion for days now. Baby A went to the doctor's yesterday and they started her on antibiotics. It has now been over three weeks of sickness in the house and I am going absolutely crazy. I'm wearing baby snot like it was a fashionable accessory right now. I hope everyone is healthy and happy out there, and if you are in the neighborhood, I would recommend avoiding us!

Busy hands...

I have been busy working on crafty bits to decorate my home for the upcoming season of 'Boo!'. the mood has struck, and if I don't go with it, I'll never get anything done! so far I have made several (4) pillows (embroidered and appliqued), painted two grungy boxes, assembled a witchy portrait, created a ghostie from some vintage lace and antique Victorian jet buttons and made several rag garlands. There are so many more ideas in my folder! So this is where I have been lately.. creating for my family and home. It is more enjoyable than creating things to sell.

I hope at some point to post some of the templates that I created.

Hope everyone else is enjoying some creative time!

xoxo~

Abbie

Happy Fourth!