Friday, December 26, 2008

Mother Earth's Christmas embellishment

Mother Earth had her own decorating design for Christmas in San Clemente. This is the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. What a surprise when I was driving to my Pilates class and noticed this by the roadside.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas from Reina, too!


Thanks to digital cameras, quick uploads and photo sharing I am able to add a Christmas morning wish from Reina too.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

On Christmas Eve Ella and Kate were upside down with excitement!






After a good night's rest and Santa's visit we couldn't believe how generous everyone was.  I hope everyone's Christmas is filled with so much joy and love.
Merry Christmas to all from Denise, Whitney, Ryan, Ella & Kate

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Christmas cookies


Christmas cookies
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
Every year my friend Sue and I set aside one day to make our Christmas cookies. This year's finalists are: French chocolate bark, cranberry coconut chews, peanut butter kisses, chocolate macadamia nut chews, sesame cherries, gingersnaps and 7 layer bars. I hope you come by for a visit and some cookies this Christmas.

Kate's stocking


Kate's stocking
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
Kate will get her Christmas stocking this year just in time. Little did I know when I started this over a year ago that she would grow to love cookies..or "DeeDee"s as she calls them...so much.

Stop and smell a rose if you can find one."Paul Bocuse" rose

In the middle of our winter weather this lovely rose had the courage to bloom in my garden. "Paul Bocuse" named after one of the finest chefs in France in the Lyon region. In 1982 I was dining in his restaurant and had the pleasure of his coming to my table for a hello and to sign my menu. I was on a weekend break from my studies at the Cordon Bleu school of Cooking in Paris. How could I not have this rose in my garden?

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Snow on the Saddleback foothills



We had an "artic" rainstorm here for the last 3 days. When I left work last night my temperature gauge read 40 degrees. This morning the local foothills were dusted with snow. The elevation is about 2000 ft. For those of you who do not know this area, the beach is about 4 miles behind me.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Let the games begin


Ella's Christmas cookies
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
Every Christmas I make cookies with my friend, Sue, and my family. We make a LOT of cookies. Today was sugar cookies with Ella. She decorates them with her own expression. She did a great job and like most of us ate her share of cookie dough.  Kate was sleeping.  Maybe next time, Kate.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

poinsettia quilt


poinsettia quilt
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
I made this quilt in 2006 from a pattern by Teri Christopherson of Black Mountain Quilts It has 460 pieces of machine appliqued petals, leaves & stamen.

poinsettia detail


poinsettia detail
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
This is one block of the Christmas quilt. The poinsettias are made from scraps of red, green & yellow cotton. The background is a collection of caramels. I could keep this quilt up all year.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Paper bead necklace



paper necklace
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
The end result of my paper beads. Also are felt beads, charms, glass beads and ribbons.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

snow partridge quilt


snow partridge quilt
Originally uploaded by cabanagirl
This quilt is almost finished...just some handwork. The partridge is hand painted with acrylics then added to a hand dyed piece of felted wool. Additional embellishments: hand painted duck cloth, commercial batik and Kaffe Fasset cotton, hand dyed velvet, vintage gray beads, hand stiched and beaded. The last of the fall projects before Christmas.

Kate's purse


Kate needs a purse, too, for her hand-size toys.