Monday, December 8, 2014

What the Dickens?

I hope your pre-holiday plans are coming along, what ever they may be.  I also hope that you take time to enjoy the simple things and small moments that make this time of year special.

This year, I set up my Dickens Village on a banquet table in the Living Room.

On the top of the hill is the "David Copperfield" seaside and below is the "The Christmas Carol" neighborhood.

Rich always sprinkles the "fresh fallen snow" on the roofs.  I have 6 different types of artificial snow, which I think is slightly less the Inuit.

I love this gentleman sitting on a bench.  Maybe his wife is in the quilt shop.

Living on "Buck Hill" has created my appreciation for Deer themed decor.  I found these kitchen towels at TJMaxx.  I received this beautiful card from Sue in England.  She posts a lot of beautiful things on her blog here.

I won the antlers on Ebay and I'm going to use them in a new home decor piece that I'm making.  Intrigued?  Stayed tuned.....

Lastly, Sheila sent me this photo of a completed Alice Payne quilt top.  Neither of my friends in the photo made the top; Kathy S. did.  She stayed true to the original - I love it!  I hoping to get another finished AP quilt photo soon.

ho Ho HO

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

The village looks adorable mom, I love it (and you!) xoxo Hanna

Jan said...

Kathy S's version is very close to the original. I saw it (or maybe just the blocks?) with the original right before I moved away. Her work and fabric choices (as usual) are spot on. Beautiful, beautiful.
Hi Judy and Mary! Miss you all!

Sherrill said...

UGH, gone are the days of setting up the villages. I still have several of the 'houses' but not something I want to do anymore. Yours is very pretty! I used to live on Buck Dr. in CO but am not a fan of the deer heads people put on their walls and I saw WAY too many dead deer in the back of pickups. YUCK! But antlers are always pretty as is that card. Love the quilt..perfect Christmas colors!

antique quilter said...

every time I see this quilt my heart skips a beat! I LOVE this quilt. The folk art look to it but still the traditional 1850's red/green appliqué quilts I love just makes me smile. It truly is a beautiful quilt.
always enjoy seeing your houses set up….
Merry Christmas to you and your family….
Kathie

Julierose said...

OOooh nice Village set up. I never did get around o collecting any--altho' I always ooh and ahh when I see them; my daughter has a charming set up. that is one gorgeous applique quilt. I hope your days are restful (as possible in this hectic season) and full of joy and warmth of family and friends...hugs, Julierose

Nancy said...

The quilt is wonderful and your home very festive! I wonder if the block patterns were traced off the original or is there, I hope but doubt, a pattern?

Karen said...

I used to wish I had room for a Dickens Village. Love seeing them. There was a television segment during the holidays a few years ago about an older couple who had many, many village pieces and kept them set up all year long. More than just a Dickens Village set. I don't know how they managed to live in their home with all that they had.

Amy said...

Charming village. :-)

Do the antlers involve a patronus?

Rachaeldaisy said...

It wouldn't be Chruistmas without a little tour through your villiage. Fancy having 6 different types of snow! I like the little man carrying a wreath. Sheila's AP quilt is beautiful. It really does look like the original. Is there a published pattern? Of course you like deers, because you are a dear!

Diane said...

I snorted my coffee reading your comments about the snow and the man on the bench. You are a riot! Thanks for making my Monday more fun!!

Janet O. said...

You have a great village, Barb. Either his wife is in the quilt shop or he can't find the dog house? : )
I've been debating putting up my village this year. Wish I could display it in my living room, but when hosting the family party it really has to be in the loft due to space, and no one really sees it there.
Antlers on ebay, huh? (Don't you know any hunters in your neck of the woods?) You definitely have me intrigued.
That is a gorgeous card from your friend. Did she design it?

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Your village looks wonderful! I would want to sit in front of it all day long and pretend I lived there. Luckily, I didn't see a bar on the corner, that could be dangerous with those party loving dolls of yours. The Alice Payne quilt top is wonderful, thanks for sharing!

Nifty Quilts said...

I always love seeing your seasonal collections! It must be fun to arrange a small world that's just the way you want it, including the perfect snow. It's a sweet reminder of the warmth and joy of the season. Beautiful quilt and buck accessories too!

Sujata Shah said...

I am relying on you to get into the holiday mood this year. No decorations in sight in this household yet! You are always on time with perfect decorations in every nook and corner of your home. That man on the bench might freeze out there with all that snow and wife in the quilt shop! That quilt top is gorgeous!

Beth said...

No decorations here either. The village looks so beautiful. I have a small village and a large one, maybe I can find room for a few small buildings.

Kyle said...

I love seeing that quilt every time, both the original and your new interpretation. I don't have a Dicken's village, but it's so fun to see them set up telling tiny fun stories.

Janet said...

The deer towels are great finds :0) When we bought our first house there was a tree in the side yard FULL of antlers. I have no idea why the previous owner had put them there. I can't imagine what home decor project you have planned - I am most certainly intrigued! The Alice Payne repro is wonderful :0)

CecileD said...

Hello Barb !
I discover the Dicken's village and for me, a French woman, it's so unusual !! No village like this in France because this is not our traditions and I'm so happy to discover another one !
Your is so cute and you made a very beautiful Christmas village !
I don't forget the Alice Payne quilt....amazing quilt !!

Roxanne said...

I'm like Nancy, wondering about patterns for Alice Payne quilt--and I've not yet even done applique! It is such a lovely quilt.

My fave decoration of yours last year was the birds in the greenery, over the kitchen sink I think. So sweet.

Thimbleanna said...

Awwww, Hannah was your first commenter -- how adorable! Love your village -- it looks so pretty and neat. Mine always feels so disheveled!

liz said...

I'm a sucker for all those decorations. Yours look stunning.

pandchintz said...

What a sweet village!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

What a lovely wintery scene, it looks so peaceful! The quilt is amazing it looks just like the original!
I love your antlers, if you go into the woods in late December/January you can find them at the bottom of trees where the deer rub them off. You have to be quick though before the mice eat them!

Maureen said...

I love those Christmas villages. We put our on the piano this year.
Nice kitchen towels! TJMaxx has a good selection. I found some there this past summer.
That AP quilt top is stunning! Looking forward to seeing yours.

Dawn said...

The village must take hours to set up, so pretty! The antlers look like Colonial Williamsburg decorating materials. Or Northern Wisconsin 😀
Your post is filled with December fun!

Ruth said...

I love the village! As for deer, we need to start getting deer themed items as well. There are deer that just walk around the neighborhood. Sunday I noticed that someone had eaten the flowers off my pansy plants! I do love to see them, though.

Browndirtcottage said...

Your Christmas village is FAB Barb! So glad YOU are the one who gets to pack all that back up! LOL

Deers are fun to look at. We have a herd of them that roam throughout a couple of our ranch lands.

Great Alice Payne quilt. Hurry with YOUR photo!!!

LuAnn said...

I could look at that Dickens village for hours. It's just gorgeous

Janet said...

Oh wow, your village scene makes me want to break out and sing Christmas carols, it's gorgeous. Now I'm very curious about the antlers and thanks for sharing the photo of the Alice Payne quilt, it's wonderful.
For some reason I've been unable to access your blog, it just wouldn't load for me but it seems the problem has gone now. It's good to see what you've been up to.