Christmas Tea At The Crown & Cumpet

Ho, ho ho y'all!

Jill and I snuck off to San Francisco yesterday. Ah, the city at Christmas... I love San Francisco always, but at Christmas, I think I love it even more, if that's possible. Everything was merry & bright and we had a grand ol time first at the Ferry Building, then wandering at Ghiradelli Square, then taking tea at The Crown & Crumpet, and afterwards, meandering around SF enjoying the scenery. It was a great day, I thought I'd share some pictures with you.

The Crown & Crumpet is starting to feel like our little hiding place in SF, this was our third trip to the C&C, but our first at Christmas and to our delight the C&C was dressed for a party and full of holiday merriment. It is really such a special place, we love, love, love it.

A holiday tea! Those words alone make me all kinds of happy.

Look at all these sweets!

And these sweets, too.

This fabulous red Christmas tree grabs your attention as soon as you walk into the Crown & Crumpet.

A cheery fireplace mantle. Love those fabulous, pink feather trees!

The tea, service and food were as fabulous as always. That's one thing about the Crown & Crumpet that I especially love, the consistency of the product. Each time we've been there, we feel like "friends" of the shop, like they've been waiting for us to arrive. It's awesome, and not stuffy. Such a joy!

Of course no trip is complete without a memento, or three. I bought this happy, little soldier at the Crown & Crumpet's gift shop, so sweet.

He went straight onto the tree in our family room.

And my happiest purchase of the day, this lovely little broach! I've loved the work of the maker, Lorie Marie for some time and she has a terrific blog which I follow (it's over there on my side bar too, have a look!) as well. I knew that she sells some of her wares at the Crown & Crumpets gift shop, and I was excited to see them in person. When I did, I HAD to have one of these pins. It's everything I love, felt, happy colors, flowers, stitching, in a word; perfect. I really wanted one of these, but it's just not in the budget at the mo... maybe for my birthday.   

Oh, and then there's this! Couldn't leave Ghiradelli Square at Christmas without some, it's my favorite.

I know I've said it before, but you can be sure I'll say it again, if you're a tea fan, and ever you're in San Francisco, you must find the time to have tea at the Crown & Crumpet, you will love it. I promise.

I know this has already been a picture heavy post, but I'm really enjoying and learning to use my new camera, so I hope you'll forgive my photo indulgence a little more. Here are a few snaps that I think are pretty from the Ferry Building...

Just inside the Ferry Building.

Rose & geranium French macaroons, tasted as pretty as they looked. Miette.

Beautiful shrooms, Far West Fungi.

Gifts from the hive, Bee Kind.

All sorts of wondrous fromage (hot guy not included), Cowgirl Creamery.

Mine! Mine! Mine! This guy crept up on me, good thing Jill was watching.

So that about wraps it up, I hope you've enjoyed another trip to my favorite city by the bay!

More Christmas goodness coming soon, stay tuned!

oxo,

Lisa



The Magic Christmas Kingdom

Ho~ho~howdy!

Wow! Where did the last couple of weeks go?? Well my dearies, that was an unintended bloggy break. The weekend of my last post I got down to some serious business in the craft room, and I've been a busy little elf ever since! Can't share everything just yet (you know how that goes this time of year) but trust me, I've been working hard and I have lots of other tricks up my sleeves. Last weekend was different, we ducked out of town for a quick, but jam packed, magical trip...

Disneyland!

I've always, always, always wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom during the Christmas season, when the entire park is decked out in its holiday finery. If I had a bucket list, Disneyland at Christmas would have been on it.

I took approximately one bazillion pictures, which I will not forcibly subject you to (much) (although, if you'd like to see lots more than what I'm posting here, I've made a set of this Disneyland trip over on my Flickr account, which can be found here. I think there are just over 100 photos in the set, and belieeeve me, that was trimming it way down from what I actually took! You are move than welcome to pop over and have a look. Please feel free to leave a comment or two, I love comments, and I love Disney memories so share, share away!) but I thought I'd share just a few of my most holiday-ish shots here with you today.

Small World, lit up like the sun. This picture doesn't do it justice.

We were only at Disneyland for about a day and a half, so we really had to move, but in that time I think we did and saw, and rode everything that we wanted to, some things even more than once.

Spinning madly.

The Grand Californian

Victorian carolers in the lobby, truly wonderful.

(note the kiddies in their stripy Christmas pj's, adorable!)

Jack, The Pumpkin King as Sandy Claws. In case you didn't know, the Haunted Mansion is completely re imagined for Christmas after the much beloved Nightmare Before Christmas, it's an astounding transformation. One of the highlights of my trip to be sure.

Me & Pluto

Stealing a smooch.

Hanging out near the castle... can you see the snow topped peaks? About 1/2 second after this picture was taken, guess who walked up behind me? None other than my favorite mermaid, Ariel!! She must have been on her way to meet Prince Eric or something, because she was walking superfast!

It was wonderful. The only thing I wished was different was how soon we had to leave. I could visit Disneyland at least once a month for the rest of my life and be a happy camper.

I look forward to visiting again, and again... and hopefully sooner rather than later!

Again, there are LOTS more pictures here, get yourself a cuppa and come over for a visit. Let's continue our conversation over on Flickr.

I hope you've enjoyed a peek of a few of the Christmas goodness to be had at the happiest place on earth! So tell me, have you been during the holidays? What's your favorite thing about Disneyland? Do tell!

oxo,

Lisa

It's beginning to look a lot like...

You know what it's beginning to look like... it's in the air, it's here there & everywhere.

And so, long after I *should* have started, I have begun in earnest. 

The Christmas making season is underway in my little corner of the world. These are the first Christmas cuties I've completed this season.

I made them from a pattern from Fa La La La Felt, a great book I picked up last year from Amanda Carestio.

 These are the first project I've made from this book, and I have plans made for several more, I was instantly in love with these little portraits so they beckoned to be first.

Miss Bunny

Mr. Fox

Party Kitty

I made these from felt I already had in my stash, and isn't that the great thing about craft stash? Once you've aquired a fair bit, very often you can just plunk out little (and sometimes big!) projects without ever venturing to the craft store. I love that.

So my friends, what are you working on at the moment? Any Christmas goodies? Do tell, I'd love to pop over and have a look!

oxo,

Lisa

Thanksgiving Wishes

I know I'm just a scouche early, but...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I'm wishing you all a wonderful and bountiful, stress-free holiday!

It'll be a quiet one for my hubby and I, just the two of us at home this year... But I'm still cooking, oh yes, the whole shebang! Also, I will be having pumpkin pie for breakfast tomorrow, and probably the next few days after that.

It's tradition!!

Oh! Before I go, I wanted to send out a

HUGE THANK YOU

to all of you who voted for my Wynken, Blynken & Nod piece on the Feeling Stitchy Covered In Stitches Contest! The winners were announced this afternoon and I took 3rd place!! I'm very happy, and very, very honored to be among the winners. All of the entries were amazing!

Until we meet again my friends, cheers!

oxo,

Lisa

Falling Into Place

Hi All,

It sure is looking and feeling like fall around these parts, and I could not be happier about it. I do so enjoy autumn's rich colors, the chilly bite in the air and leaves crunching under your feet. I think I've told you before, but autumn is my very favorite.

There are so many things I adore about this time of year and some of them take place indoors. Our house seems to sense the change in season too, and has become cozier somehow. We light fires in the fireplace and the animals decide its time to cuddle again. I change out light, summer linens for soft, warm flannel sheets on the beds, add seasonal rugs to the kitchen floor to keep my toes warm, and probably, like many of you, I change out some of the decorative accessories in the house, and I thought I might share a little bit of that with you today.

A cheery wreath greats you at the door, come on in!

At the entry way sweet little pilgrims meet you at the door with glad autumn tidings. In the dining room my small (but growing!), aluminum collection takes its place on the bookshelf my father made when he was in high school. And my favorite gobble~gobble, a gift from my mother-in-law comes out for his month in the spotlight.

You might notice I have a little thing for acorns... well maybe more than a "little" thing. I think they're adorable and it seems that every year, a few more find their way into my home. Here's the newest one...

Oooh, sparkly!

The top of my clock takes on a distinctly autumn feel with fall berries and flowers. My favorite table runner  with embroidered leaves and acorns (I love Home Goods!) and a scattering of ceramic acorns. I think I got those at Pier 1 a few years back.

Even the kitchen window sill gets a little fall love...

A simple fall mantle for the fireplace this year. Tall candle sticks, tiny pumpkins, autumn leaves, two little squirrels, and of course... acorns.

The large acorns here are two of my favorite, they're boxes actually. I usually keep matches or a lighter in one or the other, gotta have one of those close by when you're addicted to candle light.

That about wraps up my tiny tour, I have a few other decorations out too, but these are my favs. So what about you guys? Do you decorate your homes for autumn too? What changes at your place, do tell!

Thanks for stopping by!

oxo,

Lisa

p.s. Voting closes tomorrow, for the Feeling Stitchy Covered in Stitches contest. My Wynken, Blynken & Nod piece was chosen as one of the top 10 (!!!!!) and it's up to everyone in blogland to pick the winner. Please click here and vote for your favorite!

I'm A Geek

It's true, it must be... I was featured on Geek Craft!

I'll never not love Harry Potter. If that makes me a geek, then I'll proudly fly that banner high.

Happy Friday!

oxo,

Lisa



Feeling Stitchy: Covered in Stitches Contest

Well hello there my peeps!

As I write this, I'm sitting in a state of shock and could literally be knocked right out of my chair with a feather! Why's that? Well, it's because my Wynken, Blynken & Nod piece has made the Top 10 in the Feeling Stitchy: Covered In Stitches Contest!!

If you'll remember, this is a piece I made for an embroidery swap and now resides in the Netherlands with Nicole.

Here are a few pictures of my entry... the original post with lots more pictures can be found here.

There were 45 entries in the Covered In Stitches Contest, (you can see the entire group here) and I am honored that my embroidery is counted among other such amazing pieces of embroidered art, but to make the final cut with 10 other gorgeous pieces just about blows my mind!

So now, I'm going to humbly ask for your help & your vote. If you like my piece best, please, please, pretty please click on over and vote for me, I would SOOOO appreciate it, and I'll love you forever & ever.

And I might even bake you cookies, I'm not above bribery. Just sayin'.

Here's the link... go forth and cast your vote!

Feeling Stitchy: Covered In Stitches ~ Vote For Your Favorite!

oxo,

Lisa

Remember, Remember The 5th of November...

Twenty-five years ago today.

Gone from our lives much too soon.

Greg turned 35 yesterday, you'd be so proud.

He's a good daddy, just like you were.

I think about you every day, I always have, I always will.

I still miss you...

John Douglas Kramer

March 7, 1955 ~ November 5, 1986

I love you, Daddy.

oxo,

L

Mommy Made Me Do It

I had no intention. None whatsoever, to make myself a little quilt for Christmas.

My mother made me do it.

How, you ask? This.

Santa Claus on a scooter, that's how.

 Seriously, how am I supposed to resist this? You guys know I ride a fire engine red Vespa, right? I'm a sucker for all things scooter, and my mom knows it.

There I am innocently working away at my office yesterday, and my mom sends me a picture from her cell phone of this fabric. She was at JoAnn's... with coupons! I was powerless.

Twenty minutes later I was with her, and we were picking coordinating fabrics.

Gah! As if I didn't have enough to do...

I blame Mom.

Isn't it the cutest though?!? I think I'm going to quilt this by hand, just by outlinging the girls and santas with a running stitch in coordinating thread. Should be pretty fast... I hope.

Wish me luck!

oxo,

Lisa