'Make Do and Mend'...and Embroider! :)

Several of us received new pillows for Christmas...

...so I decided to make pillow protectors for them.

                                       After cutting rectangles from an old sheet...

                                           ...and sewing up three of the sides...

                        ...I installed a colorful zipper in the open end of each case.

                      
                                   I also whipped up a couple of new pillowcases...

                                        ...from fabric that I found in my stash...

                     ...and with iron-on transfers found in their Christmas stockings...

                                           ...my girls 'got into the act', as well...

                                     ...adorning a couple of plain old pillow cases...

                                         ...with fun embroidery embellishments!

"Christmas Eve" Garden Tour 2015- Part 2 of 2

At Longwood Gardens...

              ...there were an impressive number of beautifully decorated Christmas trees...

                                  ...each featuring unique and fabulous ornaments.

                                                         The greenhouses...

                                    ...were filled with beautiful plants and flowers...

                                            ...many of them, holiday themed.

                               It seemed as if we had stepped into a magical world...

                                                    ...surrounded, as we were...

                                              ...by such lush and lavish displays.

                    

                                             There was even a 'Christmas tree'...

                                           ...made entirely from red anthuriums!

                                                       This fern-like 'curtain'...

                                                            ...and wreath...

                                           ...were fashioned from living plants...

                                  ...and there were rooms filled with glorious orchids...

                           ...plus this wonderful, 'bottle brush'-like plant in bright orange! :)

                              The bonsai collection was like a miniature forest...

                                           ...containing trees over a century old!

                      

                                              This is one very 'succulent' tree! ;)

                                                      The grounds after dark...

                                                      ...were a riot of color...

                                                   ...as the outdoor space...

                                             ...became a glittering new world!

 

"Christmas Eve" Garden Tour 2015- Part 1 of 2

We spent Christmas Eve (afternoon and evening)...

                                              ...touring Longwood Gardens.

                                          We came upon wooden 'tree houses'...

                                             ...filled with strange and wondrous...

                                                    ...musical instruments...

                                       ...and even the 'closed for the season' bits...

                                              ...were charmingly decorated.

                          With our unseasonably warm and humid weather, lately...

                                   ...many visitors were sporting summer clothing...

                             ...and the plants seemed to be a bit confused, as well!

                                                               Is it winter...

                                                           ...or is it spring?

                                                 The outdoor Christmas trees...

                                ...were lovingly trimmed with seedpods and suet.

                                       (Snacks for the birds and small animals!) :)

                                                       Hannah and Hayden...

                                            ...enjoying our walk on this balmy day.

                       I felt a little like Dorothy in the first part of The Wizard of Oz...

                                    ...with the outdoor plants and strings of lights...

                                ...at first appearing rather colorless in the daylight.              

                                 As we began to tour the interior exhibits, however...

                                           ...things started looking a lot shinier...

                                                ...and much more colorful! :)

                                                  In the original family home...

                              ...trees featured exquisite blown glass ornaments...

                                            ...and intricately wrapped presents!

                                                         In the greenhouse...

                                          ...Mr. Green appeared quite at home...

                                      ...as he ducked under a large, tropical leaf. ;)

                 Here's a sneak peek of the technicolor fabulousness that Part 2 will bring...

                                                   ...as we go from daylight...                          

                                                      ...to the dark of night! :)