RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

CINNAMON STICKS, DRIED APPLE & LEMON SLICES DECORATIONS


When a blogger friend suggested that she imagined my kitchen  smelling of something nice with cinnamon  baking and maybe some apple cider I think, it kind of gave me an idea about what I could make that wouldn't cost anything to add to the garland on my bannister.

 I sadly have no such aroma in my kitchen at the moment. Smells more like Nachos, lol... I wish it smelled of fresh baking though.

I found a jar of cinnamon sticks and a jar of star anise in my pantry and then I remember that I had some dried  apple and lemon slices tucked away in my buffet.

I used some tiny  elastic bands to hold the cinnamon sticks together but I needed some ribbon and I couldn't find anything suitable. I found a small piece of left over burlap backing from my rug hooking supplies to tie the ornaments to the garland. I pulled some strands from the jute.
I borrowed my husband's carpenter glue, (he's not using it any way shhhhh) to attach the star anise on the bow to kind of hide the elastic band. I used some ornament hooks that I twisted in a "S" shape to hook them to the garland.



I also found a short set of clear lights last night that I thought  I had given away to goodwill. Getting the lights on after the garland is decorated is not the best idea, lol.... Can you tell that it's my first year to decorate the bannister?



I found some fir tree picks and added them on here and there and this red heart that someone gave us for our tree last year when the triplet calves were born. We had named them Faith, Hope and Love. Now, I'm not sure I like the plastic snowflakes on the garland. I'm new at this.


This is not a a very good shot. I tried a night shot setting on my camera. The only lights on in the hall were the one on the garland
 I need to buy a tripod to hold the camera steady with this shot because the shutter speed is slower on that setting.  ( maybe santa is reading my blog)  lol...
 I don't dare tie anything on the rail for safety reason for my husband.

I had my eye appointment today and needed a new pair of glasses. Since I broke my frame last week and the optometrist lend me a new frame which I was supposed to return, but since I got the new frame I can see so much better as the frame holds the lenses in the perfect place on my nose.

In four years my eye sight has changed just enough to have a new prescription but I can still use these for the barn work and use the new pair for dress up or computer. $509.  My senior insurance only pays $100. He did gave me a discount though. It might take a couple of weeks before I get them because I'm having some no glare and anti scratch added on the lenses.

It's supposed to warm up by Monday and I plan to wash my very dirty windows on the south east side of the house. The sun is low this time of year and dirt really shows.

Thanks for visiting again and a warm welcome to all my new followers, seen and unseen. I appreciate your comments.
JB

21 comments:

  1. I think it looks great. wonderful idea. You should have looked for glasses on line you can get them pretty reasonable.
    Cathy

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  2. I think it looks beautiful! aw Faith Hope and Love ... get some cinnamon oil and cloves and scatter about on there ... orange peelings

    .... nachos? HAhaaaa

    That's some expensive glasses! I've got to do the same thing... boo hiss

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  3. Very nice!!! It does look very beautiful, good work girl and how are those calves doing they must be huge by now!

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  4. What a very nice post! Beautiful! I hope you get to relax & enjoy it!

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  5. Your bannister looks beautiful, Julia! I love to get new glasses...I can see what I've been missing!
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Robyn

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  6. That is just perfect!!!
    No kidding.
    I love your creativity and the primitiveness of it. I can see that banister in a catalog! So cute.

    You rock!

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  7. They look beautiful and I bet it smells wonderful. How creative you are sweet Julia. BTW the nachos may not bring a seasonal aroma but they would smell good to me. :) Hugs

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  8. I made a garland with apples and cinnamon once. They smell stayed good for years.
    I had to get new glasses this year. They are so expensive. I didn't get the tinted that change into sun glasses to save money. I so regret that now. They gave me a discount and they still were $500. The eye doctor was the one that helped me when I burndt my eyes. They will fix them for free anytime and adjust them. So it's worth it.
    (((((HUGS)))))

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  9. Wow honey I think u did an awesome job. I love the idea of using apples and cinnamon. Your way ahead of me i have not decorated my stairs yet. The rate i am going it may get done. Gettting here fast. Gladu liked my bedroom dont know when i will finish painting the furniture. I don't have your energy.
    Love maggie

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  10. Julia,
    It looks fantastic!! I love the way you used the strands of burlap to tie them on!! Very creative! Are you going to show us your new glasses when you get them? I need new ones too..... ugh! I better go find a rich santa!! LOL!!
    Hugs!!
    Cathy G

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  11. I love how you simply "found" all these items at home and put together this beautiful garland. Gorgeous! Oh my... the glasses thing. I really need to get in for an appt., but putting it off until after the 1st of the year. My scrip. just keeps changing..... Although, it's nice to brighten things up with new frames and the right lenses, but what an expense! Thanks for your very sweet comments Julia!
    xo
    dulcy

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  12. They look very nice on your garland. I had to laugh about your glasses as two weeks ago I wouldn't have understood a single thing you wrote about anti scratch on your lenses. Now I do. Yes, those things are so expensive. Thankful our insurance was better than in years past. It still costs so much.
    I still haven't got my glasses. Sitting in the wings waiting to be interviewed, I never really could tell what the judge looked like. :)
    It all looks nice Julia.

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  13. Good Saturday Julia. Your banister looks lovely, very clever idea, I bet it smells good too. When did you find the time to get this project accomplished? Sadly, I have done ZERO Christmas crafting. I too need to get to the eye doctor before the end of the year, if you do not use your prepaid insurance savings plan, you lose it!!!It is raining here in Maine, no cutting a Christmas tree today, it's off to the Maine Mall, ugh...Blessings, Julie..

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  14. Hi Julia, It looks so pretty!!! I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season.Hugs Cheri

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  15. oh Julia!
    what an amazingly clever idea!
    i love the dried fruit
    and spices tied so pretty
    with the rustic twine
    ....really, really beautiful!
    you are such an artist
    ...your whole life, the art:)
    -Jennifer

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  16. It looks fabulous and festive! I can just imagine how nice it must smell. What a great idea. I put the garland on our banister and used some new lights..a bit too bright. Hubby thought he walked onto the landing strip of the local airport, it was that bright! Too funny...he would have loved yours much better! Have a festive week to match your home!

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  17. Okay I have to say everything looks ready and beautiful in your home and I bet it does smell good!

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  18. It looks lovely and must smell good, too! Happy Holidays, Julia, and thanks for visiting my blog! Sarah

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  19. Hi julia, i love your garland on your banister! I always do mine too. I dont decorate the tree just lights so i put family orni on my banister garland. Love your cin, dried apples idea! One year i made a bunch of dried apples/oranges for the cobblers gifts. I need to get your e mail... Gosh arent glasses expensive!? I just got new lens as havent had my frames very long and way to stress full trying on all thise frames!
    Mom/dad sure work together on everything! Lefsa making pictures r coming soon! I started my blog to post about crafts ect but its become more like a journal.. Im working on christmas gifts and cant show on blog..til after. Enjoy your evening julia and i enjoy your blog and visits!!

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  20. That is beautiful! I bet it smells wonderful too. Nice job decorating!

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