~ Peace Be Still ~

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Have you found a moment of peace,

in the midst of  this busy time of year?

I have not....yet!

After I finish up here in the Studio today, 

I'll finally be heading into LaCrosse

to do my Christmas shopping!

Today, I'd like to share some of my favorite Christmas

decorations that have been tucked here and there.

I'll start with this magnificent stag deer that I rescued from

a junk shop several years ago....

  

~ Large Antique Celluloid Stag Deer ~

Old celluloid animal figures usually sell for a high price.

I was smiling all the way home because I only paid $5.00 

for this incredible find!

Celluloid animals are very light and hollow.  In this lighting you

can almost see through it.  

Because Celluloid is light, many of the old animals will have 

some sort of dent, but this deer is in pristine condition!

To add some holiday color I added the red silk ribbon 

with an old German bell that I borrowed from one

of my sheep.  

Have you ever found a great treasure at an almost 

giveaway price?

***

Another one of my collections is

"Mourning Sheep"....

I love the happy feeling my sheep collections give me,

they just fill me with such a sense of peacefulness.

An old mourning sheep will always be very heavy, being made

of either plaster/concrete, chalkware or marble.

This was my very first mourning sheep that I purchased over

twenty years ago, and is solid plaster/concrete. 

The small lamb on the top shelf is solid marble, 

and very old.  Unfortunately it has a crack

across its neck, but I don't mind....it just adds to 

the character.

The middle lamb is also solid marble and has

carved wooden ears.

***

Have any of you ever heard of the American Folkartist 

Leo Smith?

My husband and I have been friends with him and his

wife Marilyn for years.  

They are such an artist couple!

Leo does all the carving and Marilyn does the painting.

We are so happy to own several of Leo's original pieces....

~ Leo Smith Folkart Angel ~

I love all of his very creative designs!

~ Leo Smith Angel of Peace ~

~ Leo Smith Angel of Hope ~

I was having a hard time deciding where she looked best!

***

Handmade vintage ornaments are so much fun to hang up....

I like to hang them from the keys

on all my old cabinets. 

***

My grapevine tree is finally sitting on top of an old 

Red Wing crock with a robin's nest on the very

top!

Yesterday, after the football game I did get the lights put 

on it, but it still needs some more decorations...hopefully later

today!

***

~ Studio News ~

I'm all finished stitching my Valentine's Day Sampler, 

and yesterday while watching the football game

I finished the framing....yeah!!!

I'll be releasing this new sampler on Friday, 

December 26th.  

By the time it's actually in the needlework shops it

will be next year....so I'm considering this my 

first sampler of *2*0*1*5*.

I wouldn't feel right releasing it before Christmas

has passed, so please check back on Friday

for the reveal.

***

~ Weekly Soul Food ~

The birth of Jesus....Luke 2:1-20, KJV

Please remember the reason for the season, 

and take a moment to be still and read

the birth of Jesus!

Wishing all my friends a safe and joyful Christmas

spent with those you love ~♥~

Merry Christmas from Scattered Seed Samplers,

~ Kindly, Tammy ~