Peppermint Candy Sticks

Nowadays, time seems to get away from me over and over. I make plans, but then those plans change... quite often. I thought I'd make certain things to offer you before Thanksgiving, but those things are nowhere to be found, other than in bits and pieces, still waiting to be brought together on my workroom table.


Instead, I found all these fabrics in a box and decided at the last minute to whip up some old fashioned Christmas decorations. I will have several Christmas stockings listed tomorrow afternoon. All are lined and have loops for hanging. Some are long and skinny, more colonial in style, and some have cuffs and are more traditional, and then there are a few one of a kind stockings, that won't be duplicated and are not sold in pairs.

Among the fabrics, I found some red stripe canvas ticking... perfect for old fashioned peppermint sticks! There are several bundles available. You may need a few to tuck here and there throughout your Christmas decor. While making these peppermint sticks, I thought of an old country store in my hometown. It's no longer operating as the store where you could buy feed for your horse, a twist of tobacco for your grandpa, a chunk of bologna for your dad, fabric, shoes, or stockings for your mom, and a piece or two of candy for yourself... but the building still stands.

photo from facebook

The exterior was made from large blocks of the local sandstone, while the interior was creaky wood floors, wooden counters and shelves overflowing, and there was an old stove with chairs nearby for all the men to sit and spit and tell tall tales.

I have no idea how long the store was there... I think at least as far back as the 40s or 50s, maybe earlier. I remember going there in the 70s when I was a little girl. And later, in the 80s when I was in high school, that's where my mom bought my sewing supplies for Home Economics class. I still have those scissors and used them to cut out these peppermint sticks and Christmas stockings.

Ahhh, nostalgic memories! :)

Tonight, I have the peppermint sticks listed. Tomorrow afternoon I will add the Christmas stockings.

View An Old Fashioned Christmas here.

Take care & God bless, Lana 

Fragments ~ a folk angel collection

Hi everyone!
I finally managed some time to make a few folk angels. It's a small collection, but at least I'm getting some work done after a dry spell.

This collection is called Fragments. While working on these angels and sifting through all the pieces of antique and vintage trims and laces... sometimes very small fragments... I thought of a passage in the Bible where Jesus had fed several thousand people with 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes. After everyone had eaten, Jesus told the disciples to "gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." The fact that all those people were fed and there were even more leftovers that what they began with was a miracle in itself!

But for some reason what Jesus told them stayed with me. And I'll share with you what was going through my mind and heart while I worked with those fragments of laces and trims:

No matter how small or insignificant we may feel, or how broken or fragmented our lives seem to be, God loves us and wants to save us --- remember what Jesus said, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." He wants to gather us up and create a work in us that is beautiful and everlasting. Isn't that an amazing love?

So, that is why this angel collection is called Fragments. Maybe in some way, one of these angels will remind you, that no matter how small you feel at times, you are important to Him. Or maybe you can share that story and an angel with someone else that needs to know.

Visit the Fragments folk angel collection here.

Take care and God bless, 
Lana