Yes, I own a quilt shop. Of course, it is a miniature one and I only get it out at Christmas, but it is a special reminder to my family of my love of quilting (as if they needed to be reminded!). (It also says "Jane's Quilt Shop" and my name is Linda, but that is beside the point.) I bought it when I first started collecting village pieces. It was not an expensive piece and, in fact, I repainted it with oil paints because it was so plain.
My grandchildren helped me out this year by putting up my Christmas village. They had a lot of fun making up stories about each of the characters they added to go with each building. According to them, the boy below is waiting to throw snowballs when the people come out of the house!
Every piece that I collect has a special significance. I have a bike shop for my son who loves bicycling. I have a Smoke House for my husband, who is known for his smoked brisket (a Texas BBQ favorite).A dairy barn with its cows, a green house, a lighthouse, a hospital, and many more, each have a connection to a special family member or memory. This keeps me from just collecting piece after piece, which I would happily do just because I love the way each one looks.
This year I kept it small so that the kids could manage it, but I have tried many different ways of displaying my village. The photos below are from 2009.
The artist is painting a watercolor that just happens to
match the one I have hanging in my house. (My sister painted it for me. I just did a little cut and paste of a small copy onto the easel). I put my village up each Christmasas a memory keeper. It thrills me that it can also be a memory maker for my grandchildren!
I hope you're enjoying the Holiday Lane Blog Hop! I posted last Friday. If you missed it, you can still leave a comment on Friday's post for a chance to win a surprise giveaway! You can check out today's posts by clicking on the Holiday Lane button on my sidebar. Until next time..... Bee Blessed!
What a charming Holiday village and it seems it has a lot of meaning for your family. It's also nice that the grand kids can get involved in the fun and make up stories. I especially like the little boy waiting to throw the snowball.
Linda ... your Christmas Village is wonderful! How nice that each piece has a special meaning to you and that you can share this with your grandchildren ... :) Pat
I love your little shops esp Jane's Quilt Shop! A long, long time ago, I took up pottery but never managed to make anything interesting except plates and vases. Then I gave up.
I love your village, especially the quilt shop. I started collecting a few houses years ago but I've never used them; I wish I could find a quilt shop, though.
I love miniature villages, but do do my kitties, so no breakables lately. Love how you put the painting into the easel, such a fun idea to personalize it.
I love our village pieces and even though I give Rob a lot of guff about the stories he makes up to go with what is happening every year (and he moves the people around as the story continues during the holiday countdown) I do love that he goes to that much trouble every year and he gets so much pleasure out of it. We also collect pieces related to us. He has a farm as a reminder of his childhood and there's a quilt shop and florist and a dress shop for the kid. Be well. Lane
Ohhh LInda...I so love your christmas village..you soooo inspired me to begin one....I love the janes quilt shop..where did you find most of these....adorable..love the painter too.
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Awesome tradition making awesome memories!
ReplyDeleteWhat a charming Holiday village and it seems it has a lot of meaning for your family. It's also nice that the grand kids can get involved in the fun and make up stories. I especially like the little boy waiting to throw the snowball.
ReplyDeleteLinda ... your Christmas Village is wonderful! How nice that each piece has a special meaning to you and that you can share this with your grandchildren ... :) Pat
ReplyDeleteI love your little shops esp Jane's Quilt Shop! A long, long time ago, I took up pottery but never managed to make anything interesting except plates and vases. Then I gave up.
ReplyDeletei love these little houses and shops Linda.xx
ReplyDeleteYour little quilt shop is lovely Linda.
ReplyDeleteI love your attention to detail....it makes all the difference!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your village, especially the quilt shop. I started collecting a few houses years ago but I've never used them; I wish I could find a quilt shop, though.
ReplyDeleteI love miniature villages, but do do my kitties, so no breakables lately.
ReplyDeleteLove how you put the painting into the easel, such a fun idea to personalize it.
Debbie
Your little village is precious and so are the memories...both past and present ones being made with your Littles. Joyous...
ReplyDeleteEvery girl needs their own quilt shop - good for you. Do you have an end of season clearance just before the decos come down after Christmas? :)
ReplyDeleteI love our village pieces and even though I give Rob a lot of guff about the stories he makes up to go with what is happening every year (and he moves the people around as the story continues during the holiday countdown) I do love that he goes to that much trouble every year and he gets so much pleasure out of it. We also collect pieces related to us. He has a farm as a reminder of his childhood and there's a quilt shop and florist and a dress shop for the kid. Be well. Lane
ReplyDeleteAnd that is what it's all about!! What a wonderful post. So glad I stopped by for a visit.
ReplyDeleteOhhh LInda...I so love your christmas village..you soooo inspired me to begin one....I love the janes quilt shop..where did you find most of these....adorable..love the painter too.
ReplyDelete