My dilemma, however, has been how to display these treasures. I want everyone who enters my home to see them! Well, my problem was solved when I found Chuck Pederson and Generation to Generation Heirlooms. Chuck handcrafts a Website full of products that are certain to become family heirlooms, including children’s toys, quilt ladders and quilt racks. Here is the gorgeous 7.5-foot quilt ladder he made for me:

As you can see, I am proudly displaying my baby-clothes quilt on the rack and will soon be adding my father’s memorial quilt above that. It fits perfectly in the corner of my room, with an angled design at the top so it leans securely against the wall.

Chuck makes all of his products by hand with the utmost care and attention to detail. The solid construction of this quilt ladder is amazing, and the silky-smooth finish on it is absolutely beautiful. Due to the size of this ladder, Chuck constructs it to fold in the middle for shipping and some minor assembly is required when it arrives. Just so you know, I intended to add that project to my husband’s “honey do” list, but the instructions Chuck sent were so simple and easy to follow that I completed it all by myself using the tools he suggested: A screwdriver and wood glue. (He pre-drills the holes for the dowels, good man that he is).

You can purchase any of Chuck’s heirloom treasures on his Website (quilt racks, children’s toys and quilt project hangars) and he will ship them to you. Prices range from $100 for a Toddler Town Car, $300 for a handcrafted Rocking Horse, $100 for a traditional floor quilt rack and $125 for the 7.5-foot ladder (plus shipping). All of the toys from Generation to Generation Heirlooms would make perfect Christmas presents for children. And unlike the latest toy made of hard, molded plastic and running on batteries, these toys are certain to last through the generations, becoming family heirlooms as Chuck intended.

If  you live in/near California, you can see the items in person at the following craft shows:

October 21, 22 & 23 – Independence Hall Quilters Quilt Show, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA

November 12-13 – Tuleburg Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Stockton, CA

Chuck’s other tentative shows for 2012 are listed here.

Please visit Generation to Generation Heirlooms to check out Chuck’s products. You won’t be disappointed.

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kpWired Designs is co-owned by Kim Plank and Maggie Robinson. Kim started the company about five years ago and began by beading different pieces for friends and family. Then she began using wire to create unique designs. As the demand grew, Kim knew she needed help if she wanted the business grow so  Maggie joined in the most awesome madness. Together, they create designs that are made from lead-free solder wire, all hand-crafted, with each piece being unique. Many of the designs have a Christian or faith theme, such as this one:

Other designs simply are simply infused with a simplicity that is beautiful, such as this one:

And the prices are extremely reasonable, ranging from about $20 on the low end to the most expensive piece that includes swarovski crystals priced at $50. Kim and Maggie also design rings, bracelets and earrings, and they will do a custom piece for anyone who asks — also within those price ranges. I’ve asked Kim to work on a custom necklace for a group of my friends and she thinks it will cost about $25 for the solder wire design on a leather cord.

Obviously, the pieces are affordable (half the price of sterling, in fact, and they won’t tarnish), and 10 percent of the profits go to single Moms in the St. Louis area. (Kim and Maggie’s company mission is to create beautiful, unique and fun priced designs in the hopes that along their journey they can help struggling, single moms in St. Louis). That’s as beautiful as their creations, in my opinion.

So, if you’d like to order a piece from kpWired Designs, you can shop by viewing the photos on their Facebook page and then email them to place your order at kpwireddesigns@gmail.com. Or, if you live in the St. Louis area, you can email them to book a show or a personal appointment to view the items in person or discuss a custom piece.

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I haven’t been to Branson since I was about 10 years old, so I didn’t know what to expect, short of all the stories I’d heard about the traffic and the cheesy shows. The traffic was real, and there were plenty of “cheesy shows” from which to choose, but we a memorable family experience that I will always cherish.

We were fortunate enough to be the guests of the Chateau on the Lake, and I can’t say enough about the property. This was one of the finest hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, and it’s location– off the main strip in Branson, atop an Ozark hill, overlooking Table Rock Lake — was one of the pluses.

Here are just some of the things I loved about the Chateau:

Our check-in was seamless and was our first glimpse of the Chateau’s commitment to service. Everyone went out of their way to help our family get situated. Our luggage was delivered to our room within five minutes of our arrival, and the Bellhop who delivered it also gave us a rundown of the offerings on the property, as well as some tips and suggestions for enjoying Branson and avoiding the traffic. (That came in very handy when we realized we’d forgotten not one, but TWO pieces of luggage at home — our toddler’s suitcase and my vanity bag. Another story altogether.)

The inside of the hotel was even more impressive than the outside, decorated in beautiful holiday splendor. The exterior donned the expected Christmas lights, but also a full-size sleigh, which was perfect for posing my kids in for pictures. Inside, Santa hung from a rope in the middle of the hotel’s 11 stories of rooms overlooking the lobby. The middle of the atrium-inspired main floor included a life-sized nativity scene at the corner of the indoor waterway, three enormous, extravagant gingerbread houses, two bird cages, larger-than-life wooden soldiers, decked-out Christmas trees and lights galore. The photo opportunities were endless, much to my teenager’s dismay.

Our rooms overlooked  Table Rock Lake and had balconies that we were able to enjoy because of the 60-degree weather that blessed us on Saturday. The rooms also had all the touches that make you feel like you’re on vacation, plus a few extras. There were chocolates on the pillows, oversized, plush towels in the bathrooms, a large flatscreen television with in-room movies available for purchase, and not one, but TWO bags for dirty clothes in the closet. (Sounds like a small detail, but one I really appreciated). The welcome letter was a delight that helped set the tone for our weekend stay. I will include it in its entirety at the end of this post, but here is an excerpt: “We hope God will grant you peace and rest while you are under our roof.” What a nice touch!

As expected, the Chateau on the Lake offers lots of amenities, including:

• Award-winning fine dining and casual dining at two restaurants, a deli and a  sweet shop/coffee shop (we enjoyed a meal at the Atrium Cafe, and it was top-notch).
• Plenty of opportunity for physical activity– a well-equipped fitness center, a hotub and indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a marina, tennis courts and walking trails.
• An in-house kid-friendly theatre, free wireless Internet, a full-service concierge desk, a lobby workstation with a printer, an on-site ATM and a pet-friendly policy.
• Special holiday offerings.

While we could’ve kept busy at the Chateau for most of our visit and it was hard to leave its santuary, we were commited to”experience” Branson. To our way of thinking, that included seeing the Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and visiting Silver Dollar City.

The Dixie Stampede had flipped the switch to its holiday show, so we enjoyed a performance full of Christmas music and tributes to the true reason for the season. If you’re like I was and you are unfamiliar with the show, here are the basics: It’s a dinner show that includes an opening act in the Carriage Room, followed by a dinner in the main theater (served without utensils!) while you watch action-packed horse-riding and stunts designed to get the audience participating. My teen thought it was cheesy (no surprise there); my tween thought it was funny but didn’t like the lack of utensils at dinner; my toddler LOVED it; and my husband and I think it’s something everyone should do once (although we were surrounded by folks who had been there multiple times).

Silver Dollar City was worth the visit simply for its ability to get us into the holiday spirit. The lights and decorations were absolutely beautiful. You really feel as though you’ve walked back in time as you enter the park.  Everything — from the food and live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, glass blowing and candle making to the shows and entertainment — make this destination a perfect place to bring your family. My older kids enjoyed the rides, although they wished there more of them, and my toddler enjoyed the few attractions that were geared for the younger set.

I’m very glad we made this trip for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which was the time our family spent laughing together. Our teen resisted going because she had to miss several swim practices and had no desire to visit “hickville” (her words, not mine). I briefly considered allowing her to stay home with Aunts who offered to keep her. I’m grateful I didn’t do that. By traveling to such a family-oriented, Christian-rooted place as Branson, I was reminded of the importance of time together as a family. The traffic that slowed our progress through town slowed our “pace.”  We listened to our toddler sing and were touched when she named her doll after her big sister. We laughed at all the signs for Elvis impersonators. We ate fudge and shared ice cream. We re-enacted skits from Saturday Night Live and shared political humor. And, we had this photo made on the Branson strip! It was a hoot, and just look at how adorable my toddler is with her her hands folded in her lap and her fat little foot sticking out from under her saloon-girl dress.

———–

Note from Chateau on the Lake to Guests:

In ancient times there was a prayer for the Stranger within our gates.

Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not soley a money making organization, we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you are under the roof.

May this suite and hotel be your “second” home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be comfortable and happy as if you were in your own home.

The reasons that brought you our way may vary. May the tranquility and the simplicity of the Ozarks add to your joy. When you leave, may your journey be safe.

We are all travelers. From ‘birth till death’ we travel between eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you  meet , and a joy to those you know and love you best.

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Hobby Lobby apparently began placing holiday messages in the newspapers in which it advertises on Easter Sunday 1997. I don’t know when the company began placing these ads in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (my local newspaper), but I finally noticed one yesterday as I was preparing to go to bed.

I spent the July 4 holiday in the company of good friends. I enjoyed fattening food and interesting conversation. My teen had fun with her friends, my tween had a blast igniting fireworks and my toddler spent the day enjoying the lavish attention of several women whose children are no longer babies. Sadly, I don’t think a single one of us acknowledged the meaning of the holiday. And that’s probably why the ad placed by Hobby Lobby made such an impact on me last night.

Hobby Lobby chose to use that ad to demonstrate how intimately our Founding Fathers intended Christianity to be woven into our government and the fabric of our country. As I read the text of the ad, which quoted presidents,  Supreme Court Justices and rulings, Congressional reports, Founding Fathers and even foreigners, I was reminded once again that the idea of “separation of church and state” was never intended to keep God our of our government, but rather, to keep our government out of our church!

So, thank you Hobby Lobby for taking the time and spending the money to remind us of that fact.  

Now here’s my Hobby Lobby plug:  I’m an avid scrapbooker and I’ve got more than 30 12×12 albums lining custom bookshelves in my family room to prove it. If you are also a scrapbooker, or you enjoy some other kind of craft or creative outlet, sign up for Hobby Lobby’s email list. Then that coupon will be delivered to your Inbox each week.

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