Archives for November 2011

Holiday Tablescape

Hi all -

Today I'm linking up some more photos from my (mega) Thanksgiving table to Centsational Girl's Tablescape Link Party (and HomeGoods Giveaway). And this was just the grown-ups table. ;-) And no, I didn't make my guests eat with their hands - the silverware was added by the time everyone sat down to eat.

Come on over and join the fun!

Linking to:
Centsational Girl - Tablescape Link Party
Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday
The Lettered Cottage - Tablescape Link Party

Christmas Touches and Details

Thank you so much for all the lovely, and funny comments on my "Twas the night before Christmas" poem. I just had to do it that way you know....you just can't blurt that sort of thing out, you must create a poem when you find a deal like that!. :) The funny thing is, and this goes to show what a goofy goober I am, the day after I came up with the poem, I couldn't stop talking to myself in rhyme. Everything had and exclamation mark too. :) I probably have some sort of disorder that my inner dialogue rhymes all the time, anyone heard of that?

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I would like to offer more pictures (cause you know I can't stop) and some links and details and some sources, although, most everything has been collected over time.

I know that it is always a battle between fresh or faux, but too many people in my family has tree allergies, so faux we go (dang it, there I go again).

Even as a kid, mom and dad both were allergic and we always had an artificial tree. My sister still uses Mom's tree to this day.
I used my pinecone topiaries on the mantle. As soon as I made them, I knew exactly where they would end up, I really love them. Someone commented that they had seen something similar at Target, so I was in there the other day and they are so painted and glittered that you could barely tell they were pinecone petals. I highly recommend the DIY version. :)
See how to make your own HERE

I even made a third one using a 14" cone. I put all three of them on candle holders because the ceilings are high in the living room, so for me, the taller the better,

I have a collage wall over the sofa and while I didn't change the arrangement, I did change the fall tree prints. I found this botanical book at an auction that had illustrated pictures, so I used three pictures of conifers. I kept the same frame and matting, just put in the pine pictures. The fall trees are just behind now.

My block art still looks good as the centerpiece. Check out how I made it HERE.

When I saw this owl pillow cover at West Elm, I just had to splurge (sorry it's no longer available). It is embroidered with a button closure. I think he looks really cute and the perfect colors too.

I made the Noel banner just like I made my Fall one using burlap and painted the lettering. I added a couple of rusty bells on the end for fun.

I found this fantastic wood grain ribbon at Joann's. After the tornado, they set up a satellite store at the Mall, which I despise going to (the mall that is)...but I needed some burlap for the Noel garland. So I ran in and found this great ribbon. It must have been destiny. I joined it with some platinum netting ribbon that I found at Michael's. I know not everyone is into ribbon, but for me it's like 2 1/2" wide fabric. :)
I stuck some other platinum floral and sticks around the ribbon to help balance off just how big around the tree is. I tried to use the the finial topper that I have (you can see it HERE), but it was just too small.

These glittery feathers are new this year too. I found them at Michael's. They've got all kinds of crazy colors, but then I saw the brown ones...they add a lot of texture. They bend and twist too, which I thought was great.

I have collected all sorts of pinecone ornaments and my favorites are these ginormous ones. They are 10" long, so they demand a little extra attention. I tied a little bow and added some rusty jingle bells (Hobby Lobby) and a touch of floral.

I get lots of emails about the mirrors in the firebox....they are 4" mirror tiles usually found with candle holders at places like Hobby Lobby. I think they are suppose to be candleholders, but they are just small versions of beveled tiles to me. I used hot glue to adhere them because I don't want them to be permanent. Not too bad looking for a non-working fireplace, candles are the next best thing to a fire, right? :)

I'm still putting some Christmas touches in the kitchen, so I will share that next week.
I've got a tablescape coming tomorrow and a fun craft for the weekend.

Come back!

My other Handmade Ornaments on the tree:

Joy and Noel Ornaments

Upcycled Ornaments

Bayleaf wreath ornament

Acorn Cap ornament

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

A Different Noel

I know we all get wrapped up in the hustle-bustle of the holidays. It's easy to do, with all that needs to be done, after all. But I wanted to take a moment and remember a Noelle that I always think about and remember, especially this time of year. Noelle is the beautiful daughter of a dear friend of mine, who passed away, seven years ago today. She was four years old.

Noelle loved to dance to ABBA's, "Dancing Queen".

She loved books, puzzles and Ariel.

She loved her family.

I called her mom this morning, and we talked about not giving this day any more power than necessary, and not dwelling on this day. So, in the hustle bustle of the season, stop and remember that there are people among you that are bearing these crosses daily. Be kind. Be thoughtful. Be genuine.

I have done some random acts of kindness in memory of Noelle. Maybe you could too. To take back this day, and give it a different kind of power.

Noelle's parents have established a foundation in her memory, and are close to raising $150,000 to date. You can read about Noelle, and how those donations have been put to good use. They have donated it to wonderful organizations like Make-A-Wish, and do amazing things to keep her spirit alive.

http://www.noellebraun.org/

Please keep all of them in your hearts, and share some random acts of kindness in Noelle's name today.

My Eight Foot Tree

Twas the height of yard sale season and all through the hoods, I search high and low for dazzling vintage goods. Typically, the children are still nestled, all snug in their beds while I have visions of furniture and accessories dancing in my head. Off I go with a roll of thunder, yard sales and garage sales to plunder!

When out on the lawn of a house nice and neat, I encounter a big tub and an eight foot tree! Away to the women I flew like a flash..."How much is the tree, I'll give you cash!"

A dollar she exclaimed, but I couldn't believe, what could be wrong with that eight foot tree? "Nothing" she answered, "and all the pieces are there..." I welcomed her answer, if I dare!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, I jumped in the car and waved bye, bye! Fast forward to now and gaze upon the tree. It's eight foot tall as you can see. What the fair lady failed to mention was that eight foot tree girth dimensions!

I spoke not a word, but went right to work and decorated the tree, I was going berserk! It's too big and dowdy, I thought with a pout, my head was swimming with all sorts of doubt!

I persevered and kept right on going. With ribbon and bells and pine cones and more, I decked out that tree, it finally started flowing!

Finally, I finished and I am happy you see, I'm tickled pink and glad I bought my eight foot tree.

So here we are at the end of my story, my eight foot tree in all her glory.

This poem inspired by Twas the night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore with a little Dr. Suess thrown in for good measure. :)

Thanks for reading! More Pictures and details coming soon!

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

Decking the Halls (with Wreaths)

Hi all!

I hope you had a marvelous Thanksgiving and are back into the swing of things, because while I have the first part covered, I'm a bit slow on getting back into the swing of things. You forget how exhausting it all can be! But, I'm getting there. With the last of my houseguests leaving on Sunday night, I started decorating my mantel, and the tree will be going up this week.

I don't know about you, but I cannot resist any sort of holiday decor that involves wreaths. I just love them. Inside. Outside. Anywhere. Anytime.

During the holidays, I decorate with wreaths throughout my home - both inside and out, to the point that when I came home with ~~more Ballard Outlet~~ wreaths last year, my husband made the comment, "Do we not have enough wreaths? Where are you even going to put them?" Oh don't you worry - I can always find a place for more wreaths.

You can never have enough wreaths, right?