Thursday, December 30, 2010

Warm and Fuzzy Snow

I've spent the whole day putting away Christmas
decorations and sorting through things ~ trying as I
do every end-of-year, to get myself organized.
The problem with sorting and organizing is that things
usually get worse before they get better.
~
Along the way and through the clutter, I took
time out to play and arrange a few new 
vignettes for winter.

That's the fun thing about cleaning out ~ you come across
things you forgot you had and find new creative ways to use them.
  I'm using my brown transfer ware plate with an arrangement
of artificial evergreens, cotton, and pine cones.
~
Brown transfer ware is my fave and I adore this old plate!  
I got it at a yard sale this summer for $.50. 
I love to display it in any way I can.


I love the crackle finish on this urn.  It adds so
much character to the piece and gives it an aged look.


When mixed with evergreens, the cotton reminds me 
of snow ~  only the warm and fuzzy kind.

  I'll take my snow in this form anytime.

 Guess I'd better stop playing around and get back to cleaning.

I'm linking with

Common Ground for "Vintage Inspiration Friday"
~
French Country Cottage for "Feathered Nest Friday"
~
My Romantic Home for "Show & Tell Friday"
~
A La Carte for "Junkin Finds Friday"
~
Bargain Hunting With Laurie for "Favorite Things Friday"


Monday, December 27, 2010

A Cozy Table

My bedroom is one of my favorite rooms in the house,
especially in the winter.  My cozy bed,
piled high with pillows and a warm duvet is
my favorite place to read, study or watch TV.
Since I am single, it is the one room where I indulge my 
feminine side with ruffles, lace, and lots of pink.
~
I wanted to create the ultimate luxury tablescape 
for one ~ me.
Yesterday at Home Goods, I found this sweet little rose
plate that matched my duvet cover perfectly and became
the inspiration for this tablescape.  It is Maxcera's
"Victorian Toile Rose" pattern and comes in a variety of
different pieces.  I chose to only purchase a single salad
plate for $2.99 since I only needed one place setting.

 I paired it with my favorite plate ~ my
oval olive~green scrolled plate from Nina Campbell.

For the napkins, I had two pieces of leftover quilt fabric that 
matched the plates perfectly.  I couldn't decide which one to use, 
so I made one of each and combined them for a more 
luxurious look.

 
 I added a small pedestal mercury glass candle holder
for just a touch of romance and ambiance.


Last summer I found this lovely wooden bed tray at
a garage sale for only $10.  It was love at first sight.  It has legs
that can be extended to elevate it or they can be locked
underneath so it sets flat.

I love it's curved edges which gives it personality 
and a sweet delicate look.

 


Even though I only set a table for one, as usual, 
Miss Biddy always shows up in time for meals.


I'm linking with A Stroll Thru Life
 for Tabletop Tuesday
~
 for Tablescape Thursday
~
for Pink Saturday 


Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Morning Table

 As families change over the years, so have our Christmas 
morning breakfast traditions.
Today I'm sharing a simple Christmas morning
table setting for my daughter and myself.
 Currently we spend a quiet breakfast 
together before traveling to my sister's home to meet up 
with the rest of our extended family.















My table setting is rather subdued colors with the
only punch of color being the red holly berries and red napkins. 
The dinner plate is a soft muted olive green plate by
Nina Campbell with a lovely scroll embellishment
around the edges.  I love this plate because of it's
somewhat oval and oblong shape and I've been
using it frequently since I purchased it this fall.

 
The salad plate is the softest of yellows with
delicate raised dots along the octagonal edges.


The bowl has a sweet sprig of mistletoe in it's center and is called
"Home for the Holidays" from the Paula Deen At Home collection. 


It's real beauty though is the mistletoe and holly berries
along the sides, which you can hardly see. 


I used red napkins to add color to the table and
tucked a sprig of pine and holly inside the napkin ring
for embellishment.


I made the centerpiece out of various evergreens and holly
cut from my yard with artificial pears nestled in to
compliment the dinner plates.

 


Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.
 
for Tablescape Thursday.
  


 

Friday, December 17, 2010

Sweetest Story Ever Told

Being a very new blogger, I was amazed at what all the ladies 
in blog land did with fall and Thanksgiving this year. 
I could hardly wait to see what creative ideas and pictures
they would share for Christmas.
~
At first I was overwhelmed, but it wasn't long before I felt very empty.
I was at a loss to explain what I felt and didn't understand why
none of it seemed to matter.  Isn't this what I had been
waiting for?  I found myself almost angry without
knowing why.
~
Then I found this video and took the few minutes to watch it.
It changed everything.
~
Please stop over and see the sweetest Christmas
video ever produced by St. Paul's Church
in Auckland, New Zealand.  It is featured over at
Debbie's blog site Love the Decor and
I promise, you'll never see anything sweeter, purer,
or touching than this children's version of Christ's birth.


Jesus is the reason for Christmas.  We can dress up our
homes with all the glitz and glitter that Christmas offers, but 
without Him, nothing else matters.
~
I'm lining up with The Tablescaper 
for "Seasonal Sundays".





Thursday, December 16, 2010

Candy Canes & Snowflakes

I set my table today in all red and white making quite 
a bright and cheerful table.

 My dinner plates are by Country Living and were 
purchased on clearance at Kmart this fall.

 The salad plates are from the Fancy Scroll Collection by 
Sweet Olive Designs and were purchased at Marshalls.

 I love the design and texture of the plates when
combined, which need nothing more to adorn them except 
simple candy canes and pretty napkins.

 The napkins I made from two fabrics, one side striped
to coordinate with the candy canes and the other side
with snowflakes so they can be used throughout the winter
and not just for Christmas.



The centerpiece is a glass hurricane globe with a mixture of
inexpensive solid, striped, and snowflake ornaments.


A cheerful table setting to last through the 
holidays and with just a few simple changes ~ all
the way to Valentine's Day.

 I'm linking with Between Naps on the Porch
for Tablescape Thursday.
 

 
 

Monday, December 13, 2010

Vintage Blues

Just a short post today showing the lovely vintage blues
that were for sale at the  French Hen Farm
Barn Sale.


Words aren't necessarily needed when
eyeing so many pretties, except maybe
"oohh and awhh".


 I'm joining Smiling Sally for "Blue Monday"
~
and
~
Debra at Common Ground for
"Vintage Inspiration Friday".

  

Sunday, December 12, 2010

A Child is Born

For unto us


a child is born,

 unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:


and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

Counsellor,

The Mighty God,

The Everlasting Father,

 The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6



Linking with The Tablescaper  for
"Seasonal Sundays"
~
"Spiritual Sundays" 
~
"Mosaic Mondays".






  

    


 
 


 

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Where is Santa Now?

I'm not big into Santa for decorating at Christmas time 
since I've always felt Jesus is the reason for the season, 
but this little fellow was a Secret Santa gift and he has always 
had his place in the decorating scheme.  Usually you
can find him sitting on the shelf over the washing machine
dangling his legs and keeping me company while I do laundry.


But lately he's been making the rounds and popping up 
in all sorts of places.  One day I found him on top 
of the mantel clock sitting dangerously close to
the lit candles.


I've noticed he seems to like high perches because I
found him yesterday straddling the rooster on top 
of the refrigerator.


Then I found him posing on the hutch with my
new piece of vintage red transfer ware.  Isn't
it a dandy? 


 I found him last week stuck in one of the 
brown transfer ware tea cups I recently picked
up at Goodwill.  He seems to have "a thing"
for transfer ware ~ a man after
my own heart.


But his most recent escapade was trying to come down the 
chimney, or maybe he just jumped off the mantel clock.
Anyways ~ he landed in a crock of poinsettas
sitting in my fireplace.  At least he had a soft landing.


It is hard not to adore this little guy ~ he's
such a character and has won my heart.
Where do you think he'll end up next?

 
I'm linking with Debra at Common Ground for
"Vintage Inspiration Friday",
with Kate at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 
for
"Flaunt it Friday", and
with Courtney at French Country Cottage 
for
"Feather Your Nest Friday" .
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