Showing posts with label Decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Decorating. Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2014

Decorating for Christmas

Oh, I'm so thoroughly enjoying this Christmas season! After six years of too many difficulties to share, we are having a wonderful, wonderful holiday season. Last week we attended the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra's Bach Brandenburg Concerto Marathon. The music was divine. And last night we went to see the "Nutcracker Suite." It was a feast for the eyes and ears. We loved just loved it, and my husband can't wait to see Prokofiev's "Cinderella" in the spring. I never knew he would like ballet -- he didn't either. Now he wants to compose a ballet... Well, after the money-making work is done, I told him! lol!

I'm taking off from work for a few weeks, and I'm just loving all the decorating. I haven't really decked the halls in many years. What a joy it is for me now!  This 1800s pine hutch is a thrift shop find from six weeks ago. This corner of my kitchen has waited years for this piece!


It's filled with santas that my dear mother and I collected through 
the years. I celebrated her with each piece I unboxed and placed. 

These great vintage lights and boxes were a surprising find from 
weekend thrifting with my friends Christel and Heidi. 


The centerpiece for my kitchen table with vintage  ornaments and 
beaded garland and  Tom and Jerry cups.

A display of my cards and decorations I put together with thrift shop finds:

 A few years ago I discovered Tom and Jerry punch bowls, and 
it has been a love thing ever since:
You might say that I'm quite addicted. Christel found this chocolate brown
 set for me at the the thrift shop last weekend.  I LOVE it, especially against 
the light oak of my mother's favorite piece of furniture. (I have 
more Tom and Jerry pieces, but that will have to be for another day, lol!)

Here's a creche that I created from a TJ Maxx find and an image from an 
angel calendar. The figures are hand-carved from Austria--a gift throughout 
many years from my dear sister-in-law:

 I did my Christmas tree in red and gold with a few House of Hatten ornaments:

 House of Hatten was around 15 or more years ago. My mom and I 
collected these together--another reminder of the fun we used to 
have with our after Christmas shopping.



Not House of Hatten, but I just love these snowballs!
Another view of the tree:

 Christmas in the City. What haven't I collected? Lol!

One of the sideboards in my family room. I have a lot of these! lol! 
The decorations are minimal as the hand carving and stained 
glass stand on their own as a testament to the artistry and 
craftsmenship of the past. My paternal grandmother's clock is a focal point:

I guess I should have started with the entry first,but I spend 
most of my time in the kitchen!

The chalkboard door hides a closet that used to house our furnace, 
which now resides in the attic.  This little closet makes a nice pantry. 
I really do have to improve my chalkboard lettering!

These vintage silverplate pieces are thrift shop finds that I painted with 
chalkboard paint. I am still getting up my nerve or the patience to 
trace lettering and go over it with a chalk pen.



 The tree in my craft/tutoring room full of vintage ornaments and 
some of my handmade things. 

What a great way to celebrate a good and busy year! 
Wishing you peace and joy throughout the holidays and all through the new year!
Laura


Saturday, October 18, 2014

Vintage Halloween Decorations and Creations

My FAVORITE season is finally arriving, and I have pulled down all the boxes of folk art pretties:


From Bethany Lowe's company - Nicole Sayer
A vintage thrift-shop frame with a vintage reprint.


Some things I have made:
r
A closeup of my banner

Love this decoration designed by my friend Heidi
A carton I m ade for Halloween treats

This is my favorite time of year to decorate:

The sideboard in our entry
A fun way to celebrate and remember my child's Halloween celebrations through the years. (Gonna find some more pictures!)

My inexpensive way to decorate--put a Dollar Tree creepy portrait in a thrift shop frame:

 


Did you know you can paint a leather boot with regular acrylic paint? That was an experiment that worked well! A black and white gingham ribbon completed my witch's boot.  I made the "Boo" blocks several years ago, and they are still some of my favorite decorations. I have pictures of my great aunt and uncle on them. I suppose it's a Scots-Irish version of Dia de los Muertos! lol!


The Tom and Jerry set below were actually made for a Christmas drink, but I think this orange lusterware version is perfect for  Halloween!

 All the decorating and creating and photographing have kept me pretty busy these past few weeks. Stay tuned for an anthropologie-inspired decoration coming soon!


Laura


Linking up this week with these great blog parties:
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Tweak it Tuesdays at Cozy Little House
Wow Us Wednesdays
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
Creative Things Thursday @ The Vintage Farmhouse 
Blog Stalking Thursday @ The Crafty Blog Stalker

Monday, September 15, 2014

Messin' Around with Bailey's Irish Cream Mugs

Life sure gets busy, doesn't it?
I haven't had a lot of "create" time or energy, but I still do mess around with my pretties. 
One of the pretties I've been in love with forever are the Bailey's Irish Cream face mugs.
I just LOVE these things!!!!!!
They're not the greatest to drink from, but I love to display them with a little 
something in the top. Remember these old red pincushions?

This one feels like me on most days... no lipstick and a pencil in my hair!

Everyone needs a partner, so I paired her with a blue pincushion that
 I made with a sweet calico cotton:

I love their flirty expressions. Romance in the air?

The whole display is in my kitchen, and it makes me smile to walk by and 
see them winking at me with their knowing smiles.

Do you have special pretties that bring a smile to your face?

I'm linking this post with these wonderful blog parties:

What's It Wednesdays on Ivy and Elephants
Share Your Cup Thursday on Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

(I will have Halloween and Christmas projects posted in the future.)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Little Halloween Decor

A little Victorian table by my front entry doors decked out for Halloween.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Halloween Vignettes from My Kitchen

Halloween is one of my favorite--if not my favorite--holiday.  I love the colors, the smells, the adorable kids, and the creativity!  Not to mention the excitement in the air and the sense of community that Trick-or-Treating night brings to my neighborhood.  A whole group of adults making sure that kids have fun, fun, fun!  What could be better than that?
I made the banner and the two silhouette plaques.
The candle wraps were made with Stampin' Up! wheel stamps that I detached and the tag and matching card were made with stamps from Oxford Impressions.  My new friend, Lisa, made the card with the green background.  (Thanks, Lisa, I LOVE your card!)


My kitchen mascot loves celebrating each season with me.  Didn't make one darn thing in this vignette, but did put a reprinted Halloween card in a nice old frame.  Love the "punkinhead" girl with her baby.  Une petite jolie!


Do you decorate for Halloween? If you have decorations that aren't bloody or gory or super scary, I would love for you to link up this week to my Inspired Sunday blog party!

Laura







I am linking up with these great parties:

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Tweak it Tuesdays at Cozy Little House
Wow Us Wednesdays
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
Creative Things Thursday @ The Vintage Farmhouse 
Blog Stalking Thursday @ The Crafty Blog Stalker