Christmas Under Glass…A Holiday Cloche Party

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life is our hostess . I think she is singlehandedly responsible for making the cloche this year’s “must-have” decorating accessory. Who knew you could do so much with a simple bell jar??!! Some of you might remember that I gave one of the guest bedrooms a makeover last spring. You can see it here. I thought I might bring a little Christmas in here—“little” being the key word.

This is the room where my three year old niece sleeps when she comes to visit. Although it is blue, white, and yellow; it’s definitely a feminine room—just right for Miss Priss. I thought she might enjoy a doll house Christmas vignette.

I retrieved a few things from Sunshine’s childhood dollhouse—the one I adored and she tolerated :). I decorated it for Christmas even back then.

A tree by the fireplace is perfect. Don’t you love the tiny blue and white tiles and dental molding?—perfect for this bedroom! The tree is decorated with angels, bow, and snowmen and has lots of presents waiting underneath for a good little girl! Just a little something to bring Christmas into the guest room…to make my guests feel the warmth of Christmas all through the house. I’ve changed the sheets to some I think she’ll like too.

More snuggly snowmen! Don’t forget to click here to see more cloche fun! I hope you will visit me on Tuesday for Deck the Halls. Come show off your decorations! Mr. Linky and I have kissed and made up :)

Welcome to Christmas

Thanksgiving is over. The leftovers are in Tupperware and zip locs, the good china is back in place, and the relatives are packing up. It’s time for a trip to the attic! Let the decorating begin!

My sweet little niece (in an earlier picture from the spring) has a passion for all things pink and spent the holiday with us. She gravitates toward pink like a bee to honey. While we were out shopping, she found a pink Christmas tree and I started thinking. Wouldn’t it be fun to let our “inner pink child” loose on Christmas decorations?! The front door might look like this.

or this

or this

I love this one made with vintage tinsel and ornaments. The front door is our first opportunity to say “welcome to Christmas”. I’m already working on mine!

I hope you will join me for Deck the Halls this Tuesday, December 1 and every Tuesday until January 5! I’ll be hosting a fun party to show off our decorations, those we’ve visited, or simply those that inspire us. The rules are relaxed—it’s a casual party :) I’ll be posting Mr. Linky on Monday night by 8:00 p.m. central time. I hope you will make plans to join the fun!

Join Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more pink fun. Thank you Beverly!

Metamophosis Monday…New Look for the Nook

I almost never get to “play” on Met Monday when Susan at Between Naps on the Porch hosts her party, but I’ve been working on a project for a while now….and it’s time I invited you in to see! If you visit my tablescapes, you’ve seen this table and this view frequently.

I bought this table several years ago at an estate sale—just a pedestal table. I’m not sure of its age, but the size was right. Our farm table from our previous home did not fit the new space comfortably. This table had lots of “character” from it’s previous owners. I loved that it was well worn and obviously had its own stories to tell, but I was never really happy with it. The window treatments were in the house when we bought it. Again, I appreciated having them, but they nagged at me after a couple of years. I find some of my best inspiration in catalogs. I love browsing through Ballard Designs. I saw this table and an idea was born.

You talented bloggers have introduced me to the wonders of furniture rehabilitation! I’ve always been a spray painter, but have never ventured far out of my comfort zone of small items and deck furniture. But you gave me courage to try! SOooo…I waited until Beloved went out of town; I went to the hardware store; I showed the man a leaf from the table and asked his advice on painting it. “You gonna ruin this antique?” was his reply. After I recovered, I answered, “Yep, so you might as well help me do it”. What is it with men and wood? :) I painted the table and six chairs in two days….just in the nick of time before Beloved got home.

The Windsor chairs were a previous purchase and needed an update too!

I think it looks like the Ballard table. I can take out two leaves to make it round, but the larger size suits us most of the time. Hershey in the background is not impressed :) Next, it was time to get rid of the window treatments. The metamorphosis stalled in the pupa stage! But while I was catalog browsing, I saw these curtains in the Country Curtains catalog.

The photo makes it hard to tell, but they are a small tan and black check….love the fabric. The style is just a little much for the breakfast area….but the wheels started turning again. Five fabric stores later, I had a coupon, a seamstress, and a plan.

I picked them up on Friday and Beloved and I hung them on Saturday. I must tell you that this is a miracle in itself for several reasons: 1) Beloved did it . 2) He did not use words that make sailors blush. 3) We are still married.

I like the way the table and the window treatments complement the colors in this picture. I had to replace some decorative plates to go with the new color scheme. I found these at Hobby Lobby. They will do for now, but I’m still looking.

The back entryway need a little sprucing up too. The door has the same window treatment. I bought this rug on clearance at a local rug store and another one at Big Lots for beneath the sink.

I had always thought the little breakfast alcove needed a rug to define and warm up the area. I had a black and tan sisal rug in mind, but completely reversed directions when I found one on clearance at the same rug store. I think it added the color and texture this area needed.

Now, I never told you what Beloved said when I painted the table, or changed the window treatments, or added the rugs. Beloved is a man of few words. He took one look all around and at the rug in the kitchen and said,

“Why do we have a New Orleans Saints rug?”. I love that man :)

Click on the MM butterfly on the sidebar for more transformations at Susan’s.

Don’t forget the Deck the Halls party will begin on December l. For details click here! Hope to see you there!

Pink Saturday…..I’m Dreaming and a Giveaway

I know most of us (including me) haven’t gotten the last Halloween decoration put away and the Thanksgiving menu is still on the “to do” list, but I love Christmas. So I’m dreaming…What if Christmas looked like this?

And the tree was covered in these?

Or this?

And the mantel was hung with this?

And the front door greeted you with this?

And the table was set with this?

And this?

Wouldn’t it be fun?

I posted my 100th post this week. I have loved “meeting” so many of you and hope to meet so many more. You can read about and enter my Giveaway for some early Christmas decorations here. Also……

Starting on Tuesday, December 1, I will be hosting a “Deck the Halls” party every Tuesday through January 5. You can read the details here. I hope you will join me! I hope you will grab a button after you read the details and spread the word!

Thank you Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday! I hope everyone has a great pink Saturday and a wonderful weekend!

Click here for a world of pink! Now --- GO REGISTER here!!!

p.s.—I am posting a little early…I will be painting on Friday and Saturday…and I don’t mean portraits or landscapes :)

A Giveaway, A Celebration Tablescape, and an Invitation

Welcome to Susan’s 63rd tablescape party! You can join her at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking the TT button on the sidebar. You know Susan. There’s no telling what she has dreamed up for this week! As for me, I’ve set the sideboard for a celebration for two—you and me. You see—this is my 100th post!

I almost never take you into the dining room—but this is special! I’ve pulled out the champagne bucket we received as a wedding gift. See how that tart reflects in the silver? I have actually used this much more as a centerpiece container than I ever have for champagne. It is elegant with roses. I’ll show you soon! These are two lone champagne flutes we received as a gift from the owner of an antique store. I know nothing about them—except that they are a little different and I like that. The linen wine bottle apron was also a gift from a friend. In honor of the celebration, I “gifted” us with these fruit tarts from Fresh Market. These “high end” markets have the most fabulous meat department, prepared food deli, and bakery I have ever seen anywhere. Shopping there is just an occasional guilty pleasure for me! And since we’re talking about gifts —I’ve got one for you!

You may know I love tea towels and guest towels. This is a beautiful linen hem stitched towel that says it all about the upcoming holiday season! There are glitter embossed candy cane ornaments and a cheese spreader ready for your festive appetizers. I know it’s just a little early….but I want you to get excited….I have an invitation for you too!

On Tuesdays between December 1 and January 5 I will be hosting a “Deck the Halls” party. You are invited to link your posts with your decorations, those you have visited, or just those that have inspired you. I will post Mr. Linky on Monday evenings. Get creative—the rules are casual. I know it will be fun and I can’t wait to visit you all! Don’t worry—I’ll remind you!

SO—here are the giveaway rules:

1. Leave a comment on this post for one entry.

2. If you are a follower, you are entitled to two entries

3. If you post about the giveaway, please come back and tell me. I will enter you three times .

4. I will announce the winner on Monday November 8th!

Thank you all so much. When I first hit that “publish” button, I could never have imagined the friends I would make. I do consider you that! :)

Don’t forget! Grab a “Deck the Halls” button! Spread the word!

I hope dear Michael doesn't mind if I cheat and post to Foodie Friday....I do have tarts :) Click on her button on my sidebar for food and fun!

Celebrities for Dinner

I am glad to be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Michael at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. As I've said before, they complement each other and I am happy to visit both! This week I was in charge of a committee to do flowers for a luncheon of about sixty women--eight tables in a lovely setting overlooking the city. Between that pig thing going around and wanderlust, I ended up as committee of one. The good news--no boring meetings to discuss strategy. The bad news--I am NOT a florist. But I do have a Costco card and I know how to use it!





The luncheon went off without a hitch and now I am left with all these flowers! So .....I invited celebrities for dinner!





I started out with these lovely cream colored dishes with scalloped edges and brown etched fleur de lis accents. They are made by Nina Campbell a London designer with a home line that I believe is offered exclusively at Steinmart. She has beautiful basic pieces with lovely details in several colors. I like the cream and brown for fall. Besides it works so well with these wooden chargers with the leaf design.





I layered a dark green salad plate on top of the Nina Campbell. The salad plates are a Marshalls find. I like to buy salad plates or bowls. They can completely change the personality of a neutral plate. These have a raised grape and grape leaf pattern on them and are called Bordeaux made by Raymond Waites.

I recently saw this idea for individual bouquets that hold place cards. They are actually salt and pepper shakers from Walmart with the top removed . I just added a few mums and fern fronds from the yard. I use these stemmed votive holders all the time. I like the heighth on the table. Now, let's see-- that's a place for Ted and a place for Bob.

Alice will sit here. The bold plaid of the napkins have all the tablescape and flower colors--orange, gold, greens, and brown. I just pushed them down into the stemmed bronze tea glass. They may be celebrities, but they're just folks like us.

If you like old movies, by now, the names are beginning to sound vaguely familiar! Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice was was a risque' movie in the late sixties when free love was just making its way to the over thirty set! I love all these actors! Honestly, those are the first four names that popped in my mind as I was making "faux place cards". But what do you serve for dessert when Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice are coming for dinner.....no, not that :)

There is Carol's spot with Cinnamon baked apples with dumplings! These are my grandmother's sherbet glasses. I finally got a shot where you can see a little of the beautiful etching.

Baked apples make a great guilt free fall dessert and this presentation makes it an elegant dessert as well. It will look like you went to a lot more trouble than you did and I'm all for that...even for celebrities :).

Core Rome or Golden Delicious apples. I don't all the way through to the bottom, Fill it with whatever concoction you like--brown sugar, Splenda, butter, raisins, cinnamon, etc. Next, lay a prepared pie crust out on a floured surface. (I've told you --Sister Schubert makes my rolls and the dough boy makes my crusts :) Cut into strips about 1/2 inch wide and 10 inches long. Criss cross two strips to form an X and place the filled apple in the middle. Pull strips up around the apple and tuck into the center. Next, using the leftover crust cut out small leaves an attach to top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. You may need to cover the leaf garnish with foil at the end to prevent over browning. Garnish with a cinnamon stick stuck in the center. Serve warm. Great with whipped cream or topping.

Just a reminder about Deck the Halls on Tuesdays starting December 1. If you'd like, go ahead and take the reminder button from the sidebar. I'd be grateful if you helped me spread the word. I will be doing a full post about it next week. Gotta go--Elliot Gould needs me!

Click on the TT button to see more tablescapes and on Friday click the Foodie Friday to head over to Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday!

Metamorphosis Monday....It's all Their Fault

Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch and Laurie at Bargain Hunting (and chatting) with Laurie, I've been playing with my pictures! These two ladies were kind enough to share their expertise and knowledge to "play" around with our pictures on Photobucket and Photoscape. Now my "to do" list has nothing crossed off, my laundry needs to be put away, and we're having takeout for dinner...and it's all their fault! I still have a long way to go, but this editing pictures is fun! I'd like to show you some metamorphoses (that word in the plural is a pain!)....uh, changes with the magic of the edit button!


This


Becomes this

1. I love the aged sepia tones!

This

Now becomes

The fresco option makes my tablescape a painting.

Hannah the hound dog

Now speaks!

And finally, my favorite--Jessie

Goes Warhol!

Isn't this fun? Now, on to a Party Invitation!

Deck the Halls

On Tuesdays December 1-January 5

Starting on Tuesday, December 1, I am going to be hosting a Deck the Halls blog party. Each Tuesday you are invited to share your holiday decorations, those you have visited or those that inspire you. I don't need to give you bloggers examples--you are a creative bunch!! I will post Mr. Linky each Tuesday December 1-January 5. If you think you might be interested in joining in the party, I'd love to hear in your comments. I think it will be lots of fun. I'll keep reminding you so share the word!

Thanks always to our lovely hostess Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Click on her button and visit her and a long list of contributors as she begins another year !