A GENTLE NOD TO CHRISTMAS. . .

As I gathered my boxes upon boxes of CHRISTMAS, trying so hard (Christmas traditions are hard to break) to make a few changes from last year and the year before that, etc. etc) it eventually became obvious to me that this year, less was going to be more.  I began placing the traditional touches that I couldn't do without and then the rest started falling into place.  The very one thing I knew must keep constant were the tiny trees with white lights that always gently decorated each and every room in our home.  .  .  gentle and welcoming to each guest (or our family and me!)

This tradition started when the kids were young and had their own little trees in their rooms.

The Power Room

No, your eyes are not failing you, I think my camera must have moved.

A pair of these white lit trees sit outside the Great Room door that leads to our

hot tub and cedar deck.  While sipping a glass of Christmas champagne

these will be a welcoming sight. 

The loft guest room

The French Patisserie Table in the living room.

Same mini tree with snow and tiny white lights.

One of the foyer chests with the Creche.

This little church has been many places, this year it is in my kitchen

in front of my sink with fresh greens and a tiny tree.

A new use for an old silver bread tray. . . fresh greens, Ipericum berries

in miniature vases and a battery operated votive.

A vintage floor cover for hot air return.  I have used various

family glass spooners, candy dishes and sugar bowls for the

votives that create a very cozy tablescape.

My outside front porch urns are laden with fresh greens, Eucalyptus and

berries (those would be faux)  Inside is a heavy glass hurricane with a battery

operated candle.  It looks amazing at night with a gentle, but obvious glow from

the street.

Since these containers are not very deep, I used an old

grapevine wreath around the perimeter of the container

to anchor the greens and berries.  I found it to work

quite well.

Some gathered fresh greens with a very simple bit of inspiration.

In my dining room . . . . a softly lit house on a silver tray.  Never

had done this and I love it.  It sits on a French antique console.

The famous Dee Gann santa.  They are one of a kind and made

from bits and pieces of vintage clothing.  I just love when they

are unwrapped for another season.

His name is Pierre Noel.  His coat is from a French vintage skirt with all of those beads you see sewed on by hand.  That silk blouse he wears

is from the sleeve of a womans blouse.

Simple touches and gentle nods without over the top decor! (do love that too), but this year, the gentle look is working for me.  Wait until you see my tree. . . .

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM . . . . .

The Christmas event at the farm was a greatly anticipated holiday shopping opportunity for Joy's blog followers and customers.  Many thought they would be 'shoppin in the shed'!  Not the case, the holiday event was held IN the farmhouse,  because of course the weather really didn't permit an enjoyable and comfortable atmosphere in THE SHED.   Upon walking up to the front porch, anticipation only grew.  The porch was decked out with natural Christmas greens, tree tops, and  bundles of birch wood.   The fragrance, the atmosphere and the fire burning in the firepit created the perfect ambience for the shopper.

Zinc containers filled with packages of fresh greens selected

and gathered by Joy.

Christmas decorations and lanterns all ready to take home.

This weathered old cabinet was filled with bundles of birch and

more fresh greens.

Once inside this precious and unassuming

 Victorian farmhouse door was an semblance

of goodies not to be imagined.

 The dining room table was filled with Christmas goodies perfectly

displayed by Joy of http://savvycityfarmer.blogspot.com/ who has been

known to take your breath away with her creativity.   I, as a former shop owner, know the

importance of getting it right and believe me, she did!  It was a wonderland

of goodies that she had shopped for, created and gathered so beautifully.

Architectural elements all re purposed and ready to hang when

when you get home.

The dining room fireplace was filled with goodies

for giving (if even for thy self!!!)

What was  without tag was not for sale and showed so

beautifully how Joy and her family live . . . . farmhouse

style to the limit!!

This hand painted canvas sign was done by Holly of the Etsy

sight, livingstonandporter.etsy.com

For that baseball enthusiast, vintage baseballs

had been sprinkled with glitter.  Wouldn't one of these

look great under a dome with a score card or tucked

into a tree?

Books, faux Christmas greens carefully created to look real (and

they did!), vintage frames painted to hold blackboards and repurposed

stool bases done with gray and white checks, from http://alwaysrobinseggblue.blogspot.com/, yes, I was allowed to

show some of my wares as well.

More of that farmhouse atmosphere loaded with

goodies for sale before the doors opened.

An old vintage cane chair upholstered with prints from old grain sacks. . . . .

the handpainted cavas of

a deer profile by Holly of Livingston and Porter.

An old office chair that could now go anywhere with the

words SIT!~ Loved this.

THE BACK PORCH . . . . .a mouth watering array of arranged fresh greens,

statuary and balusters re purposed as table candlesticks and a glass sign

hand stenciled with NOEL.

Almost last but far from the least, was Joy's daughter. Angela from

the blog spot, parisiennefarmgirl.com.  Her specialty was home made

French macaroons coated with eatable gold dust in 6 different flavors.

Her newest flavor was a carmel/salt macaroon that was to die for.

Angela was magical, precious and I had only really known her

through her wonderful blog spot which I had begun to follow some

time ago.   She is as special as her mother, so full of charm and

creativity while balancing motherhood (she and her husband have

four beautiful children) while creating a blog post weekly, cooking,

baking and joyfully being a part of what is most important to her,

those gorgeous children.  

Angela is a very attractive woman that seems to take

all she does with such ease.  (hmmmmm, I think I know better!)

 She has won my heart and I can't wait

to be in her presence again.

 

P.S.  Her blog spot is not to be missed!

Thanks Joy for letting me be a part of it all, but most of all

I feel blessed to call you my friend.

~MERRY CHRISTMAS~

BURLAP THREADS AMONG THE GOLD. . . .

Actually, I was in search of natural burlap for a project

I was doing and the fabric store was sold out!!  So, I settled

for 'white'  It is actually cream, but in the burlap world the

color is white.

I decided to create a square and unravel the ends and put it kerchief

style over the white table cloth.  .  .  .  .cream and white combo.  I loved

it!  Then I started playing with texture, a tiny bit of color and gold

leaf paint on the faux pears which were once green.

I used square rattan chargers, silver chargers (and can you believe

I got those at Michael's for 2 for $5.00? )  The star plates I have had

for quite awhile as well as the antique cream napkins which I bought quite

a few years ago when we had two in college . . . . it was one of those buys

that I felt guilty about because of the expense . . . . I think they stayed

in a bag for awhile!!  Today, they are some of my favorite linens.

The sideboard is dressed for winter and is all done in pine trees in golden cement

urns, silver cone trees, mercury glass candle bases with cream candles.  Soft and

relaxing. .  . 

You can just listen to the quiet. . . . .

The burlap tablescape . . . . . . .geez, never in a million years would I have

ever believed I would be using burlap on a dining room table!

I gathered a collection of birds around the snow covered

pine trees . . . .

That wall in the background is actually Farrow and Ball's Hardwick White

(it looks green!)  I used the pears as a sort of weight for the folded napkin

instead of my usual silver napkin rings.  I also loved the addition of the gold!

A single placesetting. . . note the burlap fringe. . . . . I removed enough

threads to leave about an inch of fringe.

A hotel silver oversized dome with fresh greens . . . the silver

just seems to reflect the candlelights in the room.

I put this on the HOSTS chair!

The great texture of the burlap very evident in this photo.

Contrasting the elements of the season.

Altogether a perfect mix of elements.

And of course. . . . guess who came to dinner?

I love it when he shows up!!!!!

I would love to know what your favorite winter tablescape includes.