Wednesday, December 16, 2009

It's the little things...

When it comes to Christmas decorating , I find it's the little things that really make me smile. I've had this little sled ornament for a few years. It use to be on a wreath, but when I reworked the wreath it was left homeless. I added some elements from my vintage stash -- an old bottle-brush wreath, bells and snowy baubles-- and I found myself smiling from ear to ear. It's a little thing, which probably no one else will notice, but it makes me happy. As does my collection of tiny porcelain bells (see the one in the bottom left of the picture?)
If you inject vintage and little into the picture, then I really start to smile.

One of my favorite "new" items this year was a small, gold-tinsel tree, which belonged to my great-grandmother.
I have very distant memories of her. I faintly remember my mother taking my sister and I to visit her at a nursing home when I was very little. I remember all my aunts crying over her loss at her funeral.
Anyway, this year, when my grandmother cleaned out the attic, this is one of the things that was found. It is covered in little chenille ornaments and I just love it to pieces. My grandmother tells me her mother would be thrilled to know I have it and love it... and that I do.
I love this little choir of angels I picked up years ago. It sits on a little accordion-style wood base that expands for display, it's a little worse for the wear, but it makes me smile every year when I unpack it.
I have a collection of vintage ornaments too, but there is always an element of heart break when you love vintage items. The years make them brittle and your always bound to lose a few.
It seems there is an element of hearbreak in anything worth caring about -- the bitter in the sweet.

Friday, December 11, 2009

What a whirlwind!

Wow, it's been a whirlwind preparing for my "Favorite Things" party on Sunday.


Preparing gave me the perfect excuse to finish a major project, a belated birthday gift for my dear friend Katie. If you want to see what it use to look like, check out this link http://paddywackdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/09/its-before-now-but.html


I've also been finishing up projects big and small, in case any of my guests (or non-guests) would like to take some rescued chairs off my hands.
Here's just a few:


I like this piece because it fits with Christmas, but I think it can carry you all the way to Valentines...
I was glad to finally wrap up this project too! I picked up this great cabinet at Genesee County's Habitat For Humanity's Restore shop. I then hung it in a dead space in our dining room to give me more room for storage and display. My aunt suggested I build it in, to give me additional room for cookbooks. This was a whole lot of trial and error, but I think it looks pretty good.
I was wishing I had some more Tomboy tools!
If you can't come to the party, but are interested in looking at the tools designed to empower women to tackle dyi projects visit http://www.tomboytools.com/attendees/icannotattend.asp?pid=4080 . Orders should be made by Dec. 13 to count toward my party and to ensure Christmas delivery!
And since I'm out of staples, it's time to tackle the food.






Sunday, December 6, 2009

Last Christmas ...

Last Christmas I made the most of decorating, even though I was disappointed that I had no mantle over the fireplace. I thought it looked pretty nice. But this year, I have no such disappointment. Now, with a mantle I have ample rooms to display my baubles.
And thanks to my step dad, our sconces now work in the living room.


Everything is so Merry and Bright!!!!!!