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Saturday, December 31, 2016

My Year in Pictures...

It's the time of the year, as all bloggers know, to take a look back at what we've blogged about this last year; basically to do a little recap and review of 2016. I'm a little short on projects, room reveals, and DIY's. I didn't travel the world, go to enlightening blog conferences, or have a feature in one of my favorite decorating magazines. Those are all great things, but basically that hasn't been my year in 2016.


Sunday, December 25, 2016

From My Home to Yours...


...and from my heart to all of you.
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.
Not just for a day,
but for each day of the year.

Praying that you will know that tiny baby
who was born over 2000 years ago;
that He is King of Kings and Lord of All.
That He is The One who can change your life
and bring you Peace, and Purpose, and Joy.
Thank you all, sweet friends,
sending Blessings and Love your way.




Merry Christmas!


Friday, December 23, 2016

Christmas Brunch in Tartan Plaid

A week or so ago, I had a little trial run to set a Christmas Breakfast or Brunch with my Red Transfer ware. I had been looking for Red Tartan Plaid placemats, and found these on Ebay. They were half the retail price from last year, and were brand new in the original packaging from Penneys, so I was glad to find these. I bought two sets, since when I need them, I'm usually setting a table for six.



Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Christmas Home Tour 2016 Part 2

Hi Everyone, 
I hope you're having a wonderful week before Christmas.
I imagine it's a busy one too!
I'm here to share Part 2 of my Christmas House Tour with you.



Tuesday, December 20, 2016

(It's a Chilly) Christmas on the Front Porch

Welcome to our Home for Christmas!

I think we're all having below normal temps this last week.
Actually, it's been pretty chilly around here for the last several weeks;
chilly enough to keep me from wanting to spend time outside
 fiddling with Christmas decorations and my camera.




Sunday, December 18, 2016

Christmas Home Tour 2016 Part 1

Here we are Friends, the week of Christmas!

I'm excited to share my Home with you for this very special Christmas Season.
This is Part 1, as I've brought all my Christmas photos together for two posts.
Thanks so much for joining me!



Saturday, December 17, 2016

Vintage Greetings from the Sitting Room

I was going through my photos today, putting together a "comprehensive" (ahem) Home Tour Post/s, when I realized I really hadn't shared much from the Kitchen Sitting Room. what? no, not much. I have a few things, really sort of random, but hey, isn't that what the weekend is for...?  So I'm going to combine a few new things from the KSA and a few items I've "Gathered" to share.


My Mirror on the Old Door is decorated for the Season,
with some greenery, Holly, and a feisty little Cardinal.
I had moved my moss covered "O" onto the vintage mirror
since the Boxwood Wreath replaced it in the Entry Area.




Thursday, December 15, 2016

Don't Miss these Home for Christmas Features


I hope you're enjoying this week,
 I know some of us still have some things to do before next weekend gets here,
 But it's not too late to come by and Link-Up to the
This is a Linky Party for anyone wanting to share their Christmas Posts,
past and present.

The Link will be live until Christmas 
so come by any time and join in.

I love hosting a Link Party,
 because it gives me a chance to meet some new Bloggers,
and to reconnect with some old friends.

Here are just a few of the wonderful Links from the party so far...


My first love is Vintage,
so when I saw this oh-so-creative 
stacked box and basket Christmas Tree I totally fell in love.
Having the little Evergreen perched up there,
 made it over-the-top fun!

JoAnne from A Pocketful of Blue 



Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Home For Christmas Blog Party Link-Up

Hi Friends,
so glad you're coming by to celebrate with us at the Blogger's Party
Home for Christmas
and to hopefully join in on the Party Link-Up today.




Brenda and I invite you to share your favorite Christmas Posts
 as you celebrate your 
Home For Christmas.
You can link up to 3 of your posts from this year or previous,
please just have them be related to Christmas...
Home Tours, Christmas Decor, Family Traditions, Recipes, DIY, 
anything Christmas!
*Please have a link to the party in your post.

I thought I'd share a few more pics from our Home this Christmas,
as I'll be sharing a complete Christmas Home Tour a bit later in the week.
These are mostly room views, which I usually don't get around to taking,
but since it's Christmas, there's a little more to see.



Monday, December 12, 2016

Christmas Cloches au Natural


Hi Friends...
I thought I'd do a quick post 
and share my two Christmas Cloches
from the Dining Room.



Saturday, December 10, 2016

Christmas Dining Room


I love this time of year, 
but getting dark around 4:30 can be frustrating,
especially when you're editing photos and realize
that you need just one extra shot.



I tried to make use of the lower light 
and just add a little twinkle.
So, let's take a peek at the Dining Room,
all dressed up for Christmas.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Antique Rocking Horse on the Mantel...

I thought I'd share a few more pics of my antique rocking horse
 on the mantel, that I showed yesterday in the house tour.


My Mom was telling me this week, how she and my dad answered an ad for it in the paper, around the time of my second or third birthday. This was before the age of the heavy plastic bouncing horsey on a big metal spring. I'm old, but I'm not as old as this horse so don't go making me older than I am! Mom said it was an antique when they found it, but it still had it's tail, mane, saddle and the red wooden stand that it set on. It had been stored in one of our barns, so between then and the time mom gave it back to me, the humidity, cold, (and mice) probably took it's toll.





Monday, December 5, 2016

House Tour for Christmas 2016

Hi Everyone... and Welcome to my
2016 Christmas Home Tour




I know there will be many new visitors besides my own readers this Season
so I hope you'll feel welcome, as I show you around.


Today, I'll be sharing from several areas of our home on the main level. We have a newer walkout basement Open Concept home that we've lived in 2 years, but this is our 3rd Christmas here. The Entry, Dining Room and Living Room are basically in one large space. It's easy to decorate, but at the same time, it's important that I have a theme and a plan! 




One of the ways that I keep a look going is to use wired ribbon to coordinate through all the rooms. This year I found a fun metallic gold polka-dot on a burlap/linen look background, that I paired with my favorite Christmas accent, Stewart Red Tartan Plaid. Here in the Entry, I kept things in neutrals with just the gold polka-dot. I used it to hang the Boxwood Wreath and to adorn the vintage look tree in an iron urn. I found the "Merry and Bright" wooden plaque at Hobby Lobby. It really stated the message I wanted to share this Christmas.





When you come through the Front Door, the Formal Dining Room is to your left. It's not a large space and all my big furniture really fills it up. I love antiques and vintage decor, (if you hadn't guessed) and I feel most at home with using old and new pieces alongside one another. Decorating with the seasons keeps things fresh and interesting for me, and part of that is changing out the
 table runner and decor here in the Dining Room.




My first plan when thinking about Christmas Decorating, was to find a Red Tartan Plaid fabric piece to use as a base for my burlap printed Holly table runner. I found a large tablecloth instead, and just folded it in two lengthwise. This year I used a large white lantern from Pottery Barn and Holly Topiaries that I made many years ago, in Restoration Hardware pottery by Guy Wolff. I love the high ceilings in this house, but anything that's used as decor on this table has to be good sized, otherwise it's lost.





An antique market basket on wheels holds seasonal faux floral stems.
 I use Hydrangeas for every season, and here they are paired with Red Winterberries.









I didn't use the large white tree this year, so this smaller Entry tree is standing in.
It's wrapped in a White Printed Burlap Ribbon sitting in my galvanized olive bucket.





This is a view looking back from the fireplace toward the Dining Room;
that's the staircase as the room divider. 













I have a love/hate relationship with this fireplace. I love having a fireplace, but this is a little bigger than I would have designed. I'm a small person, so whatever I do up here has to be done on a step ladder. And like the Dining Room, it has to have some "heft", otherwise you can't see it. This year I wanted to use my Antique Rocking Horse as the focal point. He's adorned with the Tartan Plaid Ribbon, as are the smaller Pottery Barn Lanterns.











I really do LOVE Plaid, and what's better than just Plaid for Christmas?
A Gold Metallic Reindeer ON Plaid, of course!








The main Living Area moves into the Kitchen Sitting Area,
that has become my favorite spot in the house for decorating.
I have a Christmas Morning Tablescape set here on the old oak table, 
that I'll be sharing right before Christmas.







A Baker's Rack that I've had for years,
holds my seasonal vintage decorating odds and ends.
Each Season and Holiday finds it's way to the Baker's Rack for display.






My Kitchen China Cupboard holds my Brown and Red Transferware dishware.
I don't have "sets", just orphaned bits and pieces of various patterns.
A few of my Vintage Shiny Brite ornaments are displayed alongside 
some of my collection of old Putz Houses and Churches.









Our previous home had a small Sunporch that held my wicker settee, chair and Baker's Rack, but since I don't have one at this home, I'm enjoying them here in the Sitting Area. My love for Plaid is right at home here on the wicker, and I use this old cobbler's bench as a small coffee table/foot stool.








If you're new to my Blog, I hope you'll come back to visit.
There are several ways to stay up-to-date on my sidebar.
 I'll be sharing much more of these areas in future posts.





Thank You so much for coming by!



Saturday, December 3, 2016

What's Your Favorite Christmas "Style"?

Today I'm sharing a post from back in 2016 that is one of my all-time most read posts. I thought I might "refurbish" the content, but instead just added to it a bit to include "Cottage" which has emerged this last few years. If it feels a little dated, decor trends have shifted and redefined themselves this last couple of years. I thought it would be fun just to take a quick look at some of the different "Styles of Christmas".


Farmhouse



Fixer Upper


I believe in letting your home dictate (maybe "nudge") your style. As I've wandered through Pinterest, I thought I'd share some inspiration from a few of the trends we have in decor, now. Farmhouse is such a big trend right now; this style depends heavily on functional furniture, accessories, and usually neutrals with limited amount of color.



Little Farmstead










































Most of the Coastal decorating is found in homes close to the Coast, but a few people decorate with this vibe that just love all things "Beach" and appreciate the lighter colors of sand and sea. Seaside colors of pale blues and watery greens predominate in Coastal Decor. 

Coastal


Sand and Sisal
























Another trend in decorating which started with "Shabby Chic" and overlaps into Farmhouse and an aesthetic from the Scandinavian bloggers. Whites, neutrals and vintage pieces again form the base for this style.

French Nordic / Shabby Chic
 / White Farmhouse





























































Gwen Moss

Vintage Cottage




I guess I would have to say I fall into this next category somewhat. I love an English Cottage feel to my home, and even though I love vintage, French Country, white, and farmhouse elements, (with a little "Shabby" thrown in) I like and appreciate some color and diversity in my decor. I think each room should have some dark and light, different woods (some painted), paint palette, and fabrics. If you're basically traditional you can mix other trends more easily to have a result that's unique and all your own. The use of red and green is a hallmark of the Traditional Christmas Style



Traditional











































For Christmas this is my go-to style.
I love the traditional colors and style that Tartan Plaid lends itself to. 
I like English Cottage, Vintage, and a little Woodsy/ Rustic for a mix.


Plaid Traditional


























































And another take on Plaid
that's always fun for Christmas.

Woodsy Cabin Plaid

































Another one of my favorite styles...

French Country

































Of course, any style can pull from a different color palette, but I think Pastels really lend themselves to the lighter  feel of a feminine take on French Country, and Shabby.

Vintage Pastel






































So what's your favorite style
 or style mix for the Holidays?


I know I've left out so many styles,
but these are my favorites in decorating for Christmas.
I've tried to give credit if a watermark was shown, if not
they all can be found in my Pinterest Boards for Christmas.