Santa has to go somewhere, right?
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
My Weird Christmas Nook
Do you have a really dumb nook (which makes it sound charming. not.) in your house? The kind of thing a builder does without thinking it through? Mine is the top of the closet in my front hall. So, at Christmas, I decorate my weird nook to help it blend with the rest of the house...
Santa has to go somewhere, right?
Santa has to go somewhere, right?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
How to Turn a Gummy Bear into a Reindeer
Maybe necessity is the mother of invention, or maybe it's just the creative mind at play. Whichever, my daughter Sam claims to have invented the gummy reindeer (though her sister will argue that fact. Ah, twins...).
At the annual Gingerbread House extravaganza, Sam showed me the way to creating this lovely creature...
When I told here I was going to post her reindeer tonight, she offered to sketch some instructions...
Truth be told, Sam bites the head off, licks it, and sticks it on the reindeer's shoulders. Not to worry, no one else but her will eat it. If you prefer the more refined method, you can attach the head with a smidge of frosting. :)
I have to say, I found this to be a pretty darn clever way to get a herd of reindeer to hang outside a gingerbread house!
(See the red guy in the center? Gummy Bears make decent Santas, too.)
It was pretty cool that my niece was able to skype in for the afternoon and do her own house at the same time. Traditions live on in new ways.
Enjoy the rest of the week,
Carol
At the annual Gingerbread House extravaganza, Sam showed me the way to creating this lovely creature...
When I told here I was going to post her reindeer tonight, she offered to sketch some instructions...
Truth be told, Sam bites the head off, licks it, and sticks it on the reindeer's shoulders. Not to worry, no one else but her will eat it. If you prefer the more refined method, you can attach the head with a smidge of frosting. :)
I have to say, I found this to be a pretty darn clever way to get a herd of reindeer to hang outside a gingerbread house!
(See the red guy in the center? Gummy Bears make decent Santas, too.)
It was pretty cool that my niece was able to skype in for the afternoon and do her own house at the same time. Traditions live on in new ways.
Enjoy the rest of the week,
Carol
Christmas in Orange, Leopard and Copper
We went to my friend Charlene's for a Christmas dinner party this past weekend. Her home just hugs you when you walk in. Thought you might like to see her take on Christmas...
Enough said?
Not quite...Not only was the decor beautiful, but these two cooked up a meal of roast lamb with homemade mint pesto, herb-roasted sweet and white potatoes, marinated green beans, and a killer salad to start. Merry Christmas and thanks to Charlene and her man Larry.
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Enough said?
Not quite...Not only was the decor beautiful, but these two cooked up a meal of roast lamb with homemade mint pesto, herb-roasted sweet and white potatoes, marinated green beans, and a killer salad to start. Merry Christmas and thanks to Charlene and her man Larry.
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Sunday, December 18, 2011
My Dining Table Gone Christmas
Creating a Christmas tablescape for my dining room table is my. favorite.thing. Here she is, in gold, white and soft green...
Can't forget the chairs...
These four images above I've entered in Scot Meacham Wood's Holiday Decorating Contest over at his beautiful blog The Adventures of Tartanscot. The remaining images are just because I love this time of year!
Craft commerical... the potted branches below I made by spray painting two old garden pots I already had, stuffing them with florist foam, spray painting some red dogwood twigs after cutting them to size, and you can see the rest. Super easy, really quick...
When you work with colors that blend with your existing decor, it gives you a soft look as opposed to a lot of "pop". There's no right or wrong, it's about what you like.
Here's the sideboard behind the table...
There is nothing like making my guests feel special at my table. That's what taking the time to set your table with an extra effort does -- it just makes people feel good. I know I tend to go overboard because I'm in design, after all, but it doesn't matter how much you do. Even the tiniest addition of a green or extra candles will do the same thing.
Will you try a little extra something for your holiday table this year?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Can't forget the chairs...
These four images above I've entered in Scot Meacham Wood's Holiday Decorating Contest over at his beautiful blog The Adventures of Tartanscot. The remaining images are just because I love this time of year!
Craft commerical... the potted branches below I made by spray painting two old garden pots I already had, stuffing them with florist foam, spray painting some red dogwood twigs after cutting them to size, and you can see the rest. Super easy, really quick...
When you work with colors that blend with your existing decor, it gives you a soft look as opposed to a lot of "pop". There's no right or wrong, it's about what you like.
Here's the sideboard behind the table...
There is nothing like making my guests feel special at my table. That's what taking the time to set your table with an extra effort does -- it just makes people feel good. I know I tend to go overboard because I'm in design, after all, but it doesn't matter how much you do. Even the tiniest addition of a green or extra candles will do the same thing.
Will you try a little extra something for your holiday table this year?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Thursday, December 15, 2011
A Woodland Tablescape You'll Want to Take Ideas From
Someone at work went to a ladies Christmas Lunch today. This was one piece of the tablescape that she came back with...
Isn't it AMAZING? Forgive the background noise -- I wanted you to see the whole thing. A stuffed, interesting, real log with some funky plant and ranuculus. I want to go on the hunt for cool logs, hollow then out, and stuff them (I assure you that will happen very soon). Here are some close ups, then I'll show the table...
What are those weird (live) things? Anyone know?
Here's a look at the 16 foot table, set with what I would call a Winter Woodland Wonderland. These images below were taken with a phone...
The "trees" were birch logs with flocked greens coming out the top. Notice things like silver mushrooms and ornaments tucked in amongst the moss, logs, ranuculus, amaryllis and bunches of interesting plant materials...
Another look at the table...
This just blew me away. It was done by Flowers By Semia in North Providence, RI, the state's premier florist.
(The place settings were done by the club the event was held at. I want to go in these pictures, change the china, put little silver boxes tied with white bows on each plate and a silver charger under each, and napkins in a cream, silver and soft green plaid to the side, ringed with fresh wired greens. I can't help myself. My mind never stops.)
I am a major tablescape nut, and am trying to get mine together for the contest at The Adventures of Tartan Scot.. Have you seen it? If not, click here to check out all the inspiration.
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Isn't it AMAZING? Forgive the background noise -- I wanted you to see the whole thing. A stuffed, interesting, real log with some funky plant and ranuculus. I want to go on the hunt for cool logs, hollow then out, and stuff them (I assure you that will happen very soon). Here are some close ups, then I'll show the table...
What are those weird (live) things? Anyone know?
Here's a look at the 16 foot table, set with what I would call a Winter Woodland Wonderland. These images below were taken with a phone...
The "trees" were birch logs with flocked greens coming out the top. Notice things like silver mushrooms and ornaments tucked in amongst the moss, logs, ranuculus, amaryllis and bunches of interesting plant materials...
Another look at the table...
This just blew me away. It was done by Flowers By Semia in North Providence, RI, the state's premier florist.
(The place settings were done by the club the event was held at. I want to go in these pictures, change the china, put little silver boxes tied with white bows on each plate and a silver charger under each, and napkins in a cream, silver and soft green plaid to the side, ringed with fresh wired greens. I can't help myself. My mind never stops.)
I am a major tablescape nut, and am trying to get mine together for the contest at The Adventures of Tartan Scot.. Have you seen it? If not, click here to check out all the inspiration.
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wreath Inspiration -- Out the Door...
Or maybe I should say "off the door." This was the natural look I thought I wanted...
So what did I do? I bought something similar, hung it, accepted the fact that natural doesn't do it on my black door in the woods (too much in the shadow), and made this instead...
I've always loved the look of ornament wreaths. Finally made one. Just love it. And, it shows up on my house in the shade. I can actually see it from the street!
Hope you are getting all your shopping, baking, wrapping, running, done without stress. Hmmm. Is that really possible?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
 |
| From Plow & Hearth |
So what did I do? I bought something similar, hung it, accepted the fact that natural doesn't do it on my black door in the woods (too much in the shadow), and made this instead...
I've always loved the look of ornament wreaths. Finally made one. Just love it. And, it shows up on my house in the shade. I can actually see it from the street!
Hope you are getting all your shopping, baking, wrapping, running, done without stress. Hmmm. Is that really possible?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Chandelier's All A Glitter...
What's your favorite room to decorate for Christmas? Mine's the dining room. Hands down. Every year. I love to do something different as the cold wind blows, and this year, I went for subtle sparkle. A bit of dazzle. The chandelier's all a glitter...
First, the gold glitter pine cones and some snow flakes. This is how it all started...
Then, the carols on the stereo got turned up and all kinds of Christmas crazy happened. I piled on the colors, the textures, the ornaments, and fa la la la la (did the mirror in the background as the sparkles flew), and this is how she looks...
It's all about soft green, winter white and gold this year. This snowflake seems like a star to me. I like to think of it as a little bit of Bethlehem over my table...
Now, on to the table, on servers and plates, on salt shakers and cakes...
What do you wrap your chandelier in for Christmas?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
PS For a look at last year's chandelier, click here.
First, the gold glitter pine cones and some snow flakes. This is how it all started...
Then, the carols on the stereo got turned up and all kinds of Christmas crazy happened. I piled on the colors, the textures, the ornaments, and fa la la la la (did the mirror in the background as the sparkles flew), and this is how she looks...
It's all about soft green, winter white and gold this year. This snowflake seems like a star to me. I like to think of it as a little bit of Bethlehem over my table...
Now, on to the table, on servers and plates, on salt shakers and cakes...
What do you wrap your chandelier in for Christmas?
Talk to you soon,
Carol
PS For a look at last year's chandelier, click here.
Need help defining your home? I've been doing this a long time. Click here to chat with me.
Thank you to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for the cookbook I won in her giveaway. If you've never read Southern Hospitality, click here and go visit. You'll love it!
Thank you to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for the cookbook I won in her giveaway. If you've never read Southern Hospitality, click here and go visit. You'll love it!
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