A Winter Wonderland

Snow.

It's a rare thing where I live in Texas. It shuts everything down when it happens even if it's just a dusting.

Because it's rare, I love it. I want to stand outside and let it fall softly around me.

(these photos are from 2011)

To capture that wonder, I went with a Winter Wonderland theme.

I started with my mantel, using my chalkboard art to set the tone.

The lanterns came from Target's dollar spot.

The silver reindeer sleigh, a gift from my niece and twin sister.

Then I put up my tree...well, I tried to...

It's going in a different spot this year and the old tree was too wide. What's a girl to do? Gift the old of course, and go buy a skinny one! The one I got was pre-lit. Oh my word, it was too easy! What took me so long? Lol.

 Sparkling snowflakes,

Snowball ornaments,

Vintage Mercury glass look ones,

Furry boots and glittery mittens,

White sleigh,

And furry reindeer all create my wintery look.

A bleached drop cloth makes the perfect skirt

And snowflake clips along with a giant snowflake make up the topper.

I love my Winter Wonderland look. Now if we could just get the real stuff...

Next time, I'll share more of the city house  decor and the farmhouse too. Have a wonderful week!

Linking up here:
The Altered Past Something To Talk About Link Party 45

Chalkboard Look Christmas Canvas

I got this old canvas artwork with a really ugly picture on it. It was orange and black with red poppies...at least, I think that's what they were. And it was big. Sorry, I never thought to take a before picture.

But hey, it was free. I knew I could repurpose the canvas into something better. I saw this on Pinterest. Love the sayings!

But I wanted it to look like a chalkboard so I painted the whole thing black (after priming it to cover up the old artwork). 

Then I printed out my various sayings in different sizes and fonts

Laid it out, then one at a time, I rubbed chalk on the back and then traced out the words. Voila! Easy transfer! 

I used a chalk pen to outline the words on the first line then filled them in but decided it was too streaky

so I painted over it with white paint, then traced the next one, outlined with the chalk pen, painted, and so on until I was all done. You want to start at the top and work down so you're not smearing the words below.

I added a star and jingle bell accent:

I love how the chalk dust from tracing the letters make the canvas look like a real chalkboard.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out and  I now have a large piece of subway art to hang on the fireplace.
_________________________________________________________________________________

I'm getting the house ready for our Thanksgiving feast. Spent the day Friday cleaning the carpet. It was past due is all I'm going to say. ha. Now to finish up my shopping and start the cooking. I'm looking forward to having the kids and their boyfriend & girlfriend and friends over. Wonder if I can get them to watch "Miracle on 34th Street"? It's a tradition my children groan about. Maybe with the extra people over it will happen. LOL.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

A Unique Wreath From A Canton Find

Hello friends! Have you wondered where I've been? No? LOL, well in case you have, I've been busy, busy, busy in my little corner of the world. Crafting and decorating and planning Thanksgiving. :o)

I'm so excited about Thanksgiving this year - we will all be together with some extra guests! The feast is planned and I'm cleaning, fluffing, and getting ready for our turkey day!

One of my projects is a unique wreath for the farm.

Back in the Spring, I found an old theater seat (sans fabric) in Canton. I bought it thinking I could cut it apart and use the springs for various projects.

(Closeup of the springs - I forgot to take a picture before I spray painted it. )

But then I got to looking at it and really liked the rectangular shape of it. I thought it just might make a really cool wreath. You know what? I was right!

But first, it needed a mini makeover. I sprayed it with Looking Glass spray paint

And after it dried, brought it inside to decorate. I made a red burlap bow, added a pinecone cluster, and attached it in the middle.

Then added some pinecones into some of the springs. Easy and done!

I placed it on the top of the fireplace insert to cover up the blotchy finish on the back part. It adds so much character to my rustic decor at the farmhouse. Plus it is a one of a kind wreath. A win-win in my book!

Next time, I'll share how I took a used canvas and gave it a new look. 

Decking the halls (a little earlier than normal),
Cecilia

I'm linking up at these parties:
Funky Junk Interiors An Upcycled Link Party
My Thrift Store Addiction Vintage Charm Party
The Wicker House Create Share Inspire Link Party
Fluster Buster Creative Muster Party

Christmas Finds in Canton

I could live in a Christmas house. By that, I mean I love red and green together. They are seriously my two favorite colors.

So, this year, I'm decorating with...wait for it...silver and white! Yup, I'm breaking with my usual and going with white and sparkly with mercury glass look. I'll throw in some apple green and red of course!

With that in mind, I was on the lookout in Canton for things that would fit in my new theme. I found these pip berry garlands and my twin sister bought the snowmen for me as a birthday present. :o)

I also got these tin letters:

Love the rustic-ness of them and can't wait to put them out.

For touches of red - a Fiesta ware pitcher which reminds me of Mom - she had a set of turquoise Fiesta ware:

and a frame came home with me. The frame was only $2 and I don't have to paint it! I'll either hang it around a Christmas plate or maybe I'll do something a little different.

I'm excited about the two Christmas presents I found there as well. (No pictures of them...I don't want to give away any surprises!)

Two purchases I am very excited about are a JOY yard sign and some metal Christmas trees. I've been wanting one of those signs forever and found these right outside the Market Day grounds. It has the Holy Family silhouette in the "O". The trees were a hot item and going fast. They are so cool and will look so good next to the fireplace! I'll share a picture of them after Thanksgiving. I want to show them when they are set up.

I did buy a couple of non-Christmas items as well - a Tupperware teabag squeezer (great for handling the hot tea bag!) and a pyrex butter dish. Love the green flowers on it.

From my trip in August, I also have a very unique wreath form. I'm not sure yet how that is going to come together but I do have an idea. I'll share it in a couple of weeks.

My two rocking horses are getting made over as well; the small one is done and I'm working on trying to figure out what to do to the large one. Here's what they looked like originally:

I also found these 3 metal cookie cutters. I will probably tie them onto my raggie wreath that hangs on my kitchen door:

I adore Christmas! I love it all; the representation of Jesus' birth, the music (my family teases me about listening to it from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Day), the decorations, the parties, food, family gathered together, every last bit of it.

However, right now I am focusing on Thanksgiving (planning a fun Thanksgiving Day dinner with the kids and their friends) but I'm looking forward to all the Christmas decorating and activities. Do you have a theme for your decorating? Are you changing things up this year?

I'm linking up at these parties:
Vintage Charm Party

Fall Flowers Around the House

I can't believe it's November already. That means the holidays are fast approaching - as in full-steam ahead, don't blink, just around the corner quick. Therefore, I know I need to get the house ready for Thanksgiving followed soon by Christmas!

To me, nothing brings a touch of home to a house like flowers. Since the farm is only a weekend place, I use silk florals but I would love to use fresh flowers. How pretty is this arrangement in a mason jar?

source

And with time at a premium this time of year, what better way to get those pretty flowers than to have them delivered? BloomNation has some beautiful selections - if you haven't heard of BloomNation before, they are an online marketplace that supports local florists through their flower delivery service. What a great way to bring in the beauty of fresh florals!

For now though, I have to use what works best for me: thus on the fireplace, a thrifted picnic basket holds a bouquet of mixed silk flowers and dried naturals:

The coffee table has my book page pumpkin on a wooden stand surrounded by sunflowers, leaves, and berries:

A large metal basket near the entryway holds more flowers and berries:

And on the table, a wooden dough bowl holds a simple arrangement of sunflowers with berries and a mini pumpkin:

I love how the flowers, Fall leaves, and berries add a warm and homey touch to my decor. And before I know it, it will be time to change it out for Christmas! But for now, I am loving my Fall flowers.