Cottage Christmas Decor 2011

Hi, I promised a few photos of my main tree in the great room and here they are...


Decorated with the usual Scandinavian woodcut ornament, Santas and woven star on top. I also decorated the top of the china cabinet next to it. A very cute Santa with a bag full of toys and snow shoes.

Sorry the photos aren't better. I've been having some major back problems this year and I couldn't stand for long.


Mostly it is red, white and gold colors on the traditional green tree. There are skis, musical instruments, cardinals and glass ornaments with red wood beaded garland that looks kind of like cranberries..


I didn't have a good picture of my fireplace decorations as a whole, but here are a few close ups of my garland full of lights, berries and ornaments...
I love the globe ornament - from Restoration Hardware years ago. I have lots of them, actually and I hang them on my armoire door knobs and put them on bookshelves. I have a huge one and lots of medium sized ones. Don't you love old fashioned globes and maps? And they are Christmas-y because Santa needs them to navigate by on that special night!


Blurry photo, sorry. Lots of different Santas on my mantle as well as my one remaining brass reindeer that hasn't broken with the tiny wood sleigh. Lots of birdhouse ornaments because my mother loves them. Okay, so do I.

Lots of skis, too! Not that we've ever skied or are going to, but they are so cute! Even the birds ski - they left theirs just outside their little house.

No Gingerbread House this year, sadly. I just couldn't justify spending the money on it this year. I miss it... Next year, hopefully.

So now I'm busy making cookies and getting ready for Christmas Eve. I'm also having relatives visit just after Christmas so there is a lot to do! Hope you are all having fun during the Holidays!!

My Little White Chrismas Tree

While we do keep a large real tree in the living room, I like to keep a small white tree in my bedroom to enjoy at night.

I bought this tree at Target a few years ago - it sits perfectly on my dresser.

I've had a devil of a time finding the right star for the top of the tree - nothing fits or looks just right and every year I swear that next year I will find something that works. Well this year at Hobby Lobby I found an old fashioned glitter star ornament and I put a piece of wire to make it work on the top of my tree. Pretty, isn't it?

It's kind of old fashioned pink.

And I love to hang my little tin sign below. SNOW. Which is something I always hope for at Christmas...

Overall I'm rather happy with the look. I couldn't find my small mercury glass ornaments this year - I must've put them in a safe place which means I'll find them in the Spring most likely. LOL

I decided to string some keys along with my beautiful violin ornament.

Nothing like vintage keys as ornaments to make me happy.

And it glows so peacefully at night. Very relaxing...

I'm still working on decorating the big tree downstairs. I'll post pictures when we finally finish. Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Etsy Update - Christmas Shopping

The shop has been busy the past week or so - I just wanted let you guys know that there are a few new items in the shop for the last few shopping days before Christmas!

I put up another large silhouette I just realized I'd forgotten to post. I used a different silhouette than I usually use for these larger frames. I usually use the other girl as she is bigger, but this is a favorite of mine and since I have one on my own wall I thought it was only fair to offer one in the shop. :)

I left the back tab on it so you can put it on a desk/bookshelf, etc. Looks cute with one of my little bottlebrush trees as a Holiday setting.


But also looks great on a wall display.

Also, it seems the musical note pendants are a popular gift choice - great for music lovers or people who like unique eclectic jewelry...

SOLD

I always use genuine antique sheet music. No copies - each one is absolutely unique and there is more music on the back of course. Check out the listing for more pics.

SOLD

I thought it'd be cute to take a picture of it hanging on my little bedroom Christmas tree. I love my violin ornament and it goes so well with the pendant. It'd be a great way to display your gift instead of wrapping it - have them find it on the tree! LOL

And these typewriter pendants are popular, too - I've had several compliments on the one I wear. This R is just too cute, isn't it? I don't know why, but I'm drawn to letters and numbers even when they don't necessarily mean anything to me (not in my name or birth date, etc.) I love M and R and E - also love the number 5 for some reason. I have that number in several sizes of newspaper blocks on my bookshelves and when people ask me why I'm like - why not??

I used a delicate silver chain to match the delicate filigree setting. So pretty!

And there is another Shabby Sheep original up, this time not on a stretch canvas, but on a flat one - easier for framing/mounting or whatever you like.

Just a note that typewriter letters and other items are of limited supply and items are moving fast right now. Be sure to grab any item you've been eyeing before it is gone!

Merry Christmas and happy decorating and baking for the season!!

Chantilly Raspberry Cookies

I like most of Pepperidge Farm's cookies, but my favorite one seems to be discontinued. Does anyone else miss the Chantilly Raspberry cookie?

They were crisp cookies with raspberry filling, a pie like crisscross on top and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They were divine. I miss them so much. I tried to make something similar last Christmas - I thought maybe they were linzer tart cookies, but alas - close, but no cigar. I found them not crisp enough and too spicy. Too much texture, too.

So does anyone have any ideas for what I could try as a recipe? I'd like to make my favorite cookie for the holidays.

No pictures of my Christmas decorations yet as I'm only half way there- so many boxes to go through! I'm donating and tossing out as much as I can as we've got way too much for one family! LOL I have enough for the whole neighborhood, I think.

Happy December!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving - or as we sometimes call it Turkey Day! This year we had a far smaller and less stressful holiday. With the main breadwinner out of work still we simply couldn't afford to have people over and cook a huge meal. Not to mention as we are stressed we wanted a bit of peace and quiet. I did decorate the house a wee bit, though...

My fireplace is the main place to see - gourds and (fake) leaves and bittersweet vine. I added our little Indian friends on that side with all the nature - a wood carving, a squirrel, etc...

And on the other side are our Pilgrim friends. They have our candlesticks and metal pinecone. Just a bit of blending of the two sides. :)

I thought it was cute.

We did cook a turkey and the usual sides for ourselves (stuffing, corn pudding, sweet potatoes, etc.) And I made pumpkin and pecan pies as well as a few mincemeant tarts. Most of the canned goods we had leftover from either last year or previous shopping so we didn't have to spend too much. Mincemeat in a jar is the most expensive thing and I had two whole jars left over from last year's sale - still good until next October, can you believe it?

We aren't doing any Black Friday shopping. I did most of my Christmas shopping ahead of time when Borders was closing - got a few books and calendars, etc. I've had them wrapped since August so I'm pretty much ready. Still probably do a tiny bit of shopping, but I must stay on budget. I'm hoping things take a turn for the better next year!

And I'd like to close with saying I'm thankful for every one of you who comments and shares here on my blog and on their own blogs as well as all the wonderful people who buy an item or two from the Etsy shop. Thank you and may you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Shabby Sheep Custom Order

I got a request for a custom order awhile back that I found tremendously flattering - it seems that a customer who had purchased a Shabby Sheep canvas from me had a mother who loved the same canvas so much she'd taken it home with her! Instead of just requesting I make another for her - she decided she wanted 3 more!

As requested, I made a grouping with all the same details (background, French text, sheep plus crow, etc.), but slightly altered. It took me far longer than I thought it would, but this is what I finally produced:

Listing found HERE

It's kind of hard to see the details except close up - two of the sheep have extra texture to their woolly coats and one is complete mirror image, while one is simply the crow mirrored.

I had the devil's own time trying to get my stamping to work right and had to paint and repaint and stamp, repaint and restamp and stencil, etc. until I was pulling my hair out. They look super simple, but that can be so deceiving, can't it? I ended up making four when one of them simply wasn't good enough and it would take longer to repaint the whole thing rather than start from scratch. I think they turned out nice, though - don't you? I've posted it up on my shop and I'm crossing my fingers it meets with her approval.

It's a dreary overcast day - makes me want to curl up back into bed.

ETA: And SOLD already. :) If you are interested in a similar set or something custom made feel free to comment here or convo me at etsy!

November Inspiration - Etsy Update

Hello, sorry to have been so quiet lately. I've been busy and sick - and then sick and busy, etc. I'm working on a commission for an Etsy customer for three Shabby Sheep canvases - each a bit different so they can be hung as a group. The canvases are being very stubborn about the whole thing and I've been tearing my hair out working on them when I feel well enough to, but I am nearly done so yay!

Also - there are a few new items in the shop I'd like to point out. First up - a new set of Thanksgiving/Fall Prim boxes.

This set is the best looking so far, I think. Since each one is handpainted and stenciled and then antiqued and sealed - they never look exactly alike. This one is more matte finish than the last one and I think the colors all over look very nice indeed. I'll gladly keep this one around if it doesn't sell. :)

They are nesting boxes - they store nicely - I also like to keep some of my other holiday decorations inside them and then I know just where they are since the boxes are of the same theme.

They look great individually and stacked up high. I just love the Early American Font that spells out 'Give Thanks' on the top box. The middle box has a sprig of Bittersweet on it and the bottom box has three pumpkins. I also stenciled the backs so there is no true 'back' to them - they look great all around.

Available at my store here.

And I have new jewelry to show off! First up - a Fairy Door necklace! I love fairies (as you probably know from my Fairy houses and also my Fairy silhouette) and this door pendant is so darn cute!

It's a Gothic/Medieval looking door - kind of Hobbit looking - just check out those tiny details! The door hinges, the window, the doorknob, etc.

Available at my store here.

And best of all? It opens up!!

You could put a pinch of glitter inside or a teeny tiny photo maybe. The door has magnetic closure - it doesn't swing open unless you tug on the knob to open. A very nice steampunk/fairy jewelry piece. I've strung it on a similarly colored chain, but you could change that easily enough - maybe a beaded necklace or on velvet or satin ribbon? So cute!

And the typewriter jewelry has a new addition, too!

I found a new setting I like a great deal - it is a bit more substantial than the filigree setting - I love both so much I've posted a necklace in both round settings. This H has the new setting.

You can see larger images at my etsy store, of course.

And here is another of the very popular filigree setting...

I love the letter E and as I was making this it struck me that it could stand for Edward. Yes, I am one of those secret Twilight fans. I like the books better than the movies. I can't help thinking this is an excellent necklace for Twilight fans as it is an old fashioned setting and using the typewriter key - well I'm sure he used one and probably has one in his room still. ;)

Available here.

If you have a Twilight fan you'd like to buy a gift for (or one for yourself!) - this would be a great choice. I could also make one with a B for Bella - or any initial you like. Make sure you convo me asap, though, the popular letters sell out fast. I've already run out of black N keys, but I do have some in white, etc. Just convo me on Etsy or comment here if you are interested.

Happy Thursday!

Halloween Decor - Black and White

I was digging through my Halloween decorations and putting out the usual decor (jack o lantern candle holders, handmade banner, etc.) when I realized I didn't want the same old look. I really love the black and white look - it's cleaner and some how more spooky, isn't it?



And it goes so well with my train sign I bought months ago...

I placed a few antique white candles, an apothecary jar of white balls with black letters, a black crow, a black pedestal bowl (with candy corn, of course), and I used one of the frames I use in my shop to make a simple image of a phrenology chart in it on one side of the fireplace...oh and don't forget the vintage black cat head (I think that was a dollar store find, but I can't remember)

And on the other side is the handmade Haunted House I made years ago (Edgar Allan Poe picture is inside on black and white wallpaper) along with a very cool Victorian style birdhouse I bought at Big Lots a decade or so ago, a tree, a white pumpkin, another crow. And of course on each side are spider candle holders.

Very cute, no? I love my simple, but beautiful mantle this year. No need for orange. ;)

How are you decorating this year? Comment/post a link to your own pics, I'd love to see them. One more week to Halloween, Ghouls and Gals...

Happy Monday!