and to all, a good night…
It’s the little touches at Christmas…
December 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
My wonderful friend, Pat, sent me these pictures of her amazing Christmas creations. Two things inspired me when I looked at the pictures. The first thing would be the utter simplicity of each arrangement. There isn’t an item she used that most of us can’t reach into a holiday storage box or cabinet and grab: a tray or flea market vase; random ornaments, candles, decorative candle holders, etc. The addition of simple greens fills in the negative spaces and completes the look. The greens can be boxwood cut from a common yard hedge or a quick grab from the floral stand at any grocery store.
The second thing I love is the “V” tag. It is such a personal and easy touch and can be designed and printed from any computer program.
With only a day or two before the holiday, here is a simple way to beautify any table top in your home.
Thanks, Pat!
I hope you find some inspiration.
Cindy
A simple decoration.
Holiday Splendor.
The Winter Solstice
December 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Always wishing for a White Christmas and a Winter Wonderland.
I have posted several different projects and vignettes of our Christmas house for the 2012 season. Haven’t posted a full view, mostly because getting the right shot at the right time of day is not as easy as it may sound. Particularly for me, since I am not much more than an amateur’s amateur when it comes to photography.
Having taken hundreds of pictures, in four or five different sessions, I finally had to just pick one, darn it.
I want to single out and thank Brian Washburn, Manager of the local Lowe’s and Vince Maggio, local designer, merchandiser and antique dealer extraordinaire for their help. Each and every Christmas blog article was offered in earnest and has hopefully given you even the smallest bit of inspiration to do something extraordinary for your family and friends, in your lovely home.
I hope you find some inspiration.
Always,
Cindy
Winter Wonderland.
Pretty lit garland remeniscent of a steeple.
Making good use of what nature leaves behind: lit bare hydrangea bushes.
Winter’s bare garden with some holiday twinkle.
These are our sponsors and they have made all of this creativity possible. Thank them by stopping by. Merry Christmas.
GOOD LOOK, Inc.
Pleasant Christmas Surprises…
December 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
An Old Fashioned Christmas.
What a pleasant surprise for neighborhood kidlets, visitors and maybe even the mail man if he dares!
Using an antique Victorian wire plant stand, we lined it with white burlap and added a festive red ribbon and filled it with peppermint treats. It was placed right by the door on the old front porch and welcomes one and all.
It is an easy idea that can be accomplished with almost any vintage container and ends up being such a sweet, unexpected gift for everyone.
I hope you find some inspiration.
Always,
Cindy
A Merry Welcome Threshold.
A Sweet Holiday Treat.
These holiday ideas are supported by our sponsors. Thank them by giving them a visit. Merry Christmas.
GOOD LOOK, Inc.
Candy Cane Sidewalk Lanterns
December 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Eternally Christmas.
I can never have enough twinkling light. Period. End of story. These Candy Cane lanterns were fun and fairly easy. With some modification, they would be a great addition to summer outdoor decor, too.
Here is what we used:
- 48″ Garden Shepherds Hooks (Lowe’s)
- Red Paint (Lowe’s)
- Vintage Mason Jars w/lids (GOOD LOOK, Inc.)
- 20 Gauge Anealed Wire (Lowe’s)
- Mica Flakes
- Battery Operated, Remotely Controlled Votive Candles w/timer option
The key to this festive project is two fold: these particular shepherds hooks were essential because of their shape, reminiscent of a candy cane and secondly, the battery operated votives with the timer option. Since the mason jars are lidded to protect the contents from the weather, it is important to have a way for the candles to turn on/off automatically.
I hope you find some inspiration.
Always,
Cindy
Battery Operated Votives with remote control and timer option.
Assembling the lanterns.
Mica flakes added.
Hand Made Annealed Wire Harness for a rustic touch and Jar Lids
Assembled and ready to go.
Painted red, remeniscent of a Candy Cane.
Lighting the pathway in succession.
This project would not have been possible without the help and support of our sponsors. Thank them by stopping by. Merry Christmas.
GOOD LOOK, Inc.
A light along Winter’s path…
December 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Midnight Rider.
With a twinkle in our eye, we set out to make lanterns to light the way to welcome one and all this holiday season.
Using vintage mason jars as a starting point, we created these maintenance free lanterns for Christmas. Using inexpensive battery operated candles with timers, we fashioned a holder out of polymer clay to keep the candle in place and up right and tossed in mica at the bottom as snow. These cozy lanterns become a beacon on a cold winter’s night for friends and family.
Lighting the way home.
It’s really very simple. Here is what you need:
- Large, half gallon Mason Jar (best prices are online)
- Battery operated candles, with timer from at Lowe’s (click here)
- Mica Flakes
- Polymer Clay
- Hobby Store Glue Dots
Polymer Clay shaped, baked as a holder to stabalize the candle and hold it upright. Then secured with glue dots to the bottom of the mason jar:
Polymer Clay fashioned into a stabalizer/holder for the candle.
Remove the factory holder from the candle (candle is too tall for jar, otherwise):
Factory candle holder easily removes.
Insert the candle into the polymer clay that you just secured to the bottom of the mason jar:
Secure polymer clay to bottom of jar with glue dots.
Add mica flakes as snow:
Add mica flakes for snow.
Light a walkway, or as we did…place in multiples on the porch rail.
These projects were made possible with the support of my sponsors. Please give them a visit.
GOOD LOOK, Inc.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland…
December 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Winter’s Blanket.
Do you think it is possible to have a Winter Wonderland without snow? I hope so. Christmas this year is a Winter Wonderland with simple touches.
Let’s start with outdoor seating. On a limited budget, working with what he had on hand, designer, Vince Maggio made the simple decision to move my summer wicker seating from the porch to the the front lawn. The crisp white is the perfect foil for the abundant greens and reds we used for the decor.
Seating group, vintage side table painted shiny red for contrast, vintage water can with fresh holiday greens and a sparkly ribbon were the starting points. We then took an odd urn, added a small table top tree from Lowe’s (at a meager $12.50) randomly adding fresh winter red pepper berries (artificial natural decor works just as well) and a vintage camp blanket along with a french grain sack pillow completes the picture.
Take a seat. Any time. Enjoy friends, family and neighbors. Cold weather or mild temperatures…gathering together will keep you warm.
I hope you find some inspiration.
Merry Christmas.
Cindy
Decorated or Unadorned…appreciate the simplicity.
Add fresh pepper berries and it’s not too fussy.
An invitation to relax and enjoy the day.
A blanket for warmth, surrounded by loads of vintage and the natural.
Thank our sponsors by giving them a visit. They have made these Christmas ideas possible.
GOOD LOOK, Inc.
The Christmas Cottage
November 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I didn’t post last week, I have just been extremely busy getting ready for the Christmas Holiday. This year, our local Lowe’s here in McKinney is sponsoring my house for Christmas. The manager, Brian Washburn has been extremely generous and accommodating by providing us decorations to support our design. When I say “our” design, it really is the vision of my good friend, antique dealer, merchandiser and designer, Vince Maggio of GOOD LOOK, Inc..
He designs, I execute. As such, it has been very busy.
This year, it is all about simplicity. A Very Simple Christmas.
We’ll have more pictures in my next posting, but for now…here is a sneak peak:
Rustic and refined. Sparkly bow, real pepperberries, fresh greens from Lowe’s in a vintage water can.
GOOD LOOK, Inc.
Great Tidings of Joy
November 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
What is the holiday without going off into the twinkly lit night bundled up for a visit with family and friends, or having holiday guests for a short stay?
Here is a sweet, thoughtful idea that has an element of easy handmade to it. Easy enough of a craft to fit in amongst all the other hustle and bustle of the Holidays, but involved enough so that your gift recipients appreciate the effort.
Hand made holiday match boxes gifted with a candle for hostess gifts to say thank you or left on a bedside table for an overnite visitor to say welcome. Use your favorite scented candle; something that will remind them of you. My personal favorite is Trapp Candle Scent No. 04, Orange Vanilla. It is a fragrance that oddly works in the breezy days of summer or the cozy, cold nights of winter. If you order one online, or pick one up…I think you will be glad you did.
Orange Vanilla Trapp Candle.
The matchbox steps:
Simple designs using clip art printed on copy paper.
Use your sticker machine or use traditional glue.
The finished product:
Different designs limited only by your imagination.
Craft store embelishments to add a little Holiday sparkle.
Packaged for gifting:
The home made match box paired with a favorite candle, in festive packaging.
Welcome your Holiday Guest with something to fall asleep by.
Coupled with Holiday treats as a Hostess gift.
The History of Christmas…The Christmas Tree
November 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Gifts for the tree.
Did you know that the first police force ever created was created in the 1820’s at the behest of the New York City Council in response to a particularly raucous Christmas season riot the year before? Following in the footsteps of early forms of what would evolve into Christmas celebrations, there was a frenzied, criminal element to the celebration that carried over to the United States. While that eventually changed, one thing that has remained the same is the iconic Christmas Tree.
With it’s German roots, an engraving that was printed in London in 1847, then reprinted in a Philadelphia publication three years later in 1850 of the Queen, her husband of German ancestry and her children celebrating around a Christmas Tree, set the standard that remains today:
The Royal Family, 1847 that was reprinted in a Philadelphia publication in 1850.
Painting by Viggo Johansen, c. 1891
