Tuesday, 4 December 2012

My Take on A MacKenzie Childs Tree



I am thankful to be blog friends with Patti over at Pandora's Box.
She actually lives close to MacKenzie Childs farm and has even worked in their store this past year! Oh what a dream! Patti shared with me the actual tree that they had decorated in the store last year...


I think it is just 2-die-4 wonderful and whimsical. So this year I thought I would work even harder to replicate it than I

Sunday, 2 December 2012

If Furniture Could Talk ...

I'm pretty sure if our furniture and accessories could talk, they'd have quite the stories to tell ... especially around the holidays.
 
 
They'd share how they watch in amusement each year at the *pained* look on my face as I stare at them (while pacing, stopping only to tilt my head back and forth and scratch my head), wondering how I'll decorate them *this* year:
 
 
An *every day* piece would share its delight as Mr. Reindeer moved on in for the holidays:
 
 
This small white pitcher would tell you how it laughed (and grimmaced, just a bit) as I gently *shoved* holiday greenery, berries and light up branches down into it:


Our otherwise plain lantern would tell you how it loves the new *hat* I concocted, made of greenery, ornaments and glittery garland:

 
 
A bowl once filled with seashells would share its excitement with you as it welcomed holiday ornaments, pinecones and snowflakes:
 
 
Annnnd, I'm positive our mirror would tell you it had *nooo* what was going on when I unexpectedly covered it in Christmas cards from years gone by (especially since I usually put them on one of our Christmas trees). 
 

 
"We Say Merry Christmas" and more greenery seemed only fitting to place above everyone sharing their holiday cheer!


But, before we know it, those pieces will be empty again after the holidays ... they'll see that same pained expression on my face as I wonder "what next?"  For now, I hope that they continue to enjoy the holiday merriment that has been added:
 
 
So, tell me ... what would *your* furniture and accessories say if they could talk?

Come on over and play at:

Savvy Southern Style/Holiday Vignettes and Mantels Party


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EAT Tray!





Such a fun piece.

This was an easy transformation. I took an old wooden tray with folding legs, placed vinyl letters on the top, then using Annie Sloan French Linen, just painted the top and sides of the tray.




After the paint dried, I removed the vinyl letters to reveal the wood beneath and did a little distressing. I sealed it and now it's a fun and functional piece.


Legs up or down!

Friday, 30 November 2012

Joke's On Me!

This year, I wanted to keep our Christmas mantel simple.  Ha Ha ... *who* am I kidding?!
 
Meet our new buddy, "Buck."  He's the reason my thoughts of simplicity went right out the Christmas window!  He's a Virgo ... likes long walks through the snow covered forest ... annnd, if you stare at him long enough, you'll swear that he has winked at you!  The moment I spotted him at "New River Pottery" (an a-MAZING Christmas shop in Wilmington, NC), I knew I just had to have him as our holiday mantel guest of honor.

And, to properly welcome him to the family, I saw it only fitting to splash a few lights and ornaments to the wreath that came with him.  From there ... it only got worse!  Ornaments began to hang themselves from the top of the mantel:


A big, lush garland arrived on the scene ... only for me to add lots of ornaments, glittery garland and snowflakes:


Prelit topiary trees made their way to the mantel, too, but not before I placed them in cream urns I had on hand, along with *more* ornaments:


And, hmmmm ... where did Santa 1 and Santa 2 come from?  I must've purchased them while in one of my *Christmas comas* at HomeGoods!


And, after all of that I had to "believe" that I was done!


Needless to say ... somehow this ALLL came together to create this:


Not exactly *simple,* but we'll take it ...


And, while I know our sled would much rather be used to fly us down a snowy hill (that does NOT exist here in Myrtle Beach), I gave it no choice but to be dressed with winter greenery and faux skates and placed by the fireplace:


So much for a simple Christmas mantel, right?  I s'pose the only missing now is a warm fire ... next time!


So, please tell me ... do you always start out with one decorating plan and end up doing the exact opposite?
 
I'm joining up with:

Savvy Southern Style/Vignettes and Mantel Party
The Lettered Cottage/Christmas Mantel Party
52 Mantels/Christmas Link Party
Becca










Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Abandoned Tables Made New Again!




I have been beating the weather clock, so to speak! Colder weather is upon us here in Illinois and I have been trying to get any larger pieces of furniture painted, out in the new hobby garage, since it is not heated.

I received four oak tables that needed an update. A sofa table, an oval coffee table and two matching side end tables. They were dirty, abandoned and crying out for some love...

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Meet Lacey!









See why I call this bookcase 'Lacey'? 

It has really pretty cut-outs that make it look that way to me.

The bookcase came to my door looking like this...






 I loved the lines of this piece and knew what I was going to do with it. But first, I need to remind you about this previous bookcase...


See the before where someone had painted it and it was pink on the inside. I found out