Its starting to look like Christmas!

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Little_joan_046 The view from my studio window is a blizzardy one today.  Little_joan_014

But the view inside is improving!Little_joan_019

I actually got the studio cleaned and HALF of it is set up for my 3 big Christmas party meals coming up.Little_joan_013

Did you notice the amazing painting on the wall??? A gift from my sister-in-law’s family.Little_joan_009

She commissioned an oil painting of her mom and had copies on canvas framed for everyone in the family.Little_joan_010

Look at this detail!!!!  Right down to the hearing aide in Little Joan’s ear and the nub of the eraser on her mechanical pencil.  Little_joan_012

The artist is Lynn Lupetti, and I was so impressed with this portrait, I had to look her up online.

Apparently, I am not the only one impressed with her, she has paintings hanging at the Smithsonian, The Vatican, and the White House!  Little_joan_024 

Now, I am stunned by this gift.  Not only does it capture the sweet nature and kind face of our Little Joan, it is from a renowned artist.  I loved it before I had any idea who did it.

I’m sure it was expensive and so is the frame, but do you think anyone would care if I painted the frame white??  You know it is going to happen. Maybe more of an ivory.

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I placed the painting in my studio for now, so we can all enjoy it during the holiday meals I have planned for out there.Little_joan_030

I have this side of the room set up and ready to go, and the other side is close.  Little_joan_042

I got side tracked and made some Christmas cards while trying to set up the unfinished side of the room.Little_joan_043

I’d already had Sugarwing’s painting copied into four per page, and cut them out, some around the body, but others, just as a rectangle. All of the cards are different.

I buy note cards on clearance to use as background, this one was a teddy bear design thank you card.

I glued a piece of vintage styled scrapbook paper over the teddy, and across the back of the card to cover the writing on it.  Then, I added snowflake stickers, some swirls of black glitter ink (I thought I had a silver pen, oops! but black is OK, at least it is glittery)

Then, I glued a sepia toned copy of Sugarwings onto it- and was done.Little_joan_044

These are being kept extremely simple. I did a couple dozen this morning and now will stop and add addresses those before I do any more. I want to be sure I can get some mailed to relatives and not get carried away with cutting and gluing and having too much fun, then not have time to address or mail them.  (The vintage wrapping paper is from Beth ‘s stash)

Little_joan_045 This one is on old wallpaper that has a star pattern in gold. The paper wraps the back of the card too, so you can appreciate the vintagey goodness of the print, and so it will cover the writing, since I am using premade note cards and don’t want that to show.

I cut a snippet of holiday ribbon to glue down and embellish with a brass snowflake and that is it on this one.

I keep wanting to do MORE to them, but figure that friends and family would rather get one like this, than nothing at all. And if I spend too much time on them, I wouldn’t get any out. Little_joan_036

Plus, I really need to get back to work on the studio/dining room and get it set up completely. Looks like I will have 22-27 on Christmas Day and this side of the room is only set for 12.  Little_joan_035

The bleached and dyed bottle brush trees didn’t go as far for a centerpiece as I would have liked.

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I added sugared birds, reindeer, cake plates and compotes, as well as some candle holders.  Lots of clear glass and tea cups with millinery flowers or tea lights in them.  Little_joan_039

I always serve all my meals as buffets, so I can fill the center of the table with pretties and have the food set up in the kitchen where it is convenient to clean up and put away afterwords.

I don’t know how I will decorate the other side yet.  Funny, that 4 packages of 21 bottle brush trees only fills one table.Little_joan_049 But they are so tiny, they need to be clustered for any impact.

See there is progress on this part too! When I finish my Christmas cards, I will stash all the supplies behind the screens and arrange them to hide the messes, foof up the tables, scrounge around the house for chairs, and as Tim Gunn says, "make it work".  I might need another table squeezed in somewhere……

Hope your holiday preparations are going well too!

61 thoughts on “Its starting to look like Christmas!”

  1. Alison Gibbs

    Karla, how wonderful to have a studio to set up for occassions like this. It’s looking so pretty. I love what you do with the little trees. I must try and find out if we can buy them here in Australia. I would love to have a play with some.
    Have a great time playing in the studio.
    Alison

    Reply
  2. Kimmie

    Karla your home is lovely…the painting is lovely (I wouldn’t paint it), the bottle brushes make my heart flutter…wish I had time to make some…the pink ones are so sweet (though especially because of the other hues I think!)
    be blessed in your celebration
    Kimmie
    mama to 6
    one homemade and 5 adopted

    Reply
  4. robin~thrifty miss priss

    The table is just beautiful! You can really put things together with seemingly no thought at all – it always works! To have that many people coming for Christmas I’d be a wreck! Who wouldn’t love sitting down to a meal with friends and family with all the lovlies? The cards are adorable-I’m sure your friends and family will display them with so much awe. Lastly, that portrait is stunning. I can’t get over how perfectly is seems to depict Joan! (she is a stunning subject though) Merry Christmas Karla!

    Reply
  8. Kirstie

    Karla, Everything looks beautiful, I want to have christmas lunch or dinner with you? the setting look fab and by the sounds of your menu, that I can already taste it,LOL. Sounds like you have everything under control. Un like my self I still haven’t even started wrapping presents yet!
    Kirstie.

    Reply
  15. Jessica

    I love to see your work in progress, whether it’s making things or decorating tables! I can just feel your creative energy flowing out of my computer screen! 🙂
    The painting is exquisite, especially with the light touching the top of the dog’s head. So sweet!

    Reply
  16. gail

    The tables look great and the bottle brushes look adorable! The snow today was amazing to watch, wasn’t it! Enjoy your dinners, Merry Christmas Karla!

    Reply
  22. Karla

    I’m so impressed at how quickly you got the studio together. Your bottle brush trees look wonderful. Just got mine bleached today and am thinking about adding some glass glitter to them. The painting is amazing. I wouldn’t touch the frame – it sets off the colors in the painting so nicely. What a fabulous gift. The Sugarwings work is lovely. Best wishes to you and your family for a very Merry Christmas.
    Karla

    Reply
  30. Carla

    How beautiful! I wish that I was coming for dinner and sit in such loveliness. BTW, I gave the red polka-dotted velvet cone that I bought from you to a friend and she absolutely loves it. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  32. Jenn and Jacqui

    Hi Karla, love the trees, our favoruite things are those trees!! Beautfiul how you displayed them. Merry Christmas Karla to you and your loved ones, may your Christmas Day be filled with love and laughter 🙂 Jenn and Jacqui

    Reply
  34. sharron

    Simply amazing. You have created a Winter Wonderland. Love all of the trees and birds etc.. everything you touch is magical!!!! thanks so much for the bottle brush tips!!!
    Have a Wonderful CHRISTmas with your loved ones!!!!

    Reply
  37. Betty @ She's Sew Pretty

    Karla, That portrait is just stunning. I’ll have to look up the artist too. Your house looks wonderful. I love all of the trees down the table. I saw the bags of trees at the craft store and didn’t get any. Now I have to go back.
    Have a wonderful Christmas. What a beautiful setting for Christmas dinner.

    Reply
  41. carlene

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the bottle brush tree display running down the table…I mean I seriously LOVE it, lol!
    everything looks gorgeous, have a great time with all your dinner parties!

    Reply
  44. Bethany

    I love those bottle brush trees too!!! Did you make them or find them?? Maybe I missed that. And that portait is wonderful!!! I just signed up for an oil painting class on Friday at the art college…yeah! I can’t wait. It starts in Feb. We are in the midst of Christmas get-togethers, but I missed you and wanted to check in!!! 🙂
    Merry Christmas! xoxo Bethany

    Reply
  45. linnea-maria

    I just adore your bottlebrush christmas trees and how you turned them into vintage-style, matching your dining room.The painting of little sugarwings is lovely. They will wonderful gifts. We usually have as much snow as you have, but this year we had very cold and clear weather wich mad the world springled with glitterflakes on everything.Have a lovely snowy christmas./linnea-maria

    Reply
  46. rhondi

    Hi Karla. Everything looks so festive. I hope you have a wonderful time with all your family and friends. I saw Romantic Country Homes magazine today. How exciting to see the pages featuring your home! Merry Christmas

    Reply
  47. Sissy

    The painting of Little Joan is fabulous! What a wonderful gift from Terri & her family. Priceless! Have a wonderful Christmas with your family & I’m looking forward to our family holiday time together soon.

    Reply
  48. Ele

    You are such an amazing grandma. Those cards of sugarwings are such a treasure and especially when you add your glittery touch. I was looking in a post below where she’s feeding her “friends”. Isn’t that the cutest!!! Love your table and how you go all the way down the table. It is beautiful and I’m sure the rest will be too come Christmas. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together. Blessings to you.

    Reply
  55. shelley davis

    Greetings Dear Karla!
    Everything is wonderful as it should be in your world.
    I hope you enjoy every minute of tomorrow.
    Merry CHRISTmas!
    Shelley~

    Reply
  56. Sheila Gilmer

    I love the tablescape with the deer, and the little bottlebrush trees are just right. Your site has some awesome creations, thanks for sharing. Sheila in south TX

    Reply
  60. Suzie Mussen

    Your house looks wonderful! Thank you so much for the baby gifts,… right at Christmas too. What a wonderful surprise. Happy Holidays to you and yours

    Reply
  61. Marygrace Semenoff

    `Hi: What lovely bottle brush trees! I am saucy’s Mom from bloggedy blog blog..and we would surely like to try the bleaching/colouring of the trees..can you give instructions – we don’t get many American magazines here in Saskatchewan – but we love your work and would like to give it a try. Happy New year xoxoxo

    Reply

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