Wasn't Heather's party a fun one? I am looking forward to having time to go through all the links and visit the holiday homes. I've only had a chance to look at a few, and was blown away by the ones I saw! Bloggers know how to do a holiday, that is for sure. There are some beautiful decorations out there and luckily we get to take a peek at them!
Thanks to everyone who came by my shop for my Blog Readers Appreciation Sale. I enjoyed wrapping up packages and getting them out to you all, I hope you enjoy your treats.
Have I ever mentioned Ashwell? My shabby chic colored cat? Actually, he lives in Ryan's apartment,and Ry thinks his name is Ash, from the hero of the Evil Dead trilogy. You might have noticed a few pictures of Dorkies and fairy grand babies around the cottage, but we have a whole menagerie here, lots of people, lots of pets. That makes the home even more special for the holidays.
My husband and I will be out of town for a few days, so I won't be mailing any purchases from my Etsy shop after Tuesday afternoon. Thanks so much for your support of my shop! I do appreciate you coming by to browse. I'll restock after the holidays and will also be opening a new on line store. (Details to come)
Since I have been packing up oodles of items to ship out today, and running last minute errands all over town to get ready for Christmas and my trip, I have NOTHING new to show you.
So here is some stuff from a few years ago. These photos are by the talented Bill Mathews and styled by the skilled Gloria Gale. (who have both given me permission to show photos we worked on together, don't ever show magainze photos on your blog, it is not legal without permission!!!) We did the shoot for Victorian Decorating magazine and they were done in the most elaborate and gorgeous Victorian house. We were lucky to have access to it for the day.
My job was to come up with easy decorating tips and ideas and then display them in the home and write how to's for the magazine.
This photo is of something I didn't do this year, but I really like it and might use it for my table scape during Christmas Eve dinner. I've taken the metal cap off the top of ornaments, filled them with water and used them as vases. To keep the balls from rolling around and the water spilling out, I used a bit of that clay like stuff that you can hold things together with. And of course, I forget what that is called.
The tip for these two pictures, is to use stickers on bottles or ornaments and add glitter over them. The previous pictures showed a garden planter as a buffet server, with glittered and painted terra cotta pots to hold silverware and napkins. I used this idea at a friend's's wedding reception and it was a nice touch.
Lets see, the other one is making place card holders from pictures of Victorian ladies and more stickers. I was on quite the sticker kick that year.
Here is a variation of an idea I also had published in Somerset Life, making a magnetic message board from an old ceiling tin.
This one is about as easy as it can get, punch holes in the top of old Christmas postcards and add a hanger made out of tinsel, and hang the cards on your mantel or tree.
Beth loaned me the birdcage full of ornaments, and that was going to be the picture, but we decided that we needed more, so asked the homeowners if we could borrow some mail, and tucked it in the cage to show it used as a display for Christmas cards. Sometimes, you aren't quite sure what the shots will be till you get into it and see what develops.
This is another quickie, last minute idea. Gloria turned over some stemware and made them into mini cloches.
Well, I am off to pack for my trip to who knows where. It is just killing my husband to keep this secret! He is bursting with wanting to spill the beans. I won't let him, though! I want to be surprised when we get there, wherever it is. Although, not knowing does make packing complicated.
Hopefully, I will get to post from our apartment in Virginia, but I might not. So if I don't talk to you until Christmas, I wish you all the very, very best of holidays!
Oh lucky you, an adventure!!! I am sure it will be fabulous!! Now I am off to try some of those cute ideas, so many lovely ideas so little time, I should have started all these things in June…two years ago!! Of course I am sure you could achieve it all overnight!! have fun,
Christmas Kiss Noises Linda Lilly Cottage.
have fun on your trip Karla, you are good…i would have demanded to know where i was going…LOL…great decorating ideas!!!
Have a wonderful time Karla! I can’t wait to hear all about the Mystrey Date!
The pictures are wonderful! Love the ideas
Love the pictures. Beautiful.
On your way to Virginia, wave as you pass my Maryland home.
Have a great surprise get-away!
Enjoy your holiday with Hubby. Take lots of pictures and RELAX. That is something I do not think you do very much Karla.
Thank you for sharing your life with us. Yours was the very first blog I ever visited. And I have been “hooked” ever since.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
Have a wonderful adventure! Merry Christmas!
karen….
Karla, what an array of beatiful ideas. You are always sharing your talents with all of us and it’s so appreciated.
Have a wonderful surprise trip and a fantastic Christmas,
Hugs Karen
is Ryan your son?? my my, you have such good genes!!! very handsome young man. have fun on your mystery date for sure!! look forward to hearing all about it!! living vicariously!! my hubby would NEVER do anything like that!! you go gurl!! Merry Christmas too you and to everybody that posts here!!
I love the birdcage filled with ornaments for cards! What a great idea!
Have a wonderful time, Karla! Thanks for the eye candy! 🙂
Karla,
Ornaments for vases – I love that idea, thanks so much for sharing it. Have a great time!
Mary
What beautiful pictures, very inspiring! I hope you had your husband have a wonderful time! Have a wonderful holiday!!
I would just love someone to do this to me! I am so adventurous and would love the intrigue! Have a blast!
I love all your unique ideas, especially the ornament ball vases. Enjoy your trip with your husband! How fun to have a surprise like that to look forward to. 🙂
Have a wonderful time. You deserve it.
Every image is a vision of loveliness.
Lovely pictures, all of them look great. My favorite is the wine glasses with the presents inside.
Beautiful photos!
We love lots of pets too!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Beautiful photos, Love the bird cage idea and the idea of using the ornaments as vases (were you talking about museum putty to keep them in place?) Have a great trip! Hopefully, it’s warmer where you are going and not snowing like it is here today!
Have a great trip!
Merry Christmas, Karla! I hope your days off are wonderful. I’ve had a delightful time looking through your posts and catching up. I knew your decorations would be amazing. I’d love to try making one of the music paper ornaments, and the flowers in the balls. Thank you for sharing.
Hugs,
Lallee
I can’t wait to hear where you end up. It’s sure to be great!
I especially love the idea of using the birdcage. I’m just starting to figure out that I don’t need to pack up and change things out to create a seasonal atmosphere. That’s been my goal for this year, which makes things seem more fun than a burden.
I, Also, love the swag in the last photo. The green balls with the touch of peach and the black and white music print looks so elegant.
~elaine~
Have a wonderful trip! Thanks for all my lovely order! Just love all of it! Have a very wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas Karla! I can’t wait to
hear about your secret trip! : )
Enjoy your getaway! Have a wonderful holiday season.
If we don’t ‘see’ you anymore; have a marvelous Christmas in hubbies’ secret surprise country! The idea alone is so romantic and I hope the real trip is too! Wishing you lots and lots of Christmas fun, just enjoy and take a rest!
I hope you are in a FABULOUSLY BEAUTIFUL and ELEGANTLY ROMANTIC place by now! =) Can’t wait to hear about it when you return!!!
Wow Karla!,
What SCRUMPTIOUSLY beautiful pictures!! thanks so much for sharing such beauty with us, always!
Happy Holidays, ~ Cynthia ~
Gorgeous as always. Loved that table setting and the beautiful crystal. I have seldom met a piece of crystal I didn’t like! And brilliant — the ornaments in the birdcage! All lovely. (And I didn’t know you had a cat!)
I like looking at pretty pictures. Thanks for sharing them.
Jody
I’m so glad you shared these photos from last year because I didn’t know about your blog until THIS year! Therefore, all those fabulous pictures were new to me!! They were stunning and showed me some great tips for decorating my apartment next year! Thanks!!
Happy Holidays!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
http://michele-butterflywhispers.blogspot.com