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Friday, December 31, 2010

2011 Bring It


It seems the trend for New Years Resolutions is chosing one word that represents your focus for the coming twelve months. I thought that was actually a pretty powerful way to keep your focus. I have been trying to think of my word for 2011 and its been something of a struggle.


For 2010 I used the idea of Simplify which is a word that served me well over the last year. My husband and I purged a lot of the "stuff" we just don't need. We have not completed purging but it has become something we identify with more than it was a year ago. This is evidenced in the way I decorated for Christmas this year. A tree, simple stockings and a few other festive items around the house.


I am still working on my word for 2011 and hope to have it tomorrow. For now I leave you with something simple that brings me joy every day.


The CUTEST dog in the world! Happy New Year!







Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sepia Christmas

Decorating for Christmas is pretty minamalist this year and I love it! A small tree, stockings and few things around the house.



I don't generally decorate in traditional Christmas red & green but in colors that coordinate with my home. Chocolate, grey & cream with accents of green & peacock blue. Lots of velvet, burlap, silver and feathers. My tree is about three feet tall and sitting on one of my pieces of vintage luggage. I didn't like the tree base so I wrapped it with burlap.







I have started wrapping my gifts with packing paper and a collection of ribbon and embellishments I have stashed in my craft cabinet.





This year I purchased a fake tree (the horror). It's white and prelit with white lights. All the decor are in tones of chocolate, cream, champagne, white & clear and I already had everything so I didn't need to purchase anything.



Chandy crystals make GREAT ornaments don't you think?



I love skeleton keys, this is one from my small collection.




I had four of these Chinese coins set aside for a project. I think they go great on the tree!



A few creamy peacock feathers placed in the tree. The sparkly balls above remind me of champagne. I made the ornaments below with some burlap and a small crystal embellishment.



I also have velvet chocolate colored hydrangeas, small silver balls, swirly & sparkly twigs tucked in the tree. I think this tree could use some silver spoons too.


I have been meaning to make new stockings for about three or four years now. I finally got around to it this year. I really love the green color of the velvet trim on these burlap stockings but am thinking I should have chosen chocolate brown. I do like this pop of green color.


In my hallway I have a shelf with a little bunch of branches, my Charlie Brown tree and a vase filled with cinnamon sticks. I have a small collection of silver and crystal pieces that I use for my candles.


Above my Charlie Brown Christmas tree and below cinnamon and candles.


I still have a few other things I would like to complete but it may not happen for Christmas. We are planning on keeping the decor up through the end of January when we have a small party. It's festive and fun and since I got it up so late this year I would like it to stay around for a while.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Amazing Rehabed Building!

An article from the New York Times has me dreaming of finding a great old building I can make my own.



It has taken a total of $250,000 of the owners money to purchase and partially refurbish this old building in Selma. When can I move in?



Cool Finds

Even though I have been working a TON and haven't been posting much I still blog stalk. I came across a great little blog through Door Sixteen & Design Sponge (also great blogs) called Jersey IceCream Co.

Percy, the gentleman behind Jersey Ice Cream Co. rehabbed this 1915 house in just a little over 13 months. I absolutely LOVE the simplicity to his design style. The bedroom walls are personal favs of mine.

You can see photos of part 1 and part 2.

Not only that, his blog is dedicated to selling antiques. Go check him out!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

13 Days....

Threre is 13 days until Christmas and I feel VERY far behind. I have been working at leat 50 + hours a week between my new and old jobs. That doesn't leave very much time for anything - not to mention blogging.

I have ordered a few gifts online which is nice, no waiting in line, no crowds, no parking hassles. I have not even gotten my Christmas decorating done. I did cut out our stockings Friday night. Might start sewing them tonight.

All this week after I get home from work I will be going through all of our Christmas decorations and decluttering down to what we need and will use. There are quite a few things that I just don't use anymore.

I am not traditional when it comes to Christmas decor. I tend to decorate to coordinate colors with my interior decor. Because of the lateness of the month I am probably going to be pretty minimal as well.

My big dilemma this year is to get a fake tree, a real one or a tree at all. Home Depot has great selections of 6 foot trees for $20. There is also a lot near my house that has reasonable prices. I am very tempted to buy a prelit fake tree so all I have to do is haul it out of it's bag and place some ornaments on it.

Then I think I should go really non traditional and get something small and set it on top of some old suitcases I have or just forgo a tree completely.

So many decisions, so little time.

For now I leave you with the link to the Holiday Home Link Party for inspiration and perusal. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!