Boxes, suitcases, trunks full of Christmas stuff!!!!

Its time to open them up, I started with two, found some beautiful music ribbon from last year Pottery Barn on sale of course, found 
my Kmart on sale after Christmas pale french blue
ornaments. In the other suitcase I found some
beautiful glitter birds, and old fashioned checker
red and white ribbon, also some pretty tags for my clay tag little tree.
I usually have more than one tree, the big one, and then my little one with tags, and another one with
just very old country ornaments, fun fun fun.
Tomorow I will decorate the small one for the kitchen, I usually fill it with my handmade tags:

I had a collection of Christmas tags that I made, and
the tree has little white lights, its going to be fun
decorating this little tree, pictures, tomorow.



I had often garlands of pop corn and cranberries, beautiful cookies decorated, candy and dry orange slices,
and different edibles, the small tree sits on a terracotta pot and afterwards we would plant it in the back yard.



Wreaths of historical Williamsburg  absolutely lovely, don't you think????








Don;t forget the centerpiece for the table:


















Dream bathroom with a touch of CHristmas  Beautiful!!!


I'm decorating my bedroom, I have an antique iron bed,
its all white of course, and I'm adding one of my boxwood wreaths
and a little something to the mirror, what do your think???????

,






This is simple and it would look great in your bedroom.




A beautiful wreath I made for the top of one of my wreaths.



I also made stars with glitter around them, the are great little ornaments and of course HANDMADE,
you made it not CHina and not Pottery Barn but YOU.






Music sheet and antique book pages cut into strip make great handmade ornaments. I made a lot of these, and I taught a three year old to make them, well he help mommy.






I made a bunch of these last year, and they are all waiting carefully arranged in the suitcase.










A decoupage ornament I made, you can use other images from Christmas cards, magazines, I used
a damask napkin from Home Goods on sale $2.00 and made 10 ornaments. I love to decoupage, so there we simple but elegants,






Memory ornaments are one of my favorites, this is one that is simple, but you can make them
in many ways, black and white pictures, or sepia, the kids love to see their pictures on the tree.





I painted a few of these, if you want I have the instructions, they are simple.








This ornament will WOW your family and friends, so easy, go ahead and try it.



This next ornament will add sparkle and light to your decoration.




What to do with the oldies that need something new, here are some ideas:;

Solution: Cut 5/8-inch ribbon into 1-1/2- and 2-inch-long strips (for an average-size ornament). Glue the strips to the ball, starting at the bottom with three rows of shorter strips and finishing the middle and top with longer strips. Creative use of ribbon, flapper-style, saved this ball from the trash.


Nice no???


Another one, we all have them in our storage suitcases or boxes.






Solution: Hide the scratches with velvetribbon. Apply a line of hot glue to the ornament, starting at the top and going all the way around the ball. Adhere a strip of ribbon to the ball. Repeat so you have six evenly spaced ribbon lines running down the ball. Glue ribbon loops to the top of the ball so they drape over the ball. For the topper, fold over some ribbon three times, going back and forth, so it looks as if you laid three bows on top of each other. Make a final loop around the center of the layered ribbon, and tie or glue to the top








Another one that I did, I love them, but this one is with Christmas paper. simple but so old fashioned, I also made them with Christmas hymns.



Same idea but with a twist, card stock rolls and  sticker letters, just so cute.




Now this is all over blogland




This is all felt, waxed paper, sheers scissors, and very easy to do, please let me know if you want
the pattern.



Lets move on to the outside, I like this table with the antique lanters, cute and unique no?????



A bunch of carolers similar old buckets filled with snow and candles, so cute.




Fill a window box with greenery studded with lights to glitter in the icy air all season long.







Love the benches with big bulbs and pine cones, simple pine cuts from the yard, 










Beautiful toppers:  something different










My favorite, I got one at Macys three years ago, just beautiful.











Very popular




Very popular, all over blogland.  I have the tutorial if you are interested.









Gorgeous, Oh la la









love







Love JOY and the plates, so fab


















love americana  love
 the pinecones garland, little pots, candles, 









nuts about Christmas







love this so french









Come back tomorow for the best menus for our Christmas feast.  The English know how to cook,
and I thought we could explore new menus, and desserts for December 24 and 25.


Nigella Lawson's from the  FOOD TV NETWORK is one of my favorites, she is English but understands
american food.


Come back and I'm sure you will enjoy it, after all the meal, the desserts are important ,lets get ready
and have a great dinner.


enjoy my friends and keep doing a little everyday, and your home will look festive and you can relax'
knowing that you are ready to celebrate the most important holidays that we Americans and Christians
love, The birth of Jesus, and the story of his wonderful life.


love you


martha

Christmas decor, gift wrapping, stockings, and more

Good Morning and Happy Sunday:


We are all excited, the big day is coming, our homes
are beginning to get all decorated.
One of the things that I like is to open the boxes, and look at all the ornaments, decorations, and old Christmas cards.
I love o remember old times, I used to drive all night to get to grandma's house loaded with the kids, gifts, food, just the anticipation to see my parents was so exciting.  I remembered one Christmas I didn't have the time to wrap everything, my mom and I stayed up most of the night and we wrap together, talking, talking and more talking.
My parents loved Christmas, my mom loved the ornaments, the beautiful table setting, and great special menus.


Memories are so important, I have great memories of the holidays, and even thou now my parents are in heaven, I have my memories, pictures, and sweet
thoughts. 
I believe that our love ones have some sort of connections with us here. I can sense sometimes this, maybe I'm dreaming, Merry Christmas Mom and Dad in heaven, hear the angels sing!!!!




























Some inspiration, I'm working on my front door, back door, and coffee table, the mantle is just about done,
I'm adding one little music tree I just made.  Of course pictures are coming.

Happy decorating, one day at a time.

Enjoy your Sunday,

love you all don't forget comments


martha

More Christmas Love going your way, wreaths, and table settings

Hello my good friends,


Thank you for the comments, its good to send love
both ways via blogland.
I heard today at Michaels that some people put their wreaths out the first of December, and by now they are brown.  The bought them at the grocery store
I'm not saying the name, because I shop there too.
But the thing is they had to buy another one artificial this time. Have you ever heard of this??




Here is some more wreath and outdoor decorations,

Lets decorate the kitchen notice the simple rustic trees for the table. Beautiful

A bedroom large enough for a beautiful tree, a wreath and candles.  Love this

and some beautiful table settings.

A beautiful tree

lovely table!!!!

Dessert table:

Use  color


silver and simple:







Table for two, lovely idea.

Bring Grandmas good crystal, sterling out LOL


This is us gals,  LOL

white and pink, rustic but festive, check the planter/urn for the wine, check the little chair pictures, and the candelabras in white.  Just lovely,

Have a wonderful Saturday, do a little decorating to make you home festive and begin to celebrate

the most important holiday for us Christians.

I hope you got inspired, and please send me some love, (comments) you are all so so kind.

martha

COMMENTS I LOVE THEM!!!!!

 adventuresindinner said...

I had never thought of all grey before. Lovely.

December 7, 2011 11:43 AM

 Pam @ Frippery said...

Love the mantel. Oh and grey is so lovely and calm.

December 7, 2011 12:12 PM

I love your comments, thank you all.

How are you doing with the fuss and rush of

Christmas, well if you are like me, I'm Behind

with a capital B.

Oh well, I decided to enjoy the season and

decorate and do all the "Xmas" things that we

love anyway,

More goodness and inspirations:

Wrap presents with brown paper, I love it,

love these, simple and cute, CHEAP, newspaper, sheets.

also, use twine, music sheets cut outs, faux snow, and everything natural.

Do you have your wreaths up??  oops!!!

I have the tutorial for this one, I'll post it tomorow, its very very simple, just your Sunday paper and glue.  very very green!!!!!! don't you think????

I like this one, I have a huge old frame its a bit missing gesso but so chic, I'm thinking on
putting one of my wreaths inside the frame, what do you think gals????? shabby enough,eh he,

little boxwood, or pine wrapped around a small wreath with wire.  Very easy,
you can make them with an old hanger. I did one, and put them on your shelves.  So cute don't you think?????

This is almost my fireplace, I had tons of pinecones, and some BIG ones, so I just
place them on candlesticks, and on little pots on the simple mantle. I prefer rustic, and shabby, but this is just me. you like???????

How about the stockings????? great idea, just use your old patterns, so simple and elegant, my opinion????








Hope you are inspired, I am, ready to continue our simple decorations, more ideas and inspiration tomorow

love

martha