Snowflakes

How cute are these snowflakes?   I think they are so lovely?  Not to say SIMPLE.  I am all about simple these days.

This project calls for textile, paper, and glassine doilies. You can find them at crafts stores and flea markets. As is the case with snowflakes, variety is welcome.

Stiffened Doilies How-To
1. Lay textile doilies on a covered surface. With a foam brush or roller, coat both sides of doilies with undiluted fabric stiffener until just saturated. Let dry overnight.

2. Press with an iron. Hang from thread or monofilament.

 

Give it a try….

A sneak peek at our Country Christmas

Thought I would share some of my holiday decorating in my family room today.  I hope you enjoy your little peek.

This is a little cabinet that I purchase last year at a Antique Shop in town, for Christmas I added some vintage tin toys and trees.  I wish I had a better shot of this cabinet because it is so adorable.  And I didn’t have to purchase one thing to put it together.

This cabinet is one of my favorite country pieces, and it’s alot of fun to decorate.  But since this picture I have made several changes to it. (Note: update this picture with the latest addition)

This is my grapevine tree that I purchased this summer.  I love it.  I have clear lights on it with my popcorn and cranberry garland.  It’s simple but so pretty.  The little snowman tree skirt, I won as a door prize at a antique shop Christmas open house, it is quilted in old tattered fabric and it’s adorable.  It couldn’t be more perfect since I collect snowmen…

 

This is one of my newest additions this year.  I usually have this window frame out in my herb garden throughout the year, but decided to bring it in and clean it up and add my wreath.  Just added a few of my rusty jingle bells and created a window sill scene and this sits atop my little cabinet with the vintage toys.

Sitting on my coffee table I have a tray nestled with some greenery and such.  Nothing fancy about it, but I have a “thing” for pitchers…..and love displaying them throughout the house.  Added a few candy kisses in a antique mason jar.

Wooden candy canes stuffed in another antique mason jar.

 

Atop my TV cabinet, I have sprinkled it with a few snowmen from my collection.  Don’t you love my Christmas sign with the snowman.  It was a gift from my son several years ago.  The frame is trimmed in a plaid fabric with a felt  tattered snowman appliquéd to it. Another favorite!

 

Now for my tree….I wish I had a better shot, to depict just how pretty it is….but I am not a photographer, I would like to get a shot at night when it is all light.  My tree is all aglow with gold lights, as they put the illusion of old-fashioned candles on the tree.  I get LOTS of compliments on it.  Buried deep in the limbs I have placed my handmade Santa Claus’ from my collection as well as my bears.  The ornaments on my tree are all hand sewn, or wooden, sprinkled with some old antique Brite balls.

Well these are a few of the vignettes' that I have sprinkled around the room.  What do you think?  If you missed the earlier post on my decorations in the kitchen, scross down a couple of post.

Warmest holiday

hugs,

Cindy

Kitchen Inspiration

Hi Ya'll! Happy Monday! I hope all you Mothers had a wonderful day with you kids yesterday. I had a chance to spend a little bit of time with mine and it was wonderful. I am so proud of young adults that they have grown into. They do a momma proud.

My weekend was spent working on the house, as I knew it would...but am really glad that we had such a productive weekend. Even though everything we wanted to do didn't get done, I think it is attainable this week. Michael completed some of the projects and I worked on getting the Kitchen, Family Room and Dining Room and Living Room back in order. I succeeded with the exception of the Living Room, which I will work on a little everyday this week after work. I can't wait to show you all some of the pictures once it is completed. (we are working against a deadline because my daughter graduates the first of June and we want to have EVERYTHING done by then because we have out of town guest coming in).

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
~Robert Collier

With these renovations comes a new sense of organization and design. I have ALOT of stuff, so I am packing lots of that stuff away. Mainly for myself, but also when the time comes to sell our home, I know prospective buyers don't want to see all my knicks knacks. So going for a more clean look. So that is where the inspiration comes in. Some kitchens that I love...

So what do you think of these kitchens? Have any great inspiration sites, if you do, please share?

Cindy

Is your refrigerator cleaned and organized?

Howdy girls, seems lately all I do is race around from one thing to the next and don't get much accomplished in the process.  Well that isn't entirely true.  This weekend, I did work on my house namely my kitchen, boy did it need a good overhaul after the holidays. 

http://creativeorganizing.typepad.com/creative_organizing/2006/04/so_i_tried_to_i.htmlNot sure about you but when my kitchen is clean and organized it feels like my whole house is. And then I really enjoy love it.  This weekend, I spent time cleaning out my refrigerator and organizing it.  Yuppers, that's what I did.  I just love opening my refrigerator door for a quick little thrill.  Stop laughing, you all know that you do that too.  I most likely will like it better when I go out and buy some groceries to put it in.  But then again, that will most likely MESS it all up.  (Now this fridge in the photo isn't my fridge, but you scoot over to Creative Organizing )   You can find some simple tips to help you clean out and organize your fridge and also some more space.

Seems I  always resolve  after the  holidays to get better organized, and I am always looking for ways, so if you have any great ideas or links, tips, please feel free to let me know.  You can find some wonderful organizing links in my sidebar.  Last year, I started a Home Management Binder  and my plan is to work some more on it in the near future. 

At the moment, my house is in between decorations.  I have taken down all the holiday decor and can't decide what I want to do with the bare space.  I kinda like it, so will most likely leave it that way for a few more weeks.  Plus it gives me time to get through all the nooks and crannies and DECLUTTER! 

Creative Tip of the Day. Idea Roledex , now why couldn't you use this same concept and make it a organization Roledex.  Sometimes I just need to see the visual and then I am off and going.

"This  feature is from Carrie B of the Blah Blah Blog with her creation of the Idea Rolodex:

Where to you store your great ideas? Do you tear out magazine articles and store them in a big binder? Do you jot down book recommendations and restaurants to try on Post-Its? Or do you just keep in all on file in your head?
Last week, I was perusing a fun paper arts store and admired a sample altered Rolodex file. I decided that I must make one of my own."

 I think that is enough fun for today.  Let 's see what I can get into the rest of the week. 
Hugs and Blessings,
Cindy

House Tour Continues

I hope you all enjoyed having a glimpse of our family room, now I want to show you my Living Room and our tree. In my family room, as you could see, I have a primitive country tree that has ornies, and homemade ornaments, I love the simplicity of that tree. Meanwhile, in my Living Room, I have my traditional tree. This is the tree that I have all my children's ornaments on, things they have given/made for me and ornaments from vacations, places we have lived. My sentimental ornaments are on this tree. I also always use multi colored lights on it, because that is what my kids prefer on this tree. As I have mentioned before, I didn't do as much decorating, and you will notice that my kids kinda skimped on the ornaments. Believe me when I say, I have at least triple the amount of ornaments that you see on here. But that is okay.



Can you see me little sled, I picked this us this summer at a auction for pennies, and knew that I would use it to put under my Christmas tree with my Victorian Boyd's Bear. Love it.

Here is the table that sits at the entrance of the foyer, looking into the living room.

Some of my bear collection in the little cradle.

A little close up of the sleigh. I will have to get a better one before we have Christmas.

Stop by tomorrow for the Dining Room. K?

Hugs!

Luke 1:68-70“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),”

I'm about done now....

You're back....welcome....

Well today I am going to share some miscellanous shots that were made through out the downstairs. 

I know you have seen my secretary before but here is how it looks now.  I have been collecting some old vintage photos and I have them in a photo holder on the desk.  The chair and the bear at the desk are from yard sales.  Both were gotten for 1.00.  Love the chair.   I also picked up the basket that the arrangement is in at a yard sale, I got several and I place them on my front porch with my mums in them. 

Ok...this is on my landing.   I got the chair at a antique store for 10.00 and the crock and the stool were picked up at yard sales.  Don't you just love my gourd?  Last week Michael's had them on sale and so I got one, now I wish I had gotten a few more.  Maybe I stop in there over the weekend and see if they have any left.  Now, do you see my apple gourd?  Several weekends ago, hubby and I along with some friends went to the National Apple Harvest Festival held in Pa. and they had these gourds. I had/have never seen them before.  It looks like a perfect green apple.  However it is a gourd.  Can't wait to dry this one!

This is the view from my front door.  If you look closely you will notice the little white pumpkins in my secretary.    Also, on my dry sink in the dining room I have a small collection of pumpkins under glass.  You can take a closer look below....

Well this isn't a much better shot...too much glare.  Will have to try to get a better one.

This is a small little display I have on my front porch.  I am still not finished with decorating outside.  But I do like how this little simple crate and some bittersweet made this little area came to life. 

I hope you all have enjoyed taking a look into my home this week.  It was alot of fun.  Maybe I will get upstairs and get some pictures.  Hubby and I have been busy doing renovations in this house for the last several years and so it would be nice to show you some of the finished work.  Along with some of the goodies we have collected.

Hope you all have a blessed weeekend.

Hugs!

Autumn in the Living Room

Well today I think we are going to take a little stroll into my living room...so here goes....

This is my centerpiec on my living room table.  It has changed a bit since this picture was taken...but the tray and the black candle stick I piced up at yard sales, and the floral arrangement I made several years ago.  The candlestick when I got it was a green color that didn't really go with anything in my house.  So I spray painted it black and love the outcome.  I have a big orange bow on it now.  It is so pretty.

Just about everything in this picture came from a yard sale, auction or antique store.  The three stools that are in this picture came from auctions, and the antique doll cradle I picked up in a antique store for 15.00 and the little table and chairs that the bears are sitting at, I got at a yard sale for you guessed it...1.00.  Don't think you can really tell,but my bears have on there halloween customes.  This is just a fraction of my teddy bears.  I love them, but I don't have them all out because I am busting at the seams in this house.  The big table in front of the banister, was Michael's grandmothers, and I love it.  It houses our wedding invition and some willow tree ornaments. 

 

See my candy corn ornies?  I think they are simply adorable.

Just a small glimpse of my basket of fall blooms.  Looks like my scarecrow is turn around backwards.  :) oops, guess I should fix that.

Wonder what we will show tomorrow.....be back to find out....

Hugs!

Walking through my kitchen

Hi guys.  So have you liked the little visuals of my home.  I have a few more today.  I think today I will share some of my kitchen.  Although these pictures aren't the best, you get the idea.

My bread board is from you guessed it...a yard sale.  I got it for 1.00 and the old stoneware bowl with the apples I got at a auction.  Can't remember what I paid for it, but it wasn't much.   My bread board changes daily it seems.  I just haven't found the combination for it that I like yet?  Any ideas? 

This is the top of my refrigerator.  I have a few more yard sale finds up here.  The black cabinet I picked up while in Kentucky visiting my home last summer.  It was a old white color, and I decided to paint it black.  I only paid a couple of bucks for it.  I like it much better now that it is black.   Also, under the ivy plant ( I know Nester says it is a no-no)   I have a little small stool (another one of my collections) that I picked up at a yard sale for a couple of bucks. 

Well here is one of my favorite little corners of my kitchen.  The black box was also picked up at a auction for next to nothing.  It was a ugly muted turquoise green that I had to paint it.   I also got the crock which is full of butter paddles and scoops that I have gotten at yard sales too.  Also, the brown carrier was a old tool carrier that I picked up at antique store.  I love it.  It is full of old cutting boards and kitchen gadgets.

So as you can see I love old things, but the old things that I have, I use.  One more for today....

And the last area I will share is my corner sink.  I also collect jars and this is just a small portion of the ones that I have, and again, they have come from yard sales.  I love finding a bargain.  You can't really see the yellow ware pitcher behind the faucet, but that was picked up at yard sale too, for a buck.

Who says you have to spend alot of money to be surrounded by things you love?  Not me!

Will float into the living room tomorrow.  Hope to see you then!

Hugs!

Snippets of my home

Happy Tuesday morning all.  If you are like me I love to see what others are doing in there home to make it more festive and seasonal.  So again today I am sharing a few more little snippets of things that I have done.  This dough bowl sits in my family room on my coffee table.  I really do love it.  I found the little black crow at Michael's a few weeks back and got it for next to nothing.   Not sure it is going to stay there..but will until I find another home for it.  Got any ideas?

Here is a snippet of my hutch.  As you can see I collect glassware.  See my punchbowl.  I picked this up at a auction for 5 dollars.  Love it.  I also have several cake stands.  There is only a couple in the picture but I have about 6 total.   I have also started a collection of white platters that someday I will hang in my dining room.  This home doesn't have the wall space for them but hoping my next home will have.  Anyway, here are a couple more I picked up last weekend at yardsales for 1.00 each.

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my home.  More tomorrow!

Hugs to you all.

Come on Fall

One of the wreaths that I made several years ago on my red door, that I no longer have. When we did the renovating last year we repainted the door and now it is antique white. But love this picture and the warm fall hues.

Just a couple of pictures of my home from the last couple of autumns....I am biting at the bit to get out my fall decorations to start decorating. Most of the ones in the collage are outside, but as we loved how our yard turned out. Care to share some of your favorite fall displays!

This picture is in my family room before we redid it last November.

Let me know if you post some displays and I will bring the hot cider and pumpkin and be right over.

Fall blessings!

Today is just one of those days

when you don't want to do anything, but be at home.  I ask Michael last night if we could just stay home this morning instead of getting out.  So few Saturday mornings we stay home, because we normally get out to go to yard sales or such in the summer time.  But all week I have been thinking about staying home and getting caught up on getting some computer stuff done and just relaxing.  Actually going to read some more of my book in a little bit.

I have added a whole batch of new links here this morning that I have been collecting for weeks now I have been finding some new places that I just love.  Several are very inspirational for home decorating and I can just sit  and gaze at the pictures for what seems like hours. Kinda like I do my country magazines. Which I need to go through and dispose of some, and organize the others.  That has been on my to do list for awhile.  I might actually do it tonight while watching tv. 

While I sitting here this morning and cruising the net I found many things that I would love to do....but when I saw this I new I needed to do these things first, so that I will not forget what it is I would like to do.    First, I think I need to create myself a mood board.  Do you know what a mood board is?  It is a board that you simple put all your loves on.  There are several at Decor 8. As well as create myself a decorating binder.  See this is the kind of things I do when I have time.  I get creative and want to do things.  Guess I could carry this binder a little further and make it my "dream home binder".  How fun is that? 

Well I have been at this computer for awhile now and my phone keeps ringing so think I am going to close it.  Hope you have a wonderful day!

A wonderful find online

I'm back. I can't believe how long it has been since my last post, but it has been awhile. At this time in my life, I am super busy so don't have as much time to play and update my blogs as I would like too. But occasionally when I have a few minutes that I can surf the net, I seem to find things that capture my heart. For instance, I found this photo of a secretary that I would love to have, or something similar.

Of course when I saw it my mind started reeling with ideas. First thing I thought of is: I need to put that on my yard sale and thrift shopping list. It is getting about that time of the year, and I can't wait. Anyway, isn't this lovely?

About this time of the year, my creative juices start flowing and I want to dig into some projects for the home. Michael and I have done several big projects (renovating this house from top to bottom) But I many smaller projects to take on. One of them is organizing my craft area. It is small so I want to utilize it as well as I can. This past fall, Michael added me a built in work table and shelves. I not only have room for my craft tools, I also have room for ALL my gift wrap and bags.Which was wonderful at Christmas. Now what I really need is a ribbon center like this on in the picture. Someday my goal is to have a whole room dedicated to my crafts. "Craft Central" I think I will call it. I just love those bright green walls. So cheery. Who wouldn't enjoy working in this room all day.

I want to share one of my favorite sites with you. I check Alison out frequently. Although she hasn't posted in bit, she has some wonderful pictures on her blog that she shares of her home. Check out My Cozy Home.

Happy Decorating!

Cindy