Christmas Tree Ideas

WE decorated many trees for our 2018 Open House and I thought I'd feature

a few of them here for some ideas of what to do with our 

fabulous collection of holiday ornaments.

WE are obsessed with black and white checks this year! 

The ribbon was purchased at Hobby Lobby, 

https://www.hobbylobby.com/search/?text=Black+%26+White+check+ribbon.

 WE tied a big bow at the top using one of our ornaments as a tree topper.

 Then cut lengths to go down the tree in tendrils. The wired ribbon

 makes this so easy!

 Then WE added some red, silver, white and black ornaments to complete this look.

WE did our vintage look metallic brown tree (actually dark green) in all silvers and golds.

 WE chose ornaments with sweet vintage flair. Every tree needs a few

matte finish ornaments with all the shiny delights! 

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is Silver and the other Gold."

WE have always decorated a tree in all Santas and this year 

WE continued the tradition.

WE have Santa and Belsnickel ornaments in many forms and price points. Always a fun

 tree and great with red or white lights (or both). Start a collection for a 

friend or loved one by gifting them with a new one each year.

WE know it is early for Christmas decor but dreaming and 

planning or a fabulous holiday is half the fun.

Enjoy each moment!

Melin

xoxo

England's Lake District ~ Land of Beatrix Potter

Earlier this month (before THE WEDDING) I was so excited to go to NW England for a 

Beatrix Potter tour of the Lake District that she loved so very much. We toured several 

farms that Beatrix Potter (she wrote the Peter Rabbit books) bought during her 

lifetime. She bequeathed 15 farms and over 4,000 acres of land to the 

National Trust when she died in 1943, with the stipulation it not be sold. 

I was greeted by Peter Rabbit as I started up the walk to her beloved Hill Top, 

the first home and farm that BP purchased in 1905 in Near Sawrey.  

The entrance to Hill Top! Everything inside Hill Top are kept exactly as Beatrix wanted us to see it

with all of her favorite things and furnishings. Set, just so, by her instructions to the Trust.

Beatrix' straw hat and clogs remain on her chair, as if she just came in from her beloved farm.

Love these silhouettes that are all the rage for collectors today!

The designs on these transferware plates were drawn by her father, Rupert, 

and her brother, Bertram. They were a talented family.

Her treasure room, as she called it, contains many of her collections. This room brought 

me to tears, as I realized she loved her treasures, as much as I love mine.

A collection of Peter Rabbit china and a pace egg that she made for the children

of Sawrey every Easter to use in their egg races.

A doll house like the one BP wrote about in The Tale of Two Bad Mice.

The furnishings, inside the doll house on display, are Beatrix Potter's

own collection and are absolutely fabulous. 

Beatrix' bedroom with the canopy that she embroidered and made herself.

And a walk in her lovely garden that she loved so much.

After spending time in Hill Top and in the National Trust gift shop, we headed to

Castle Cottage her marital home with her husband, Willie Heelis.

  

This is Castle Cottage where they spent their married years and where Beatrix died. We were

so lucky to get a private tour inside because it is not open to the public. What a tour!

The sixteenth century barn at Castle Cottage! It's as good as new. 

We all went to a picnic with Susan Branch (Isn't she darling?) and her 'girlfriends' (us)

from all over the world. It was held on the Castle Cottage pasture.

I got gifties from two lovely ladies, a picnic basket charm and

Hollyhock seeds from a new Dutch friend.

This is my new friend Emily, who was on the tour with her mom Amy. Isn't she darling in this 

Herdwick tweed fascinator? They were both such fun to explore with.

And this is the class picture of a group of fun picnic girlfriends!

I am in the back between the red coats in the middle.

After the picnic lunch, we went to the Tower Banks Arms pub, which is just across the street.

The owners are delightful and welcoming with the best hard cider on draft!

BP drew it for The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (page 42).

We ended a magical day at Yew Tree Farm, which served for the outside scenes of Hill Top

in the movie Miss Potter (one of my favorites). It is also one of BP's farms.

This is the Yew Tree farm barn. I just love these old, old barns of wood and stone!

I have a lot more share about my trip and will soon in my next blog post.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the places Beatrix Potter called home.

I had the best time there with other BP lovers.

Melin

Valentine Fun

Valentine's Day is nearly here and I wanted to share a few goodies for the occasion.

These darling cupid's arrows were made by our daughter, Mia, for our Valentine's Day gift!

 She said they are easy and all you need are sturdy sticks, from your yard, felt and hot glue.

Aren't they darling? I hung them here and there among my Valentine decor.

I bought this awesome Mickey Mouse Club Scrap Book at a local flea. I opened it and

was amazed to see the fabulous valentine card collection. They were glued in

by a 9 year old girl and some have stickers attaching them, as well.

Check out the date and price back then.

Here are what the pages look like. They are chock full of retro Valentine fun! I want to keep it intact

and share some of the cards, over time, here and on Pinterest. There are a few from other

holidays too but mostly sweet valentines.

I love them all! Look at the detail and the funny sayings back then. Remember the joy

of getting special valentines from your classmates and teachers?

Why didn't we all save them? I am a saver and I didn't.

This lion, with a collar and tie, is accented with silver glitter!

And this sweet girl has a red flocked trim on her pinafore. Flocking was used a 

lot on the cards back then. The hearts with the birdies are flocked too.

Follow me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/wrenlizgifts/

to see more vintage valentines like these and craft ideas.

WE wish you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day!

Melin

xoxo

New Antique Hutch

I spent this past weekend painting the inside of this French antique hutch

WE bought from a designer friend, shout out to Shelley McGinity

 of Kiski Design & Construction, Inc.

I am not a painter at all but it felt good to accomplish this easy task. 

It took many coats of Antique White to cover the Sky Blue!

My big reward came today, when I got to add a few pieces of collections, 

family favorites and a few touches of fall.

I started with Granny's Hall Jewel Tea Autumn Leaf mix. I love this because

Granny had it although I don't think any of this was actually her's.

I thrifted this gorgeous hand painted fall plate and the love the old 

Hallmark Thanksgiving turkey S&P, even if they are plastic.

This turkey platter was my Mommy's from the 50's. We ate every Thanksgiving turkey

off this platter. I am so grateful to have used this platter for my

family, as well, and it will go to my older daughter.  

So that is what I have been up to for fun! 

Please share you recent projects with us for inspiration.

Wishing you and yours a blessed

Thanksgiving.

Melin

xoxo

Fall Decorating With Thrift Finds

I enjoy sharing my love for thrifting and decorating for the season. These simple 

ideas use a base of a thrift store find or a new one that can be found

on the cheap. I used super-market gourds, faux leaves 

plus a few decorations from my store.

I used a pretty "silver" curved  platter that I found for $3 and added fall touches.

A long ago find of a wooden box with a serene fall landscape makes a 

great container for a touch of fall!

This centerpiece uses new items on a vintage yellow Fiestaware platter. I filled a new aqua

Ball jar with candy corn and added a "chalk" type topper. Aqua or turquoise 

are the latest way to add a fresh touch to fall colors. 

Old trucks may be easy to come by where you live but I searched high and low and

finally found this one on the way to the Farm Chicks Show. Add candy pumpkins

 to an old metal truck...an idea I stole from Serena Thompson.

One little pumpkin and leaf on a vintage Hall Jewel  saucer...small perfection!

Find an unusual real pumpkin or gourd and place them on a large

 cake plate with leaves and smaller gourds.

I have used this old picnic basket in many different ways but isn't it beautiful stuffed with 

as many fall colors as I could gather around the house and shop?

I hope you can use an idea or two in your fall decorating. See what you have around in your kitchen cupboards and add a few gourds and leaves. Keep your eyes open, as you thrift, for a

 few new pieces that you can use as next years bases. They look great all around

 the home. Add a touch of aqua for a fresh approach!

Happy fall decorating!

Melin