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

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

Valentine's Day Party ~ Make Your Own Pizza

Happy Valentine's Day!

I celebrated Valentine's Day with four great friends for lunch today.

We had a make your own pizza lunch. Everyone brought a few toppings to share

and I had www.traderjoes.com pizza dough and many cheeses.

 I used my pink dishes (http://www.justglass.com/documents/articles/inhouse/arcoroc.html) 

that I have been collecting, why not? See some of the bowl of toppings here. 

This is Charlene, isn't she cute?

We got quite creative and Benecia the veggie lover did fine!

So did Pat... a yummy pizza! I made mine with dried fig and gorgonzola.

Jbo (Jennifer) came up with a nice refreshing cocktail on the fly...Cava, cranberry juice

and an orange slice. It was deliciously perfect with the pizza! 

B and I tasting our fabulous creations with layers and layers of goodness.

Charlene and Jbo pose with their pizzas and drink.

Pat made us a trifle with angel food cake and berries...heavenly light!

Doesn't she show off the dishes like a cute pro?

We had a sweet bar for tasting and for taking home to share. You could put

 treats in a small plastic heart or in a wee bag. We had a few retro 

candies from our childhoods...red hots and convo hearts!

Our table was set with a mix of pinks, reds and white!

I have to show my french hutch dressed up for Valentine's Day!

The girls helped clean up, so it was easy, start to finish and I have

hung up my cheery cherry apron for today.

Wishing you lots of love, today and every 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

Lovely Lilacs

Here in my mountain town, it is lilac time! WE have more blooms this year than ever

 thanks to an abundance of snow and rain WE received.  

They are so prolific, just walking near the bushes is a treat for the senses...scent and colors 

delight. What a gift from Mother Nature! All WE have to do is cut off the 

pretty flowers. I brought in handfuls this morning and had fun selecting containers of all sorts.

I love to use my milk glass collection whenever possible and it adds a feminine touch with the ruffles.

For a more modern touch, use a piece of mercury glass. My little pixie is fun (and a bit naughty).

Tin containers add a simple country look. They are especially fun in a kitchen. Set one near your sink, so you can enjoy the scent while you work. The candle is here when the blooms fade.

 I just love this look! I bought a few different flower cup and saucers at a yard sale for tea

 parties with our grand-angels. Perfect for a flower display as well. 

Our newest birdie and nest is sweeter with lilacs.

What container would you choose from your own collections for yard flowers?

Do you say li-lack or li-lock? I love li-lacks!

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