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

A Peter Rabbit Easter

 I can not tell you how excited I was when my daughter, Mia, told me her theme for 

her family Easter celebration would be Peter Rabbit this year!

 

Mia and I go way back with our love for Peter to when I chose that for her nursery theme.

 I was introduced to my love of Peter and all things Beatrix Potter, when I visited England as a

 teen and wanted that for my one day baby's room. Now, my grands love her books!

I have to show off all the detail she put into this party! Garden and carrot touches every-where,

even the green cutlery are "carrot" wrapped. Books and Peter mementos were scattered too.

I must tell you Mia's cupcakes, with their lemon curd filling are the very BEST I've ever tasted!

I had too many to count, although Quinn could probably tell you....please don't Q! 

A gingerbread garden shed just for fun!

The Easter tree centerpiece even had a few vintage PB ornaments. I lent her my sweet

PB plates and she got the place mat new from Pottery Barn.

The theme was carried out to the backyard and patio area. We were so grateful to outside

 and in the sunshine after weeks of wet weather (snow for me).

Food always tastes better wearing bunny ears!

 The kids had such fun but wondered all morning about their egg hunt tradition.

 And what was this giant hanging carrot? It was filled with eggs and treats. The Easter

Bunny really fooled them this year! All the kids had fun giving the carrot a whack.

Sweet kids showing off their Easter treasures from the giant carrot handmade by Mia.

We didn't open our darling Peter goody bag until we got home. Wow, what a surprise

to find a wonderfully scented candle in a bag I will keep as a

memento of the most fun Easter ever!

Thank you so much, Mia & Matt, for

making our day fabulous!

Happy Easter to all!

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

Finally Fall

I know it is just October but it has been so warm that I thought fall would never come to

 our mountains. It is here now in all it's glory. I have not been taking pics of the trees but

I thought I would share a few of my fall decor.

I used a tin from my web store (sorry, it is sold out for this year already) for my base. 

The faux sunflowers, leaves and gourds are from Hobby Lobby. 

Are you as glad as I am that sunflowers are back in vogue? 

My squirrels are vintage finds. My mom had some like these when I was growing up. 

Am I the only one buying back their childhood memories? 

The birdies are still available at Wren Elizabeth Gifts. You can find them here http://www.wrenelizabethgifts.com/item_1753/Small-Birds.htm.

The best place I have found for pumpkins this season are at Trader Joe's! I bought the gnarly green one above and the pretty Cinderella below for only $5.99 each! These are big and make great front porch decorations. While you are there, pick up a couple of bunches of sunflowers for $3.99 a bunch.

I love to mix faux, dried and real finds, especially in the fall. Don't you just love

 the colors of Indian corn?

We went to this pumpkin patch with our local kids and had a ball.

I have never seen a pile of pumpkins this big.

Happy fall!

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