Need Some Inspiration? It's Christmas Open House!

I don’t know about you, but I am starting to realize that Christmas will soon be here and I have no idea what I will do about my decor! Sooo…my friend Linda at Nina’s Nest and I headed to our favorite flea and antique mall…the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, Georgia…for a little inspiration. Be sure to head over to her blog to see her take on our visit. And this year, we noticed a common theme…lots of natural elements, greenery and a more rustic look. The star of that look would be, of course, deer…over-sized deer on the buffet, glittery deer on the little tree…

…deer antlers mixed in with greenery on a hutch…

… a faux antler chandelier decorated with natural greenery…

…and antlers mixed in with more greenery and pheasant feathers…

…which starred in their own display in this wonderful Victorian silverplate pitcher…want it!…

…and filled old loving cups below a wall of more…what else…deer antlers! Here I do have to add that I can only buy the faux, although I do know you can find sheds. And…I must say that I am glad that I haven’t trimmed the boxwoods yet! lol

And there were lots of wonderful stockings to admire, like this ruffled one made of burlap and drop cloth…

…more burlap with inspirational tags…

…and lovely white burlap with some elegant touches!

Here’s one made from vintage linens…

…and one made of ticking with vintage hankies as trim!

And I have to add that seeing all the burlap stockings really made me happy since I plan to use last year’s stockings (pictured above) again this year! Click here to see my mantel from Christmas 2010.

And I am sure that you can see from the previous photo with all of its mercury glass that I am also happy that it is back…good!…because I love it! I love the look of these ornaments in a silver bowl!

And it looks like I need to get the ol’ Mod Podge out for some cute deer ornaments! Hey…is that an old phone book page?

And I love this sheet music and glitter tree…

…and this ornament filled with little strips of sheet music and decorated with a damask style flourish and glitter!

And you know I got sidetracked by this pretty frenchy mirrored chest…

…and this oh-so-frenchy grain sack upholstered chair…always have to stop and read the script! lol

And this fabulous frenchy chair stopped me in my tracks…want it!…

…as well as this unique frame in the shape of an oeil de boeuf window…gorgeous!

And I am filing this one away for next fall…bundles of wheat in a lantern. Hey! Wait a minute! It’s still fall! I have lanterns. I wonder if Publix has any more of that wheat?

And the answer is yes! And only $3.49 a bundle! Hmmm…I'm loving the Christmas inspiration, but I don't think I am quite through with fall...my favorite time of year. What about you?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my Christmas inspiration!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Jill at French Cupboard for Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Fabulous Fall Fun
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Rustic Thanksgiving Centerpiece with Burlap Table Square

I am really starting to think about Thanksgiving! Have you realized that it’s less than three weeks away? And since our menu is always the same…a family tradition…it’s the decor that needs my attention. Sooo…I would like to show you the centerpiece for my breakfast room table!

It all started with this wonderful shabby box from Joss & Main! I was thrilled when it arrived and I saw that it even had a little touch of yellow…perfect for my frenchy blue and yellow decor!

And I also love the vintage look of the little metal pieces on the corners…so rustic!

I couldn’t wait to fill it up with things I love…including lots of fun (real) gourds and this faux pumpkin from Walmart. I love that stem, so several of these came home with me! And at $5.00 each, they were a bargain, especially since they will be around next fall, too!

The star of the vignette, however, is this wonderful Quimper plate…a gift from some sweet friends! If you know me, you know that I love Quimper ware. In fact, you can see some of my collection on the hutch in the background of this post. This plate is very special to me because of the givers and because it is my only piece in the yellow pattern!

I have also added this wonderful little lead crystal urn…a bargain for $6.00 at Tuesday Morning! I have filled it with some of my vintage silverplate flatware collected from Goodwill over several years. It has such a lovely patina! And I love the contrast between the rustic box and the more elegant crystal and silver!

And on the table…my $3.00 Goodwill faux deer antler! I found the votives (which each came with two candles) at Dollar Tree. These will get a lot of use over the holidays!

However, my shabby Thanksgiving centerpiece would just not go with my blue and yellow table square, as shown to you by Baby Kitty. It is one of my favorite finds from my trip to Provence several years ago and I love the sunny colors…for spring and summer. But it looks a little out of place during the cooler months, so I have to put it away. However, I do love the idea of a table square…something I saw frequently when I lived in France.

So I decided to make a simple burlap table square…easy peasy! It’s just two 29 inch square pieces of burlap sewn together and then turned inside out  and top-stitched. I think I will enjoy the change! I especially love the look of a table square on my round table.

I am really enjoying the contrast of the different textures! This will be a fun centerpiece for Thanksgiving. And…is it too early? Cover your eyes if you aren’t ready for the C word yet! I am thinking how cute this box will be filled with greenery and shiny red ornaments for…dare I say it?…Christmas!

I am joining Amy at Whisperwood Cottage for the Talent Scouting Party for Cottages & Bungalows Magazine!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my shabby centerpiece!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Jill at French Cupboard for Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Fabulous Fall Fun
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Please Vote for My Pumpkins and Help My Grandson Get a Room Make-Over!

Great news! My Country Living inspired pumpkins…pictured above…made the final cut for their pumpkin contest! Please go to the contest link (here) on Facebook and “like” my pumpkins to vote! This link goes directly to my pumpkins. The prize is 10 yards of Waverly fabric that I will use to help my daughter give my 11 year old grandson's room a make-over! I appreciate your support so much! And if you would like to know how to create your own découpage pumpkins, the tutorial is here!

 Also...don't forget to visit my latest post with a rustic yet elegant Thanksgiving centerpiece idea for you! Thanks again so much for all the bloggy love!

Thinking About Thanksgiving

I have a confession…I am already thinking about my Thanksgiving tablescape!  I find myself looking for inspiration in my favorite catalogs and magazines and playing with some elements on my table. Are you?

However, I already know I will be all alone on this post since this is my illustrious co-host’s favorite time of year. He stays glued to the window watching the leaves blow. He has been doing this every fall since he was a little guy!

First stop for inspiration…Pottery Barn! I have another confession…even though I really am turned off by the real ones, I am really liking faux deer antlers! At Pottery Barn, they are $30 on sale…not bad! Restoration Hardware is featuring them, too…for $129…quite a hefty price by my standards!

Sooo….you will not believe what I found! Yes…faux deer antlers at Goodwill! Well, one at least! It had a funny metal thingy on the end that I managed to remove. Not sure what it came from, but I couldn’t argue with the price…$2.92! Woo hoo!

I have also been admiring this autumnal centerpiece…also at Pottery Barn…with that striking candelabra! But it’s $129…yikes! And…you need several deer antlers to achieve this look.

Here’s my version after finding yet another faux antler for only $6.00…hmmmm. My candelabra was a flea market find two years ago for about $10 and I am afraid the price difference shows! Not doing this one!

This cover of Better Homes and Gardens has been a favorite of mine this fall! Gotta love those white pumpkins with bittersweet…lovely!

 And here’s my version! By the time I decided that I need more faux white pumpkins, they were nowhere to be found, so I spray-painted some of the orange ones from Walmart. Not bad, huh? I love the stem! And the pumpkins were only $5.00 each! I used ivory spray paint instead of white for a more natural look.

I am also starting to think about the dinnerware and linens. I found these acorn napkins on sale at the Williams-Sonoma outlet…love them!…but I don’t think they are available any more. That’s my bargain Chris Madden Felice dinnerware that I found at GW last year for $10 for a service for four…my favorite! On the table...twig placemats that I am considering.

And finally, here’s last year’s Thanksgiving tablescape 2010. I definitely think my burlap table runner will be back as well as the dinnerware. Beyond that…I’m still working on it. What about you? Are you starting to think about Thanksgiving?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my tablescape possibilities!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Debbie at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing for the Magazine Copy Cat Challenge
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Jill at French Cupboard for Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Fabulous Fall Fun
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Magic Pumpkin Seeds for You…from France!

I can’t wait to show you my most recent little project…so cute and easy! And best of all…it’s French and free…my favorite combination!

It’s all centered around this wonderful wire cloche from Wuslu. Do you Wuslu? It's my new addiction! They sell one cute thing a day. Period. (It's not available at Wuslu right now, but I also found it here.) Honestly, Marty at A Stroll thru Life can tell you…I’m not a cloche person. But…this one is different! For one thing…it’s wire…gotta love that! I am just cloche-impaired when it comes to the glass ones!

And…it’s got a door! It’s sort of a combination birdcage without a bottom and a cloche with a door. Unique, huh?

On the inside...my vintage book bundle with a little baby pumpkin and something special that I will show you in a moment.

And if you know me and my obsession with mice, you know I had to have one of these from Pottery Barn…love it!

And here’s the French and free part…magic pumpkin seeds! Well, not the seeds actually…just the packet. I am always checking out the French websites for anything different…and this really is! I found it here on Marie Claire Idées among their Halloween ideas. Just click on Téléchargez le sachet illustré to download yours or I can email it to you if you can't get the link to work. Wouldn't this be cute for children? The front says Magic Pumpkin Seeds…

…and the back says…Sow these seeds along the forest paths October 31st before midnight... They will become lanterns, ghosts or a carriage… Hmmm…

Kitty and Baby Kitty are saying…Whaaaat? What’s that got to do with Halloween? What can I say? It’s a French thing! (More likely they are saying...This is my mouse!...No, it's mine!)

Here they are again…love the vintage look! I had to buy the seeds at Home Depot. You should have heard the clerk giggle. Yes…I know they don’t have time to grow!

And here it is again…my little frenchy vignette with magic French pumpkin seeds! And…I think that after Halloween I can take away the seed packets and the mouse, add a few leaves and use it until Thanksgiving. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my project!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Jill at French Cupboard for Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Michael at Inspired by Charm for Thrifty Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Fabulous Fall Fun
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!