GIVEAWAY for White Wednesday

I have been so blessed lately to win several giveaways in blogland and it is past time for me to have one so here we go.
What better time to celebrate 630 followers {wow!} and also to celebrate the spirit of the season.

The winner will be getting this beautiful rose pin made by Erica over at Meadowstreet.

An 8 foot long vintage gold glass bead garland.

A lavender sachet made by yours truly.

Three little stars embellished with tinsel glitter and paper banners.

A glass glittered mitten ornament made by yours truly as well.

A soldered *holly* charm with white ribbon so you can use it as a necklace or anything you choose.

A beautiful gold glass candleholder and a pair of candles embellished by moi.

A couple papers that I hand stamped with Merry Christmas and carte postale.

This *believe* sign that has been painted white and glittered.



and...this beautiful wall plaque that I picked up at the Christian bookstore over the Thanksgiving weekend.


To be entered in the drawing just leave a comment on this post.
It is that simple.
{Sorry , but this giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only}
A winner will be chosen and announced next Wednesday on my White Wednesday post.


By now you all  know the drill.
Visit Kathleen over at Faded Charm for more beautiful White Wednesday posts.



Decorating in silver and white {and sprigs of green}

Sharing a few more photos of my Christmas decor that I finished up yesterday. I purchased two bundles of greens from *the big box store* for $5 each {in the live flower section} and it really went a long way. This is a very long shelf in my kitchen that my daddy made for me years ago...out of oak...I painted it white a couple years ago , but we won't tell anyone. :)

This chair also sits in my kitchen and I love decorating it for the different seasons.
I picked up a few of the paper ball glitter ornies at Pottery Barn this past February on clearance for little of nothing. I love them. They are so pretty and sparkly.

My beautiful Joyeux Noel cone that I found on Etsy. I put some greens in it and then added a vintage sprig of berries.  {It still has the original Japan label on it}

My basket prettied up for the season.

I still adore my vintage silver ornies and try to pick unique ones up whenever I can. I purchased a few of the mercury glass trumpet ornies at Pottery Barn this past February on clearance for peanuts.
Sorry there is glare in this photo. The lighting has not been good at all so I had to use the flash.

A cute little sleigh that I found at Hobby Lobby a few years ago holding a vintage SILENT NIGHT ornament.

I picked up two of these linen stockings at the sidewalk sale this past summer. $2 each and they are monogrammed with *S* on the points of the cuff. I think it was meant to be. This hangs on my bathroom door.

A little fake charlie brown tree in my living room.



Wings and stars that I created that are also sitting on my long shelf in the kitchen. Should have got a photo of the whole shelf. oops.



Love my zinc pots and tart pans from Belgium. These are sitting on my windowsill also in the kitchen.
Hope you enjoyed your mini tour of my home decorated for Christmas!!

I finally caught the bug!



...the decorating bug that is. I wanted to keep it simple this year so I set out today to return a few items and
found some lovely greenery at the big box store. {somehow that just doesn't scream CHRISTMAS purchasing it at Wally World, but it was affordable so I grabbed a couple large packages}

I had tossed this idea around in my head for a few days and I love how it turned out. I took a frame without glass and hung it on top of my arched window that always seems to hang in the same spot. Someday I am going to change that you just wait and see. :)

I purchased these pinecones at an antique mall seveal years ago and I use them every year in my decor. I love the old tattered ivory ribbon. Over the years some of the ribbon has gave way and I had to re-tie the pinecones with the same tattered ribbon , but I still love them.

Simple , but it works for me.

I also added a little greenery and white ribbon to my paper napkin basket. *GASP* I know I should always use cloth napkins , but paper ones work for me as well.

I just love my paper angel wings and they look so pretty on my shutters.

Here is the greenery that I picked up today. I know this is way off the subject, but have I ever told you that I L.O.V.E. my kitchen sink?? It is extra deep with a little curved part on the left side that makes it even bigger. Add to that our faucet that has a long neck and it is perfect.  It has a few nicks out of it {porcelain} from use over the years and I have toyed with the idea of replacing it, but I am afraid we won't find another deep sink like this one. Besides that also leads to new countertop, cabinets, etc. etc. and that just isn't in the budget right now. Although I do know a *carpenter*...hmm...a certain man that I live with!! LOL

Last, but not least I wanted to show you my free postcards that came a few days ago. What do you think?? I like how they turned out , but wonder if I should have went with one of my other collages. Oh well...they are done now and best of all they were FREE!!! Can't beat that.


Take a peek at my blog url...I have a *favicon* now. My oldest son made it for me when we were over at his place for Thanksgiving. He amazes me. I know he went to school for computer tech and graphic design, but when I watch him click here and there and bamm it is done in a flash...oh my!! If only! We tried a *WT* , but it was just too small so went just for a *W* instead. I think it is much cuter than that big ORANGE *B*. :)


Also, I don't think I told you that my son-in-law {who is only 27 years old} just returned from a trip to Japan the day before Thanksgiving. He is an engineer for GM and was over there for 11 days on business. He brought me back a beautiful paper fan. Hopefully one day soon I can post some pictures from that beautiful country.


I just sat here and ate a bowl of black and white drizzled chocolate popcorn...then did my aerobics for half an hour. I think I defeated the purpose , but I will keep plugging along. :)
Happy White Wednesday!! Join Kathleen over at Faded Charm again this week for more beautiful posts.

A lovely gift...from my daughter

Have you ever seen such a cute candleholder? I used to have a vintage plant holder almost just like this only much larger of course.  My daughter gave this to me for part of my Christmas gift this year. I knew I would have fun fixing it all up.  I wrapped glass votive holders with doilies {some stamped with script}, added some fake pine and candles and started taking pictures. {don't have any real pine yet}

I shot photos from many angles.

I think there was a fingerprint on the lens for this photo...seems a little *hazy* in the middle.lol.

pretty in white






I started decorating a bit today {yes I am just starting } which led me to thinking about the story I saw on 60 minutes Sunday evening. It was about how many homeless people there are in the US. { the greatest percentage are in Florida} If you didn’t see it, it was heartbreaking. The reporter talked to children who were wise beyond their years and shouldn’t have to worry about the things they do. Finding a “safe” place to park their vehicle for the night, getting ready for school in gas station restrooms, not having enough food for one meal let alone all day long. Just doesn’t seem right here in America. Sometimes I think I should just sell it ALL and donate the money. We certainly can’t take it with us. Maybe a fresh start would be good.


I have more decorations than one person should have. I realize it comes from years of accumulation, but something has to give. Old ornaments, trees, houses, tinsel, decor...decor...decor...get the picture? I used to think that I had to haul out EVERY item and use it somewhere, but not anymore! I don’t like the “decorate to the max” look anymore and I am trying to figure it all out. What to get rid of and what to keep. I am going to work hard at “de-stuffing” my life in 2012. I won’t get rid of everything, but I have enough stuff for several people and much of it is going. I know I would feel much more at peace with a good purging in my home and in my heart as well. 
Blessings~



Oh my stars!! {tutorial}

We had a whirlwind time since  Wednesday and I am ready for a long winters nap. lol. I packed up the car {back seat and trunk stuffed full} and when hubby got home from work we left for our oldest son's home in Indiana. We spent three nights and came home yesterday. We celebrated both Thanksgiving and Christmas with our kids and had a wonderful time. My parents even made the 2 hour drive and we loved having them there. It is the first time they have seen our son's new home as well.

For two years we have given our children and their spouses money for part of their gift. Last year it was a treasure hunt of sorts and this year I folded bills into stars. It was so fun and they seemed to be very impressed with them. Much more fun than just sticking money in a card. Click here for the link in case you want to try your hand at making them. I thought the directions were great and easy to figure out. They all asked me how long it took to fold them and it really didn't take long at all. Once you get a couple made and get the hang of it, it goes pretty fast.

Each side looks different and it was fun to do.


Another thing I did for them was to get small totes and fill them with all their leftover baby items that I had stored in a chest upstairs. Baby books, clothes, blankets, photos etc. I  think our daughter-in-laws loved them just as much as our children did. Our youngest sons wife was amazed at how clean they were and she loved every detail. Don't know if it really impressed my son-in-law or not. LOL!!
My daughter sent me an email today telling me that she just went through her whole tote today at home, looked over each and every item and read every single card etc. Hers included a baby blanket that I had made for her out of squares of fabric and her dedication dress and slip that my mom had made her shortly after she was born.  Both of my boys included adorable teeny tiny outfits that had lace trim. My sister had purchased them at a childrens boutique and of course they had something to say about the lace. You actually put these on us mother??{ hee hee} I said yes and you were adorable!   All these goodies are from 27-32 years old and it was fun to see their reactions when they were opened. I am bummed that I did not take photos of their totes with the lids off for you all to see, but I didn't even think about it. Can you believe that??


We also took a large tote of items purchased throughout the year on clearance or sale. I spread it all out on the table and had a fun time of drawing names, numbers etc. and watching them pick out goodies to keep.  All in all it was a very fun weekend, but I am taking a long rest now!