Thursday, January 28, 2016

Valentines China Cabinets

I showed you my 2015 china cabinet 
decorated for Valentine's day
in this post.
But this year I wanted to change it up a bit.
I searched google images to find
some inspiration.
I love this black hutch
literally spelled with L O V E!


Domestic Fashionista did a fabulous job
with this white cabinet with the sweet banner!

And for all seasonal china cabinet/hutch
inspiration I turn to Jeanneselep.blogspot.com
She does her hutch seasonally
and it is always wonderful!
Very soon I will share with you my 
2016 Valentine China Cabinet!
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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Blue & White January Tray

This year in addition to my
tablescapes I thought I would 
share a few tray ideas. 
I usually eat alone once a week
when my husband has
a "boys night out" with his
shooting club.
I look forward to these "girls night in"
as a time to eat "girl food" and watch my 
"girl tv shows".
Just the opposite of my January table,
this January tray is composed of 
paper products, easy for clean up
so I can sip my tea and 
watch Masterpiece Theater 
rather than stand in the kitchen doing dishes.
Caspari Seville pattern is perfect for
a cold January evening mixing two of my
favorites blue & white and lemon.
I added a few lemons in a blue and white bowl
to perk up the corner and go along with the 
lemon theme.
I just love that Caspari offers placecards
to match their paper sets.
This one is held in a lemon wedge 
glittered place card holder.
A bunch of hyacinth adds a hint
of Spring to my bar area.

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Sunday, January 24, 2016

National Handwriting Day

Did you know that Saturday, January 23rd is 
National Handwriting Day?

"January 23rd, 2016 marks the 39th anniversary of National Handwriting Day.  Established in 1977 on the birthday of perhaps one of America's most celebrated scribes, John Hancock known for his bold signature on the Declaration of Independence – National Handwriting Day was created to acknowledge the history and influence of penmanship.  The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) sponsors National Handwriting Day offering insight and inspiration to honor the writing holiday." 
Woman at Her Writing Desk
Warren B Davis
American Gallery
In order to celebrate the occasion I am sharing
with you a few of my favorite 
note card designers.
The Crane & Company 
bee notecard is my go to standard
for personal notes.
I also have a monogrammed set of ivory
crane notecards for business.
Anna Griffin also does a 
wonderful line of stationery.
These Imperial Notecards are beautiful
and come with lined envelopes.
LB Originals has a ton of cute
monogrammed notecards
along with lots of other stationery
on her Preppy Paper Girl Etsy site.

Emily McCarthy's multi cheetah
note cards are adorable.
The spot cheetah pattern
is a unique design created by
Ms. McCarthy.
The notecards can be found along
with many other
unique paper & entertaining products
in her shop on her website.

What's your favorite notecards 
& stationery products
these days?

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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Valentines Day Victorian Clip Art

Thanks for stopping by today.
I'm working on my Valentine's Day crafts.
This year I am using these Vintage Victorian
Postcards as ornaments similar to 
the Halloween Tree I did in 2013.
In addition to ornaments, they would make great
printouts to use on a non-floral centerpiece
as I posted this week.
Or to make your own
Valentine cards or scrapbook pages. . .
Or to make signs or posters . . .
And I am sure you can think of a bunch
of other uses too!
You can see my previous tree
Hope you enjoy crafting with these
as much as I do! 
I will be back next week to share
my 2016 Valentine Tree.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Non Floral Valentines Day Centerpiece

Thanks for stopping by today.
This weekend I was researching online for a
non floral centerpiece for my
February Table.
The florist really jacks up the 
prices beginning the first week of 
February and many of us
don't want to spend twice the amount on flowers
we would normally.
To find these images and more google 
Valentines Day crafts
My favorites are using some kind of stick/branch
theme with paper decorations.
 This would be a great project to do with your 
kids or grandkids & a quick trip to the dollar store.
 I also liked this garland using paper
doilies and white strand lights.
Great over a doorway or down the middle of the table.
 Isn't this idea lovely with
pictures included along with paper hearts!
 Here it looks like they've used
sticks with paper hearts, simple but elegant too.
 If you don't have/want to forage thru your yard
for sticks and branches, or they are covered in snow
these block paper votives are a cute idea too.
Finally nothing beats love
spelled out down the middle of the table!
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Great January TV Watching

If you are enjoying the final season of
Downton Abbey as much as I am I thought
I would share a few other shows that 
are on in January that look like
my cup of tea.

Beginning Monday 1/18 on Lifetime
is the miniseries War & Peace.
Starring Lily James (from Downton and Cinderella)
Paul Dano and James Norton
the promotions look wonderful.
 Equally appealing is the new PBS series Mercy Street
premiering on Sunday night 1/17/16 
but also available to stream on the
PBS website.
"Based on real events, Mercy Street goes beyond the front lines of the Civil War 
and into the chaotic world of the Mansion House Hospital 
in Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia." PBS.org
The PBS website has great behind the scenes information &
historical pictures, which I love.
It reminds me a lot of the book
"My Name is Mary Sutter" by Robin Oliveira.

If that's not enough historical drama for you 
I would highly recommend 
"A Little Chaos"
which is now on dvd & HBO
staring Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci
and Alan Rickman, which also directed
this wonderful film.
I was sorry to hear of Mr. Rickman's 
passing today.
I will always remember him
in Love Actually.

 Finally if you have not seen 
Far From the Maddening Crowd
based on the Tom Hardy novel, 
it is wonderful.
Her wardrobe and the music alone
make it a must see
plus the Victorian England setting
and love story are icing on the cake.
It is out on DVD plus on HBO.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.
The winter is always a great time for catching up 
on great series & films.
Plus, we have all the awards shows to enjoy too!

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Monday, January 11, 2016

Winter's Garden January Table

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says 
"Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” 
― Lewis CarrollAlice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Thanks for stopping by!
Today I'm sharing my table set for January. 
With all the holiday decorations down the dining room
looked ready for a winter's garden table.

This weekend we received our first official
winter snow fall with a dusting of snow to make 
nature window watching beautiful.
 For this table I picked neutrals of brown, cream and green.
I tucked in a few surprises down the middle of pinecone candles,
baby pincones and two birds my daughter gave me 
for my birthday in December.
 This beautiful centerpiece of roses, hydrangea and pincones
tied it all together.

 For the place setting I used burlap chargers,
cable knit dinner plates & mugs, dripware brown salad plates,
a winter garden napkin, wood flatware &
vintage green bubble glass goblets.
 When I added the goblets the green in the napkins
and the centerpiece really popped.
 I love the textures of the dripware, cable and burlap together.
 Here's a close up of the brown mercury glass
birds in their glittered nests.
I hope you enjoyed this taste of a winter garden 
on the table.
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Sunday, January 3, 2016

January Books


 Thanks for stopping by today.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
January is always filled with the 
hope of rejuvenation, restoration and renewal.
I think the elaborate holiday decorations, 
celebrations and sometimes
indulgences makes us
ready for a clean slate
once all the decorations are put
to bed for another year.
With this in mind my January book selections
are filled with great ideas 
for renewal of your garden
(although my thoughts always go
to spring and summer planting)
and renewal of your personal success plan
whether that be in the area of career,
health or personal life.

Up first is "The Winter Garden" by Emma Hardy
$17.74 on Amazon.
Ms. Hardy displays a wonderful collection
of over 35 ideas on gardening during the winter months.
These are easy step by step instructions on a 
variety of indoor & outdoor projects.
I also appreciate that these are for small spaces.
You do not need an acre garden or a
large porch/outdoor area to display these projects
so even those that are in apartments or town homes
can join in the fun.
 The photography is outstanding and the 
"you will need" section of each project makes it
easy to gather your supplies.
Depending on your zone, some of these
maybe Spring projects outdoors.
 I am looking forward to a few indoor plant projects
for myself this year.

The second selection is from author Jack Canfield,
"The Success Principles: $15.05 on Amazon.
I saw him on an OWN
Super Soul Sunday episode.
You may know Mr. Canfield as the
co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
This is the 10th anniversary edition
so you may have read this title already.
I was impressed with his ideas
and his discussion of the elements
that are needed to lead a successful life 
during his interview with Oprah.



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