Mad for Plaid Tassel House

After winning this stunning tassel from Tassel House at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch, I knew I wanted plaid to be apart of the decorating in the breakfast room this year.

See the delicious layers of ribbons including the plaid!

I hung the tassel by the desk area of the room.Over by the eating area I put two apple and pine cone hurricanes.

All three of these pictures were taken one after another.

Sigh, someday I will learn photography and my pics will be normal.

I like the beaded fruit in combination with the rustic pine cones.

The shelves above the island were decorated with a pine garland
along with some cardinal birds and plaid votives.

I thought these matched well against the woodsy feel of the room.

I'm joining Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday; A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday and From My Front Porch to Yours.

Holiday Open House

This weekend proved to be very busy with the Holiday Open House

at the store, a Holiday Bazaar at a local church and the

Marine Corps Ball last night.

Thought I'd share some over view pictures

of the store dressed for Christmas

with details of each table to come in future posts.

This has got to be my favorite table top

display this year featuring gold and silver.

Against that huge mirror it really sparkles!

The theme above is kittens and mittens, which

seems to be a favorite for children.

Refreshments and a door prize were offered.

Mad about plaid was when you first walked in the door.

Featuring plaid votive and accent plates.

And red door ornaments.

The back table is feathers and fauna with cardinals,

amaryllis and poinsettias.

Love the red and green!

My Mary Lake Thompson towels are beeutiful :)

I hope you enjoyed your weekend!

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.

I am joining Metamorphosis Monday

and Tabletop Tuesday.

Two for the Price of One Met Monday

Today I'm sharing two Metamorphosis with you. The first is the book case at my parents home. When they built this home about 15 years ago, they were savvy enough to build extra wide shelves on the first shelf of each section of each book case. There is a book case on either side of their fireplace. This has provided an excellent way to display vignettes. Here is their nativity scene, which was my paternal grandparents and then handed down to my father.

He thinks it is Hummel, although it is not marked.

On the other side of the fireplace the book case displays their village.

I should have asked Mom the brand of this village, but I'll bet some of you already know.

Both of my sisters have lived in and around Chicago at some point, hence the Wrigley Field piece.
For the second Met Monday, I am showing the transformation of my corner space at the booth.

On top of an antique wash stand I display purple and blue ornaments.

The sparkle and glitter ornaments are all the rage this year. I liked the non-traditional colors here.

Also shown is a black and blue toile cake plate and two mugs. I think this would make a great gift!

I hope you've enjoyed these displays today. Please join Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for more Met Monday and have a great week!

Penguin Parade

Join me and my penguin friends as we check out today's Met Monday at my booth space. We've transformed a hutch from fall decor to penguin parade!

This mini tree is chocked full of penguins up to no good I'm sure!

This little guy is bundled up and ready for some snowy weather.

This felt penguin in ready to hit the slopes.

These two resin penguins are dressed in their Christmas attire.

Above is the cabinet before decorated for fall.


Now it has been switched to a penguin lovers dream.

Here is before with soft cream and brown accent pieces for fall.
Now we are ready for the Christmas holiday with penguins galore. Notice I added black and white toile to the back of the hutch where it was just cream before? This was a remnant I got at Hobby Lobby for a steal, plus I had my 40% coupon.

One final look at the cabinet in fall display and then below with our favorite feathered friends.



I love these two penguin hinged boxes. They open up to hold a small note, piece of jewelry or clue to where the big gift is hidden.

Now won't you join our host, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Met Monday posts? Have a great week!

Favorite Christmas Inspiration

Welcome to the first "official" day of Christmas preparation. I know many of you have begun your preparations months ago, some of you may have even started the day after Christmas last year, but for many of us the day after Thanksgiving begins the holiday season. Did you spend the day unearthing boxes of Christmas delight? Did you remember where all those lights and ornament boxes were stored from last year? I am always remember one last box that did not make it upstairs with the group.

As today is the first official Christmas prep day, I thought I would share a few of my "go to" books when thinking about my decor for the holidays.

I always pull out Carolyne Roehm. She epitomizes elegant style and inspiration to me. I review "Presentations" for ideas on gift wrapping.

Then I flip through "A Passion for Parties" Christmas section to refresh my memory on her divine ideas for the perfect party.
Then I grab "Winter Notebook" (pics above and below) to indulge in more pictures of Christmas delight.

After I return from the kitchen with my hot cup of tea, I pull out what was my first Christmas inspiration book loaned from my public library the year I got married, "Martha Stewart's Christmas". It was my go to for many of my first years decorating. Remember her giant gingerbread house replica of Turkey Hill, handmade wrapping paper with her daughter Alexa and homemade presents for her family and friends? Long before Ms. Stewart was the multi-media queen she is now, she was delighting me with her unique ideas.

Above, Martha Stewart instructs how to make homemade sugar cookies for ornaments to hang on her kitchen tree. I emulated Ms. Stewart by baking gingerbread cookies and strung them with red plaid ribbon to hang on my 2 foot tree in the kitchen of our first home (a rental) on Klonway Drive in 1990.
I cannot blog about Christmas books without mentioning the divine Ms. Garrity. Her books "Christmas at Home" and "O Christmas Tree" are both chocked full of glorious ideas for holiday decor.



While I do not own a copy (yet) of her newest book "O Christmas Tree" (images above and below) I have stood in the book store admiring it several times now. I must admit it has been on my Christmas wish list since I first heard of it's publication back in the summer time.

What a cozy fireside decorated with natural elements intertwined with the silver pieces.

I love her tabletop trees and the cloches below them!

A final book to mention is one I found quite by accident. Valerie Parr Hill, most known for her product line on a shopping channel, has a charming book entitled "Decorating for the Holidays". It is filled with some wonderful ideas and Christmas decorations.

I hope a few of these titles may be new to your library and if added will bring you the Christmas cheer they do me each season. Now lets get decorating!