December...a December to remember?

...Because I didn't decorate for Christmas yet?

I picked this up at the little shop I work in a few times a month (far removed from my regular gig at the library)--way back in early October.  I really liked the industrial look of it.  I let a friend borrow it to display earrings on at a few art shows, and when I get it back, this might be "it" for decorating.  One of my other trees sits naked in the entryway on a table.  Seems like there's no real time to get to decorating it.  Maybe, maybe, maybe tomorrow.

Knitting for Peace.  World peace, local peace,my peace.  Read about it on The Healthy Knitter blog, and find the pattern for a cowl on Ravelry.

I have the perfect yarn for this project, but of course, it's in the wrong colorway for my winter coat.  I was so enchanted by the yarn color and feel that I didn't give a thought to how it would coordinate with my winter coat.  I do that so often that I shouldn't even be surprised by it!  If you don't like working "in the round", Vicki at Knitorious has instructions for using straight needles.  Find it on Ravelry here.

I have "blog-stalked" Knitorious for the past year...she does so many amazing things and I love to follow her progress on Alabama Chanin stitching.  At one time I searched lots of blogs regarding other sewist's versions of that type of slow fashion.  One of my goals for this coming year is to make a wearable garment.  So far, I've just done accessories.  It's time to broaden my horizons and my wardrobe.

Miss Vivian Rose was a blast to watch last night.  I can't wait to work on projects with her!

Experimenting...

All of a sudden this morning, I decided to do something with all of the burlap I purchased a few weeks ago. Originally purchased to make curtains for the sunporch...now a scalloped mantel cloth. Just an experiment, so now that I've seen how it looks, I'm going to remove it, try to press a crease in it, and sew on a little lace or ribbon.

Currently Listening To: Martha Stewart Holiday Jazz

Scenes from around the house...

Every year I have a little internal battle...do I bring in the geraniums, or do I just yank them out of the pots and throw them in the compost pile...or, more likely, let them freeze and die in the pots? I'm not good at keeping plants alive inside, but the geraniums still look pretty fabulous for December 2nd. It's rained all day here, and the temperature has dropped to 36 degrees. All day...do I bring them in, or do I just forget about them...

Well, they're safely inside, looking pretty perky in the entryway. Lots of buds ready to bloom. I think the plan this year will be to try to root some cuttings from them. If it works, I'll have 'free' geraniums for the spring; if not, I'm not out anything.

A few Santa banks...the cast iron Santa in the middle is marked Hobart...from Hobart Manufacturing in Troy, Ohio. The others are reproductions.

Colorful ornaments in my bargain 'bridge dish' from the Santa Stroll in Huntingburg a few weeks ago.

Currently Reading: Layered, Tattered & Stitched by Ruth Rae
Currently Listening To: Classics for Relaxation

Decorating Collage-Tiny Trees

{Click to enlarge}

Tiny tree decorating is 'big'in my house this year. I've taken some ideas from MidWest Living and Coastal Living...these are some of the inspiration photos from the magazines.

Looking forward to the blog party at Bella Dreams on Saturday...

A Puttery Saturday

I've been relying on some of my favorite images I have tucked away in photo files. These three are all from Better Homes & Gardens. Other than the annoying pop-ups on their website, there are some really great ideas and recipes to be found there. I'm holding off on taking any more pictures of my holiday decorating until I'm finished.

I have no plans to leave the house today...there's dinner already in the crockpot, a pot of coffee ready, and a decorating strategy in place for this afternoon. My only need/desire today is a box of hyacinth bulbs. I've seen them on so many of the Swedish blogs and they look so pretty in their almost-ready-to-bloom state. Hyacinths have never struck me as a particularly Christmas-sy flower, but in that culture they are. All inclusive decorating...that's my style this year.

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Photos: www.bhg.com

Currently Reading: Jeanne d'Arc Living magazine
Currently Listening To: Rosemary Clooney Christmas Songs

Shiny things...

More beautiful images, this time from the Better Homes & Gardens website. I love the look of candles on a glass topped table...or on a mirrored tray.

A few ornaments in stemmed glassware or apothocary jars look festive...little jots of color.

This is one of my favorite pictures--a bit more primitive than the others--crackled glass ornaments in a rustic outdoor urn. Beautiful and understated.

Shiny, sparkely things...I'm so attracted to them, especially this time of year.

Photos: bhg.com

Currently Reading: Under the Dome

Inspiring books for Christmas decorating...

These books are among my favorites for Christmas decorating ideas and craftiness. Tricia Foley's White Christmas is at the top of the list for the beautiful simplicity presented in most of the ideas. I've had this one for years and have gleaned many ideas from it.

Sara Toliver and Jo Packham's Ruby & Begonia Christmas Style is another favorite. It's loaded with wonderful vignettes and display ideas.

Another Sara Toliver book, Vintage Christmas Crafts, is chock full of do-it-yourself projects and features the home of Curious Sofa's Debbie Dusenberry. It's a beautiful book.

Another inspiring book is this one from Country Living...Merry & Bright 301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas. I've adapted many ideas from this one...and hope to work on a few more today!

I plan on spending most of this week cleaning and organizing--and decorating. Company's coming for the Christmas holiday and I'd really like to have it all together this year. At any one time, there's always a 'bright spot' in the house, and I find that as I get older I can overlook a lot of things--this time I want to do it right.

I now have dozens of little cottages glued together and they're ready for glitter. Primitive, but kinda cute!

Currently Listening To: GMA

Holiday Decorating, part 1

I finally made it to JoAnn Fabrics after work yesterday--an extra coupon that could be used in conjunction with all of the other coupons I had couldn't be used until Saturday. I like to get the most 'bang' for my buck while crafty shopping, so I waited.

Christmas decorating has begun! I totally fell in love with the picture from Country Living (click here for the picture)---the three small trees in a graniteware bowl with apples. This is my take on it--three artificial trees in my gigantic spatterware bowl, topped with apples and nuts. It's currently displayed on the coffee table. I purchased a white 'feather'-type tree on Friday. I've wanted one since I found this photo a few years ago. It will reside in the dining room.

Today there are button wreaths to make, a dining room to declutter, and a few secret Santa presents to construct. Maybe more pictures later...


Currently Listening To/Watching: CBS Sunday Morning

Mosaic Monday- Getting in the mood for Christmas Style

After attending several holiday open houses in the past few weeks, I have Christmas decorating on my mind. Here are a few photos from my inspiration file, all gleaned from Country Living. Please click to enlarge.

Visit Mary at The Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday offerings.

Currently Reading: Under the Dome and The Christmas Kitchen by Tammy Maltby with Anne Christian Buchanan
Currently Listening To: NPR

Black Friday, Vintage White Christmas

Click to enlarge

Photos: BHG.com
Collage designed and uploaded by Teresa @ PlumWater Cottage

Tho the weather (traffic) outside is frightful, inside it's warm and cozy with vintage white Christmas decor. Images are from the Better Homes & Gardens site...great decorating ideas can be found there.

After Kohl's...

Kohl's was quite the place to be this morning. Fortunately, our town has 2 stores and the one on the westside is an easy in/easy out type of place. All of the ornaments and Christmas items were 65% off...The "mercury glass" kugel-type tealight holder was just $5.00 and the "mercury glass" pedestal was $19.00, reduced from $49.99. It was a must-have to display the glitter cottage. The mercury glass is so heavy...and I love the fact that the pieces can all be used after Christmas. They had so many nostalgic ornaments...reflector type, so many "Old World" knock-offs, all just beautiful. I stuck with just small round ornaments for the bottles since they would fit the scale a bit more. The large ornament to the right of the pedestal is one of my favorites...pinkish mercury glass. A long twist of white garland and little white lights behind everything and the mantel will be officially finished. I purchased a few more mercury glass pieces...all at great discount, but I'll save the finished mantle photos for a later date.

Merry & Bright

It seems like I've been "on hold" for this book almost forever! The editors have outdone themselves on this one; it's filled with wonderful ideas for Christmas decorating...301 ideas, to be exact. The colors and themes used throughout the book are so appealing...wish I could just twitch my nose and have everything decorated. Wouldn't that be oh-so-cool?