Decorating – Page 52

Christmas Vignettes: All Is Calm, All Is Bright

December 8, 2014~ Decorating

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
And the virgin’s name was Mary”
Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26-27‬

I just love the Christmas season!! I have so enjoyed sharing with you, our new friends, the treasured collections that we have assembled over forty one years of marriage! If you haven’t already, you will soon see that most things I decorate with has a story behind it-whether it be hand-painted, hand-made, or given to me by someone very dear! I have had so many sweet comments about the lovely things that my Mother made and I have more to share today.

On the chest in my foyer is a ceramic church that Mother made. Each year as I unwrap it, my eyes fill with tears and my mind is flooded with beautiful memories of her! I rejoice that I have a treasure trove of her hand-made things that I will pass on to Seth and Allison!

I have a few figurines that I have purchased to use in my Victorian setting!

I love the light through the stained glass windows-so realistic!

I know that my Mother painted many of these and gave to people that were dear to her! Many of you have commented about the things you still have that she made-and that is a testimony of her giving spirit even still today!

Such a sweet little doll chair sits in our foyer that I upholstered in a velvet leopard fabric! Just a touch of Christmas cheer!

This table sits in a hallway leading from the foyer. Seth, as a teenager, gave me the Santa ready for his Christmas Eve ride! I always enjoy placing it in a different spot!

I have a huge collection of books, therefore, I am constantly in need of more bookcases. On top of the shelves sit two porcelain dolls that my Mother made!

I love how she dressed them!

Their faces are so beautiful!

We love sharing this season with you–stay tuned for more Christmas from our home! Thank you for inviting us into your everyday living!

“And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus”
‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭30-31‬

Linking with Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice , Creatively Living , Rustic-Refined , Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House , Dwellings-Heart of Your Home , Savvy Southern Style , French Country Cottage , From My Front Porch To Yours , Stone Gable , Confessions of a Plate Addict ,Worthing Court , Between Naps on the Porch , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , A Stroll Thru Life , The Style Sisters , The Charm of Home , The Winthrop Chronicles , Cornerstone Confessions , A Delightsome Life , Imparting Grace , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , The Vintage Farmhouse , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup

Glad Tidings: Christmas Kitchen Tour

December 4, 2014~ Decorating

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days”
Micah‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬

We would like to welcome you back to “our refuge” first seen here: Our Refuge. This is our favorite place to spend time and is always the first place we decorate for Christmas! I am sharing some of my favorite collections with you today. Christmas evokes so many wonderful memories of family, friends, and places. This wonderful holiday lifts the spirits and involves all of our senses: the sight of twinkling lights…the smell of fresh cut pine…the sound of a favorite carol…the taste of home-baked gingerbread cookies…and the touch of a loved one. It is truly a magical time! The magic of Christmas is alive today, but it all began in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. When God robed himself in human flesh and entered our world as a man, but no less God, he changed the course of human history. He came to set his people free. A baby, a king. Jesus, there’s just something about that name!

c13

The French chest between our two chairs holds a very precious collection. My Mother made ceramics in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s. She made six of the Santas!

This is the largest and is also the last one that she made. She made several like this and gave them as gifts!

I bought this Christmas journal in 2011 at the Biltmore gift shop in Asheville, North Carolina. It was a special trip that Butch and I made the first of December that year. The Biltmore was decked in all of its finery as we had scheduled the evening candlelight tour! Oh, how I wished that I had started a Christmas journal when Seth was born!

Mother painted beautiful faces on the Old World Santas!

The Santa on the back was a gift from a friend-and the only one not made by Mother

This Santa always makes us laugh! Nanny (Mother) let Seth paint him when he was about 6 years old. He chose the colors and she only painted his face!

These are all German Steinbach nutcrackers except the tall one-which is a Radko music box!

My friend, Brenda started my collection of nutcrackers when she gave me this large Christopher Radko music box. She also gave me the tall one on the table.

My sweet friends, Janice and Brenda gave me several of the Steinbach’s and I have added to the collection!

The mantle above my cooktop is simple with fresh cedar and fruit. The plates are dated 1989, 1990, 1991 and were given to me by my friend, Pam! The reindeer cones were purchased this year at TJ Maxx!

c13

I always decorate the pencil tree with fruit, roses, and feathers!

I enjoy using the ceramic gingerbread house with candles inside to provide ambiance. The house had a pretty base that my sweetie broke last year. The carolers were found at Cracker Barrel’s gift shop!

Nanny and Pawpaw (my Mother and Daddy) gave the Aladdin costume to Seth. As a child, he would dress as a different character every day…Batman, Peter Pan, Superman, Aladdin – the list is endless!

Mother and Daddy 1995. We are so blessed to have my Daddy still with us. He is the sweetest man!

As always, thank you for sharing in our everyday living. We love your comments!

“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sins and enter in, be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!”
-O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Linking with Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice , Creatively Living , Rustic-Refined , Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House , Dwellings-Heart of Your Home , Savvy Southern Style , French Country Cottage , From My Front Porch To Yours , Stone Gable , Confessions of a Plate Addict , Worthing Court , Between Naps on the Porch , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , A Stroll Thru Life , The Style Sisters , The Charm of Home , The Winthrop Chronicles , Cornerstone Confessions , A Delightsome Life , Imparting Grace , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , The Vintage Farmhouse , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup

Featured on “From My Front Porch To Yours”

December 1, 2014~ Decorating

Yesterday, we were honored to participate in From My Front Porch To Yours blog series “How I Found My Style Sundays”. The series runs each Sunday and highlights decorating styles from various bloggers. You can find the original post here: How I Found My Style Sundays – Everyday Living. We wanted to share it with you all today!

As new bloggers (only three and a half months!), we are honored to share on Pamela’s amazing series “How I Found My Style Sundays“! Pamela, thank you so much for this opportunity to meet new friends. My husband, Butch and I would like to invite you to come and visit with us at www.everydayliving.me.

Blessings, Pam

Decorating has always been a part of my life, beginning as a ten year old. When Butch and I married, I went in to full decorating mode. He was so patient, never knowing what he might find or how I may have re-decorated when he came home from work each day! The next thing I knew, friends and family were asking if I could help them decorate a room or solve a dilemma. In late 1996, God opened a door of opportunity that changed everything–I was officially “hired” to decorate an entire house! From that one job, a new career began! Now eighteen years later, I look back and am overwhelmed with God’s goodness in allowing me to follow a dream.

To quote Oscar de la Renta, “Style is more about being yourself”.

As an interior decorator, my clients’ personal styles have ranged from English Country to Southern Traditional to Country French to Eclectic, and many that didn’t know what they liked. I have enjoyed the challenge of helping clients to embrace being themselves and not just ‘give in’ to the latest decorating trends. My personal style has evolved over time and I would classify myself somewhere between Country French and English Country. My preference is warm colors that invite you to sit down and visit!

(You can click on the individual pictures to go to their original post)

Our kitchen has a definite Country French look with its warm Provençal colors. Note the French chest between our reading chairs and the oil painting of a 19th century Paris street scene! You can see more photos of our kitchen here: Our Refuge and Bon Voyage to Bon Appetit!

I love our granite topped island with the elegant chandeliers hanging above!

Our family room has the feel of an English Country house. Look closely and you will see the mix of patterns: floral, plaid, leopard, toile, and a mix of textures. The cedar walls and ceiling provide the rustic while the chandelier and furnishings provide the elegance. I have always loved books-they give a room the feel that someone really lives in the space!

Hospitality was a gift that my Mother possessed. I have done my best to follow her example! I love setting beautiful tables to welcome family and friends.

When I began blogging in August of this year, I was encouraged to share my tablescapes…and Tablescape Tuesday began!

An elegant vignette in our master bath with hand-painted walls and of course, a chandelier!

A peak into our jewel-box powder room!

My advice in creating a beautiful home is this: begin with love. You can acquire expensive and beautiful “stuff”, but without the spirit of love, it will be a cold and lonely house. It is perfectly ok not to follow all the latest decorating trends! Again, style is about being yourself. If I feel the need to incorporate the latest trend, I will purchase a pillow or small accessory for an inexpensive update! My home is a collection of a lifetime of travel, books, gifts, and spotting a perfect accessory for a specific place. Enjoy making your home a place of love and peace from all the noise that grabs our attention. When our son, Seth was little, he said many times, “home was his favorite place to be”!

“…and above all these put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony”
Colossians 3:14

Linking with Pieced Pastimes , It’s Overflowing , Be Different Act Normal , Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice , Creatively Living , Rustic-Refined , Pink When , Mod Vintage Life , Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House , Dwellings-Heart of Your Home , Savvy Southern Style , French Country Cottage , From My Front Porch To Yours , Stone Gable , Confessions of a Plate Addict , Worthing Court , Between Naps on the Porch , Cedar Hill Farmhouse , A Stroll Thru Life , The Style Sisters , The Charm of Home , The Winthrop Chronicles , Cornerstone Confessions , A Delightsome Life , Imparting Grace , Craftberry Bush , Posed Perfection , Katherines Corner , The Vintage Farmhouse , My Romantic Home , Chic On A Shoestring Decorating , Rooted In Thyme , Share Your Cup