Pages

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

These are a few of my favorite things.

Our kitchen is the least decorated room of the house during the holidays because of the terracotta color of the walls.  I'm hoping to remedy that situation before next Christmas, but for now, I just add a few neutral items in the bay window.  I even made some glittery snowballs to pile in my ice cream maker.
 

My ice skates that haven't been worn in years got a makeover with some faux fur and leather laces.  I just love the stained glass colors of the vintage bubble lights.


I don't have an ounce of pink in my house, but I collected vintage pink ornaments throughout the year to create this ornament wreath for a friend who loves pink.

The only pet currently in our house is this stuffed bird bought at Target a few years ago.  The little soldier lamp was a vintage find.  Don't you love that his big hat is also the shade?


This armoire has gone from unfinished pine to panels painted with pink flowers to the design you see now.  I've been thinking this is the piece that could most use an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint makeover and some chicken wire in the upper doors, but it does add some festive red in an otherwise dark corner of the living room.

Sequined ornaments top my Iittala candlesticks


The tiny wood Santa and the composition gnome were estate sale finds from years ago. 


As you can see, I do love my red!  The tree is decorated with mostly vintage glass balls and a few ornaments made by our girls when they were younger.  I divided up all of the ornaments bought for them over the years and now they hang on their Christmas trees.  Every year we bought Julie a cat ornament and for Megan a dog, which is pretty funny because those are the pets they now own.

The mantel doesn't change much from year to year.  This year I added the little elves in the turquoise jeep and you know what a mistake that was.  Who knew?!  The Santa on the pedestal table on the right was the very first Santa I painted and the beginning of Vickie's Folk Art, my cottage business from which I have happily retired.  I'm hoping to find more time to do some painting just for family. 


There are still 2 more leaves to be added to the table, but since we won't be hosting our family Christmas until mid-January it can wait a few more weeks.

I've kept it simple with cinnamon scented pine cones and mercury glass votives on the table.  The toy barn was moved to a rustic bench at the top of the stairs for now.  The blue Santa above and tavern sign below were painted by me during my decorative painting years.  The three Santas below on the left were hand carved by my sister.  The two little girls held by the carved red Santa on the right represent our daughters.   


You've already seen my angel collection on our buffet and the sheet music wreath got a more
festive look with the addition of a pomegranate and pine cone corsage.  You will always find chocolate in my candy dishes no matter which holiday we're celebrating!



I made this stained glass window years ago at a local studio where I took beginner classes.  While I now gravitate towards more simple vintage designs, I got plenty of practice cutting and grinding over 300 pieces of glass for this project! 


He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"


Linked to:
The Brambleberry Cottage Time Travel Thursday
The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special

22 comments:

  1. everything is gorgeous, vicki! you are so talented--love your paintings and that awesome stained glass window:) oh, and the pink wreath is darling!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't wait for January Christmas!!! Oh the ornaments....I need to start an ornament tradition with Mack! Maybe we'll make one today. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Vicki,
    Love all your decorations but my very favorite is the soldier lamp, it's fabulous! Your santa and stained glass window are wonderful, lucky you to be so talented! Everything looks amazing, have a most wonderful holiday!
    Merry Christmas
    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
  4. PS. I'm so jealous of all the elves on shelvess (and other places they find themselves) I'm going to have to find one, (a good one, not a naughty one), to adopt! hopefully he wouldn't be as mischievious as yours seems to be!
    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
  5. Greetings from California!
    Your house looks beautiful! And the last few lines of "the night before Christmas" will forever bring me great memories, since my dad read that book to all of us kids every Christmas eve! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love all your decorations. The drum on the hearth is just the right touch. I adore that pointy window that the sheet music wreath is on. I've been looking out for a window, but don't want a square one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love so many of the same things that you do! I'm marking your blog to come back and visit! Happy holidays! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sooooo so pretty, Vicki! You made me smile with the photo of the bubble lights. I remember my grandmother having those on her tree every year. thanks for the sweet Christmas memories.... :)

    xoxo laurie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow Vicki, that gothic window is just so amazing, and the bubble lights, oh yea! Thanks so much for linking up to the party, and have a wonderful Christmas, xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your stained glass window is amazing! Love your angel collection and the tiny wooden Santa as well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am loving all your decorations. One of my favorites has to be those darling pixies in the truck and I love that cathedral shaped window. Hope your Christmas is beautiful.

    xo,
    Danielle

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOVE the windows in your dining room! I also like the glittery snowballs. Lots of pretty stuff in your home.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! Love the hand carved santa pieces, the stained glass work and the painted santa... !! You are soo talented... The decor is soo beautiful !!

    Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas !!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my gosh--so beautiful! Loving that window with your paper wreath--just gorgeous. Have a Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Vicki
    Stumbled upon your lovely blog this afternoon!
    I love the elves in the jeep ... made me wonder what mischief they were up to and then read through some of your posts and saw they broke your sofa :-) so cute!
    Looking forward to stopping by again.
    Merry Christmas ♥

    ReplyDelete
  16. Vickie, your decorations are beautiful...you did a wonderful job on that window! I love the elves in the jeep...went back and read that post...so fun! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Vickie,
    Your kitchen is very pretty! I love the stained glass you made. it is wonderful! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home! Have a very Merry Christmas!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  18. So pretty, Vickie! Wishing a very merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons to you and yours!...hugs...Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  19. So I finally just ready your last few posts! I MISS being home with you + Dad this Christmas! I thought it would finally be a normal Christmas ... NEXT YEAR FOR SURE! I have listened to Christmas music for 3 hours every day on my drive to/from work ... and almost every song brings back some sort of Christmas memory created by YOU! ;0)

    Love you + miss you Mom + Dad. Talk to you later today!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh how I love your holiday home! Now those two elves were up to no good! Loved reading your post! Vicki, have a magical Christmas! I am sure any who visit your home will feel the love and warmth that exudes from every single special touch. Truely beautiful!

    xxoo
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
  21. Vickie, I've backtracked from 2012 to 2011. Love your music wreath. Did you include instructions anywhere?

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make it all worthwhile. Thanks for visiting today!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...