I Have Been Distracted

Please forgive me for not chronicling our Christmas. I have started several posts but I got distracted and failed to finish them.

First I got distracted by Pinterest. (Pinterest is a bit addictive but is a great organizational tool).

Then came this project.

For quite some time I have been working on this photo display.

I have been collecting inexpensive vintage and antique frames to use to display family photos.

I loved the idea of pairing contemporary photos with the older frames.

This idea also appealed to my frugal sensibilities.

All of these frames were inexpensive; not one of the older frames in this display cost more than five dollars.

It was only after I collected a bunch of frames that I realized I might have an issue actually framing the photos as frugally as I had hoped because most of the frames came without glass and are odd sizes that would require custom mats to be cut.

So, this project floundered for some time.

I have spent months (like maybe six months or more) with some of these frames mounted empty on my wall.

Toodling around on Pinterest, looking at the gobs of really great art out there on the net, got my creative juices flowing and encouraged me to look at what I had stashed in my studio.

Then I had an epiphany: I could forget the glass and mats and use foam board, craft paper, dictionary pages, masking tape, packing tape and glue to finish framing my pictures, get them up on the wall and begin enjoying them.

I am so pleased with the outcome!

On the top right are buttons my grandmother allowed me to take from her button tin when I was just a youngster. Years ago I sewed them onto a small canvas and now they seem at home here. Next to the buttons is a picture of my great-grandfather looking rather dapper. And below are two of my favorite photos of the year. They are photos of my kiddo's (plus Ian) taken while we were in Las Vegas this summer. These photos are beneath glass simply because the frame came with it. (As an aside, this frame only cost me two dollars at a local thrift store!) The photos are mounted on craft paper wrapped foam board and are accented with scraps of vintage dictionary pages.

The top photo's are of my mother as a youngster and the bottom one is of Christian and Maceo when they were younger. I put the shadowboxes together some years back and am pleased that they work so well with this grouping. On the left is my grandmother holding me as a baby and Bishop at three days of age is on the right.

The top right is a photo of my grandfather sitting in the back of a truck with his younger brother, who died as a child. It is the only picture I have that has little Preston in it. To the left of that photo is my grandfather at 90. Beneath my grandfather's photo I simply taped two photos of my husband as a child. I love the one of him with his mother; isn't she beautiful with that fro?

And beneath that is a photo taken by my little sister, Christie, of Christian as a youngster. He is wearing my grandfather's hat and, although you can't see it in this photo, he is mounted on a horse.

To frame my grandfather's photo I simply wrapped foam board with craft paper and used masking tape as photo corners.

Christian's picture was already matted and I simply used packing tape to tape it the foam board covered with vintage dictionary pages.

I am so pleased with the entire arrangement.

I can hardly stop staring and smiling.

For me, it was worth the distraction

but I will try to get back on track.

I will try to get Christmas posted before the New Year.

Oh my, the clock is ticking....

Our Hot Chocolate Bar and a Cup of Christmas Cheer

I set up this hot chocolate bar
and we had a little fun with it this evening.

The hot chocolate bar included three different varieties of Swiss Miss and our homemade version of hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows and chocolate marshmallows,

chocolate and caramel syrups, dark chocolate chips and peanut butter chips,
and candy canes to be used as stirring sticks.

We had a guest over this evening who really enjoyed the hot chocolate bar.
His cup of Christmas cheer was made with milk chocolate hot chocolate, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, both types of marshmallows, and was topped off with a candy cane.

Bishop's cup of Christmas cheer was made with dark chocolate hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and marshmallows.

I hope to be adding more goodies to the bar; there are so many possibilities.
I plan on keeping the hot chocolate bar stocked and ready to go at least through the 12 days of Christmas.
There are many cups of Christmas cheer to be had
and it will be fun to see what we can come up with!

The (Virtual) Holiday Open House Continues

I love my kitchen. It is bright and colorful with its yellow walls and green cupboard.

I particularly love it at Christmastime as it plays host to my most kitschy decorations.

Upon entering the kitchen you would find this old pew with a basket of Christmas books and fun pillows. I especially love the sock snowmen made by Maceo and Bishop.

Sometimes a boy will sit here and chat with me while I bake or prepare dinner.

My baking station is sensible and practical

...while being colorful and lively.

It encourages smiling while baking!

I love the glow of this Christmas tree that my younger sister, Christie, made for me.

It has been a part of my Christmas decorating for years and always brings me joy!

Above my kitchen sink are two large windows that now have some fabulous garland strung across them. The garland is a new addition. I bought two strands at two dollars each at a favorite thrift store. They are vintage and even have their original 'Made in Japan' tags still intact. What a great find.

On either side of my windows I have white shelves full of kitschy Christmas items.

I find Christmas elves to be irresistible.

I also have a penchant for vintage Santas...

...especially these Santa mugs and pitcher

that can be found above Herb's coffee maker.

One of my most favoritest Santas is this potholder.

It was a sweet gift given to me by Christian seventeen years ago.

As a kindergartner, he picked it out for me at his school's 'Santa's Workshop'.

It brings back such fond memories of now grown children as youngsters and of Christmases past!

Welcome to Our Home for the Holidays

Welcome...

to my Christmas open house!

For the most part, I decorated the front porch with items that I typically have on my porch but I added sprigs of evergreen to give it a festive feel.

Now, come on inside and take a peek at the living room.

I bought this vintage aluminum wreath at one of the Christmas open houses I attended; however, when I went to decorate I struggled with where to place it. Then, as I was about to return this frame to my studio for some future project, I had the inspiration to mount the wreath on the frame allowing it to stand on a table by my front door.
I am so glad that I found a way to enjoy this; it would have been a shame to have had to box it up for another year.

I always place my collection of vintage nativities on the mantel.
This "modern" one was a gift from my mom a couple years back,
don't you just dig it?

I made another vignette on my tv armoire.

It's a collection of vintage trees,

crocheted snowflakes my sister, Roxie, made nearly twenty years ago,

vintage books,

and other baubles, as they struck my fancy.

I decorated the larger tree with ornaments of family members that I created

and with paper chains made from old dictionary pages.

Now on to the dining room...

My china cabinet is home to a village of (mostly) vintage houses and kitschy vintage characters

and shiny baubles.

Little vintage things that make me smile with delight each year as I unwrap them.

On the buffet is a collection of blue, white and glittery silver.

Bishop gave me the silver deer a Christmas or two ago and, thus, require an arrangement that highlights them.

The buffet is also home to our advent calendar - a string of white pockets with silver numbers stuffed with candy to to aid us in our countdown to Christmas.

The dining room is also home to our Christmas tree and advent wreath.

It is such a pleasant room full of Christmas treasures and Christmas memories.

I am hoping that you enjoyed this little tour and
another day I will give you a tour of the kitchen.
I am also hoping that your Christmas season full of treasured memories, precious moments, joy and special delights!

Thanksgiving Is Upon Us

Thanksgiving is upon us. It is Thanksgiving Eve and, despite the fact that we will not be celebrating until Friday due to Herb having to work, the porch is decorated,

a centerpiece has been created for the table,

the living room has been spiffed up,

the gratitude tree has been created,

and, from the kitchen, the turkey is thawed and the cranberry relish is complete.

Tomorrow the boys and I will make football food (chips and queso, buffalo chicken wings, and a veggie tray) and enjoy a day of football fun, all while I do final preparations for our Friday Thanksgiving celebration (there are still pies to bake, stuffings to prep, and a pumpkin dip to make).

I am wishing you all a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day!