mosaics

I was just visiting Barbara Jacksier site "The Book Blog" where she has some amazing photos of mosaics. Inspired me to take a few shots of my own mosaic pieces...... This mirror is in my foyer (foyer sounds a bit grand for my 4' x 6' entry hall....) and I actually did the mosaic myself. It was a rather plain gold mirror with an ecru paint under what is now pink and green mosaic. Fortunately for me, we often received broken ceramics with our shipments at Chloe's and I got to take the pieces home! By the way - my stairs in the background, I recaulked yesterday....what a chore, but old stairs have a way of seperating from the risers and stringers and looking fairly shabby. Much better now!

I can't take any credit for this table, also currently in the "foyer" under the mirror. I'm can't remember the artist's name (Sue can you help?), but it was purchased from Chloe a few years back. Much more intricate design than I achieved! I did paint the lattice work in the background - inspired by the photo on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens book "Garden Style".

Too soon for spring....

This is the photo I am currently using as my screen saver....

Here in Michigan we are expecting another big snowstorm - 6 -10".

Although it will be beautiful (in it's own way), I so long for the flowers,

the warmth and the sunshine of spring! With another 3 or more months of winter

I'm resigned to pretending it's really this beautiful outdoors!

Merry Christmas

Wishing all of you a Blessed Christmas with family and friends.

Glad you've come by to visit this year.

I've enjoyed visiting your blogs and being

inspired by your homes and creativity!

Dinner Party

Wednesday night was the 3rd annual Christmas dinner with a group of my dearest girlfriends.

My sunroom was tranformed into the dining room, with a mixture of tables, chairs and tablecloths. The green cloth is actually a silk throw, but works perfect over the farm table. A couple of the chairs have smaller tablecloths thrown over them, tied in place with red ribbon.

I would love to "re-pose" myself, but Cheryl's photo captured the rest of the room so beautifully that I will let it go.... My two main elves! Cindi and Cheryl not only dressed the part, but cooked and cleaned up a storm. Cindi made a fabulous linguine with clam sauce and Cheryl provided a tenderloin and somehow kept up with keeping the kitchen cleaned up! I can't tell you how much joy it brought me having 8 girlfriends in my kitchen, each prepping their own offering to the meal!
Elf Cindi in an apron from my mother's collection....not sure if the wine was going in her linguine or a glass.... Sarah brought a tasty squash and granny apple dish, Nancy a couple delicious dips and crackers for appetizers. I was so grateful to have a reason to use my Christopher Radko Christmas dishes!
Dinner is served! Barb brought a salad of greens with Gorgonzola cheese and pears. Our 2 Sue's topped off the meal with the bread and a blueberry topped cheesecake for dessert!
After dinner we moved to the family room for our "Chinese Gift Exchange". So many fun gifts passed from one person to another - a couple of the favorites that were "fought" over were Barb's 4 Christmas plates w/dishtowels and Cindi's basket of Italian goodies. Dancing, singing and enjoying each others company followed until almost 2 a.m. !!!! We just didn't want the night to end...... Thanks friends for a wonderful evening!

Thanks Be To God

All of the blessings I have in my home, in my life, come from one source - God.

As much pleasure as I receive from decorating my home for the season,

finding the perfect gifts for family and friends,

sending greetings to those I seldom see,

remembering those less fortunate and

those serving our country overseas;

there is only one reason all of that happens this time of year,

the Birth of our Saviour - Jesus Christ.

The creche has been in my home for 25 years,

the angel created by my cousin Linda from a

handkerchief saved from my great aunts "farm".

It is the first "decoration" I set out every year,

but the message lives on throughout the year.

And yet more Christmas....

My pink and green living room is a bit more of a challenge for Christmas decorating, but in the past 4 years of living here, I have managed to find more than enough decor to create a "look" I can enjoy.
The pink angel on my tree is a card I received on my first Christmas 55 years ago! It has adorned a Christmas tree every year since. My Great Aunt Mabel was the sender - I'm sure she had no idea it would be cherished for so many years.
I was telling Sue about these sweet "sweatsuits" I found at my favorite store, TJ Maxx.

They are for Emma for Christmas - tho she'll no doubt get the green one ahead of time to wear to her Holiday parties! Their regular price is $44.00, but at TJ's $12.99!!! Now you know why I love that store! Time to start some wrapping now and get some packages under the tree...

More Christmas Spirit...

My favorite area at Christmas time is the family room. A roaring fire, my Santa collection and friends and family stopping by to celebrate the season.
Santa's taking time out for a game of checkers and a little nap....
Emma dreaming of Santa's all around....
A Mark Roberts Santa warming his toes over the fire........
and a small tree adorned with Radko and Old World ornaments to top off a table.... As Emma says as she goes from room to room "oooh more Christmas!" I thoroughly enjoy the decor of the season, but it's made even more magical through the eyes of a 3 yr old!

Cottage Christmas

Merry Christmas one and all!

We received a fresh coating of snow last night, so seemed the perfect time to dash out and snap a shot of my cottage - time 5a.m. Good thing I'm an early riser cause 5 minutes later the guys showed up to shovel. Some year I may get around to having icicle lights hung on the eaves and garland wrapped around the porch columns. Would no doubt be charming, but so far I try to keep the outside simple and let my 2 trees be the focus. A bowl of fresh pouporri, 3 crystal trees and a MacKenzie Childs bell (I've yet to hang) grace the pass-through in my kitchen.
Blue & white porcelain pieces with garlands of blue & silver sleigh bells decorate the tree in my office. One of the 2 trees in my front windows.
A touch of my Swedish heritage adorns a table (brought in from the patio...) The candles remain straight for about 10 sec., the chandelier is too large, and I see Emma's bright pink chair peeking out from a corner - ah well, that's how it goes around here! The covering on the table is actually a tree skirt my sweet mother hooked several years ago for me. A work of art I will treasure always.

C