Snow Dust for Christmas

We are not supposed to have a white Christmas, so this little dusting was a delightful surprise. I couldn't wait to see the first snow on the arbor that my neighbor and husband built this summer. I love the way the snow falls on the branches, just icing the tops, kind of like a "snow ganache".Not having any electricity near the arbor for lights , I had to settle for the gazing ball and greens in my birdbath. Looks like Christmas is almost here.

Christmas Gift Wrapping- Tartan Inspired

I spent yesterday getting my gifts ready to mail- last minute as usual! Tartan pattern was used as the over wrap, but of course it had to be romanced by a few of my favorite things- bling, leopard, feathers and polka dots for a little surprise element. This year we are selling the most beautiful tartan silk ribbons and I love this bold black and red buffalo check pattern. It looks great with the voile leopard ribbon from Sam's Club. Red feathers are used on most of the gifts to unify the presentation. Mixing all these elements together creates a unique gift wrap- so pretty to sit under a tree! So now into a box they go, heading south for the Holiday Season.

Christmas Details from Jill's Home

The family room all decked out in Tartan and Red.

The living room all decked out in bronzes and jewel tones.

The living room tree packed with ornaments- so gorgeous!

Family room detail- small wooden box layered with a tartan covered book and shiny brooch!

family room vignette of old chalkware Santa's, bottle brush trees and reindeer.


Kitchen island display of Santa's - don't you just love the donkey?

Family room mantel details.

Family room tree of reds and tartan- so much Holiday spirit!


A collection of lambs displayed in snow under a cloche on the family room coffee table.



A charming vignette in the family room behind the sofa.

Tartan collection display in the family room- love the old tartanware.


Beautiful vignette on top of the baby grand piano- notice all the elements used.

Tablescape in the foyer- love the lights in the branches in the large floral!


Today I want to share my friend Jill's home with you for a little Christmas inspiration. It's all about the details for Jill. She is the master of vignettes and cloches, mixing her antique collections with holiday decor. Her great visual eye adds layer and layer into her special Christmas displays. Being in her home during the holidays is a true feast for the eyes.

Christmas Tablescape in Shades of Blue and Green

For the Lake Bluff Christmas Home Tour, we decided to set the table in non traditional colors of green, cobalt blue, and purple. A collection of various patterns of vintage gold rimmed china was placed on top of the gold croco glass charger that we sell at the store. Cobalt blue water glasses were paired with mis-matched vintage crystal compotes and Waterford Powerscourt wine goblets. An organic touch was added with the leopard print napkins ( another best seller in the store) and natural horn sterling silver flatware. For the tablecloth, we sewed together several yards of powder blue taffeta and layered a green and blue netting table topper that was encrusted with sequins to add sparkle. Jeannie at Twigs made these beautiful little arrangements in antique champagne goblets of orchids, hydrangeas and ferns. A mixture of crystal and mercury glass candlesticks, fitted with crystal shades were placed down the center of the table. An old frame was embellished with old jewels in chartreuse, blue and clear and held a bed of mood moss with a reclining bronze cherub surrounded by brooches in the color scheme.

Vintage place card holders were placed in the compotes at each guest's seat. During the evening, when the candles were lit, the crystal and jewels on the table glowed with Holiday spirit. We will be joining http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Tablescape Thursday. Come take a look for a little inspiration.

Christmas Dinner Party is Divine!

I was excited to go to Laurell's for a holiday gathering last night and took my camera for many photo opportunities. As I went to shoot my first shot of her exquisite cocktail, I realized I had left my camera battery in the charger at home. So I apologize for the picture quality as I had to use my phone camera. First a yummy cranberry margarita - perfectly shaved ice in an antique martini glass, rimmed in pink sugar and garnished with fresh cranberries- to die for! Laurell's table was set with new silver chargers from Romancing the Home and her collection of antique crystal and china. For the centerpiece, she used a snow fairy captured under a cloche and little satellite vases of fresh greens and roses. It was gorgeous. And overlooking the table was a beautiful Christmas tree that she had placed upon an urn to get height in the corner of the room. It was an enchanted room filled with Christmas spirit. The dinner served was a beautiful salad of artisinal lettuces, pecan and cranberries, Christy's Veal ( from our cookbook), Fettuccine Alfredo, and then for dessert, Laurell's Cherry Berry on a Cloud dessert ( cherry compote on a meringue shell ,) just gorgeous to look at and tasted wonderful. The veal was moist and tender and had an aromatic coating of capers and lemon and was the best veal dish that I have ever eaten. It was a wonderful dinner party with my favorite people in the world - my girls!

Savvy City Farmer Christmas

A warm inviting home- notice the chandelier over the stairs- so adorable!






Birch logs and greenery in a vintage cabinet by the front door.





Tablescape of greenery and garden elements.


A display on the side porch- cute vintage whisk brooms adorn a tree for the holidays.







I loved this- antlers fit perfectly into the boxwood wreath.


so many inspirational touches in this kitchen.
The vintage loving cup- a 1928 Ice Derby trophy from Lake Forest.



Love this menu board attached to the cabinet door.

Joy removed her cabinet doors to have easy access to her dinnerware.

Glittered vintage soft balls under glass.

clever idea- toile scene inserted in the panels on an old cabinet.
Cute filing drawers with an awesome new paint finish by Joy.

Chandelier embellished with vintage garland and gold Italian fragments.

Sometimes you are charmed and inspired beyond belief- as was the case for me when I visited Savvy City Farmer - Joy's home on Thursday night. The detail that she embellished upon her vintage home was charming, from the menu on the cabinet doors, to the warm grey color on the walls. I can see why this home was featured in Romantic Prairie Style and in a recent issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living. Joy had a Christmas gathering and had some vintage items for sale. You can be sure that the 1928 Lake Forest loving cup went home with me! I enjoyed the evening and was very happy with my new treasures that I purchased that evening.

French Macaroons for Christmas

Last night, Linda DG and I attended SavvyCityFarmers Holiday gathering at her beautiful home. Christmas was in the air and I was so enchanted with the magical setting. I also met her beautiful daughter, Angela, also known as The Parisienne Farmgirl. Angela had baked the most gorgeous macar0ons (or macarons in the French spelling) in Christmas flavors - mint, cinnamon and fleur de sel caramel and sprinkled them with a dusting of shimmery sugar. Filled with delightful fillings, they were divine. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a few dozen to share with friends. They colors were so pretty- I almost wish I could shellac them for Christmas ornaments! I can certainly understand why Angela was on the cover of "Where Women Cook"!