Christmas Decorations Underway- Day Two

Today is the second day of decorating for Christmas!

 

Time to layer on the special ornaments collected throughout the years.

 

A new addition this year to the family room- very organic and whimsical tree 

 

And yes, the dogs are still supervising the situation, making sure everything is decorated

to their standards.

 

And from their high perches on the back of the sofa, they really don't have to move to oversee

the entire operation- just twist their heads to follow me around the room.

 A grouping of natural elements on a tray for the coffee table. 

 Another collection on a tray for the family room.

 

Family room mantle with greens and cool old frames.  

 



 

Back to the living room to add the angels to the display on the sofa table.

 

Tuck Santa in where I can find room!

 

Now heading for the dining room-  plop the hat on the stone cherub on the way!

 

Layering up the buffet with rhinestones and tartan this year.

 

The old Paris porcelain white and gold tureen works well with the tartans and reds.

 

 

 

 

Pull out the tartan china and stack it high!

 

Place the vintage sipping spoons on each saucer- so fun for hot chocolate!

 

Climb a ladder and get the wreath high on the mirror.

 

Layer in the snowballs made with styrofoam balls and crystal beads.

 

Herringbone boxes with rhinestone edges, cloched with mother of pearl serving pieces and

a special rose  ornament that I purchased from Hall's Department Store in Kansas City, a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

Time to start the centerpiece on the table- what to do with antlers and rhinestones?

Tomorrow's project!

 

And yes- they are both still watching!

 

 

Where's my treat for all this work?

 

Supervising is tough-where are the dog stockings?

Christmas Decoration Begins

 

The dogs know something is up!   Too many boxes sitting around, paper all over the place,

what is going on here!   We need our nap time! 

 

 

Really Susan- can't this wait until tomorrow?   I need my rest-

 

 

And so the annual ritual begins- with two dogs sitting on the sofa watching every move I make.

 

First it's time to make some bows.  I am in love with this new ribbon from D. Stevens.  Purple, raisin and plum tapestry with gold pleated edging.

 

I begin by decorating the sconces in the living room with vintage silver bottle brush and velvet morning glories with crystal centers.  This new ribbon is perfect, adding many shades of purple to the arrangement.

 



 

Next to the fireplace- snowy kale and lavender magnolias- a new look for this year.

 

A  Jay Strongwater pillow is perfect for this setting.

 

Next on to the big skirted table.  A huge arrangement of gilded branches, hydrangeas, and pearls fills an urn.

 

 

 

 

Dogs still resting-

 

 

 

 Time to start a little holiday cheer in the kitchen. 

 I'll start with the bistro shelves and add a few ornaments.

 

One of my favorite green and red ornaments-looks wonderful with tartan.

Fill the mercury glass samovars with frosted kale, evergreens and berries.

 

 



Harry's opinion about the whole holiday decoration scene-

 

 

Sorry dogs- much more decorating to do!   

Thanksgiving Inspiration

America's favorite meal- Thanksgiving - is  in 3 days!   As I am sitting here writing this post. snow is softly falling outside.  It may be the first white Thanksgiving in many years. The first snow always makes me nostalgic. So  I am going through pictures of Thanksgiving from years past and have found some favorite images.   Looking for a little inspiration for  your Thanksgiving décor?   Check these out!

 MY ALL TIME FAVORITE_

Linda, a dear friend of mine  and I have the same china!  But she has this knack of finding just the right touches to elevate the place setting to a sheer delight for the eyes!  Her table is set with twig shaped flatware, a gilded leaf dish, antique linens and stemware, all placed on a silver mirrored tray. 

Just divine! 

 



 

Linda's buffet for Thanksgiving

A couple of years ago, I hosted a fall party for my husband's staff.  I asked Jeannie at Twigs to make several arrangements for the table.  I wanted them organic and free form.  I still love to look at these pictures of them.

Using the same color palette, she filled rust eggs with the same colors.  How pretty these arrangements would be on a Thanksgiving table.

 

It's a hike out to Geneva, Illinois from here.  But it's worth the drive to the third street chocolate store called Graham's  to get these chocolate cornucopias and painted chocolate pumpkin shells.  The ideas are endless for fillings-

pumpkin or chocolate mousse,  fruits, whipped cream, and such a beautiful presentation.

 

Ghost pumpkins welcome guests on the front porch.

 

 

I am not sure what I did for special touches during the fall season, before I discovered

Hot Squash's velvet pumpkins.  Here I am playing with some vintage turkey plates that are now in my friend Mariterese's china collection.   The horn glasses and old linen napkins work well with the turkey dinner plate.

 

 

 

 

 

My friend, Lynda's Thanksgiving table in Atlanta.  She used a faux leather croco embossed

piece of fabric as the tablecloth!  Brilliant idea.  Not only did it look good, it was easy to clean up the spilled gravy  when dinner was finished.

 

Another favorite- a more formal table at my friend Lynda's Atlanta home.  Love the feather placements, the old transferware bowls, antlers and hydrangeas.  The large silver chalice goblets add great shine to the table and are over sized- perfect for that large glass of wine!!!

Again- my favorite little velvet pumpkins.

 



My Favorite fall flatware, Antler horn and pewter from Vagabond.

 



 One of my favorite Thanksgiving tables.  I used small antlers as knife rests. A large leopard stenciled cow rug was placed in the center of the table instead of a tablecloth.   Bittersweet, gold painted pumpkins and pomegranates were used instead of flowers.

 

Several years ago, I set  a cozy Thanksgiving table in the kitchen.  There were only four of us for dinner so it seemed more intimate.  I used a tartan blanket as the tablecloth and placed two faux bois runners as the place mats.  The "runners" were shelf liners that I purchased at the dollar store!

They were vinyl and easy to clean. The orange rimmed dishes were from Blackberry Farm and given to me by friends for my 60th birthday.  I love using them in the fall.

 



 

A grouping of the famous velvet pumpkins in the foyer.

 

Another grouping of the rhinestone embellished pumpkins in a nest of antlers and rhinestone studded twig branches. 

 

 

As this special day approaches, I  wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.