Vintage Christmas Monday!

Posting just a tad early.  It’s nice and quiet around here this afternoon so I thought I would take advantage of it.

This week, we’re moving upstairs.  To the den, family room, media room, what ever the heck people are calling it these days.  I call it the family room because it’s where we all gather to watch television and all of my Christmas decorations in this room are more of a homey family oriented type.  Which to me……translates into classic red and green!

I’ve done a lot this year in trays and boxes.  I feel like you get a lot of “bang for your buck” so to speak for very little trouble.  This little vintage box holds vintage shiny brite gold ornaments, the cute little vintage mouse, and a little vintage German rocking horse.  The box was large enough that I sat my lamp down in it and at night, it illuminates everything, really drawing attention to all of my goodies.

I love my little vintage mice.  As with many of this years vintage ornaments, I found them at my mother’s house.  Here is the rest of the collection.  They are happily decorating my upstairs tree!

Aren’t they just the cutest little critters?!

This next vignette is on my upstairs coffee table. 

Also in a vintage box, it contains things like a vintage sequin and felt ornament, my husbands Hop Along Cassidy cup from his childhood.  And a vintage airplane that I purchased for him some years ago because he had one similar to it as a child.

I also tucked in a vintage tree and a piece of an old vintage camp blanket.  This is one of my favorite vignettes.  I really liked the way it turned out with the non-traditional Christmas elements mixed in.

On to another tray on an end table.  This one contains a cute Bakelite Mr.. & Mrs.. Santa.  They’re so cute tucked right in the front kissing!

You can’t see it well in this picture, but tucked in the right side back is a vintage cream and red souvenir metal ash tray from Yellowstone National Park.

So……I can create vignettes like this all day long.  Just throw containers and trays my way and a box of goodies and I’m off and running!

But…….when it comes to craft projects, I don’t know what it is, but I’m often just stumped.  I may just think about it too much instead of just doing it.

Yesterday, I was really in the mood to craft and was bound and determined to create something that was original and really reflected my taste.  My brain still hurts!  So here it is.  Oh, and one more thing!  I had to use things that I already had.  No cheating and going out to buy supplies.

So here it is.  I must say, that in the end I was pretty pleased with myself.  The red trim, reindeer, and postcard are vintage. 

In true “me” fashion, the thing is pretty good sized.  Although I used a saucer for the middle, by the time I added the crepe paper and tulle, it was a little ginormous!   And  yes, Miss Heather, I’m making you your very own!

Glitter glitter!!  I can never get enough glitter!  And to finish it off, mica flakes!  It’s reaaalll purrty girls!

Which brings me to…..my Friday purchase at the Rink!

This here new hat!

I figured anything that fancy deserved two whole pictures!  Ain’t that just about the gaudiest thing ever?  Even if it don’t have no glitter!

Better watch out family!   I may just wear it!

Happy Monday!

Denise

A Holiday Recipe!

I was having one of those “I miss my Mommy” moments the other day.  It’s amazing how you can feel like a little girl again, especially during the Holidays.  One of the things that I kept coming back to were all of the things that I didn’t know.  Questions that I never got to ask.  Where is this, what about that?  And I began to remember her Christmas cookie recipe.  Up until about four years ago, she always made a batch of the yummiest best cookies for Christmas Eve.  She would cut them and decorate them, and then slap your hand if you tried to eat too many because she had worked so hard on them and wanted to have plenty left for after dinner coffee.

So……the recipe was gone.  Lost forever.  And I hadn’t written it down anywhere.  And it’s just one of those silly little things that you remember and then sit and cry about.  Sometimes the little things are the most difficult.

BUT……….don’t feel too sad yet!

Heather and I were at her house again today.  Digging and looking at things, still deciding what to keep and what to sell.

I pulled a cookbook off of a shelf in the bedroom and opened it………there written in her handwriting on the inside cover was THE recipe!!  It was so surreal.  There are still probably a couple hundred books in that house.  What are the chances that I would pull THIS ONE from the shelf.

So I want to share this recipe with all of you.  Kind of my Holiday tribute to my Mother.  And I hope many of you try it.  These cookies are melt in your mouth yummy.  I have only tried this recipe one other time (when she was alive) and I made a mess of it.  She always said that the two tricks to them turning out perfectly were chilling the dough and making sure that you roll them nice and thin and even.

So here it is………….

Christmas Cookies

• 2 C  Soft Butter
• Cream with 1 C Sugar
• Blend in 1 egg & 2 teaspoons vanilla
• gradually add 4 1/2 C sifted flour
• Chill dough for at least 2 hours
• Roll 1/8” thick
• Cut into desired shapes
• Bake 6-9 minutes at 375 degrees

Let me know if you try it.  I’m sure this isn’t some secret one-of-a-kind recipe, but I would never have been sure it was the EXACT one if I hadn’t found it. 

Every once and a while, I feel like she’s watching over me.  Today was one of those days!  And all for a cookie recipe!

ENJOY!

Denise

Expanding my tiny studio!

An early Christmas present was all the inspiration that I needed to create this little space.

I finally after much whining (yep, I admit it) and begging got the laptop computer that I’ve wanted for sooooo long!  Now there’s no waiting for “my turn!”  I can just hop online and browse and post whenever I want to.

I’m in heaven I tell ‘ya!

So……several years ago I had purchased this desk at a local furniture store in the “as is” department.  It was  a HUGE bargain, and all of the damage was on a back corner.  Unfortunately, not only did I get a heck of a deal, I also brought home a desk that was enormous!  It didn’t fit where I wanted it to and just kind of floated around the house never really finding its proper place.  It finally made its way to the master bedroom. 

And….. it has found its purpose!  In fact, I’m sitting at it as I write!

My little world sits between our armoire and the bedroom alcove.

So I sat across the room from the desk the other night and just had to laugh at myself.  I always start out with great intentions of keeping each space uncluttered and clear.  But that never works.  I feel more cozy and comfy with all of my “stuff” around me.  What can I say….I love it all!

Right down to my newest paper doll that I made at last Friday nights party.  WHICH I still have to post about!  There are just too many fun things going on right now.  I’ll get around to all of them eventually though, I’m sure.

Miss Molly was a happy pup!  Now she can lounge on the bed while I work.  Nah…..she’s not a bit spoiled!

Hope you’re having a wonderful week.

Denise

An Amazing Gift!

You know I say I never ever ever win anything.  Well…..I can’t say that anymore!  Because…..not only did I actually win something but it came all the way from Brisbane Australia AND it is absolutely gorgeous.  I was selected out of nearly 500 followers as this months winner to receive a surprise package from Chrisy at Sophismpress blog! 

Thank you so much Chrisy!  You are amazingly kind and generous to send such a beautiful gift all the way from Australia to the U.S.! 

So…you’re all asking “what is it, what is it??”  Well…….

This beautiful Nativity book and several cute and whimsical cards!

But then, I opened the book and received the biggest surprise of all!

The book folds out into this incredible manger scene!

Look at the incredible detail in the beautiful pictures!  The colors are actually much richer and prettier than this.  Because it’s such a cloudy dreary day here, I had to use my flash and it kind of washed them out a bit.

Again, thank you so much Chrisy!  I will find the perfect spot to include this manger scene with my Holiday decorations!

Denise

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Vintage Christmas Monday!

This is my second vintage Christmas Monday to participate in and I really enjoyed blog hopping last week and seeing all of the wonderful decorations that everyone had to offer.  If you have not browsed any of the blogs participating you can find a list HERE. Be sure and check them out, there are some wonderful Christmas inspirations just waiting for you! 

Speaking of which…….when I was nearing the end of my Christmas decorating, I needed just one more garland over one more picture.  I was totally stuck on what to do.  I was out of money, out of energy, and just generally out of ideas.  But once I got started on this one…….it ended up being one of this years favorite decorations!

So…..this is an example of what you can do with a little determination when you combine the old with the new and come up with a vintage and vintage inspired look!

 

This garland consists of vintage items like the pages from a Christmas book dated 1945 which i used along the top.  A few of my fragile glass vintage ornaments which I scattered here and there, my little white reindeer, who were so happy to finally find a place where they felt they belonged, and my little digital paper dolls which I made from some original old family photos and some copyright free images that I gathered from the internet.

Even the elements that I used which were not true vintage, at least have a vintage feel to them.

 

The old book pages worked out perfectly.  The were so brittle that they just kind of did their own thing and tore along the edges ending up looking just right!

 

Lastly, I swaged several different ribbons of different textures and one with the little crowns on it throughout the entire piece.

Here are a few more pages from the 1945 Christmas book that I used.  I am in love with the darling illustrations!  I’m sure that some of them may find their way into my digital art.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Denise

Let The Party Continue…..Or Part 2

Don’t miss part one of today’s blog party.  It’s the post prior to this one.  I just couldn’t get enough posted last night (too tired!)

I never did get a chance to show you the inside of my terrarium.  I made the crown for my little garden guy and glitzed everything up.  The little battery operated lights were tucked in here and there last night and really made everything sparkle.

Just a quick project using some scrapbooking elements and papers that I already had.

More close up views.

More views in the living room.

My new chairs!  I am SOOOOO in love.  They flank either side of the fireplace in the living room.

And I just realized that I didn’t take a good picture of my tree in the living room.  The tour will continue later! 

To be continued………………………………… AGAIN!

Denise

Let The Party Begin!

What a fun day of parties this will be!  We have a wonderful group of bloggers participating in our very first blog party and they’re sure to provide everyone who is visiting today with some fabulous ideas!

Here at Bella Manor it’s been several weeks worth of party planning, polishing, and painting!

The Ice Queen has declared……..”let the party begin!”

 

This chest (as you can see) stayed much the same.  I did add some glittered candles and the little glittered fairies into the mix.

Plenty of votive holders scattered here and there.

Here’s my newest purchase that I was telling you about on Monday.  This rectangle caddy with all of the little cubby holes.  I didn’t have a clue what I intended to do with it when I purchased it, but I filled some of the holes and left others empty.  It contains a mix of old and new and some of my digital art.  I even included some vintage Christmas cards.

My snow man is happy in his new home.

I must really like that little pink fairy.  She keeps showing up everywhere.

I find myself using seam binding ribbon everywhere these days.'

 

The dining room chandelier.  Adorned with snow flakes and my paper doll banner which I glittered with mica flakes.

More trays (of course) this time with a perfectly tarnished silver service and neutral colored ornaments.

The coffee table and fireplace.  Decorated in neutrals and yummy mercury glass.  I can’t seem to get enough of mercury glass!

When I hung the giant mirror above the (also) giant chest, I swore I wouldn’t hang anything on either side of it.  Until I acquired this photo portrait of my grandfather as a child.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

With all of the decorating that I have been doing, I probably had the most fun in my (almost) studio.  As I call it.  Hubby and I painted the walls which gave the room an entirely new feeling.

They are now a soft cream color instead of that ugly yellow.  What do you think of my tree bed?  I finally found the right combination of bedding to make me happy!  One great thing about a bed made from a tree……you can drive nails into it all you want to.  Which is how I attached the cream felt garland across the head board.

I also nailed the nest on the top and hot glued the little velvet bird into the nest.  Kind of appropriate, I thought.

 

There’s my tiny pink tree.  Tucked in a corner and topped with another piece of digital art.

Out of everything that I decorated, these shelves are probably my favorite. 

On the top.

More shelves and supplies

I keep this sweet little bowl beside the bed.  It’s stamped “made in France” on the bottom and has the most wonderful colors of pinks and turquoise on the inside.  Hard to see, I know with all of the goodies I found to fill it with.

And now, this party girl needs some sleep!  It’s 12:37 AM Saturday morning and I am tired!  Our party here was a lot of fun this evening and I’ll have pictures of that later along with the rest of my home.  I took 106 pictures with my digital camera, so it looks like this party will continue well into next week!

Be SURE to visit everyone who is participating in our Holiday party!  I know that everyone has worked very hard so that they would have some great ideas to share!  The list of partiers is on my left sidebar.  Just click on each name and it will take you directly to their blog! 

Now it’s off for some sleep so that I can enjoy cruising all of the great blogs!

Have Fun!

Denise