Last Hurrah for Fall

All along I have been thinking Mr. Brown Socks and I would be hosting Thanksgiving in our home as we normally do.  Lo and behold my sister in law offered to have it!  It didn’t take me long to say “why yes we’ll come.  Thank you very much!”

On the heels of my silk Christmas show it is a treat to not have to cook for so many this year.  I might actually get a little Christmas decorating done this weekend too.

Since I don’t have to set a Thanksgiving table this year, I hope you don’t mind if I share my table from last year when I was just a young blogger.  Oh, you may be surprised to learn that I do have other dishes besides my brown transferware!  They have really gotten good use this fall. :)

 

Thank you so much Susan for encouraging us to set pretty tables and to offer such a fun way for us to share our dishes and accessories.  Between Naps on the Porch is SUCH an inspiration.  It is one of the things I am very thankful for on this Thanksgiving Eve.

 

 

Wishing all my blogging buddies the best Thanksgiving ever.  I hope you have much to be thankful for just as I do.

Welcome to my Christmas Show

 

Come on in!  It’s warm and festive inside.  I hope you don’t mind placing these booties over your shoes.  This little favor you do for me keeps my husband happy.  :)  I’ve provided a little bench for you to sit on.

Little Magnolia is my official greeter.  She slept through pretty much the whole show by the way.  She found a chair or pillow to perch on.  Everyone was amazed that she slept through so much commotion.  I told them she was “faux” like the plants! ;)

~~There are lots of goodies for you to nibble on while you make your decisions ~~~

The next part of my post is where I join in with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  I am playing along with Met Monday to show you some before and after shots of containers I painted.

 

This lantern is one I found at my local suppliers.  It was sort of a galvanized metal that had no “umpf” to it at all.  But!  I had a vision!

 

I used Oil Rubbed Bronze paint by Krylon to turn this lantern into something that looks like it came from Pottery Barn.  Kammy at Little House in the Country turned my attention to this fabulous paint.  I am going through it like crazy!  It’s a great tool to change something blah into a work of beauty!!

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure if this transformation is as clear, but this piece looked rather dated until the magic of krylon paint.

It gave the metal a much richer look.

 

This one was pure shiny white….

 

 

Here’s a dated looking gold urn.  Really it wasn’t too bad, BUT

 

Isn’t it gorgeous now???

 

 

Lastly we have a VEDY, VEDY shiny jingle bells tray  ~~~~~

 

that turned into a Winter Wonderland!   I also spritzed it with some textured snow paint to give it more depth.  As cute as it is, this piece did not sell.

 

I still have this one too.  My mind keeps saying ~~~ Try opening an Etsy Shop!

 

                                                                                              hmmmmmmm…..

 

 

Join Susan for great makeovers and some really good ideas!

So who wants a preview of the Christmas Show?

 

Some of you asked to see what I’m working on for my show, so here are a few pictures.

 

Talk about going green….it looks like I’m doing just that! 

Here’s something for the non traditionalist.

 

 

And a close up…                                                                 I do love this vibrant green for Christmas.  It’s such a rich look and also goes so prettily (yes, prettily!) with red as you will see on down this post.

 

 

Here’s a sconce that would work well for the winter months after the Christmas decorations have all come down.  This would be great on a red wall or front door.  Yum!

 

I won’t disappoint the traditionalist because I am one myself.  See how pretty the red and bright green work together?  There is some brown in this too.

 

 

Another closeup

 

 

Any poinsettia lovers?  I really would like to know if you like poinsettias!

 

That’s it for a little preview.  Everything will look nicer once it’s set up for the show.  The set up process begins tomorrow.  I’m having to use every minute.  This really does take lots of time to turn my home into a store for three days!  Luckily my friend Susan always likes to come help!

 

I’ll be back with more pictures next time.  Do come again, won’t you? 

 

Tis Almost the Season!

Donna

Keeping Fall in my Heart

 

As I work hard to create many Christmas arrangements for my show next week, I continue to love the reminders of Fall.

 

 

My home is filling up with red berries, evergreen garlands and other signs of Christmas but there is nothing that gives me a more comforting contentment than the browns, oranges and deep reds of autumn.

 

 

 

I found a pair of these mugs just to enjoy for the month of November.

 

 

Pretty plates and bronzed pumpkins speak of late autumn before winter really sets in.

 

A little glitz is appreciated during November as well, don’t you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly, one of my favorite bowls I purchased at Nell Hills a few years back. 

It seems fallish right now, however I do enjoy it year round.

Join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for a dish lover’s dream.  You will find gorgeous dishes and tablescapes.

 

 

And now back to Christmas for me!!  :-{ 

                                          Thanks for stopping by,

Donna

Busy as Santa’s Elves

Hey there!  I know I’ve been missing but you KNOW I always have a good reason! ;) 

 

My daughter and I are working on some initial plans for her upcoming wedding and at the same time I’m trying to create over 100 floral arrangements for my Christmas show which is just two short weeks away.  Wow!  There’s always so much going on!

 

I’m changing gears from THIS:  (By far the largest cornucopia I have ever put together!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  To containers of THIS calling out to me to create arrangements:

 

 

I’ve got the Christmas carols blaring on CD’s and trying so hard to get into the spirit!

 

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In the meantime I received a very lovely award from Mary Lou over at Marmielu’s Nest.  You really should go over and meet Mary Lou.  She has a very nice blog filled with pictures of her decorating projects, etc.  I am quite honored that you selected me, Mary Lou.  It really thrills me that you thought of me!!  :)

 

 

I will blog when I can but if I’m gone, you’ll know what I am busy doing!!

 

Is everyone else thinking about Thanksgiving instead of Christmas????

 

Bye for now!!                Donna