My Five Buck Holiday Wreath

This past week, I was in the mood to make a wintery wreath for our very bare and unfestive looking front door. I've been feeling like a scrooge all season since this is our first Christmas in our new house and we're the ONLY ones on the block who didn't have even a dash of holiday decor on the outside of the house. I'm not saying I like all  or even most of the over the top glowing candy canes and giant blow up Santas, etc. that have recently popped up on our street, but I did feel like we weren't even trying. T'was time to to do something. Here's how it came together... 

Most thrifty craft projects begin, where else but Dollar Tree. I picked up the wooden wreath base and the two tubes of dull silvery balls (they were just the right shade so as to look a bit on the vintage side) for $3. To wrap the wreath base, I used scraps of cream muslin I snagged for a buck a while back at an estate sale. 

I cut about three lengths of muslin and ironed it to to freshen it as well as to keep one side of the strips folded over so the outside edge of the fabric would looked finished. I just glued down the fabric here and there underneath as I wrapped it around. And here we have our nice little base.

Next, I just started gluing on the silvery holiday balls sort of willy-nilly. One can kinda wing this part as the gaps between the ornaments get filled in with cream muslin ruffles, bits of twisted yarn and finished with vintage creamy buttons. It'll look like crap at first, but don't stop. Just keep gluing.. 

Once all the silver balls were glued on and the wreath was looking pretty wonky and weird, I cut out 3" circles of muslin and folded and hot glued them into little ruffle shapes. I probably made 30 of these babies. The more you fill in the gaps with them on the wreath, the more full and festive it looks. 

It also helps to have a snack, don't you think? Left over white chocolate-drizzled popcorn mixed with peanut m&ms was just sitting from a gathering the night before waiting to be eaten. Munch a little, glue a little. Munch, glue... 

Once the creamy ruffles were added, things started looking promising... 

Towards the end, I knew I wanted to add a bit more texture. I wound 8" pieces of yarn around two fingers, tied them off at the end and glued them in and around the balls and ruffles. It added a wintery flair, I thought. I also tucked in (via hot glue) clusters of creamy antique buttons. Couldn't help myself... 

And the finished product! I added a muslin ribbon to the top of the wreath, so it would hang nicely on my ugly front door. Alas. My one complaint is that I don't have a gorgeous smokey gray front door this year. Perhaps next year my door will be a lovely color so my wreath really looks blog-worthy. 

And that's how she came together folks. With my $3 worth of materials from Dollar Tree, muslin scraps, bits of yarn and 3 glue sticks I used, this little project couldn't have cost more than $5 - and I think it's something that can hang on the door well in to January perhaps even February. What's hanging on your door this holiday season?? 

Little Women: A Holiday Must-Watch

You know how some movies that you love when you're younger (like in junior high and high school) seem well - lame or silly or just not nearly as good as you remembered when you watch them again as an adult? Little Women is NOT one of those movies. I watched it last week for the first time in ages and it completely hit the spot. Now I'm quoting lines from it every day and Ike has no idea what I'm talking about. I'm humming the theme melody from the opening credits. It's just so well done. So lovely to watch and so tender...And it's perfect viewing when you want something Christimas-y. Watch it. 

(additional incentive: a young Christian Bale plays Laurie and he's so darn cute) 

What holiday movies are you loving right now?

Handmade Holiday Boutique Coming Up!

If you're in the area this weekend, please stop on by this fun and fabulous boutique at the home of our friend and artist, Tiffany Beach. There will be a great group of artists selling paper goods, accessories, jewelry, clothes, art and more. Kara and I will be sharing a table and we WILL be taking debit and credit cards, so leave the cash at home and come see us! 

Currently Nibbling On....

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Yesterday was a cold, windy, snowy day. It got me all in the baking spirit. I had a few brown bananas wilting in the  fridge and thought of this recipe I saw while meal planning a few weeks back in a fall issue of Cooking Light. 

.Moist, gooey peanut butter banana bread. Yes sir. I'm not a huge milk drinker, but this bread longs for a cold glass of milk to accompanying it down the hatch. It came together easily and called for some healthier alternatives which I liked: fat free Greek yogurt and flax seed. It has just a bit of butter and not as much sugar as normal banana bread. I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free baking flour (I'm back in the gluten-free saddle after fudging quite a bit this fall and feeling the resulting yuckiness) and it turned out splendidly. I think the mashed bananas and Greek yogurt help maintain moisture - especially for a gluten-free variety. Once the bread cools, top it will a creamy peanut butter glaze and its oh so tasty. Find the recipe here.

The Splendid Table

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Now that my meal planning and shopping is done, I'm turning my thoughts to table decor for Thanksgiving. 

I found a charming vintage Thanksgiving postcard at a local boutique that will somehow be copied and worked into the decor but look at all of these beautiful table settings. So many festive directions to go! 

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I've always been a lover of bittersweet and with all the milk glass I have accumulated, something like this might be a pretty combination.

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Love this more modern, earth-tone table. So chic.

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Rustic and homey tables are always cozy. The hanging pumpkins in the background are a whimsical addition.

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Aren't these apples with little candles tucked inside so beautiful? I love how the wax drips down the sides... 

Thanksgiving - Oh Yum

My parents are coming out for Thanksgiving (yippee!) to celebrate the holiday but also help us on the house... again. They worked like dogs back in August in the kitchen (which is 95% done now - pictures coming soon!)

and unfettered by exhaustion, sweat and lots of drywall dust, they return next week for more - bless them. 

Anyway, I'm excited at the prospect of hosting a Thanksgiving meal at in our new home and thus digging for tasty (and relatively healthy) looking recipes - like this gorgeous Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad which calls for lime, sea salt and honey in addition to the fruit. Mmmm. 

I made these heavenly rosemary mashed potatoes and yams last year when we had friends over for dinner and they were so tasty I think I'm gonna do them for Thanksgiving. With garlic and Parmesan cheese baked in, how could you go wrong, I mean really.

These citrus green beans sound deeeelish. The recipe calls for shallots, roasted pine nuts and orange zest. I was never a fan of the heavy green bean casserole or those awful things out of the can. This citrus-y dish is more up my ally... 

What about you? Are you hosting holiday meals this year? Any favorite recipes? Do tell!

(all images via here)

More Wedding Lovliness

Back in September, I had the privilege of providing flowers for our friends Amber and Ryan's wedding. 

It was such a lovely day and a beautiful wedding. I posted about it right here.

Just last week, Amber emailed me with a link to the website of their professional photos. They were just too gorgeous not to share... 

Amber was a vision - just stunning (and I'm still so happy I was able to score those anemones with the dark centers for her bouquet!)

This image board captured the feeling of the day so well. All the little vintage details were put together so nicely and that dessert table...sigh... 

All images via Free Bird Photography

Snow Day

It's snowing again (quite a lot) in Denver today and Ike is working from home. We had eggs and grapefruit and coffee together in our robes. It's been nice. Real nice. 

We might take our fireplace for an inaugural run tonight (if I can convince him we don't need one of those screens up first to protect from sparks and stuff - fire hazard-shmire hazard). I see an apple crisp and bacony potato soup in our future too... 

(all images via)

Living Room Inspiration (and a not-so-fun day)

About eight hours ago I was just logging in to my blogger account to do a nice little post on gray, cream and gold and how I'm loving these colors right now and thinking about decorating my living room using that palette. As I was typing in my google password, I was confused to hear what sounded like a babbling brook coming from the basement. What the?? I ran downstairs to discover a veritable waterfall pouring in the basement window. I was home alone and in a frantic state as water gushed (I mean, gushed like a river people!) from the window and in to the laundry room. Long story short, a frozen pipe burst and three rooms had water standing in them along with some lovely muddy sections as well. Thus my day was spent hauling boxes out of the basement, wiping, mopping and cleaning up the mess with my less than pleased husband who raced home like a bat out of hell to help me. Now I'm really ready to forget about the basement and think happy thoughts - like how gorgeous my living room could look with a palette like the ones below once all the wet boxes are cleared away...

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Gorgeous wall color and cool lamp shade...

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Love the art/antler mix along with the pops of citrus colors...

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Love the striped walls and dark pulls on the drawers... 

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I'm smitten with the gold/cream/gray combo but Ike isn't convinced... How do we convince the men folk??

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This room is a tad too dressy for my taste, but wow - I still love looking at it. Love that gold mirror and those curtain rods not to mention the long, gorgeous smokey gray panels... 

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The headboard and rug really get my goat (in a good way). And that velvet-y bolster on the bed adds such a nice bit of color... 

What color combos are you loving right now? I can't seem to shake the gray...

Fern & Flora Recommends

I generally don't like one-stop-super-giant retail stores for all the obvious reasons, but one thing I do love about them is the massive bin of $5 DVDs that are almost always plunked down in the main isle by the registers. I hit the adorable British cartoon jackpot earlier this week when I saw the BBC's Beatrix Potter and Friends DVD in said massive bin. My late Uncle Steve got us hooked on these utterly charming animated shows based on the books and I want to start a collection of my own for when we have little kiddos. There won't be any Sponge Bob Square Pants crap on at our house. No sir. BBC animation or bust.

Anywho, my favorite part of the series isn't the cartoons. It's the lovely beginning where Beatrice is out painting in the English country side and it starts to rain. She gathers her things and runs back to her stony little cottage, makes herself a cup of tea and starts writing letters, which then turns into the animated part. 

Maybe I'll be asking for the complete collection for Christmas... The Tailor of Gloucestershire makes for a lovely Christmas show... They're all available for purchase right here. And if you have little ones, take it from me, you need these!

Happy Weekend Friends!

Hooray for Fall Foliage!

 

Over the weekend, I got to do something I rarely get to do: arrange flowers for the fun of it. A friend of a friend is starting an event planning business and asked if I would provide some autumn-inspired bouquets for a photo shoot. Getting to peruse the wholesaler without any guidelines but my own taste is just a hoot for me. And the fall offerings right now? Off the hook! The berries and branches, vines and blooms are to die for. I've never used those tangerine colored Ilex berries before - probably because those babies aren't cheap, but every one in a while a creative splurge is totally worth it, don't you think? 

Back to Reality

How does an auntie say goodbye to these sweet faces? I hardly know...

Commence re entry into a life filled with remodel dust and boxes that need to unpacked. Sniff. 

I had the good fortune to fly home last week to celebrate the birthdays of my two favorite little people - my nephews. They were born two years and about a month apart so my sister decided a joint party would be a fun and simpler way to celebrate both little munchkins. Long story short, I spent 5 days lolly gagging with the little boys, my  three sisters and my folks too. There was a trip to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch as well as the birthday party, lots of family dinners and some watching of football. Come Sunday afternoon, the exodus began with my sister and her husband heading back to St. Louis. Next, Ali (my other sis) flew back to South Carolina and then last night, it was my turn to head back to Colorado. A few tears were shed as is customary for my family. Why can't we just enjoy the time we have together instead of getting all blue and wishing we didn't have to part? I don't know. But saying goodbye hardly seems to get easier. On the bright side, my dear Ike was waiting for me when I arrived and was so kind and welcoming which was just what I needed. There's always a silver lining....

Horseshoe Market Comin' Right Up!

Hello Friends! This whole moving-remodeling-while-working business has sort of sucked the life out of my blogging lately. Sorry about that. I will find my mojo soon, I hope, because right now, I'm not really feeling the inspiration... 

If however, you're looking for some inspiration, then stop by the last Horseshoe Market of the year this Saturday! 

It's gonna be another fabulous market and there will be food trucks serving up yummy stuff - I heard there's even a cupcake truck, so what else could you want? I will be there (although I'm paring down a bit this time) with my usual goodies along with Kara Rosenberry Company, so come see us if you're in the area! 

xo 

Busy Bee and Another Wedding

Where does the time go? I haven't posted on me ol' blog in over a week. How is everyone? Has your September been as hectic as mine? Yes? It seems like everyone I know is either moving, getting married,  having a baby, starting a new job, hosting company, traveling, etc. etc. At least we're all in the busy boat together, eh? 

The good-busy for me lately has been doing flowers for a couple of really lovely weddings for some really lovely couples. I posted pictures from Tim and Katie's wedding just below this post and last week, I had the pleasure of arranging flowers for Amber and Ryan, an incredibly adorable pair who had a pretty, fun, old-fashion-y feeling wedding on Friday night. From a food truck serving pulled pork and friend chicken, to homemade desserts made by the bride's family to live music and caramel corn party favors, all the details were there. 

For the flowers, I used deep purple stock, bells of Ireland, blue hydrangea, raspberry colored roses, viburnum berries, and a variety of greens for texture. The bride wanted a creamy and romantic bouquet, which I was more than happy to create. I was actually able to use something I've wanted to work with for a while - those gorgeous black-centered anemones. Swoon. They are never in season when I want them, so it was a real treat to use them.

 I also worked in Queen Anne's Lace, hydrangea, lisiathus, seeded euc and little hints of silvery lambs ear. Working with gorgeous product really makes the whole process so much more fun. Thanks for having great taste Amber. 

Congrats to the happy couple! 

p.s. I never seem to get pics of the couples and/or people in general when I post about these weddings. I'm always snapping away at the details and forget to capture the thing that matters most. Hopefully, I can snag some off of facebook or something and share them soon. 

A Pretty Mountain Wedding

Last winter I was commissioned to do flowers for our friends Tim and Katie's mountain wedding. They are such a cool, easy going couple, I knew it would be a fun and casual affair - and indeed it was. Katie's aunt has an incredible acreage in Estes Park, so the setting was rustic and lovely. We wanted the flowers to look organic and kind of like they had been picked from a field, so I employed sunflowers, blue cornflower, delphinium, golden rod, mini daises and some textural greens. The couple met on a plane so they tied adorable paper airplanes in bright patterns to the umbrellas. 

After the ceremony and brunch, everyone was invited to stick around and play yard games like ladder ball, corn hole and bocce ball. My friend Kendra and I distroyed Ike and Kendra's friend Becky at ladder ball. I love beating my husband at anything really. In general, He's better at games than I am. Aren't the painted signs cute? 

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The diversion of arranging flowers and celebrating with friends was a welcome one in the midst of moving/remodel chaos. Hooray for love on a plane!

Hello September

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A cold front blew through last night and when we left the house at the crack of dawn with a car load of flowers for a friend's wedding in Estes Park, it was something like 54 blessed degrees. Glory be. I don't know about you, but Ike and I are over the summer heat and welcome the cooler temps with open arms (and open windows). 

Here's some more autumn inspiration to get you in the fallish mood (if you're weird like that and need some prodding)

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And a happy Labor Day weekend to my American friends.

We will be laboring away at our new place. In fact, I foresee every weekend till virtually Christmas being Labor Day weekend in the most literal sense. Home ownership demands it. Not complaining - just stating the facts.