Merry Merry and a Little Vintage by Crystal

I just love getting out the Christmas decorations. These cotton and paper figurines by Vintage by Crystal are some of my favorites. Crystal uses a cotton-spinning technique from 19th Century Germany to make her great animals.

The tinsel trees are from the Curious Sofa.

Crystal also makes these great banners. I got this last year and when I put it up, my husband jokingly asked me what I was going to wish for, a bigger house to put all my "crap"? Well, well, well, isn't it interesting what a year brings as I decorate my new, much larger house. Those who know me know I am not bragging -- we came from 850 square feet!

I made this switch plate cover for my entry way. The doll head came from a great shop in St. Joe called The Rusty Chandelier. I need to head back that way to find a couch for my living room, but one project at a time, I keep reminding myself.

The little plate is made in Germany and came from a thrift store a couple years ago. The box was a garage sale find at 50 cents. Don't you just love a bargain?

These wonderful pilgrim salt and pepper shakers came from my mother-in-law's friend, Brenda. Brenda always sends lots of great stuff up this way from Alabama. What a sweet woman to always think of us and she knows just what I like. She is in my thoughts as she struggles with a painful form of cancer that comes with equally horrible treatments. We love you, Miss Brenda!

More great salt and pepper shakers from Brenda.

Jason, Dash and I decorated the tree last night. I'll have to take more pics tonight when it's dark. Dash picked out a great tree skirt.

My mom made this nativity set in 1983 when she was on a toll painting kick. That kick must have been replaced by bridge and she still plays many times a week. This set brings back great memories and I'm happy I finally have room for it.

Speaking of Mom, here she is in 1971. She thinks this pic was painted in Houston. Isn't it cool that it once was in style to sit for such portraits?

I'm going to replace the wall pockets with cream and white, but like I said, I need to concentrate on one project at a time. Today's will be to replace the dark backing of the built-in-shelves in my family room with pages from an old biology book. Before and after pics coming soon. I hope you are enjoying some rest and joy from projects of your own this holiday season!

Giving Thanks

We went to my mom's for Thanksgiving this year and although my brother Kahn and my gorgeous sister-in-law, Kavitha (above) were celebrating with friends in Wisconsin, we look forward to spending some time with them in December before their baby arrives in January.

My cousin, Janet, and her family came over. Above are her son Ryan and my Brendan. Janet's husband, Bryan, had a good time making jokes about Brendan's hair and all the things, both living and not, that could be lurking in it!

My dad, Jason, and Bryan.

I like to snap some shots of mom's house. You won't find any dead animal skulls like you will in mine, but she has some cool stuff. Like this giant picture above the fireplace.

She got this great lantern recently. If we left it outside and let it rust a bit, it would be perfect in my house!

One table with fresh flowers, ready for the Thanksgiving feast.

This hutch is in the dining room. I like the black on the inside and it's distressed. Very cool

My mom has collected these Hallmark antique car ornaments for my brother for 19 years now. I don't think she'll complain much when they discontinue the series.

We have had this Kermit the Frog ornament for as long as I can remember.

I found these tiny place card holders at the River Market Antique Mall and I love the way my mom has them displayed this year.

So cute with the chippy paint and various shapes.

My mom has had this nativity for about 40 years. Once again, it is something I love to see around the holidays.

One of my mother's many trees! The latest she has not put up yet and is flocked heavily -- awesome! It would be wonderful with blue lights and vintage ornaments. I'll post pics of that tree when it's up and ready. She gave us a tree that we'll be decorating this weekend. I am so happy that we have room for a tree in our new house! I'm thankful for such a great day with family even if I did lose at dominos.

Girls Night Out

I had a few fabulous friends over on Friday night, girls only! I met Mel (second from left) and Lisa (middle) 20 years ago at KU. I can't believe that much time has passed! I've known Katie (second from right) almost as long. With the old friends always come new ones and I love hanging out with Michelle (left) and Teresa (right) -- although, come to think of it, I've been hanging out Teresa for years now, too.

Amber and Susan are Helzberg Diamonds (HDS) friends. Susan was also a sport and came to Rocky Horror with me (again!) last night. Brendan says that RHPS is the highlight of his month and I cannot deny him.

Diane and Suzie -- I was Diane's HR Manager awhile ago at HDS and it was fun to catch up.

From front, Teresa, elle (jewelry artist extraordinaire from Stuff), back row from left, Gina, Suzie, Jenny, Katie.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Everything went to hell in a hand basket when elle showed up with the sweet tea vodka.

Lisa and Teresa

Okay, this is Claudia being crazy in my plantation chair -- at least that's what I've been told it's called. Those wooden slats slide around back under the arm rests. The chair itself is caned and is in a permanent reclined position. It reminds me of something that Earnest Hemingway might have in his house in Key West. I subscribe to a magazine that has a "what is it and what's it worth" section where an antique dealer evaluates your piece and gives you some history about it. I need to take some good pics of this chair to send in. If you know what it really is (besides strange), please tell me! I got it at a garage sale a few years back for $150.

I made these garden flowers for Jenny. Thanks so much, Jenny for all of your business! She likes to give my stuff as gifts and I appreciate the artistic support!

I cut these candy canes out of aluminum flashing and attached them to copper tubing to stick in with my fake xmas trees.

I cut some out for the front door, too.

I restyled my foyer table and love mixing my old treasures with the new. I love my animal skull and polish bottle from Manley's Antiques in Muscatine, Iowa.

I made four pies on Thursday night. The one above was an apple for my party.

This is a cherry that was a prize for a contest at work on Friday. The vent holes say "#1".

Another cherry, this one for my girl's night out party.

And a banana cream for work that did not win first place, but the pumpkin bars that did were awesome!! What a fun and busy weekend with my great girlfriends and a big thanks to my husband for putting up with us all. He wasn't as excited as you think he may have been with nearly two dozen drunk women in his house, but what a good sport.

Iowa Treasures

Well, I got all my cool finds unloaded, although not properly arranged, yet. If there's a proper way to arrange an animal skull and a decrepit doll head, that is! I thought Dash would be more freaked out by my "Cracked in the Head" nightlight than he actual is. He just thinks I'm silly.

I found all kinds of cool stuff on my adventure to Iowa.

Lots of great pictures for the wall in my living room I'm trying to fill with thrift store, flea market and antique mall finds. I found this one at Sisters Garden.

This one came from Sister's and is a Sharon Wilson find. The picture is faded to a weird iridescent glow. What a great frame on this one.

A nice collection, even a couple from that place where if Sharon told ya, she'd have to kill ya.

Great wooden reproduction bowl from Friends Candle Shed, coal bucket from that "secret location", and the spindles are from Manley's Antiques. The owner was kind enough to let us barge in long after he had gone home (upstairs from the shop!). The place was packed with amazing stuff.

I love old Santas.

The table came from Bloom. NOT functional -- the drawers stick and are warped, but who needs function when you have a sideboard like this? I can put lots of stuff on top, which is what I was interested in. Besides, my table and chairs are new and shiny and I wanted something to offset the clean stuff. Ha!

Skull is from Manley's complete with some teeth and big, giant eye sockets. Jason said I would flip if he tried to bring something like this home -- I don't think so!

Ahhhh . . . I love my new treasures. The candle is from The Shed in Muscatine and smells like carrot cake. I was going to give the baby doll to my mother-in-law, but I'm getting attached.

I love cement garden statues.

The bluish flower is a napkin ring.

These old ornaments are so cute.

I have a thing for these old scales.

And I had to include a couple more pics of my great nightlight. I may not be able to stop at just one. I guess it would be weird for the me to have one in my office.