Merry Merry

My mother is amazing. Here she is in the photo below at my cousin Janet's for Christmas with Kayla, Janet's daughter, my brother, Kahn, and my fab sister-in-law Kavi.

I took some pics of my mom's house right before I left town for a week and although Christmas has passed, I wanted to post them.

From as far back as I can remember, my mother has always had the best sense of fashion when it comes to home decor. This Christmas season was no exception. Her gold and bronze tree took center stage in the living room and just sparkled. She is great about changing up the theme and I loved the metallics this year. What will next year bring for this tree, only my mother knows!

This tree is a consistent fave. My mom has collected Hallmark vintage car ornaments for my brother ever since they started making them like 18 years ago. She wonders when they are going to end the series!

Here's a closeup of the cars on the pencil tree in her downstairs living room. My brother won't take the cars to his own house because coming home to them at my parent's is special to him (and to all of us).

We celebrated Christmas and my birthday at my parent's before my family left for a week in Alabama. This is the dining room table setting. So festive!

Mom's kitchen mantel full of snowmen (and women).

More metallics on the tree in the kitchen. I love the combination of green, gold and reddish balls and their move away from brighter, more traditional colors.

I got these vintage place card holders at the Rivermarket Antique Mall and my mom won them in Dirty Santa the year before last. I know when I buy something for Dirty Santa that my mom will end up with it because I just know what she likes.

Such a stately Santa at home on the hearth.

Mom's hutch in the dining room full of holiday dishes and goodies.

I adore her collection of carollers and they look right at home on this tray perched on a big, round leather ottoman.

And can you believe my birthday cake? You're lucky to get an ice cream cake from TCBY at my house (not that those aren't good, but they are NOT homemade!). The apple fell VERY far from the tree when you compare my mom's cooking and baking ablity with mine!

And here's the mantel in her living room. I love the Old World Santas with the Italian-inspired painting; so rich and beautiful.

Another cute display of Christmas goodness.

This is the baker's rack in mom's kitchen. I bought the cookie jar on the top shelf at Pryde's for Dirty Santa last year and yes, you guessed it, my mom ended up with it!!!

And a closeup of a shelf on the baker's rack. My mom's house just took my breath away this year and I'm already looking forward to what she'll come up with for next year's holiday season!

Spoiled Rotten

Today is my birthday and I am one lucky chick. When I got to work this morning, I was blown away by the pile of cards, gifts, and the birthday banner hung across my door. I'm the HR Manager for about 70 people and there are days when I feel like I wouldn't exactly win a popularity contest. HR is a tough biz and you don't always give employees the answers they'd like to hear. I was so touched by all of the well wishes and I felt like a celebrity all day long! Working with people you truly enjoy is a gift and I am so lucky!


The pampering didn't stop at work. Far be it from little old ME to sound materialistic, but I scored some awesome loot -- my husband is a master gift-giver and he knows exactly what I like!! Happy birthday to me!! This little ornament was made by one of my favorite Etsy artists, Jeanette Janson (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=54009)

Here's the back of the ornament. She is going to be displayed all year long. I have a deep love for anything broken, rusty, worn, or tarnished. Yeah!

The card that came with the ornament explained that it was made from a Frozen Charlotte doll that had been rescued from the site of an old German doll factory. Is that not the coolest?!

And a painting from one of my other faves -- Vivienne Strauss(vivstrauss.etsy.comvivstrauss.etsy.com). The name of this painting is "Suki was much more than the fashion plate everyone assumed her to be". I will own many of her paintings before I'm through!!

Jason also bought me lots of beads for the mosaics. Does he know me or what?! And these came with this tag -- I really appreciate artists and suppliers that add those special touches. The beads were bought here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=64473

Awesome photo by NestaUSA on where else? Etsy, of course: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5330352. I'm anxious to get it matted and framed. So many possibilities . . .

And just what I wanted!! The first season of "The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman", a Sundance original series. If you haven't caught this show you MUST check it out! I also got a new Lucinda Williams CD and one by Amy Winehouse before she fell of the perverbial deep end, bless her heart.

And finally, Dash dancing around the kitchen on my birthday in my husband's shoes. So cute! This is really going to be one birthday to remember!

Latest Mosaic Madness

I haven't been working as hard on the mosaics as I usually do, but I did manage to put together a few things this week.

I got the Ma and Pa salt and pepper shakers last weekend at the River Market Antique Mall and I couldn't wait to put them into something. I thought a black and white picture frame would be the perfect place.

Ma looks like she could have used some sunscreen in her youth.

Pa forgot his dentures. I do a lot of antique mall and thrift store shopping and I've never seen anything quite like Ma and Pa.

I got the letter opener several weeks ago at the Mission Road Antique Mall.

A vintage pattern finishes off the back.

I made this little magnet for the annual Chick Bingo Night at Laura's. I think I've been for the last seven years and I would not miss it!

I squeezed in a few switch plates, of course. I'm not sure these bright colors will induce sleep as the switch plate suggests.

I love this "G" and was anxious to use it.

Look closely at this one and you'll see some tiny chef beads.

Not much in my house is orange and turquoise, but I love the color combination.

You cannot have enough dice, if you ask me.

I used some plastic vintage farm animals in a switch plate I did for my friend, Barbara, lately, and I used them again here for this double plate. The switch plates were delivered to Stuff (www.pursuegoodstuff.com) earlier this week and the frame just may find it's way onto Etsy soon.

Miss Frenchie's Holiday Brocante

Today, I visited Miss Frenchie's Holiday Brocante, a boutique put together by some great artists and antique dealers from Kansas City and beyond. The venue was Alexander Major's Barn, part of an historic estate at 82nd and State Line. What a great place for this event!

I scored some great loot and it was really fun to meet these ladies since I am a follower of all their blogs. I had met Carol from Raised in Cotton (http://www.raisedincotton.typepad.com/) this summer while shopping with Lisa. Her place in Raymore is packed with wonderful things. (Someone please tell me how to hotlink!!)

I also met Beth from Gathering Dust (http://bethleintz.typepad.com/), Karla from Karla's Cottage (http://karlascottage.typepad.com/), and Julie from Julie Reed Designs (http://bricolage-julier.blogspot.com/).

I fully justified this shopping trip by telling myself it would be for gifts and I did find some great ones, but it was as I predicted - one gift for friends or family, two or three gifts for me! Yeah! I love this little statuette from Karla. I think she's going to go in my office at work.

I got this great picture from Beth. She titled it "Crabby Tots". So cute! Once again, great for my office. And the fab neckace was made by Karla. I'm already planning Monday's outfit around it.

This great scarf and brooch were made by Julie. The brooch is a gift for my awesome sister-in-law, Kavitha. The deep colors will look great with her beautiful, black curly hair. (Hope she doesn't check the blog before Christmas).

The scarf is for me and I can't wait to wear it! I am so drawn to anything black and white.

The snowflake and baby sweater and hat came from Carol. I had the best intentions in buying the snowflake for a friend, but when I got it home and put it with my tarnished silver collection, I decided I will have to keep it! The sweater and hat are for my mother-in-law and will outfit one of her many baby dolls. I hope Miss Frenchie's will return next year!