A little winter color ~

Between it being winter and the time for annual pruning there is not much to look at in my garden this time of year. Most of the perennials and shrubs have been cut back and the roses are mere sticks. I have planted some winter/spring annuals and bulbs but they haven't begun to make much of a showing yet.

The wonderful exception to this are the camellias. 

This is when they decide to put on their annual show and it couldn't be more welcome.

The camellias in my garden are very, very old, inherited from the previous owners of the house. They have become quite tall, trees rather than shrubs and when they bloom, covered in flowers.

Here growing in what I call my Camellia Allee, a protected area on the north side of the house, is a robust and lovely pink camellia. I also have them in other colors, solid and bi-colored. But these traditional pink ones are hard to beat. White however are my personal favorites, ala Coco Chanel.

This simple bouquet shows what nice cut flowers they make. I think there is something about a bouquet that elevates any room and it is nice to be able to step outside and pick flowers from your own garden.

Wishing you a day filled with bouquets.

Thank you for visiting

A least favorite thing to do ~

Here it is the beginning of a new year and while everyone seems to be making wonderful and thoughtful New Year resolutions my time has been spent doing one of the things I least like to do.

Making ruffles

Now in the grand scale of things making ruffles is really not that horrible but it does require yards and yards of fabric and it is very time consuming. Years ago I found out that the best way to do this is to lay down crochet thread and use the zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine to sew over it. Then pull the crochet thread to form the ruffles.

The reason for all of this, making a new table covering for the little round table in my living room. With the new color scheme the old one no longer fit in.

After a lengthy search I found both the fabric and the decorative cord online. I wanted something to  match the color in the new wallpaper with a rosy-pink accent to tie in with the drapes...this is pretty close.

And here we are...all finished.

I like using this table to display wedding photographs, I think it adds warmth and personality to the room and since they remind me of some of the happiest days in my life I  just enjoying looking at them.

What's next...making pillows to match the newly upholstered davenport, they will absolutely have no ruffles!

Thank you for visiting

Happy New Year ~

~Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas~

Patisserie stand for Christmas ~

For a very long time, ever since I saw a blog post at Romancing the home featuring her beautiful patisserie stand, I had wanted one for my kitchen. Hers is a magnificent antique stand. For a while I tried finding one, but it was almost impossible, and when I did come close they were very, very costly.

Then I found this one at Ballard's. 

For a couple of years I resisted buying it. When I did try to order one, two years ago, they were sold out, which prompted me last year to immediately buy one during their after Christmas sale. It is just the right size for my kitchen island and it has been so much fun to have - I leave it up year around. 

They come in chrome and brass. It was a difficult decision for me but I choose chrome to match my kitchen fixtures. It has two sturdy, adjustable glass shelves and is heavily weighted to keep it from tipping over.

Because I bought it after the holiday last year this is the first time I have decorated it for Christmas,

I serve a buffet dinner every Christmas Eve. This year I will remove some of the ornamental items and use the patisserie stand to serve the desserts.

I find my kitchen the easiest room to decorate for the various holidays and this makes it even easier, and more fun!

Thank you for visiting

Merry Christmas

Twice the fun ~

Last week while my daughter was at work I went over and decorated her house for the holidays. Since she went back to teaching full time this has become somewhat of a tradition. It's fun for me and I know that she likes coming home from a busy day and finding her house all ready for Christmas.

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I love this swinging door going into the kitchen - it is the perfect spot for a wreath.

 In the dining room I tied some decorative bows on the chairs and added a casual centerpiece - made a bit more elegant with mirrors, crystal candle sticks, and some casually strewn ornaments.

 I went a little overboard on the credenza. I filled my wooden box to overflowing with garlands and ornaments and added twinkle lights. It's a bit flashy, but this is the one time of the year that glitter and glitz seem to be okay.

In the living room a very simple mantle... 

 ...she will add the Christmas stockings later.

And across the room the tree - definitely the focal point. 

All in gold with leopard ribbon and lots of sparkle.  

Aren't I lucky I get twice the fun of decorating for the holidays.

Thank you for visiting.

Merry Christmas

Voilà ~ the drapes

Finally, the living room drapes are finished, and installed.

Hooray!

I completed them a while ago but I was waiting for the decorative fringe edging to arrive. This is the easiest part but I think it really adds a touch of elegance to the drapes. It came last Friday and by Saturday I had it sewn on.

I love this fringe, Malibu Carnation - it is so elegant and very reasonably priced. I found it here. For any of you that are looking for interesting trims I would highly recommend this company, both for the quality of their products and the pricing.

These drapes with the linings are very heavy and I really thought I would need someone to help me install them, but I became impatient to see them up and found that if I piled them up on the highest rung on the ladder for support I could hook them onto the rings.

Voila!

This room, as I have mentioned before, has been very problematic and many times I have wondered if I have been really off on my choices. I have spent much more time mulling over what to do, then in the actual 'doing'. But it is finally coming together and I think that the time spent, without rushing to make decisions, has been worth it. 

I still have a ways to go but I think this just might turn out to be a very pretty room.

Thank you for visiting.

Christmas in the dining room ~

My living room is still in flux with the furniture either at the upholstery shop or covered in sheets waiting for me to decide which fabric I am going to use so it can go. This all  makes it ridiculous to decorate the room for Christmas this year.

But I missed having a tree somewhere nearby.

So...

I put a little tree in the dining room. At least it will add a touch of Christmas when I entertain. 

The cherub statue was already on the table and fits in perfectly. It is meant for the garden but I have always kept it inside.

In the background you can see one of my unfinished drapes in the aforementioned, living room. It took a long time to find the right fringe for the trim -  it was finally delivered today so by next week they should be finished and hung.

 This  room has really proved to be a challenge and I decided that instead of making quick decisions I would take my time and not be rushed, but it does feel like it is taking forever.

No decorations in the living room this year but I do have my pretty little tree in the dining room to enjoy.

Thank you for visiting.

Happy Holidays