CHRISTMAS DECORATING STAGE ONE

I am almost finished decorating inside for the holidays. It does not usually take me this long but I have been switching things around and every year at the end, when things are on sale, I buy some new decorations and put them away in the BIG GREEN CUPBOARD, and I forget what I bought so I have to incorporate some new and retire some old until the next year. When I say THE BIG GREEN CUPBOARD, I am talking about my primitive linen press, which I love, and is large enough to house almost all of my ornaments with the help of 3 blanket boxes. My husband makes me close the cupboard and promise not to open it until I decorate. I must admit sometimes I cheat a little when I miss the holidays, which for me can be in July.

This is the top of the BIG GREEN CUPBOARD. I picked up these cool rusted tin trees that have christmas bells on them a couple of years ago. The gorgeous Canada Goose Decoy was my grandmothers. It was one of her favourite pieces and I am so happy that I have it.

I am always looking for new ways to display my Christmas Cards. The past couple of years I have put 3 magnetic Christmas boards on the door but I wanted a change. I made this yesterday and it was so easy. I had an old door from a pie safe cupboard so I removed the screen and left it in the rough. I used a nice red ribbon and secured it tightly with thumb tacks to the back. I tied nice bows on top and attached little green bells. I love it and it took under 1/2 an hour. The card stay really secure too.

Here are some more of my Grandmother's treasures. I hang the largest ornaments above my bookcase so the cats are not near them. The rest of the collection I put in a large wooden bowl. I do not want to hang them on a tree in case one breaks. I also have a small ornament collection which is on a tree, I'll show that later. The paper stars are very old, I have 3 sets which I love. When my uncle gave me boxes and boxes of my grandmother's Christmas ornaments I was thrilled. I sat and went through them one by one and all of the memories of the farm came flooding back. It was quite an emotional day. I treasure each and every piece and remember them all. I have many more to share later.

In my Dining Kitchen I put white lights on the shelf above my bench. I mixed folk art with new red stiped balls and Krinkles Kitty ornaments. I really like the effect. I put little trees all over the house. My husband gave me the adorable stocking last year. My little wooden cows sit on an old ash sifter. My sweet Krinkles Ladies swing from a garden heart, I love the striped shoes.

Back in the Livingroom, I filled a bird box I made with red balls and put a little tree in there, it looks so nice at night. This Santa reminded me of the one from the old Rudolph Christmas Special. I love paper mache, this Santa head is a favourite. The iron Santa and Reindeer was a bargain at HomeSense.

Last but now least today, my dining room table. I picked up this beautiful vintage tablecloth at a thrift store for $5.99. I just love it and keep looking for more. It is nice linen with vibrant red Santas around it. The Santa on the table was also a thrift store buy. One of my favourite thrift stores is Value Village. They get some great Christmas items in, you should check them out.

I know this has been a long post but I have a lot of stuff to share. Look at the time, I am off to do what else, Christmas shopping. Over the next couple of weeks I will show you my kitchen, big tree and studio which is completely different, very Scandinavian. We spend Christmas Eve there with a roaring fire.

WE ARE HALF WAY TO MY CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY SO DON'T FORGET TO GO TO THE BUTTON ON MY SIDEBAR UNDER "GIVEAWAYS" AND LEAVE A COMMENT.

I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

Ah, a White Christmas. We all want one even if it is only on the day. Although this is lovely what I am talking about is a White Interior Christmas.

I love just about all Christmas decor but I have a weakness for white. I do not know if it is my Norwegian background, where the decorating tends to be white perhaps to brighten up the dark winters or it is just the fresh, wintery look of having white inside for Christmas.

I would just love to wake up in one of these gorgeous white Christmas bedrooms.

There is just something so pure about a simple white interior at Christmas. Everything seems brighter and wintery without the cold. Lovely white trees sprinkled with fairy dust to make them shimmer. Simple white candles, a cozy chair by a bright window on a snowy day. Christmas dinner around a lovely setting of white and green.

I also love red added to the white. So pretty!

I decorate inside my farmhouse quite traditionally because it is 235 years old, but my art studio which we build a couple of years ago, I designed to look Scandinavian so out there it is all white and blue. I will show you some pictures next week when it is finished. Whether you do white or every colour in the rainbow, it is just so nice to deck those halls and ring in the holidays.

HO! HO! HO! GIVEAWAY

As promised here is my CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY. I am giving away 3 prizes to 3 winners. I am also putting somes extra goodies in the packages as my Christmas gifts to my lovely followers.

The first winner will get a Gingerbread Man Stocking & Everytime A Bell Rings An Angels Get Their Wings Stocking.

2nd. Prize is the same just a different colour.

3rd. Prize is for your doggies. 3 Christmas stockings because if you are like me you probably have more than one puppy but if not you can share with your friends pups.



You have 3 chances to win.

1. BE A FOLLOWER, NEW FOLLOWERS WELCOME.

2. YOU GET ANOTHER CHANCE IF YOU POST THE GIVEAWAY ON YOUR BLOG.

3. A THIRD CHANCE IF YOU GO TO MY ETSY SHOP "WICKED FAERIE QUEEN" AND FAVOUR ONE OF
MY ITEMS. BLOG BUTTON IS ON MY SIDEBAR.

LIST what you did in SEPERATE COMMENTS on this post. I will draw by Random Number Selector on Monday November 28th. The GIVEAWAY closes at MIDNIGHT on the 27th.


GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY, I WISH I COULD GIVE EVERY FOLLOWER A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

SUE XXX

TUTU ADORABLE!

I am doing a double post today because I am so busy decorating I am not sure if I will get time tomorrow.

My friend Donna is new to etsy. She makes the most gorgeous tutus with wings, wands and headbands. She puts so much work into them they are little pieces of art. I know when I started on etsy how excited I would get when someone viewed my work and to have someone favour me well, that was great. If you get time stop by her shop for a visit.

Twinkle Toe Tutus on etsy.

I know I do not have it so you can click on because I cannot figure that out yet. If you do this on your blog where you can click on the name and it goes to the shop or blog please let me know how you do that. I have tried by copying from the search but it does not work. I did a link so you can click on my post title and go to Donna's shop but I cannot figure out how to put a link in the post.

Here are a few of Donna's Tutus.

HAPPY, HAPPY SATURDAY!

It is a lovely day here. Sun is shining and I am taking today to finish decorating inside for Christmas. It usually takes about a week to completely finish. We always turn the Christmas lights on November 20th. so I had better get moving. I just wanted to share some of the pictures from outside. We visited our baby granddaughter yesterday and watched her so her mommy could decorate the tree. She is crawling and pulling herself up now so it is hard for our daughter-in-law to get any decorating finished. Their tree is beautiful. It is their first house and their first child this Christmas. A time for celebration!

Here is our Christmas sign. I painted both sides different. The candy canes face the road so I can look at my beautiful Santa from our livingroom window.

I will show some pictures of the house lit tomorrow night. The little red bells across the front porch and the larger ones beside the door were my grandmothers. I do not know how old they are but they have been around as long as I can remember. They are so beautiful at night. The small ones blink off and on. It warms my heart to have her treasured Christmas ornaments. I can't wait to show you the amazing collection of glass ornaments. That will be on Monday.

Here is the lovely tree our daughter-in-law decorated yesterday. I think is is just gorgeous.