I Was Ready For February.

I'm not sure why (because I enjoyed our snow days) but I was ready for February. I think it was the relentless cold and a lot of gray days that had me ready for the new month. I also wanted to put out a few little nods to the month of love to cheer things up a bit. I don't go overboard for the 'smaller' holidays but I do like a seasonal touch here and there.

This year I gathered up some vintage thrifted frames I had on hand, grabbed a few more for $1.09 at Goodwill, and then I decided I'd find some great little cherub images to frame and prop on the library mantel. I simply googled "vintage cherub art public domain" and dozens of options popped up. I tried to choose ones that were similar in shape to my thrifted frames and then I just printed them on white cardstock. 

I cleaned the frames up and popped the prints in. I decided that I'd mix gold, silver, dark wood and black frames together for a very collected, relaxed look. Plus I had a mixture on hand and that simplified finding the rest of the needed frames in just one trip to Goodwill. This was an under $10 project and it was quick and easy!

I did add an old milk glass vase with some roses and magnolias. I love a touch of something green or fresh mixed in. 

This little pile of framed cherubs on the mantel makes me happy every time I pass the Library.

Silhouette Ornaments

I found a bag of drapery rings at my local goodwill a couple of months ago and immediately knew I wanted to use them to make ornaments for the tree in our library.

Fun fact: decades ago when I was in college my mom gave me a bunch of unused wooden drapery rings. I turned them into Christmas ornaments and sold them to make spending money. Some things never change.

I simply searched online for copyright free silhouette images. I decided to do images of little girls and things that Mollie loved as she was growing up - our Goldens, swinging, blowing bubbles, dolls, etc. You could choose any type of imagery that would fit with your holiday decor. They are like little framed artworks.

I also decided to back my ornaments with marbleized paper so they wouldn't be just white on the back if they turned slightly on the tree. That's definitely optional but I look for any opportunity to use marbled paper.

I sprayed my drapery rings gold because my tree is green and my library walls are black. I needed the spark of metallic. If these had been going on a flocked tree or in a brighter room I might have left them wood tone. I do love the gold. 

Then I simply cut out the paper circles (I printed mine on cardstock) and used plain old white glue to put them together. That's it. I added a silky cream bow and put them on my tree. 

To finish off my tree I gathered up an assortment of ornaments. Anything vintage and worn in cream, white, gold or silver. Then I added in newer ornaments from my stash in the same color range. All sizes. I used my faux orange slices from last year. I also thrifted a small box of chandelier prisms a couple of weeks ago for $1.99 (pretty happy about that!) and I added those in along with some gold beaded garland. 

 

I topped the tree off with a bow made from wide ochre colored velvet ribbon that I've used before! 

It just shimmers at night and we are loving the look. All of the decorations except the thrifted drapery ring silhouettes were ornaments, ribbon and garland we had used in previous years. It's amazing how you can pair things differently or use them in different spots and get a completely "new" holiday look. You can see more of this tree on my Instagram.

Coffee Table Books and a Christmas Tradition.

We started a new to us Christmas Eve tradition a few years ago (and it was a nice one to have the last couple of Christmases!) I've written about this before. I wanted to share again for two reasons. One is that once children are grown and some of the "Santa" traditions don't happen anymore there is a bit of a void to fill after Christmas Eve service and a special dinner. The second is that I have a lot of great books to share in case you want to start this year. 

And, really, there's a third reason - it's never too early to start this tradition even if you are still leaving cookies out for Santa!

The tradition is called Jolabokaflod and it originated in Iceland. 

"This tradition began during World War II once Iceland had gained its independence for Denmark in 1944. Paper was one of the few commodities not rationed during the war, so Icelanders shared their love of books even more as other types of gifts were short supply. This increase in giving books as presents reinforced Iceland’s culture as a nation of bookaholics.

Every year since 1944, the Icelandic book trade has published a catalogue – called Bókatíðindi (‘Book Bulletin’, in English) – that is sent to every household in the country in mid-November during the Reykjavik Book Fair. People use the catalogue to order books to give friends and family for Christmas.

During the festive season, gifts are opened on 24 December and, by tradition, everyone reads the books they have been given straight away, often while drinking hot chocolate or alcohol-free Christmas ale called jólabland."                                                               From Jolabokaflod.com

We are a family of readers (we love to eat, too, but we turned our dining room into a library - we are definitely readers!!) but this is still a great tradition if you have a few less enthusiastic readers in your family. There are books on every hobby and interest and for every age. And just like the Icelanders you may foster a love of reading. I would include comic books and make and do books like paper dolls if that's what it takes to get someone to read! And it doesn't hurt that hot chocolate or chocolate candy is involved! Books that favorite movies were based on would be a way to interest a reluctant reader as well. 

I purchase the books each year for everyone in the family. The first year or two they were surprises but now they start telling me about books they want months in advance! And, of course, I choose my own books carefully. 

I have gotten some beautiful books as my Jolabokaflod books and it's so much fun to look forward to opening them. 

Here are a few favorites:

Safari Style is one of the most elegant design books ever. I have wanted to go on safari since I was young but even if that's not on your bucket list this book will intrigue you. And there are design ideas that are relevant to any suburban, non safari style, home. If you love following Serena Crawford's adventures on IG then you'll love this book. 

Rattan is an all time favorite. It is full of amazing, inspirational photos and a great history of  fabulous rattan furniture produced all over the world.

I treated myself to Dragons and Pagodas: A Celebration of Chinoiserie last year. 

I loved Chrsitopher Spitzmiller's book, A Year at Clovebrook Farm. I love books that are structured that way. Do you?

I own all of India Hicks books. They are all so beautiful and so much fun to read. She is very entertaining. I have this one , this one  (probably my favorite) and this one. I gave my mother this India Hicks book and she loved it. 

This Mark D. Sikes book is one I can look through over and over again. Sometimes I reread and sometimes I just soak up the beautiful images.

I gave my mother this book several years ago as she was quite the blue and white collector. Now the book is in my collection and I've enjoyed reading it and ooh-ing and aah-ing over the fabulous blue and white pieces in the book. 

And I must include this favorite. I don't know how many times I've read this book by the late, great Furlow Gatewood. This book is a must-own.

This is another book that I gave my mom and now have in our library. I love this book and I am excited to hear that Nora Murphy has another book coming out - 2023 I believe. 

I could go on and on but I can't end the list without gushing about how much I love Island Hopping by Amanda Lindroth. 

Oh, and any and all of the books by that boy from Perry, Georgia - James Farmer. I gave my mother one for Christmas and he wrote the sweetest note inside - not just an autograph! She loved his books. 

I hope you give (and get) books this Christmas. We love to give books for all occasions but I'm especially taken with the history behind Jolabokaflod.

Marbleized Mushrooms? What's Next?

There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to marbleizing items around here!

Today it is mushrooms - wooden ones, not the real thing.

I used the same technique to marbleize my wooden pieces as I did the Christmas ornaments. Full DIY here. You can see a video of the mushrooms here.

I used my favorite Rustoleum 2x spray paint in Berry, Blossom White and Coral to create my mushrooms. You can find all kinds of wooden shapes to marbleize but I chose mushrooms this time.

I painted my mushrooms white before dipping. Here they are drying under Cooper's careful supervision :)

I had to go back and touch up the stems a little after the marbleizing dried. 

I added screw eyes and fishing line so I could hang them on my new King of Christmas Noble Fir tree.

I'm loving the warm colored swirls on the mushrooms with the blue and white marbleized ornaments.

Be sure to follow along. I have a few more ornament DIYs planned for this tree in our Library. 

Forcing Spring

We are closing in on a year of being confined to our homes. 

I am anxiously waiting on Spring. I know I'm not alone in this and I'm always anxious for Spring to arrive any year!  I'm just extra excited this year!

I have always loved having forced bulbs in my house during the Winter months. Honestly, I never care if my paperwhites or amaryllis are potted up late and bloom in January instead of during the holidays. 

And I always buy hyacinths in the quaint little glass bulb jars when I find them in the stores. 

They are my favorite!    This one bloom is making the whole Library smell fabulous.

I love to put them around the house on tables near where we sit to relax, read or watch TV. 

They scent the entire room!

After the bulb blooms inside I plant it in my front yard 

(never in the back yard because bulbs are poisonous to dogs and Cooper would definitely dig them up!)

I ran to Wal Mart today for a few non-plant related necessities and treated myself to a spin through the garden center... and they were rolling out the forced Spring bulbs. Many are a $1 each. I grabbed a few to update my head or bust planters (I never know what to call them but I love them!) from their Christmas look below.

I love that Wal Mart has these forced bulbs each year because we don't always have the best luck with bulbs in the South. Using these inside and out in February also helps me be patient about planting a little longer!

I can't wait to get these potted up. I'll be sure to share on my Instagram account!

Faded Beauties...

 

Every January my local Publix grocery store has about a week and a half 

when the store is filled with 

"Buy One, Get One Free" bouquets of roses. 

Two dozen roses for a little over $10.00!!

I've written about this before.

I posted pictures of the fresh, beautiful roses on my Instagram account.

They had every color of rose imaginable.

I put them everywhere.

Eventually they begin to fade. 

I keep them for as long as I possibly can. 

I refresh the water and trim the stems to prolong the beauty.

 Roses are worth it. 

And then the roses begin to dry and the petals become papery. 

I leave them in the vase on the counter until there isn't any moisture left in the bloom. 

There are a lot of different ways to dry roses but this works for me. 

Not every bloom dries perfectly but I usually have over half of them dry beautifully.

I snip them from the stem and arrange them in a bowl 

or on a little blue and white chinoiserie plate. 

They don't have much scent but you can take a cotton ball and put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and tuck it under the blooms.

They don't last forever - when they get too fragile or the color fades you can just toss them 

and treat yourself to another bouquet of roses and dry those!

Like Velvet

 Velvet is having a moment at our house this Christmas. 

Red velvet is the traditional Christmas look but we don't use red in our Christmas decorating very often so velvet hasn't been a major player in our house. Until now!

This Christmas lots of other colors of velvet are showing up. 

First, I found this gorgeous mustard gold velvet ribbon. I had recently purchased this pinecone wreath and I could just "see" them paired together. 

Then I saw this gorgeous velvet magnolia wreath. I was smitten. 

Then I found out there was a matching swag! Sold! 

We used the velvet magnolia swag on the mantel in the family room which was recently freshened up for the Fall One Room Challenge.

Then I decided I wanted wreaths in the windows in the Library (this is what happens when I don't have a deadline to 'finish' decorating!)

So I picked up a couple more of the velvet magnolia wreaths. They are gorgeous and they will store flat so that's a huge bonus!

Here's a night time shot of the velvet wreaths in the Library.

I couldn't wait to use all of these gorgeous velvet items in my decor.

 They are rich and elegant but also simple and understated as well. 

Do you use velvet ribbons at Christmas time?