Decorating Outside With Winter Greens

Decorating with natural fresh evergreen. Simple.

Evergreen

This is another thing I look forwarding to doing every year. After we cut down our tree...I hunt down at the Christmas tree farm the big pile of scrap pine branches. I grab a BIG bunch of them and take them home. After I get all of my decorations up...I get my Christmas vases and fill them up with cold water and stuff them to their fullest with pine branches. I look forward to doing this every year. It is another one of my favorite things. Oh...by the way...Happy Birthday Debbie Incorvia (maiden name)! I have not seen her since childhood but I remember on this date we celebrated her birthday. I always was invited to her house for dinner to celebrate her birthday and her mother made the best spaghetti dinner. ~amy

Wendy Addison's Designs

I'm obsessed this year with Wendy Addison's glittered snowflakes. I love her designs. They are reminiscent of days gone by. I have been decking the halls everywhere with her glittered snowflakes. Aren't they pretty? Check out her site at http://www.wendyaddison.blogspot.com/ ~amy

Another Favorite Thing. Baby Silver Spoon.

I thought why not turn my daughter's silver baby spoon she received as a baby gift and turn it into a keepsake that can be displayed every year? ~amy

Christmas Tree Farm ~ A Family Traditon?

...at least I thought so. I have always tried to instill tradition in my children's lives. The night before we were planning to cut down our Christmas tree this past weekend, my daughter who is now a senior in high school asks why does she have to go? I simply tried to remind her that it is tradition. This is what we do every year. She says "no it is not." That she remembered about 8 years ago while she was in school one day... my husband and I went on our own to cut down the Christmas tree. Now... why is it she remembers that one time she did not go with us to cut down the tree and forgot the rest of the 16 years that she went with us? So much for tradition? ~amy

The First Of A Few Of My Favorite Things ~ Kreiss Reindeer

These cute little vintage ceramic reindeer and Santa in his sleigh were made by Kreiss in the 50's. They were made in Japan and each little reindeer wears a tag with their name around their neck. I don't know much more than that. I'd like to know how many different named reindeer they produced and for how long they were in production? If anyone knows any information on these cuties can you please let me know? ~amy

Thanks

...for my family, friends and for those random acts of kindness from strangers and loved ones I witness everyday. In these times of worry and uncertainty it is my family, friends and those acts of kindness that lifts my spirit and inspires me. Thank you for the continued health of my loved ones. Lastly, that everyday I can wake up and have a dream. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving that is shared with someone you love. ~amy

First Snow Of The Season

In it's honor I made myself a cup of hot cocoa and decided to take a break and enjoy the scene of the falling fluffy flakes. I have always lived up in the North East with the exception of 7 years in Northern Virginia and I will never get tired of the first snow. It is truly heartwarming. ~amy

FIRST SNOW

Snow makes whiteness where it falls,

The bushes look like popcorn balls.

The places where I always play,

Look like somewhere else today.

~Mary Louise Allen

Repetition

I remember learning one of the basic principals of design is repetition. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I tried to mimic the archway leading into the dining room with the 3 plates over the pictures on the dining room wall. I think it worked out well. Any time you can use any of the principals of design (balance, gradation, repetition, contrast, harmony, dominance and unity) in your decorating will unify your space and make it more interesting. ~amy

Mom & Apple Pie

I can be creative I guess in a few ways but I never felt I had what it takes to be a baker. It has been a goal of mine to make an apple pie that actually I am proud of. Either the bottom of the crust is soggy, the apples are too mushy, too much lemon, too much sugar, not enough of this and not enough of that. For a long time I have been the topic of endless jokes in my family concerning mom & apple pie. I am here to announce today...mission accomplished...that I too can be part of that elite group of proud pie makers out there. Now if only I can get someone in my family to taste it. It truly is good. Truly. ~amy

Last Sights Of Fall

Last sights of fall near the homestead. I don't think my senses have ever been so keen to fall as they have been this year. ~amy

Listen! the wind is rising and

the air is wild with leaves.

We have had our summer evenings,

now for fall eves!

Duck Pull Toy ~ Puppy Blanket & Pillow

I am such a novice on taking pictures. Since starting this blog...I just started using a camera. That should explain to you images that are too bright... and images that are too dark. I need to put on my "someday to do list" a photography class. I get a BIG kick each time I take a picture and download it to the computer. I know...I am easily amused. Anyway...I will work on my skills and hopefully we'll see some progress as time goes on! Below is the "Duck Pull Toy ~ Puppy Blanket & Pillow" part of The Vintage Inspired Collection by My Vintage Blankie. I designed this collection to look truly vintage and to look as if your grandmother or great grandmother could of lovingly crafted these pieces themselves. There are two other blanket designs in this collection and each blanket has matching accessories. ~amy

Fall is Peaking

The sun was just starting to break through the clouds this morning and I thought the way the sunlight was falling upon the colorful fall leaves looked beautiful. Here are a few shots I took from my home.


Here are some more pictures I took. Quite beautiful.

Baby Reindeer Christmas Stocking

Here is the finished design I made from the inspiration piece I previously posted of the ceramic baby deer. I think the embroidery came out cute. ~amy

Where Women Create. Where I Create.

Have you ever read the book Where Women Create? It's inspiring and the images are so beautiful. I love to see the space that inspires and brings a designer's concept into reality. Below are a few images taken from my work space. The work table is the heartbeat of this space. On side shelves covered with curtains on tension rods...stores supplies and the top offers an invaluable work surface. It measures a comfortable 37" high so no bending is required when working. Those scattered framed prints you see... are vintage bird prints I won at an auction. I put new matting and frames on them and now they are good to go. I have a total of 8 of these vintage beauties! I'll be sure to share more images of my studio with you in a later post. ~amy

Halloween Decorating

Today was Halloween decorating day. ~amy

Bunny, Bunny, Bunny

Here's a blanket I have been working on. I was thinking of doing it in blue and green also. I just do not feel this design is a "done deal" yet. It needs a little bit more of this and a little less of that. I've got a few more ideas. I'll keep you posted. ~amy

Obama or McCain?

The national pollsters indicate this presidential race is at a statistical dead heat. It could not be more true than at my neighbor's house. He is for McCain and she is for Obama. ~amy

Valley View

View of the valley taken from our front porch.~amy

Inspiration Piece

Here is the inspiration for a new design I am getting ready to start. I just picked her up at the antique mall yesterday. Is she not the cutest baby deer? Remember this is only an inspiration piece! The design of the finished product may not be what you are expecting. The photo reveals a few clues of what will be. I'll show you the finished product in a few days. ~amy

STAND UP TO CANCER

SPECIAL BROADCAST
Friday, September 5TH 2008
8/7c

STAND UP TO CANCER. Top stars from the worlds of entertainment, sports, science, and industry will come together for a very special night in an unprecedented campaign to stop the scourge of cancer. The commercial-free, one-hour program will air simultaneously on NBC, CBS, and ABC with the goal of raising significant contributions for research, awareness, and patient advocacy. Stand Up To Cancer is a unique collaboration between the American Association for Cancer Research and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. It was founded on the belief that there is now sufficient knowledge of the basic science behind cancer-–and that technologies are available now that can translate this knowledge into real advances in treatment and prevention.