~Merry Christmas~

Merry Christmas to all my Bloggy Friends!

I hope you have many joyful moments...

and make many happy memories

and get a chance to relax a bit.....

Shellagh

~simple & sweet christmas~

Good afternoon bloggy friends!

If you can believe it....it has been blue sky and sunny....

.......for days......

12 degrees this morning

~brrrrrrr~

~*~

How about a little simple & sweet Christmas?

the kind that takes little time to put together?

How about some more white?

you got it!

isn't this garland beautiful?

let's get a close-up of the simple bows....

you could use white linen, or muslin to create

these super simple bows....cut with pinking sheers...

no sewing required!

and how about the same simple bow

on the wreath on the front door?

ok..I am seriously going to take down my wreath

&

re-do it with this simple bow....love it!

and look at how darling these are!

love them...thinking about making them....

I know what you're thinking....whaaaaaat?  right now??

ok...maybe that would be a little much....maybe...;-)

gorgeous

I love how easy & sweet this is....

start with a full length mirror

add an array of white candles...

I always check dollar store first ~ for these!

add greenery & clementines...

and you are finished with the tablescape!

~*~

Does that make your Christmas decorating any easier?

more simplistic?

I'm gonna give it a try....

~*~

Have a fabulous weekend!

Shellagh

{all images from Better Homes & Gardens}

~Crafty Christmas~

Good Morning Bloggy Christmas Friends!

~*~

Blue sky....frosty grass

crisp air...

 ...our northwest weather today..yay!

~*~

I found quite a few very cute craft ideas

to share with you today!

I'm thinking these are mostly crafts

I can make with my girls~

maybe you'll want to make some too....

Jingle Bell Wreath

*click here for directions*

sweet simpleness

I'm loving the silver bells on something painted

white!

~*~

Scented Christmas Ornaments

*click here for directions and templates for these lovelies*

aren't these little hearts & bells adorable?

they are filled with fragrant Christmas spices like

cinnamon, cloves & orange peel.....

a little gingham, a little lace, a little rick-rack

~completely manageable~

~*~

Reindeer and Snowflake Ornaments

*click here for directions and templates for these super cute ornaments*

these are made using felt & silver thread

I love the simple scandinavian look!

~*~

Gingerbread Tree

*click here for directions*

I have always enjoyed making gingerbread cookies

very kid friendly, huh?

~I so love the way baking makes your home smell amazing....~

~*~

Glittered Pinecone Placecard Holder

Soooo easy......

  .....simple and sweet!

To make these place cards:

*pour silver glitter into small bowl

~working one tier at a time~

  *brush the pinecone one tier at a time with craft glue

*spoon glitter over wet glue

*insert namecard when dry

~*~

       Egg Shell Ornaments

           *to make these egg shell ornaments click here*

these eggshell ornaments really lend themselves

to vintage decor...don't you think?

~especially when painted with metallic paint....~

~*~

Homemade Garland

*click here for tutorial*

I found this fabulous blog thru

my blog hopping today....

A Field Journal

Her name is Livy and I am amazed at every

single post ~ you've got to go check it out!!

~*~

Fruit Garland

lastly today.... I couldn't resist this homey garland made of fruit

I've always wanted to make one of these....maybe this year?

~*~

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

...hopefully not too stressed yet!

...hopefully we can take some time to make some memories :o)

Till Next Time!

Shellagh

~sleigh bells ring are you listening?~

Good morning bloggy friends!

I've been listening to Christmas music for a good couple weeks now!

and when I looked at these pictures again......

they totally reminded me of this song

 and

~happiness~

sleigh bells ring....are you listening?

in the lane...snow is glistening....

a beautiful site

we're happy tonight

walking in a winter wonderland

gone away is the bluebird

here to stay is a new bird

he sings a love song

as we go along

walking in a winter wonderland....

{pause.....do you have any idea how hard it is not to comment on these pictures???}

in the meadow we can build a snowman

and pretend that he is Parson Brown

he'll say: are you married?

we say: no man

-pause-

{you do recall my love of brown packing paper.....or bags....especially w/ red & white ribbon......

and OH MY HEAVENS....I love those tags!!!probably pop out the generic white ones & replace

w/ red paper???? cuuuuuute!}

-o.k. back to the music-

but you can do the job when you're in town......

later on, we'll conspire

as we dream by the fire

to face unafraid

the plans that we've made...

walking in a winter wonderland

have a fabulous day friends!

Shellagh

{photos by woman's day, except second to last country living}

~I need a little Christmas~

Good Morning bloggy friends!

weather alert......after many days of rain

rain

and more

rain.......

The sun is shining!!!

hooray!

You know that song,

"I need a little Christmas right this very moment,

candles in the window, carols at the spinet..."

that's me today....

So here's a little Christmas

~wow, huh? cozy and lovely....

love the major chippy cabinet...barely any paint left

~

you know, I have a dresser like that....

sitting out in my garage....

I removed most the paint

and was so overwhelmed

by how difficult was!!!

I stopped.

?

I feel some inspiration coming on......

moving along...

not really Christmas but there is snow.....

so it qualifies

here ya go.....more Christmas.

I really love wrapping packages

in brown packing paper.

but

have any of you ever tried to convince your children

that this is better than Frosty the Snowman paper??????

it's a losing proposition....

Now

I have a question for you!

let me 'splain first....

for the last several years

I have had my tree & a kiddy tree

you know where this is going?

So my sweet 9 year old Allie

is asking me.....

"Mom...do we have to have the fancy tree in the living room this year???"  The one that we can't put our stuff on? ouch.

seriously.....ouch....

Ok...to my defense

we have had a tree in our family room

{where we spend 90% of our time}

that the kids can decorate any way they want!

~

is this not enough?

must I relinquish the fancy tree as well?

~

ok...that was my question for you

how do all of you do this?

I know you have fabulous trees out there

vintage ornaments & all! :)

it's a little bit of a balancing act...

to create the home we love

decor & all

all a certain way, with a certain theme...

and the sweet little child.....

one of several whom you are creating the home for...

~

throws a monkey wrench into it.

~

with that little tiny question......

are we taking enough time to relish in the wonder

of Christmas seen through the eyes of a child?

I know I could definitely do a better job....

~ 

a little less stressed about the 'clean house'

a little more enjoying the mess of baking...

~

a little less worrying about the frosting going on perfect

a little more letting them "do it themselves"

even

on

 the trays of cookies to give away.......

after all....

our kids don't remember how clean the house was...

they remember the love they felt

they don't remember the pile of laundry on the bed...

they remember snuggling up & watching a movie together

and the memories created...

behold our little ones....

Till Next time...

Shellagh

p.s.  I almost forgot to show you
 my latest pillow design...

ya' like it?

here's a close up of the vintage lace

the very top w/ a tiny vintage button on the pleat

and here's a picture of the back~

(if interested, the pillow is in my Etsy shop)



thanks for coming by today! xoxo

{most pics by country living...a couple from an unnoted source...oops)