A Look Back At 2010

As the end of the year approaches, I can't help but think about all that has transpired over this past year (that went by WAY too fast) and all the projects that I've shared here. Here are some of the highlights that stand out in my mind. I can't wait to see what 2011 holds and I hope you'll stick around to see new projects, new endeavors, and of course stocking Etsy with Spring creations!

After the clearing out of Christmas of 2009, light and bright colors, especially my favorite white and green, trickle their way throughout the house and especially surfaces through what I displayed in the Spring Hutch. This hutch has been just a source inspiration for me. Whenever I get the hankering to "change things around", you can be sure the hutch gets it's dose. What ever the season is the hutch is workin' it! :)

Just in time for Easter, a beautiful DIY project straight from the Martha Stewart Archives, I made my very own Cabbage Basket, and I can't wait to get it out again this coming Easter. They were so fun and easy, try it for yourself, you'll love it!

This project was featured quite a bit around the web, it even made it onto Apartment Therapy. Little did I know when I was making this Bottle Cap Tray did I know the response it would get! I still love it and is holding up great.

Pottery Barn serves as endless inspiration time after time and when they came out with a ball finial, early in the year, I had to try my hand at recreating the finish. The Chippy Ball Finial Tutorial shows you how to do it too and I'm still gushing over Tim Holtz's comment.;) This is still one of my favorite projects to date.

Drifting into the Summer months, I made a ruffled burlap runner with the guidance of the talented Jen from Tatertots and Jello. Though I barely made it through and questioned why I even own a sewing machine, I made one of the most fun sewing projects ever. I love this thing and though it only graced one Colorful Tablescape, it stayed on the kitchen table for quite some time.

The Fireplace Facelift was by far the biggest project of 2010. It has impacted my decor in the most positive way, I only wish I had done it sooner.

And let's not forgot my discovery of the love of Spray Painting. The love affair with Krylon began, Blue Ocean Breeze and Leaf Green being among my favorites. I must confess though, I've been cheating on Krylon with Valspar lately. Valspar has a line of spray paints at Lowe's and it is super duper glossy, although Krylon has it beat on dry time.

This past Summer, I was so honored to be featured on Etsy's Get the Look Decor. Etsy is such a great site and when I received the email from Christine that Going Coastal was going to be featured, I was beyond ecstatic! Christine does a great job pulling those articles together.

It's amazing to see how one's home transforms and evolves. Looking at this picture, the living room doesn't even look like this anymore!

Another one of my favorite projects, the Studded Dresser, surmised from a thrift store find, spray paint and upholstery tacks. It beat out the black and white dresser by far.

Tablescaping is one of my favorite things to do, can you tell? :) The Harvest Tablescape was one of my most favorite tablescapes ever. After Justin built a harvest table for me, tablescaping will never be the same. I've got to remember to show you how I display the galvanized tray when it's not a centerpiece.

With Summer over, I created the Fall Mantle and I still miss it (can you miss a display? :) While I love my Christmas Mantle, and still am, this one was my baby. The pennant garland was another Jen inspired project.

The seasons change so quickly, is that how it's going to be from now on? The older I get the faster the time flies. A small season of Christmas tablescaping, starting with the Royal Green Tablescape, one of my favorites.

The Outdoor Christmas Tablescape is by far my favorite (didn't I already say that?). I had the honor of it being featured at Houzz.com and was included among some very talented people, so I was especially honored. This tablescape had the fewest layers, yet it really speaks to me. I'll see if I can't do another outdoor table this winter. I should have done one today it was so nice outside!

Though I feel like I've accomplished a lot this year, I think 2011 is going to be the best yet! I thank God for the blessings that He has bestowed and prayers He has answered. I have to remember that everything has a reason and his plan will be revealed! Hopefully, I will remember to watch and pray.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and heartfelt comments and emails.

From my family to yours, Have a Happy New Year!

Here we come 2011!

And remember, if you have any questions or need help in any way, email me.

Joining Rhoda

Joining Kim

Merry Christmas!

(My sister and I, Christmas morning circa 1977)

From my to family to yours, I wish you a blessed and wonderful Christmas! Thank you so much for your encouragement and support this past year! I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you!!

A Natural Christmas Tablescape

I can tell that I've become acclimated to Missouri winters when I can bundle up, put on a hat and gloves and withstand the chilly cold all in the name of good lighting. :) Of course winter hasn't fully hit yet, so I definitely wanted to get an outdoor tablescape under my belt with my new old table. Really, all tablescapes would be outside if I could! Even with the brown grass and barren backyard, it proved to be a neutral backdrop, for a bright red!

My collection of vintage camp blankets is becoming quite nice, I'm on the hunt for them weekly, this is a nice big one, the label says "leisure blanket", but rightfully I've renamed it as an official "Camp Blanket". I think it's fantastic all the quirky colors that I've found, if you've missed the others, you can find them here and here. This blanket has a great red, black and a funny green-brown palette I thought would look great for Christmas.

I also wanted to use burlap, I mean who doesn't, so I used the placemats I made at each place setting. Chunky white stoneware plates, red flatware, everyday glasses and black napkins.

For each napkin, jute string ties on a rusty jingle bell, I left it loose enough to then put three twigs and some boxwood cuttings in. These are the same twigs I used on the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving tablescape, yep, I'm a twig keeper. I actually keep them in a milk glass vase as a twig bouquet! :)

Very simple.

Bird's eye view:

For the centerpiece, I used my beloved cylinder vases (are you sick of these yet?), and cedar stumps as candleholders. Red berries and pine and burlap garland.

I'm still on the hunt for 7 more mismatched chairs to go around the table, I recently found some on Craigslist, but they sold out from under me, so I'm still looking around. This is an odd chair I have had, and I tied my jingle bell hanger on the back. I think the black looks great with the blanket.

Some of my favorite glassware that you've seen a kagillion times.

And of course because of Daylight savings time, evening shots are becoming more frequent! ;) By the time I get use to it, it will be time to Spring forward!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are inspired! Things might be a little quite this coming week as I try to finalize Christmas happenings! I will be back to wish you all a Merry Christmas and share some hopes and dreams for the New Year! AHhhHhhHhh-I can't believe it's that time already!! See you then!

If you would like to browse through 60 million more photos of this tablescape take a look here at my Photostream

What to see more? Take a look at a great collection I'm included in over {happy, happy, joy, joy} at Houzz:

50 Photos of Amazing Holiday Decorations

Joining Susan

Outdoor Decorating

I thought I would give you a peek of what decorating I've done on the outside of the house. Lord knows it's not much. We live in a great neighborhood, in a small house on a corner lot.

I painted the shutters this past summer, I can't remember whether I told you that or not. They were a washed out blue-green color original to this 12 year old house. I spray painted them black and painted the front door black as well. You might think I'm crazy, but I took Daisy here as inspiration! I was nervous about painting the shutters black, but I thought to myself, if this color pallet looks good on a beagle, it will look good on the house. That's no joke! See for yourself:

How perfect! So the next time you need inspiration on changing the exterior of your house, take a look at your dog, it just might be the answer you need!! Ha ha! :)

I hung a wreath on the big window and I made swags for the shutters.

These are the same type of swags that I have in my Etsy Shop.

I put several stumps along the walk way, they look cool by themselves, but I will be putting my glass vases with candles on them this weekend for a little gathering we are having.

Can you see what this little snowman is made out of? It's an interlocking paver! I bought it at Cecil Floyd Arts and Crafts festival here, I think it's a great project and the artist even personalized it!

More stumps and vases by the front door. You might remember the 'junk drawer' I found at Barnyard Days this fall, I laid some small logs and slices in the bottom, and hung a chalkboard platter right above it. I made a wreath for the front door too.

I added some pine and berries to soften everything up.

On the right hand side, I tied up three logs with ribbon and added some pine and pine cones. You can't see it in this picture, but a small 3' tree is there too.

Here is an evening shot, you can see the little tree now. I put some lights around the door and that's about it! I customized my colored lights to red and green and clear. I just took out the blue and orange light bulbs and bought enough replacement bulbs to fill in with red and green and clear!

Isn't it pretty all lit up?

My monogrammed doormat still holding up.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I have a wonderful outdoor Winter Tablescape posting early next week featuring another camp blanket and these great stumps, I can't wait to show you!