Black and White Rocking Horse

During the holidays I moved this table over to the corner and have decided to keep it here.  I updated the interior of the wood lantern.  This location proves difficult to take a picture because of glare so bear with me. 

I opened the door to view everything better.  

The idea all began with this little rocking horse.  Isn't this the cutest!  I found it at a local store in a basket of mark downs.  I only took one since I had it in mind for this lantern.  I love how it looks like an old piece chipping away with age.  It's actually sold as an ornament but it's kind of heavy so I just took off the string hanger it came with.

We were at Hobby Lobby shortly after I found the rocking horse and I spotted this antique looking candle holder.  The black part is cast iron in the shape of a flower.  I cut the candle shorter and melted it a bit to look aged.  It's too close to the top so I really won't be lighting it again.

I put a lace doily in there that came from my Mom's house.  The tree came from the same place as the horse but I had to have Dan cut a chunk off the bottom of the tree to lower it because it was taller than I thought.  It came with the wood base which I thought was pretty cute. 

I added more black and white with another candle holder and the plates.  The swan was already dressed for the occasion!  

The swan has some history.  I saw this Swan Decoy in a Ballard Designs catalog (still available $129).  We were at a friend's house and I became aware that he liked to carve wood and I casually said I had recently found this swan for but it was too expensive for me to buy.  He privately told Dan he could carve one for me so they secretly worked together on it.  

Dan finished the painting on it and then it was presented to me at Christmas 2016.

While putting my pictures on the post I realized something seemed to be missing.  I decided some kind of tray should hold the plants and candlestick on the left side.  I looked and looked on the internet for something but just didn't want to spend the money on what I was finding.  

Finally the light bulb went off and I remembered I had this white charger.  I was happier with the look the moment I put it together.  I am even more happy because it tied in the black and white look that I had started with the dishes I put on the plate rack.

This charger was originally a green/with gold color from Pottery Barn several years ago.  I didn't like the coloring the moment I got it (didn't even look like their pictures) so it got a coat of an off white color.  The details showed up much better so that was an unexpected bonus!

I love to play this way!

Joining the following blog parties:

Dishing & Digging It 

Celebrate Your Story 

By the way-

I will be joining a group of bloggers starting Monday Feb. 5th thru the 9th for my first blog hop

sponsored by Chloe @ Celebrate & Decorate

I hope you'll check it out!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Joining the following parties:

Dishing It & Digging It 

Up North Rustic Romantic Dining (T)

As Valentine's Day is drawing near romantic tablescapes come to mind.  I created a rustic romantic tablescape using my green lantern, antlers and pine cones.

I chose mirrors to create the feeling of cool icy water and reflection...

Pine cone salt and pepper shakers just seemed fitting.  Found them at T.J.Maxx long ago.

Sorry for the background editing...I'm prepped for Valentine's Day on the plate rack but didn't want it to show yet) 

A full bodied bottle of wine to compliment the short ribs dinner recipe I found

at Williams Sonoma "here".  

This tablescape was inspired in part because of the new dish I bought with the deer and the wood candle holder.  I imagined using these in the rustic green lantern (that I've used before as shown "here").  Using sprigs from a faux pine branch and natural acorn pieces help naturalize the look.

These dishes by Park Designs were found locally and are perfect for a setting like this.  The napkins came from the same store and are also by Park Designs- called Walk In The Woods).  Though I've had the dishes a while they are still available- in fact there are other coordinating pieces now for it including one with a moose!

Napkin rings from Pier 1 (a year ago) help pinch the napkin together making it look a bit like a bow tie.

The green stemware from Pier 1 (from a while back) worked well for the theme and chosen wine.

Thank you for joining me for my Up North Rustic Romantic Dining!

I’m Joining the following blog parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday 

Celebrate Your Story

Tablescape Thursday 

Share Your Cup 

Dishing It & Digging It 

Romantic Wedding Tabletop Centerpiece

My friend Tess's son was recently married.  She created these romantic tabletop centerpieces for the dress rehearsal dinner but I'm definitely imagining them for the wedding itself and other occasions.

Home and Gardening With Liz

Home and Gardening With Liz

Tess used lanterns from Pier 1.  The florist created the floral rings for them which had the same roses found in the bride's bouquet.  

Home and Gardening With Liz

The Bride and Groom figurines are a cake topper from Target and the dog figurine is made by Schleich (they make a lot of farm animal figurines) that she ordered on-line because she had a lot to order but they can be found in various places including Walmart and Tractor Supply.  

Home and Gardening With Liz

The little LED lights were also from Pier 1 and the battery box is taped to the upper part of the lantern.  I love how she included the couple's golden retriever (Maverick).  Such a nice personal touch!

Home and Gardening With Liz

For privacy I blurred out the faces of her guests.  This was the only picture she had on hand from that evening showing the centerpiece. You know how it is- when you are hosting a party you barely have time to remember such things!

Home and Gardening With Liz

This is such a pretty idea- I love how romantic it is!

Please feel free to Pin on Pinterest!

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Inspire Me Tuesday 

I Love Christmas Trees

I love extra Christmas trees around the house.  

 I've recycled the use of these small trees by using the candle holders that were already here on the chest.

 I've used this gold display dish a few times and this year it became the holder of my Pottery Barn ornaments that I was collecting over a period of several years.  I usually bought one or two and kept building on it for a while.

 I have a grouping of these little candle rings that I used to dress out the bottom of the trees.

 The skinny tree…. and the bicycle….

 On a whim when Dan and I were visiting the garden center we bought the bicycle.  I had this silly notion to put it and my sleigh together out on the deck.  With all the snow we get it would be impossible to keep them from being buried in the snow (what was I thinking?) so it ended up in the house.  It looks cute with the sleigh that's out by the tree but it takes up too much room.  

 She prepares to take a picture and gets photo-bombed!  Teddy is never far away!

 Each year since I've had this pencil tree I have stuck with a woodland theme.  I started out with birds and bird houses and it expanded over time to include small woodland animals.  This year I stuck to the birds and birdhouses but added the white and red stars.

I keep it simple here since it's a bit of a high traffic area.  

I love Christmas Trees!

Wood and Table Top Vignettes

Last year I created this three panel piece and used it for a display on my round table as seen "here" that I am not using any longer.  I found these beautiful red swags at JoAnn's that I added to the front area and set the big owl that I've previously used on my pencil tree.

This wood top covers the built in cabinetry that separates our living room from the rest of the house.

 The big lantern has been featured many times but this year I emptied it and came up with a new look.  

That's a baby picture of our grandson gifted to us by the kids at Thanksgiving.  I haven't decided where to permanently place it yet.

 Let's open it up and look inside!

 These are the little trees I bought at Terrain that I mentioned in my post the other day.

Dan created a light for me in the top of the lantern as featured "here"in 2010.  

This Santa stood in front of the three panels last year on the round table.   I like how he fits in here with the trees.  He came from Lowe's a few years ago.

I added some of those wireless mini light strands to it for nighttime.

Just to the side in the living room I dressed out the wood card table that usually sits in the spot where the Christmas tree is.  I got the tablecloths from MacKenzie Childs last year at the end of the season. The bottom one would have gone on the round table but since I'm not using it now I decided to use both of these together.

 Late in the summer when Dan and I visited Mackinaw City we picked up the picture at a little gallery store.  

 This is a real time picture taken on Mackinac Island during the winter.  Those are snowmobiles on the left and the horse carriage is real.  If you aren't familiar with Mackinac Island here in Michigan it is virtually void of cars.  People get around on bicycles, horses with carriages and wagons and of course on foot too.  It's only accessible by boat.

 This old world style Santa was bought last year at the end of the season sale in a cute gift shop in my hometown of Rochester, MI.  I thought he looked like something you could believe you'd see in the scene depicted on Mackinac Island.

 I got lantern crazy this year.  Love it at night!

 Last year I used this reindeer wall decoration on the mantel.  I hooked it to the top of the easel with the picture.  Seemed fitting for the vignette!

Tis' the Season!

Joining:

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12 Days of Holiday Homes Link Party