A Little Easter Decorating

I've been doing a little bit of Easter decorating

 Last year my sister made an egg for each of me and my sisters.  I believe she used a decorative tissue paper sheet on mine- and mod podge.  I was looking at it and figured it would look good out on the mantel and then I decided to bring my lamb figurines from the china cabinet out too.

I think they have sweet faces.

I staged it on a little faux nest but needed help keeping it upright so I used some excelsior to help it.  

This extra large paper egg is just like the one I've had since I was a child.  They are made in Germany.  (Notice the photo bomber- my cat Riley)

They come apart in two pieces so you can fill them with some goodies like candy and or a stuffed bunny etc.  It would take the place of an Easter basket.  I used the metal bowl that sits on the coffee table all the time, filled it with the Easter grass, tossed a few eggs around-  simple but enough!

This little paper egg is the one from my childhood.  It was filled with jelly beans and I still remember being so excited about it! 

I put together this little vignette on the corner table by the door.  I set the garden cart on two of those faux grass mats- actually this one is boxwood. Notice the silly chick with rabbit ears (Pier 1) I do go for the traditional Easter colors- I love it especially at this time of year.  After a long winter I'm ready for happy colors!

 I added some mini daffodils to it so it would look like a field with flowers popping out.  The garden cart was from Cracker Barrel last year. I added some shredded green paper along the edges of the mat so it would conceal the framework of the mats.

 The bunnies were from last year (T.J. Maxx).  I stuffed some little violas in the basket that already had some carrots.

In the corner by the kitchen table I stuffed a bunch of  flowers in this metal container and I set a basket of eggs in the salt glazed bowl down below. I didn't make much effort on the bottom.

This chubby bunny sits on top of the flowers with her own stock of carrots to keep her happy.  She's really been enjoying herself!  

Hoppy Easter Greetings!

I'm joining
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday 

A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday


The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Romantic Confectionery Cloche Valentine's Table

I wrapped together a bit of romance and some confectionery goodies in this Valentine's Day tablescape.

 I used some cloche's to display some of my elements.

I reused the plastic wrapper that the flowers came in. I cut and arranged the flowers, then I cut off several inches from the bottom of the bag, wrapped it around the flowers and lowered it into the vase. This way it hides the stems and added some color!

 Another confection was added with that big heart shaped cookie!

Dan and I like a little sweet something after we eat so we each have a personal cupcake to satisfy our sugar tooth! 

These cute little personal sized cloche's come in 

handy for desserts!

 My Mikasa stemware works it way in nicely.  

I fell in love with these Ralph Lauren plates. Both came from T.J. Maxx about a year apart. The red chargers were purchased for Christmas but work well for Valentine's Day too.  I used three napkin rings to pop some more red in and to highlight the silver!

  We like some bubbly but not too much, so I was delighted when I found these half sized Champagne bottles.  

The flatware has a tailored look that pairs well with the black and white Ralph Lauren plate and contrasts nicely against the red runner.

 

I didn't add any chocolates (just yet) because Dan usually buys me some! I used inexpensive flowers just in case someone brings home some roses!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm joining the following parties

Cloche Party 

  and

Between Naps on the Porch 

 Tablescape Thursday

Here's a Romantic Video

My Funny Valentine

 

 

Thanksgiving for two!

It's going to be a quiet Thanksgiving for two of us so I've 

accepted the idea and pulled this together for our table.  

I wanted it a bit rustic and for it to embrace the colors of the season.

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As you can see I've reused my Pottery Barn inspired centerpiece that 

I made in September shown here,  and here. 

I decided to try the soup tureen in the center (it barely fit).  I may just tuck my pumpkin pie inside of it just for fun! I mixed several pieces from different manufactuers and layered heavily!

I'll be joining 

Cuisine Kathleen for

"Let's Dish"

 and

Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday

 

Dishes- Dillard's, Cracker Barrel, One King's Lane

Charger- Walmart

Brown glasses from T.J. Maxx 

Flatware- Sophia- Neiman Marcus

Candle holders from One King's Lane (2011)

Pumpkin Tureen- Kohl's (2011)

Tablecloth- Ralph Lauren (2011) full sized for a table of 6-8 folded in half

   

Fall Mantel

I added an arrangement to my large 

bowl on the mantel.

I wanted to add something dramatic

 yet keep it simple.

I actually started with a swag for a door that I stood upright and tied to the bowl and built the arrangement around it.

With my Tuscan accents in my home these fall colors are easy enough to bring into my room and mix with things I already have.

I added some parts of a dry arrangement I 
found at the store.  It was one of those you find 
in a cellophane bag- I dissected it and used 
what I wanted.

I added pumpkins, gourds, and 
leaves to fill it in.

 I will add a bit of whimsy on the mantel for 
Halloween but otherwise I'm going to leave it 
like this through Thanksgiving.

I was inspired by a mantel from the 
Nell Hill's Blog

Mary Carol's- Nell Hill's Blog

They used a box, I used a large bowl...I used
 the basics of their composition to create mine.
She had a post called Fall Makeover Mantel

I removed one candelabra to make way for the arrangement but that's all I changed!

Thanks for visiting!

I'm joining the following parties:

Between Naps on the Porch for
Metamorphosis Monday 


Debbiedoo's Magazine Copy Cat Challenge 
 

Centsational Girl for the

Autumn Mantels party

Kitchen, Roosters and Sunflowers!

I'm joining 
Stonegable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits 
 
and
Jann at Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson
for Share Your Cup Thursday 


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I thought I would share with you a couple of new vignettes in the kitchen that I recently created.

To begin with I picked up this basket a while back and it really hadn't been given a home.  It's made to stack plates in and that's why the front has the dropped down opening.

Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone! I have this cute little white pedestal that I realized would fit in there and help to raise the plates up higher.  Of course now it needs something to cozy it up!

 I looked about and saw this Williams Sonoma wash cloth and because of the stripe I thought it might be a good touch.  After playing with it a bit I liked it but something was bugging me.

I dug through my napkins and found this Pottery Barn napkin that had some nice earthy tones that would work well with my colors.

This napkin allowed me to fill in the space a bit better.

 I love chicken wire items and this little basket was a good addition to the pieces I got from Pottery Barn a couple of years ago. The tray on the wall is from Wendell August and the Rooster pitcher is a Bordallo Pinheiro piece.

This picture is a print I ordered on line and the frame was a T.J. Maxx find.  I liked the coloring in the frame and it works great with my kitchen. 

Small kitchen....4 ft. between the base cupboards. It works well for one person- gets crowded easily! Let's just say you can do a lot of butt-bumping!

 This is a quick shot of the kitchen.  I moved the knife block off to the back right which shows in the picture above.  I have a tv on a swivel mount that we watch in the mornings while having coffee and sometimes while I'm making dinner!  The little clock below the tv is actually a unit that controls lights inside and outside  of the house.  It's a bit utilitarian but I have few places to hide things.

 Speaking of coffee this is my little nook for coffee. 

 Just to the right of the tv is this other vignette I created.  I got a bun on to create something using a collection of pitchers and this is what I ended up with.

I wanted to do something in the whites but I had to work with it to fit in with my look.  The rooster hadn't been used since I bought it because It's so big I struggled with what to do with it.  I found it on 75% off at Cracker Barrel last year! Couldn't resist!

 I lined my chicken wire tray with this napkin which is also another one from Pottery Barn.  

This was a pitcher I scarfed up from T.J. Maxx several years ago.  It's by Poterie Mont Rachas, France.

It was kind of pricey for T.J. Maxx but something told me to grab it! After I searched the internet for more of the product I was even happier with myself for buying it- especially at T.J.'s prices!

This is an old pitcher in front that I got from my Mom's and the one behind was a fairly new purchase from a trip to PA.

The one with the woven exterior was another T.J. Maxx piece from last spring. I liked the organic feeling it brought to the vignette.  It ties in well with the chicken wire tray and helps ground the look.

 

The Milkhouse milk bottle candle is a cute addition and I love having a little fragrance fill the air! The sunflower added some yellow which draws on the coloring in the Mont Rachas pitcher 

So these are my two new vignettes!  

Thanks for visiting!