Blue and White for Christmas

I came to the conclusion last summer that my need to have new tile in the powder room shower was not high on Mr. Bill's priority list.

I resigned myself that change was not imminent and decided to embrace the blue.

This blue tile has been a trial to me for about 12 years.
Even though this hasn't been my favorite tile, I have been fortunate in that there has almost

 always been a trendy scheme that goes with my tile. 

blue and white

blue and yellow

Robin's Egg blue and brown

I got sick of the brown last summer so I pulled it all out.

I went with classic blue and white again.

I wondered if I would put the brown back in for the cooler months but I've decided to keep the blue and white for the winter.

I added a few Christmas things to make it festive.

 

I found the blue velvet wire edged ribbon at the thrift store. The original sticker showed that it came from my favorite antique mall. They had downsized to a smaller space and had donated oodles of their ribbon. 

I found the stocking in a tote of blue ornaments from a tree I did a few years ago.
I love it again.

I am wild about the bottle brush tree in the blue willow cup.  

  I made a new blue scarf for the snowman.  The paperwhite came from Pottery Barn last winter. I have some real bulbs planted in pots but they won't be ready until January.  

As I was getting the room ready to photograph, I looked in the votive holders and found dog hair. Someone please tell me how that dog's hair gets inside a votive?

 I apologize to anyone who has been over and noticed it before I did. 

I am pleased with how the powder room turned out.

Another thing checked off the list. 

Sprinkled with blue and white 

and 
Christmas greenery,
Katie  
Linking with,  
French Country Cottage
Debbie Doos Pinterest pinning party  
Savvy Southern Style

"Flocked" Christmas Tree

I've been wanting a flocked tree.

We have never had one and I was in the mood for something different.

We shopped for one for the living room but I wasn't impressed. It didn't look like flocking technology has changed much since the genesis of the artificial tree.

I have seen many, many flocked artificial trees at junk shops that have yellowed. 
Not pretty. We didn't get one.

I saw something on Pinterest that made me want to give painting the tree a try.
She painted her tree and then sprinkled it with glitter.

Dealing with the aftermath of glitter is one of the hazards of my job so I didn't think I needed to add glitter into the equation.

But I was willing to give painting the tree a try, so I pulled out the white primer.

This job is messy! 

Dabbing seemed to work best.

Brushing the paint on the branches caused splatter.

I got it all over my shirt before I realized what was happening.

I wanted it lightly flocked so I didn't go nuts.

I did hit it with spray snow after it was dry.

 I wish I hadn't  because all it did was shed.

Spray snow hasn't changed much, either, since I was a kid.
Where is the commercial flocking that is sprayed on picks and garlands?
I notice more of the flocking during the day.

At night you can't really get the effect as much. But It seems like the lights are brighter and I like it with the Urban Putty  (by Sherwin Williams) walls in the sunroom. 

It looks cute with the candy and sweets and frosted gingerbread cookies.

You can see what else I have done in the sunroom. 
Sprinkled with artificial snow,

Katie

Linking with,
Savvy Southern Style  
The Brambleberry Cottage

Smitten With Plaid

In 1995 I was smitten by an image in the December issue of Victoria Magazine.

I was captivated by plaid pillowcases and needlepoint pillows.

I embarked on a quest for both which turned out to be more difficult than I thought.

 Beautiful plaid without too much yellow is hard to come by.  
I only shopped at thrift stores, garage sales and Walmart way back then.
This is such a timeless, classic look, I am incorporating a bit of it for Christmas. 

Plaid and Needlepoint

I found this Dress Stewart last Christmas. 

It was a heavily pleated skirt. 
I think I paid $2.99 for it.
I took it to my cleaners and had it cleaned and pressed. 
When I asked them to press out the pleats, they thought I was a little crazy 
but
I knew it would stitch up into the cutest pillows.

 

A week or so ago I found this Black Stewart looking wool at Joann Fabrics. 

 It was the only wool in stock that would work for Christmas decorating. 

I have incorporated the Skotch Kooler we inherited from Bill's granny.

Skotch Kooler

On the other side of the room,
I created a vignette with my lone plaid mug and some Spode Christmas tree cups. 

Spode-Christmas Tree and Plaid 

I love, love the vintage picnic basket from my mother-in-law.

Plaid is in some years and out others.

 I really couldn't find much cute tartan this Christmas.

I think it is just so sought after  that people don't ever give it away.

Loving it in the sunroom!
I can't wait to show you the guest room. 
Sprinkled with plaid,
Katie  
Linking with,
Funky Junk Interiors  
French Country Cottage  
The Brambleberry Cottage  
Savvy Southern Style  
Debbie Doos Pinterest Pinnng Party  
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Magnolia Leaves For Christmas

About 17 years ago my husband lost his job.

We found out that he got a new one the day before Thanksgiving.
He took a significant pay cut, but you do what you've got to do.

I wanted to decorate for Christmas in my new-ish house, but I really didn't want to spend any money.

This was only our second Christmas in this house so I didn't really have all the decorations I needed to fill a larger home.

I shopped the yard for greens to sprinkle about.

I had Burford Holly

Yaupon Holly
Nana Nandina

But...

I really wanted some Magnolia leaves.

 I didn't have a Magnolia tree nor did any of my friends.

My emotions at the time were a little raw.

I found myself working hard to trust that the Lord knew what He was doing and that He cared about our situation. 

I drove up to the house one day

and looked on my front porch.

There in front of me was a bunch of Magnolia leaves.

I knew it was a small token,

a whisper from the Lord.

The nearest Magnolia tree is down at the end of the street and around the corner.

15 or so houses away.

I was reminded of that story today as the dog and I passed the house with the Magnolia tree.

There were some laying in the gutter.

I will use these leaves in one of my Christmas vignettes.

I need to remember that He is always here,

He is always listening, 

and 

He cares about each and every situation I face.

Sprinkled with a whisper,

Katie 
Linking with,
Savvy Southern Style  
French Country Cottage

Thrifting in Review

I've been stopping in at my favorite thrift over the course of the last few months. 
I haven't shown my junky treasures in a while.

 I got some cute baskets for produce. 

I love the cute shelves.
The red plaid fabric was $2.00. 
It is about 4 yards. 
I love, love the cow pitcher.
:)
I re-did the secretary in my room, so I have been on the look out for white dishes.

I found these cuties at one of my favorite junk/antique stores. I spent 30 bucks which seemed a little high. The platter is big and was 12.00.

I couldn't believe I found another cute cow pitcher. The table cloth was $5.00.
The plates were 50 cents each. 


I found quite a bit of fun china at one of my other favorite places.
I love this celedon green Meakin from England. 

 This white pitcher was 99 cents.
It has a tiny flaw and some crazing.

 This Annalee Santa was $4.00. He is missing his skies but it has an older style tag. 

 Love the vintage mini Shiney Brite ornaments and bottle brush trees.

The urn was green but for $3.00 and spraypianted white, it will look cute with some greenery for Christmas.
I also found some pillows and a throw to decorate the deck for the holidays. 
I will show that off in another post.
Sprinkle with thrifty finds,
Katie

Linking with,
Funky Junk Interiors