Happy New Year

Dear Friends, it seems 2012 passed all too soon and here we are about to greet a brand new year.

A time for new beginnings and adventure.

 

 It seems I never get everything created that I'd like to for Christmas and my shoppe. And, I always vow to create a little Christmas all year long to stay on track.

However, like every season, that doesn't happen even with a well organized plan no matter how hard I try.

 

True joy for me is looking forward to fresh starts within my journey. Do you do this too? Excited about going forward?

 

Getting back in the studio after a little time off to rest my wrists while enjoying my family for Christmas, has been simply wonderful. A little R&R always does one good.

 

January always brings me inspiration in our home to update the decor too.

Taking down all the Christmas decorations to reveal a clean empty palette, just gives me inspiration going forward.

 My dear Mr. Design guy always asks, are we ever done? You notice he says we. Oh I am so thankful for the talent he has to help me try and make our home what it can be.

 

Christmas 2012 was a special time for my family and I pray it was for you as well.

I am continually thankful for the many blessings God has shared with us.

Thankful for more then I could ever count or name.

 

Now as I look towards new direction on my creative journey, I am excited about getting busy once again.

Looking to God for the way in which HE would have me to go. Following that path wherever it leads.

Praying for my friends and family in blogland and beyond. You bless me in more ways then I ever thought possible. Thankful for the new friendships made this past year and for the many first friends over the nearly 6 years of blogging. You are all so special.

 

Time has flown by and here we are approaching 2013.

My prayers will continue, my feet are on the path, the road feels solid and the light is bright. Life will give it's  ups and downs along the way, nothing is perfect. But the journey will continue as we all begin a new year. God Bless.

 

Wishing You and Yours a Wonderful, Safe, Healthy and Happy New Year.

 

 

With Love,

Celestina Marie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready, Set, Decorate!!!

Greetings Friends. I hope your Thanksgiving was a blessing and you enjoyed a special day. Today, Friday, begins my Christmas decorating here in my cottage. No Black Friday shopping for me. No, I would rather stay in and bring out the pretties.

  I know the decorating seasons is earlier each year for many. But in my home, we hold a tradition to let Thanksgiving have it's day and the Christmas look begins anew following that special gathering, even though I have been designing Christmas for my shoppe since last July!!!

 However today, I pull out all the stops inside and out. Granted I live in a climate that is mild and outdoor decorating much easier with warm temps. Today is cooler and very windy so it will be a small challenge.

So as I begin my day of fun and the joy of decorating, I will leave you with a reminder for my shoppe sale on going till December 8th. Using coupon code HOLIDAY30 at checkout with paypal, you will receive 30% off everything in store and shipped in time for Christmas giving.

 

Here is a sampling of treasures lining the shelves.

See you again soon
Happy Decorating Season and Merry Christmas,
Celestina Marie

Christmas Decorating Simply Using What We Have!

Decorating for Christmas can be filled with new and sparkly, but I love to take on the challenge of using what I have to decorate. I have found just adding a touch of holiday to the decor already in my cottage home, brings a look that is cozy and charming.

This year my decorating took on that style as you can see in the pics that follow. It was so much fun to Christmas up with treasures I already had and displayed in a new way.

Like this bowl of sugared fruit with a few blue ornaments and pine cones added to my vintage blue willow bowl. I use blue willow in my old world kitchen and this display on the island works right into that style.


For the table, I layered a large round Christmas platter with another in rubbed oil bronze in the center. Added to the two tiers I added vintage and new ornaments, magnolia cones, berries, sugared fruit and more. In the top I added a faux candle with timer and each evening it comes aglow and gives a cozy warm feel to the kitchen.


Here's an idea, to glass angels candle holders, I simply place a vintage gold ornament to the top of two angels. Candle holders don't always have to hold a candle.

One of my favorite and most cherished treasures is this red glass plate made by my great grandfather in the glass factory in W. Virgina in the 40's. To the plate which is displayed on a vintage dresser, I have added red and pink vintage ornaments. It's simple, easy and so pretty.

In this same room I have added a beaded red angel to the top of a vintage armoire displayed with a vintage hat on an old stand, with books, small dress form and a pair of wooden shoes brought back from France by my father in WWII. I cherish these shoes and remember them being in my entire life.

For the coffee table, once again I have added traditional ornaments to my mother's vintage glass bowl displayed with Christmas books and beaded pear coasters. But this time I place the bowl atop a candle ring of pine and berries which gives it some elevation and extra accent.

To this decorator's gallery ledge, I simply add an old world angel.

To my recently new guest bathroom, I added small ornaments to the glass bottles and jars with a glitter tree and large bottle brush tree.


To the top of the iron display tower I placed a beautiful crocheted angel with feather fur trim. She looks perfect overlooking the pink roses in this bath.

And since I seem to be on a roll with bowls this season, I had to once again this year, display my bowl of books in our library. It is always ready to read a few pages filled with Christmas inspiration.

How about a little treat?~~~ red, green and silver kisses filling a vintage canning jar and tied with red ribbon. I have to be careful not to eat too many for the decoration will go away. It's for looks right?!?! LOL and looks right at home among the little cookie jars of Santa and his Winter Cottage.

For my beloved Deacon's bench, made by my father, I place our family bible accented with holly leaves and berries and a pair of vintage glasses open to the story of the Christ Child's birth.

And have you seen these darling little set of 4 stencils from Dollar General for one dollar? They are for decorating cookies, cupcakes and such with sprinkles, sugars or powdered sugar. I can't wait to try these little sweeties.

Lastly, in case Santa loses his hat on the way down the chimney, I hang this sweet Santa hat on an old cane standing in a vintage crock by the fireplace.
This hat is very special to me. You see, it was worn by my mother when she was in the nursing home before she passed away. During the one Christmas she spent there, she wore it and wheeled around to the other rooms to wish those very sick a Merry Christmas. I can still see her, wheeling up into a neighboring room with a big smile full of cheer and greetings. It makes me cry with joy to remember her praying with other sick elders, singing Christmas carols and doing the Lords work, right to the end.

Love to you this Christmas!

Decking and Decorating the Halls with Joy!

After Thanksgiving my Best Guy and I began our decorating for Christmas. What fun we always have with the process. We put away all the Fall decor and after many trips back and forth to the attic with the Christmas tree and holiday decorations, our home is all aglow in Christmas romance. Inside and out says we are ready to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.

Taking center stage is our new 7 1/2' Colorado Spruce Tree. This year a new faux tree was in order since our past tree had seen it's days. Before Halloween we found our new tree and we were so excited to put her up and decorate the boughs. Dressed in sage, copper, red cottage roses, snowflakes and vintage ornaments it is a beautiful sight in the dining room window. You can see it in the distance with the first pic. I'll share a closer pic soon when the light is better.

I have many pics to share and will do so a little at a time building up to Christmas. This season finds our cottage spruced up in a vintage traditional style. I must say it is warm, cozy and very Christmas especially in the evening with the warm glow of the lights. Not overdone, but a less is more approach this year. Just too busy for more, so our Christmas village is not part of the decorations this season. First time in 25 years I have not brought it all out, but with huge painting and home decorating plans after Christmas, I just needed to scale down just a bit. Really, just a bit.~~ My hubby would say not really, but for me it truly is less!! With the last of my custom orders to fill, I really look forward to enjoying the season with my huge studio work load complete.

What are the new plans for the first of the year you might ask? Well, starting with the dining room, I have plans for a new fresh wall color, repurpose the furniture and redecorate. More about that later, but for now, here are a few first pics to celebrate the season.











I'll be back with more and some ideas for decorating with what you already have by adding a touch of Christmas and a Holiday Giveaway.
Till then, enjoy the beginning of December, stay warm and Merry Christmas!

IT'S A SNOW DAY!

Yes, it's a snow day in Texas. With cold temps, sleeting rain and flurries, this was the look from my studio window.

Later accumulating to this~~

Okay, I know you are saying, that's not much snow. I agree having lived and growing up in the north, but for us, this is something in the lone star state and such a cozy sight it is.

So what does one do on a snow day? You probably already know what I might plan.
Paint, design, decorate, cook, read, dream or all of the above?

Okay, let's put on some background music to warm the air.

Make a pot of chili.

Count my many blessings.

For the warmth of Home Sweet Home.

Let my little mouse sleep.

Enjoy a pot of tea.

Gather my design books with inspiration for my newest home projects and dream, dream, dream!

And reading now for my kitchen restyle!

and more books~~


ahh and more to dream with~

Then study paint chips for another bathroom restyle.

And dream of this rose floral look with this fabric on a chair for my living room and the sofa with the other.


Every year after the holidays, my designer blood boils to decorate and restyle some area of my cottage. So this winter, painting a bathroom, upgrading my kitchen and sprucing up the living room are in order. I have gathered all I need to do the work myself and with my sweethearts help, we are anxious to get started. I will share pics along the way with before and after when complete. I love decorating with treasures I already have, including a little paint and flea market finds.

So with Spring around the corner, this is the way I spent this snow day and loved every minute planning my home decorating projects. The cozy and relaxing day gave me the time to rest my painting arm a bit more and with this rest, little by little, it is feeling much better. I will be back to swinging that paint brush full steam soon!

Oh I hear Miss Beazy at the door~
She is dusted with fresh snow. Shake, shake Beazy, before you come in!

Well, she did not shake, so with beach towel in hand, I dried her off and she is happy to be back inside.

Now before I get back to my snow day and decorating dreams, I will share a few Spring inspirations I placed around this snow cottage.




Thank you for stopping by and blessings be yours this beautiful winter day.
Hugs from Texas,
Celestina Marie