Littlest Angels

It is with a heavy heart, and a tear much too quick to come to the eye, that I prepare for Christmas in these past few days since the senseless tragedy occurred in Connecticut. The glitter of Christmas has dimmed and I have found it difficult to post about decor and things that seem so trivial in light of what has transpired. I hope that all of you out there are still celebrating this splendid time of year and dealing with the tragedy in whatever way you and your families see fit. We are...and trying to push aside our somberness of adulthood and understanding of what it all means in order to help our children feel safe and to feel that the whole world is not a big bad place. 

Our hearts ache for all of those families affected, both young and old, and our prayers are sent upward to help heal all involved, both on site and around this grand old country.

With Love,

Meg

Cute little Place card Holders

December 11th

I am back! The preparations for the last Barn Sale took me away from my computer for a couple of days (and away from completing the decorations of my own house). The barn looks so pretty, I wonder if the kids would mind if we moved all the festivities up there? I can just see their faces now as I ask them to get on their coats, hats, gloves, scarves,  (oh...and the long underwear for the barn lacks heat) before they open their presents Christmas Morning. Hmmm...don't think that will work.

I did however manage to make these cute little place card holders. You could also use them as a menu holder or a picture holder. I have a collection of old silver that I have picked up at various flea markets over the years so I thought this would be a a neat project to use them in. 

1. Paint the small terra cotta pots white. These took 3 coats. (you could also use them au natural) Let dry

2. Coat top band of pot with tack glue and then sprinkle with crystal clear glitter.

3. Cut florist foam to fit the inside of the pot and stuff in the pot. 

4. Insert fork into center of pot being careful not to pull it out and then put back in again. You don't want to make a large hole where the fork was inserted.

5. Use a glue gun to glue down a clump of moss on top of the florist foam and carefully arrange around the fork.

6. Dab a paintbrush into some white acrylic paint and lightly pat the top of the moss to give it a snow covered look.

7. Sprinkle some of the clear glitter in the moss and viola, you have a cute little table accessory!

I stamped blank gift tags with a Christmas image for the sale but you can use place card holders to insert in the prongs of the forks.

2 Weeks until Christmas Day! I better finish my house (and maybe start the shopping too!) Shhh...don't tell my kids!

Meg

Thank you!

December 7th

Give thanks to all of the great things in each and everyone of our lives!

A huge thank you goes out from the bottom of my heart for those of you who came out today to benefit both the Montgomery School and the The Mommy's Light Organization ! (and who got to nibble on these beautiful Springerle cookies that are almost too pretty to eat!) The weather was not the best and the barn took a chill on that those old stone walls would not let go of. That did not stop those who came out to shop so that we could give back to a wonderful school and to an organization who celebrates the lives of mom's who have left their families way too soon. 

Thank you and hope to see more of you at our Christmas Open House this Sunday!

The barn will be open from 10-4 with tastings of some festive Holiday fare. 

Joining us will be:

Alvare's Artisanal Breads

Batter; who concocts yummy cupcakes and cakes

Laura's Biscotti

Twin Valley Coffee

and those beautiful Springerle Cookies from the Springerle House

along with hot mulled apple cider

Tomorrow I will post some of the projects that I have been working on that will be added to the already bedecked barn! 

I am thankful and grateful...for you!

Meg

Simple Ways to Use Greens

December 6th

I have 12 minutes left to post a blog tonight to make it before the hand strikes midnight. I said that I would post once a day with little Holiday inspirational tips. The day has gotten away with me but it is a promise I made to myself and one that I would like to withhold so here goes a quick one!

Evergreens...such a beautiful decorating element that does not cost a cent! You can go out in your own backyard, a friends backyard or the woods and cut to your hearts content.

String them together to make a garland. 

Add sparkly white lights and a figure or two.

Tuck some into a basket with pinecone which also can be found everywhere!

Tuck them into a "tree" of pinecones".

Tuck a couple of sprigs into the ribbon of your packages, behind your mirrors hanging on your wall, into a ribbon or piece of jute tied around the stem of your wine glass....anywhere that can use a simple "sprucing" up of green for the holidays! 

Go out and cut yourself a basketful!

Meg

Simple Tags

December 5th

Today I would like to share with you a simple idea for creating handmade gift tags.

Print out a vintage image on heavy cardstock. I found this image on the Graphics Fairy Website. They have some fabulous images...for free!

1. Fill a shallow plate with the glitter color of your choice. 

2. Coat the edges of your cut out image in a thin layer of glue. 

3. Dip the glued edge in the glitter, turning it slowly to cover all glue surfaces. Don't worry that the glue is not even. It is the imperfection of it that looks handmade.

4. Shake off excess glitter over the plate so that way you can dump back what you do not use into the container of glitter.

5. Lay out to dry and then punch with a hole punch to attach a string, a piece of ribbon or jute.

Stay tuned to see them on a gift wrapped package as well as others that I will highlight!

PS Kids love to do the glitter part!

Happy tagging!

Meg

Believing in the Magic of Christmas

Where has the time gone?

The 4th of December it is today...I was hoping to get this blog up by the 1st...I can always hope!

My 14 year old son said, as we were driving to school today, "It's kind of sad when you don't believe in Santa anymore, like you used to." I knew who he was referring to... the cool teenager who casually dismisses his non belief in public, but yearns for that magic that believing in Santa brings. We all...former believers...yearn for that magic, don't we?

 After he made that statement I replied with probably what is the standard retort for this kind of thing which went something like this; "I still believe! I believe in the idea of Santa and the goodwill that he brings, the way people seem to be a little nicer to each other during this season, the special feelings that surround us during this season. I believe in the beautiful decorations and how they uplift the spirit upon viewing them. I believe in the Advent season and getting ready for Jesus' birth...on the inside and the outside. I still very much believe in it all!"

 I believe in all the sights, sounds, smells, preparations, books, TV shows (oldies but goodies are my faves), celebrations with family and friends, and the  hustle and bustle that comes with the Christmas season. Yes, it is chaotic, frenzied at times...but exciting and meaningful. If you feel like it has gotten out of control, step back a minute and take inventory of what is really important to you and your family. What absolutely cannot be let go of and what might be able to be dropped in this year's preparation?

 From here on on out, I will be sharing a little tidbit each day leading up to Christmas that celebrates

"Believing in the Magic of Christmas." 

December 4th

Who fostered this love of all things Christmas ????

My mom and my dad, who created special Christmases for me and my four siblings as we grew up. When I look back on those memories, it is not the gifts that we received that I remember (except for the year that my younger sister got a really cool coat but I did not) but the feelings that were generated celebrating this Holiday together. We are all truly blessed to still celebrate this Christmas when all four of my brothers and sisters come home to my mom and dad's house to gather together. Lots of laughter is generated and none of us would miss it for the world! 

Who did I just spend the beginning of this Christmas season with? Who came to my aide sawing, drilling, painting, and even hot gluing? I had a deadline to meet and all of my partners in crafting crime were busy including my oldest son.

My mom and dad stopped by to pick up something...at this point I don't even remember what it was, but after they asked, "What are you up to?" and I told them what I would be working on night and day to get finished, my dad pitched right in and began sawing. After sawing, he dove right into the screw gun and we assembled the bases. My mom helped give another coat of paint to them and made dinner for the kids. After another evening of their help, where my dad was even caught on film using a glue gun (he usually prefers much manlier tools), all 30 of the birdhouses were ready for their dressings! 

He even brought over a kerosene heater because the artist studio where I was decorating them in has no heat and it was freezing. It is amazing how quickly stone buildings trap the cold and never let it go! The caveat was that you had to wear a mask to breathe...details, details. And he called me first thing in the am to see if I had survived the night working in the stinky warmth!

Anyway, after their help with the base assembly I was able to bedeck all 30 with their finery that night and deliver them the next day.

Magic is often created with the help of others! We don't get to spend a huge amount of time together, for between our busy schedules, both my own and my dad's work, our long amounts of time spent together are few and far between. This was special, it felt like we were working on one of my late night science projects again like when I was a kid and a teenager. He was the go to guy for helping with those hands on projects and very creative in doing so...hmmm....know anybody like him?

December 4th...Believe in the Magic of Christmas

Meg