Movin' on...

...to Christmas! Let's start with family and friends.

 My favorite cousin, Chrissy, sent me these pictures of her Christmas plates.

 She does them all a little different. I love the greens and ornaments. The snowflakes make perfect napkin holders.

Chrissy made this wreath for me last year. I love the earth-y-ness of it with the little owl, pinecones and little birds. The big feather is just perfect and the finishing touch! I have it hanging on the pantry door.

Moving on to Connie's house. She emailed me before Thanksgiving and said, "I have a favor to ask you. If you don't want to do it, that's okay. But if you do, I'll buy you lunch. Would you decorate my table?"

OMGosh! This is how I responded, "OMGosh! I would LOVE to do your table. In fact, I'll take YOU to lunch for letting me!" We set it up for Saturday after Thanksgiving---when we got back from Charlotte. I was excited and looking forward to it all week long. We touched down at 10:30 and I was at her house by noon! She said she didn't want to spend a lot of money. We spent nothing!! I used just what she already had. The results:

I started with asking her how many "events" she was going to have where she would be using her dining room table this holiday season. You would not want a table setting like this if you have to move it a lot to change the tablecloth. If you do plan several "dining room" meals, then you can just use your table with placemats---no cloth that needs replacing.

 She has a lot of really cool and interesting things. I love using books to make "levels."

I had to use this needlepoint---one of my favorites. When I finished this one for her last year, I told her I enjoyed it just as much the second time around! We had started this one as a class in 2009. She said she couldn't finish it because she hated the beading. Well, anyone who knows me, knows that if you whine long enough, I'll do it for you! Here's the thing---she tricked me in to thinking all she had left was the beading. She had barely started it! It was really fun to stitch. And now I was glad to have it to use in her tablescape.

 I try to make sure that it's interesting from all angles.

I put her needlepoint train on the mantle to fill the blank spot from where I took the books. I think it  is so awesome to have a fireplace in the dining room.

I have loved her wallpaper forever! Too bad I didn't take a picture of her rug. I've actually had dreams about that!

*Update: I had Connie send me a photo of her rug. I still love it. I'd say we found it about 18 or 19 years ago. It still looks like new:

 I'm not big in to "oriental rugs" so this type is more to my taste.

So, one thing leads to another. I noticed two gorgeous---huge---cross-stitch framed pictures. One is an angel and the other is a bride. They were gifts to Connie's daughter, Malinda---made by Connie's sister. Malinda had them in a closet, so Connie took them. She didn't know what to do with them. I suggested that we re-arrange the pictures in her hallway to accommodate them. We did. They look great! I'll get a picture.

And here is a long shot of what will become a gallery wall. The other side has some of her grandchildren's pictures that we re-arranged and moved. With the exception of the christening gown (that also belonged to Jack) the rest is needlework.

Get ready, more Christmas to come!