Visions of Sugarplums

Do you often wonder at what prompts us to see things in such an individual way....everyone has a different point of view or vision perhaps, of the same object?

What does the mind's eye record and remember, or just toss away into the far recesses??

Why are we drawn to certain colours, styles and dismiss others?

I know that my preference and taste for clothing and decor has not really radically changed over the years. I love romance, roses, antiques, soft muted colours, and nature, and notice every detail about it all !

What I see in my mind's eye influences everything.

The hand painted ceiling above, was taken in my uncle's old home in Italy. It just captivated me. It was in the very top floor of what must have been the main bedroom.  Can you imagine looking at that before you fell asleep each evening and upon awakening? Amazing. I wonder who painted it?

I purchased this beautiful water colour from a customer of mine. It hangs in my kitchen.

Roses, china, romance, what else is there??

We recreate what we see.

We gather what we love.

My fireplace mantel this spring.

A curtain finial I fashioned from chipped china roses. I swagged my cotton organdy curtains from it.

The same colours translate into every aspect of life, holidays and celebrations.

Interesting....

A cherub ornament on my tree last year. A throw back, perhaps to the ethereal, painted ceiling????

This lovely canvas was Paul Gosen's rendition of the court at Versailles. A local artist who painted furniture for me in my days as a shop keeper. Still the same palette of preference.

Collections reflect recorded images, memories, influenced by our surroundings and experiences, acquired through living and learning.

A vintage bark cloth pillow which I have loved for years. The silk fringe is still in perfect condition.

Vintage Murano glass mirrors must be an influence from my Italian roots. I antiqued it to look older.

Glass prisms from vintage boudoir lamps on my dresser pair well together.

The curtain finial, up close and personal, and of course, embellished by a hand made tassel, in a lovely French blue.  My twenty something Ralph Lauren wallpaper as a back drop!!!

I will hate to strip it shortly when we do the reno. I have thought of washing it with a thin glaze to mute the colours. What do you think?

The visions we see and translate into our homes, determine who we are or who we have become.

At Christmas time, I notice that all that I love and cherish from years of homemaking, take on a different meaning for me. Even as a young wife with very little, I embraced making a home beautiful and comfortable. Nothing has changed. I still envision making it the same.

Small Treasures

There still is a bit of time left for contemplating the thought of handmade gifts for Christmas.

A few weeks ago, a few of us made these interesting pear pin cushions. This is the large size, but a smaller version is in the works,which I hope to gift to a few special friends who stitch.

The idea is to totally hand sew them from start to finish, and then personalize them for each recipient,

more like a memory board idea, and embellish as you go.

Adding a copy of a photograph with special meaning is a good start. I bought a small inexpensive locket, which I distressed and then added the small script.

Small vintage spools of ivory coloured thread which I attached with pearl head pins, holds crochet samples of my Mom's work.

The sage coloured toile was a left over scrap from a recent project. It was a great neutral colour to play with and served as a good backdrop for layering treasures.

 Adding another dimension, a monogrammed piece of a damaged vintage napkin

to personalize the piece even further.

I perched mine on top of a tarnished silver candy dish to elevate, but candlesticks or other pedestals may be used as well. The smaller version can be displayed under a glass cloche.

Ribbons, photos, vintage buttons, and even heirloom jewelry can be added to make sewing even more

pleasurable. Evoking memories and enjoying tranquil moments,

lost in reverie, is all part of the process, when idling away the hours doing needlework.

If you don't have vintage pins, they can easily be made by adding findings to existing new ones.

Here an earring back is used to enhance one.

Vintage velvet leaves in almost the same colours were found and rescued from a vintage hat.

This project was taught at Stitch, in Jordan.  Every pin cushion was unique and resonated in some special way with it's creator. Sometimes it is a small treasure, such as this, made by hand, with love
that is the best gift.

Christmas Past

Every year, when thinking about the fast approaching Christmas season, I try to remember to keep it simple. Since I am such a tinkering soul, and fussing and arranging and propping are a huge part of my nature, this can truly be a challenge for me...

...and as I get older, it is my intent to just add a bit of stuff to what is already out there!

What I intend to do this year is just embellish with Nature's bounty, adding some fresh  greenery and a few flowers.

Paired with white tulips and some greens it worked perfectly with old silver last Christmas.

Last year, I found a beautiful garden rose, called Super Green, if you can believe it!  As you can see above, it is more deserving than that. I would rename it Petit Chou Vert...little green cabbage.

As well as decor, food is a large part of my thought process. Being Italian, it is and will always be

front and center for the holidays.

Here you can see, my sister Micki's beautifully wrapped Maria Bruno cookies.

They are an old family recipe from my Mom's.

Baking parchment is a beautiful alternative for wrapping cookies and other food gifts, and can be embellished with simple ribbons or hand made tags.

It has a pure and clean look to it.

They are wonderful hostess gifts, and are too delicious for words!

Shortbread stars, dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with gold dragees waiting to be wrapped as gifts and savoured by a lucky recipient.

I have embraced so many wonderful and timeless recipes as well as my own traditional ones.

These are a favourite in our family.

Here, you can see ricotta cookies, which are iced with white chocolate and silver dragees. They are

my personal favourite, and just melt in your mouth!

Back to decor....I have found that my love of books works well into the scheme of things. Last year I found a beautifully illustrated, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, published by Blue Heron Books, and the exquisite illustrations by Robert Ingpen totally captivated me.

I randomly left it open during the season, here and there, and was able to enjoy it so much more.

I have started a collection of books which I hope someday to read to my grandchildren.  The collection is growing, even though neither of my sons are married. It still is fun to imagine!

I am hoping that again, just by adding some fragrant greens, and pulling out some favourite pieces,

the house will take on a festive look. Linens and silver always come into play, and even if the linens don't get ironed I still use them as is..a la shabby chic. I have found a trick, that by spritzing them with a fine mist and laying them out to dry, they look just as great.

Last years table setting on Christmas Eve.....I decided I would make angels for everyone's place setting. The cookie cutters were rather large and I had to lift them off the cookie sheet with two spatulas, a little tricky... but my decorating soul was satisfied by all the gold embellishing and fussing I did to make them shine!

A silver leaf stag on my fireplace mantel, purchased from Home Goods... I love any deer or stag motif, possibly because I have caught glimpses of them in our woods over the years.

They are regal, beautiful creatures.

My busy, twenty year old decor, which I always try to work with. I think it is more about making what we have, work and beautiful for our families. It is more satisfying and certainly more challenging!

I do succumb to adding a few enticing things every year, like these gorgeous mercury and glass bells

found in Fredricksburg, Texas. I hung them from some champagne coloured, organdy ribbon from

Midori, one of the best sources for ribbons and trims. All that was needed to dress up a fresh green wreath and hall mirror.

....more of Petite Chou Vert....wonder what the grower would think!!!

....but most of all, I try to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, when I get a little overwhelmed with it all. Yes the food is important and the flowers and the tree and the treats, but I hope to try to imagine how a little child views it all...the wonder and innocence and magic that it really is.

I shall try to remember.