Sharing the Decor Party "Simply"

So sorry to be late to the party again!  Whew!  There is just so much bloggy fun out there to join in this time of year!  Ooouu, I am lovin it!  Do I sound like a McDonald's commercial?  LOL!

Any who, I really did want to go to this party as I have had it on my sidebar for awhile now because I thought this one would be really fun.  Yesterday, I just couldn't get it all together to "make it" on time but lucky for me, we bloggers are a lingering bunch.  So, I am happy I have finally made it to the Share Your Decor Party over at No Minimalist Here's site.  What fun!

As if you have seen quite a bit from me already, I've taken advantage of this party to condense it for you and me!  Part of blogging for me is enjoying learning how to use all this fun photo shop stuff.  I haven't "made" a collage in some time, so for this party I decided to have a little fun!

Yes ladies, this is my den!  As you can see it's quite colorful and sweet!

My kitchen is just as sweet!  I used a candy theme in both my den and kitchen this year.

In the dining room it's all about white, silver and gold.

Our upstairs foyer is filled with precious childhood mementos for my sons.  This is their space after all!

And here is a few odds and ends that you've already seen before.  The foyer, my Christmas gift projects, the snow village on the back porch and new wreath on the front porch.

I've still got plenty new photos to share next week from both of my front and back porch's.

I hope you aren't totally sick of it yet. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit and if you've got more time, be sure and visit the link above.  I am sure there will lots there to see and inspire you.

Have a great day, and Merry Christmas!

Mary

Winter White Tablescape

Good Morning Ladies!  Boy am I glad I am an early riser!  This blogging business during the holidays is tough!  I can't believe I almost missed a party, the White Christmas party to be exact.  You can check it out at the link above.  I had been thinking about what table scape I would do for Tablescape Thursday but hadn't come up with one yet.  I didn't want to use my Christmas china just yet, so I was pretty happy to find this party this morning.  Sorry, I am not on top of all these parties unless I get a personal invite or just stumble upon them as I did this morning.

Lucky for me I am quick, cause I've got to be out of here by 9:30am to pick up a friend for shopping.  Woohoo!  Since I now had a clear direction (make that a white direction) on my table scape I was good to go.  So I threw this one together this morning and on one cup of coffee too I might add.  I hope you like it!

Here it is!  My winter white table scape.

You are just gonna have to overlook the green votive candles, okay?  Can you believe I only own one white votive candle?  I will have to remedy that today.

Of course I knew I would pull out my new Lenox for this setting.  You knew that too right?

I just love it!  If you read this post all the way through I'm going to tell you a big surprise at the end you may not want to miss.

Christmas settings deserve the good silver too, don't you think?

Clear crystal goblets and wine glasses were a must.

And thank goodness I polished my silver last month!

Silver and white...so pretty!

Of course since I'm using winter white, I had to bring in a touch of gold too!

How do like my centerpiece?

I think it's simple and stylish.

Yes, this is where I really wish I had those white candles on hand yall.  Ughh!

My winter white birds made their way back to the table too, they just couldn't resist.

Aim and shoot!  Not bad!  LOL!

And for the grand finale, I lit up the Christmas tree for my backdrop!

I love it!

Did you like my beautiful winter table scape?  I think it is easy to throw together a beautiful table scape when you have beautiful china to work with.  If you like this one you are going to love what I have coming soon.   I feel so blessed to have this china and am even more blessed then you can imagine.  Ladies, I have won 8 settings of Lenox china!  I am serious!

THANK YOU LENOX!!!

  Lenox is having giveaways all this month on Facebook.  All you have to do is post a picture of your favorite holiday setting ( I am assuming it needs to be Lenox, but not sure) on their facebook page and give it a name.  That's what I did and they chose one of my pictures.  It is not a condition of my win to tell you this, I am just sharing the news so you can get on over there and add your beautiful photos too.  I know you will want to win some too!  Good luck!

Thank you so much for visiting me today!

I've really got to go now...shopping!!!

Happy Holidays!

Mary

Hand painted Ornaments

I have a friend who has always been like a spiritual mentor to me.  She is older then me but young enough to always understand where I am at, through the seasons of my life.  I have been blessed by her wisdom for sure.  I always like to give her a little something for Christmas and this year was no different. 

Today I delivered her gift, so it is safe to post about it now.  I'm not sure if she visits my blog often because she is very busy running a local non profit agency.   She has visited before so I didn't want to take any chances posting this any earlier. 

Do you remember not to long ago I posted about painting Christmas balls?  Do you also remember I painted a bird on a Christmas ball?  Yes, I know you do!  My friend like most of us, loves birds too!  It is one of the things we share together, a simple love for birds.  She can quote you all of the bible scriptures relating to birds in a heart beat.  That's not the only scriptures she is very familiar with by a long shot,  just one's that she shares with her other bird loving friends.  Anyway, long store short, the bird I painted on the Christmas ball that you saw in this post here, was a test bird.  I knew I wanted to include something extra special in addition to the hanging ball bird seeds that I gave her.   I knew I wanted to paint a bird too, but I wasn't exactly sure of what bird I would do until recently.

I was so inspired by Happier than a Pig in Mud's post about Christmas symbolism's and was totally thrilled to see a paragraph about the Red Breasted Robin.  You can see her post here, if you missed it.  When I saw this I had my answer on which bird to paint.   So today I finished up the details on both my test bird Christmas ball and my gifted bird Christmas ball and delivered.  I am now able to share them with you.  Here are both of my hand painted bird Christmas balls.

Here is my test bird.  You remember this one don't you?  Kinda serious looking, like the Mr.

I added a branch of holly and berries since you have seen this last, after completing the second bird.

I also added the ribbon and filled the inside of the clear ball with faux moss such as a birds nest would be made of.

And here is the bird I painted for my friend.

It is a Red-breasted Robin.

Also sitting on a branch of holly and berries.

This ball is also filled with faux moss and tied off in a pretty striped bow.

I just totally adore how this bird turned out.  Isn't is precious?  I think it was totally blessed because look at the photos of this bird again.  Did you notice each photo shows a glare from the ceiling lights that is in the shape of a star?  I surely did! 

Well, I couldn't stop with just the painted ball and the bird seed.  I was so inspired by the symbolism of the Red Breasted Robin I had to include that as well.  So, I printed it off to include in a pretty font.

Cut it out and used my craft scissors to pretty it up a bit.

Then I packaged it all up, and delivered. 

The other bird, my test bird, claimed his place on my tree this year.

And is resting peacefully!

I am linking this post to the following fabulous parties.  I hope someone will remind me if I forget to link up on Friday to Inspiration Friday.

I am also connecting this post to

Craft Envy for one of the

Holly Bloggy Christmas parties.

and to Outdoor Wednesday .

How about you?  Have you made any handmade gifts this year?  Have you started delivering gifts yet?  I'm so excited, I get to go shopping with my BFF tomorrow.  We always have such a great time, and even though we still exchange gifts this is the best gift of all, our time together.  It's almost time yall!  Hope you are about ready. 

Have a wonderful day!

Mary

Reason for the Season Party

Hallelujah!  It's time for the Reason for the Season Party at Happier then a Pig in Mud.  Can you possibly think of a better party to attend this time of year?  I certainly can't and I 'm very happy to have the opportunity to share my beautiful manger scenes with you.  You see, I have several nativity sets.  None of them are expensive but each one is so special to me.  I truly love them all!

In my dining room I have two nativity sets displayed this year.  You have seen both of them already if you are following my blog but let's take a closer look again.

Over on my plant stand I have a simple inexpensive white china set.

 I actually may have even bought this from the dollar tree or dollar general years ago, I cannot remember.

Over on my sideboard I have what I consider to be my best set.

This was a gift to me a few years ago from my BFF.  It is from Kirklands.  She saw how much I just loved the colors on this set when we were shopping one day and so she surprised me by going back later to get it and give it to me for Christmas. 

This is the Virgin Mary.

And this is Joseph.  I love the little lantern that dangles from his hand.

Baby Jesus!

The shepherd boy.

And of course the three wise men.

I purchased this Christmas star ball from Christmas around the World many years ago.  I love having my star ball in this setting since it was a star that led the wise men.

I just added the gauzy burlap look alike material today.  I love how natural it looks.

Doesn't this just make you want to sing, "O Holy Night"!

Upstairs I have two more nativity sets displayed.

This set I bought for my sons when they were small, but not too small.  It is from Playmobile.  My sons have a huge box of playmobile knights and accessories packed up for their kids one day.  This set is mine.  I just love all the tiny little details.  It is fun, but not for very small hands because of the small parts.

Mary and Joseph and sweet baby Jesus are being watched over by the angel.

The animals are also watching over the Baby Jesus.

The shepherd boy.

And a warm fire glows to keep them warm.

The wise men have arrived bringing gifts

I just adore this fun little nativity set.

When my children were much smaller this was the first nativity set I bought them.  It was one they could easily play with.  It is from Avon, I used to sell Avon and was able to get this keepsake at a very good deal.  It had gotten very moldy over the years some time ago and I was able to wash it all clean just like new.  It's great quality.

The set is thick chunky rubbery plastic.  Just perfect for little hands.

Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus are surrounded by three wise men and a few animals.

I set this set up under their tree upstairs.

Well, I hope you enjoyed looking at my nativity sets.  I know I am going to enjoy looking at yours this evening.  I especially want to thank our host for such a wonderful party!  I think this is just the best idea!  

I truly hope each of you have a very blessed Christmas enjoying the Reason for the Season.

Thank you so much for visiting with me!

Merry Christmas!

Mary