happy new year...

Whether you will be ringing in 2011 out and about or from the comforts of your own home I wish you all much happiness, peace, joy and love for the New Year.  I am so thankful for all my new friends I have made this year and always look forward to your visits.  Your comments always make me smile, and sometimes get me a bit teary eyed!  The inspiration I got from blog hopping this past year was endless and I can only imagine what you all have up your sleeve for next year!  I am starting my celebrating early by joining Debra over at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday!!  Thank you Debra for this fun gathering, it is a great way to kick off the weekends!  See you all next year...

nesting in a winter wonderland...

Well I had the merriest of Christmases ~ how about you?  Even though there were a few questionable moments...

Santa was very good to my family (including me!).  While I planned to just relax on Sunday anyway, the uninvited Nor'easter blew in and made doing nothing that much cozier.  I lit the fire...

And curled up with my new Nook.  It is like the Kindle but it is from Barnes and Noble.  I have not learned all the bells and whistles yet but I think the Nook (which is in color) allows you to lend a friend with a Nook a book from your library.  I have downloaded a few free previews but I would love to hear what book you recommend!!  Anyway, by Monday afternoon the storm had passed and I did a lot of looking out my window to the winter wonderland (perfect for White Wednesday over at Faded Charm)...

The wind was wild during the storm and I love how it "painted" the house across the street...

I have been slowly putting away my Christmas decorations.  It takes a while because I have to clean each room as I take away all things merry and bright.  Then of course the re-arranging begins.  New vignettes are born and projects are added to the winter list.  Having something to look forward to and keep me busy over the long New England winter makes me happy!

Winter afternoons and weekends used to be very busy around here.  We have a little hill in the backyard that my kids and their friends would sled on.  Now it sits quietly, patiently waiting for one of the neighbor's visiting grandchildren...

I have already made a few changes around my nest which I will start to share with you in the new year.  Would you like a little hint...

I had made some new signs for my booth after it's makeover (and put some in my Etsy shop) so I decided to use one in my kitchen.  As I begin to re-feather my nest I find myself not only changing vignettes but taking things away and simplifying.  The pinks and roses are slowly disappearing (look for them at The Wrentham Country Store or in my Etsy shop).  I am going to try and bring a bit of farm house charm and mix it in my french cottage home.

As I was putting away my decorations I came across this sweet ornament I do not think I showed you...

I thought it captured the moment I feel I am in right now.  Enjoying the view and nesting in a winter wonderland...

Thank you for visiting on this last White Wednesday of 2010.  It was on a White Wednesday back in February when I started my little blog adventure.  A big thank you from my heart to Kathleen.  Faded Charm was THE place to be on Wednesdays and I am so happy I joined in on all the fun!! 

o christmas tree...

One of the best traditions of Christmas for me is putting up the tree.  Over the years I have managed to go from handing each child an ornament and telling them exactly where to hang it to watching them do a beautiful job, all by themselves...

The last few years it has just been my son Jake and I putting up the tree together.  I even let him pick the music this year.  I think he did a wonderful job!  This was the first year I did not put every single ornament on the tree that I own.  I kept it simple with a mostly white palette, a hint or two of reds and lots of sparkle.  New this year were a few of the vintage sheet music ornaments I made...

And a few of the lovely ornaments I got from my fellow shop girl Karen of A Shabby Moment in Time...

I also adore the ornament my bff Lisa made for me...

Love the way she added the wispy white boa!  I did something similar last year.  I added some vintage inspired tinsel to some plain white ornaments... 

One of my favorite ornaments on our tree when I was little was this sweet, petite book...

I have some old favorites...

Mixed with some newer ornaments...

With a few birds perched here and there...

I also printed out a few sentiments of the season...

I did this spur of the moment before my friends arrived for my little get together the beginning of December with every intention to pretty them up a bit.  I decided I like them just the way they are...

Weren't they this little just yesterday?  I used to tell them if you want to wish for something...

You must believe...

I would also remind them that Christmas is not just about what might be under the tree...

But who is around the tree and who we are remembering in our hearts.  A day to count our blessings and be thankful.  A time to be with family and reminisce of Christmases long, long ago and remind the kids how cute they were when they thought they heard the reindeer on the roof...

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!  

Before Santa comes tonite take some time and visit Debra for Vintage Inspiration Friday over at Common Ground!

Merry Christmas!!

little white tree...

Shopping ~ done.

Gifts ~ wrapped.

Baking ~ my family prefers me not to.

Decorating ~ still tweaking.

Like this little vignette...

For the most part I love it.  It is simple with pieces I love like the sweet little stockings...

Vintage silver ornaments in some pretty vintage silver serving pieces...

Adorable little Victorian girl...

Then there is the little white tree I picked up at the shop this year...

Perfect size for this spot and I did not want decorations on it...

The base is even wrapped in burlap...

However I am still not sure if I like it.  Now most of my decorations have been up since December first and this tree has not moved, but I am thinking...

Maybe I should have made a different choice, like one of these silver trees...

Or maybe I should have just grouped a few of these together...

Hmm...decisions, decisions.  Do I take a trip to the shop for a new tree or do I stay home, light the trees, put on some Christmas music and clean my craft room?

At this point I think I will stay home, and of course take time to visit Kathleen over at Faded Charm.  I am sure I will be sighing all day looking at all the inspiring beauty on this last White Wednesday before Christmas!!

Thank you for visiting!!

christmas came early...

Do you remember when I told you I won Maria's giveaway over at Dreamy Whites?  Well I received my beautiful gifts this week and it was like Christmas came early...

Loving the color of the velvet ribbon!  I hated to open them but of course I did...

There are two beautiful stockings and a gorgeous table runner made from antique European grain sacks!  She also sent me a sweet little lavender filled sachet as well as a dried bouquet of lavender...

Thank you so much Maria!!  Would  you like to see where I put everything?  I thought, just for the holidays, the table runner would look sweet under the tree in my Paris Hotel Suite...

Then I put the little sachet with the brown paper packages tied up with string (secretly hiding a few of their favorite things)...

I made tags out of scraps of sheet music from other projects as well as adding some sparkly snowflakes to the packages.  The music side of the tag is displayed but when you turn it over...

 It shows who the gift is for!  My family thinks these brown paper packages tied up with string are just for show ~ hee hee!  The wonderful stockings are hanging from my Santa stocking holder...

I have the lavender in my craft room with all the treasures I am collecting for my kitchen mini makeover after the holidays.  Now these lovelies aren't the only thing I won from Maria ~ I also won a beautiful wreath from Wintersteen Farms!  Again, Christmas came early for me...

Jim helped me hang it on the beautiful old mirror I put over Santa's entry way...

Isn't it beautiful!!  It smells beautiful too!  I was so excited I had to go and light my candles...

I think it is the perfect finishing touch for Santa's entry way...

Of course I had to take pictures the next day when the sun was shining...

Pretty ribbon for hanging and pine cones to save year after year...

Thank you again Maria and thank you Jeff and Kelly from Wintersteen Farms ~ your beautiful hand crafted wreath is helping me celebrate the season!

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you can visit Debra at Common Ground where she is celebrating Vintage Inspiration Friday!  Have a wonderful weekend!!