A Few festive birdies

Merry Christmas!

It wouldn't be right not to decorate with a few birds during the holidays.

A couple of lovebirds adorn the top of the small tree at the table for the grandkids.

Another bird is resting on a berry wreath nearby.

I placed some birds on one of my natural trees so when the lights twinkle each bird lights up. My Dear Hubby did his "eyeroll" at me when I showed him what I had done...

Molly gave me the idea for the ornaments hanging on plates.

Bird plates of course!

I thought this would be most fitting since it is the first Christmas without my mother.

The family celebrated Christmas at my Dad's lakehouse along with good food, good fun and most important a good Faith. Even the unusual blizzard could not keep us apart. We missed my mother, but all 0f the Holiday memories she gave us over the years were there for us to have, always...

The Talented Molly B

I thought I would share a few pictures of my friend Molly's house that I took a couple of years ago. She so graciously had our Old Homes Group over for the December meeting. What a treat! Most of us stayed around long after our meeting and gift exchange. We felt sooo at home.

Every nook and cranny had a touch of Christmas. Such eye candy to nibble on with every glance.

This display of Ironstone plates cleverly dressed was one of my favorites....




Down the hall was Molly's bedroom. Well done (of course) in dreamy robin egg blue walls with black and white accents.


Molly is an accomplished seamstress. Her pillows are her stars. She sells them through her blog.


Thanks Molly for a precious Christmas memory filled with the joy of good friends, good food and a beautiful home and hostess!!

Need more hours in the day...

I have more to do today than hours in the day. Does anyone else need 36 hour days right now? I do not have time to blog, but I thought it would get me off on a good foot for the day. Starting and finishing a post is always a good feeling of completion. Hopefully this will influence my to do list. Of course I have so many photos I want to post, it is overwhelming when I try to figure out what to put out there next. My Nana blog is way behind because I have a million pictures to share, and I just do not know where to begin!

Photos of my McKinney booth are always easy to come up with, because I try to take pictures every time I add new stuff. I keep my inventory on my computer, but my brain also needs a visual inventory.
In the above photo I have old piano music coming out of the side of an old sewing drawer. I love to scatter the paper around . You have to read the words from the bottom to the top for them to make sense. This piece says...
"Girl of my dreams, I love you."



During this hectic season, remember to play!

I Ella-embellished this oval vintage frame last night so I could put it in my booth in McKinney to sell. Well, it made it as far as my bathroom wall... I think I might just keep it for myself.
We'll see...

Blessings

“May today there be peace within…
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.
May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love
that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”

'Tis the (early) Season

I never ever thought I would start decorating my booth this early, but I was ready this year to get on with it.

So, last Friday I pulled a bunch of items from my space and replaced them with Christmas glitter and cheer.

I am working feverishly at home to get more and more ready to add before Black Friday.

I had a cash register like this Tom Thumb toy when I was a child.
I guess that should make me feel old !

Of course in Ella Style I have a natural Christmas theme going on the main display using moss covered trees Ella-embellished with tacks,brads and buttons nestled on table leg pieces I found at the Junk Exchange sale in Waco. They just needed a little paint to be perfectly shabby.
(The lighting in my booth always casts a yellowish tint to my photos in this area...)

I thought a music sheet garland was the right touch of whimsey here.

I love how these vintage ornaments fringe this old shade.

It needed a little help, wouldn't you say?

I haven't posted in awhile because I have been busy, busy and busier!

You know that feeling!!

I snapped this photo at the Antique Mall in McKinney. Barbara is one of our very talented dealers who has the decorating touch. I love how she used an old frame as a wreath.

Simple, but elegant.

Here is a peek of what I am working on in the next few days to put in my booth.

Which is why this is a short post, because I need to be in the other room

Ella-embellishing everything I touch!

Enjoy the Season

I was just messing around with Photoshop and came up with a couple of Fallish looking pumpkin pictures. I had decorated three white artificial pumpkins with a little inspiration from other blogs and magazines.

These three are sitting up on top of my kitchen cabinets.

I love rusty urns of any size because they are good to have out all year long.

Pumpkins in the Fall, Glittered Orbs at Christmas, nests in the Spring and birds in the Summer.

Enjoy the Season!

So, how do you get from this.....

(Old plow gears, cool looking chains, a garden trellis, a huge bird cage and anything rusty I could get my hands on, plus it rattled all the way from Dallas to Abilene !! )

To this????

Well, it takes many sleep deprived nights, a ton of good old hard work, a few (many) cans of clear spray and a little imagination.

For the center piece I placed the chains around the round metal thing-a-ma-jig placed on top of a round piece of plexiglass covered with my favorite burlap. I then sat that on some small paint cans to give it some lift and added another metal thing-a-ma-jig on the table. Adding moss I had gathered off the trees in Houston and wasp nests my family and friends collected for me I quickly had a natural rustic theme going.

When I see rusty pipes, planter plates and what others call junk, my mind sees display stands, letters or candle holders. Brandy called my repurposed farm implements " Rustiques".

I like the sound of that.

I had traveled to my home town for this show in Abilene where my family lives. I was trying to explain to my dad what all I was selling and showed him some photos of my signs. He didn't say much. I just figured he thought I had been sniffing a little too much glue.


The next morning I was in a mad dash to get out the door for the sale and caught a glimpse of my dad's creation he had put out for me. I instantly had a smile on my face, and started my otherwise stressful day with a skip in my step.

Thanks, Dad!

Jo Carol had made these wonderful bingo greeting cards. She is so clever with her cute messages just fitting each card's theme.

Jo Carol's chick magnets.


Mary's handpainted magnets and Jo Carol 's clear magnets were selling like hotcakes!


Molly B. makes the most beautiful pillows.
I am glad somebody enjoys sewing, because it is not for me.

Brandy had the bestest looking goods.

Glass glitter makes everything merry and bright!!

Roxanne made these fabulous lavender sachets. I just had to have one...

You can find Roxanne's shutter signs now in my booth in McKinney. We were hanging around after the show and decided to do a little bit of trading.

Creative friends are the best!!

Quaint Market

I know I promised more photos of the Quaint Market last week, but I simply do not have any spare time right now. Here are a few peeks at what a treat the show was...

Roxanne's fun sign.

Rachel's nests.

Jo Carol's stunning nest charms. (Yes, she made these.)

Brandy's baby pumpkins.

One of Molly's creative pillows.


I will post many more pics as soon as time allows.
Keep checking back...