...the first snowfall

...yes

it is true!

it is that time of year again,

when you could be covered by

a blanket of snow at any time

the first of the season is always the best.

always the most beautiful.

and always the most sparkliest!

last week, i showed you my silent night/holy night mirror.

this week, i've been putting together the table beneath it.

and adding ~ first snow ~ magic to our family room...

my candelabra

decorated with paper feathers, crystals

and silk wrapped candles

see my beautiful santos?

doesn't she look cold??!

not to worry

i've been working on her skirt and crown.

although they aren't ready yet,

but i am using a nuno felting technique

and i fear after i am done with here skirt and crown,

i made need one for me!

they are that lovely!!

a vignette in front of my fireplace...

notice the ruffly curtain there?

behind it is our tv ~

out of sight!!

beautiful lace candles i have been creating...

and there is my olive tree:)

behind that curtain are books...

here is the table beneath my mirror

this week i have been trying out my Annie Sloan chalk paint

i LOVE her paint!!

on this table, i used french linen as the base

and then painted over that with a color i call marshmallow

which is 2 parts of the bright white with 1 part of old white.

after it was all dry, i sanded it a little to let the french linen show.

then i waxed it

oh my is it smooth and lovely!

i stash my pretty tablecloths in baskets beneath this table,

utilizing precious storage space.

here is a stencil flourish i added...

i love how it turned out!

the color is just gorgeous.

and when i found this velvet fabric panel thrifting one day,

i knew it would make a perfect runner.

do you think i added too many ruffles??

now for the top vignette

my jeanne d'arc style spin...

mary, an arched mirror and a cross

a large glass hurricane candle

filled with real swan feathers,

a length of my wired pearls twisted around the top

and one of petite michelle's pretties hanging in the front:)

my "nordic" candle holder

candle wrapped in silk

oohhh  so pretty!

and a mercury glass cake stand

draped with these lovely treasures!

sigh...

well, that's all for this white wednesday!

come see what other inspiring ideas are over at

Faded Charm's: White Wednesday

My Shabby Streamside Studio's: Holiday Decor Showcase 

here's to the first snowfall!

...step into the light...

...m. i. a.

(missing in action)

yep

that's me

and

that's about the sum of it!

without all the blah, blah, blah

cause i don't even want to hear it!

we are in a flux in our transition back to Ohio

i'm not sure how, when or where.

everything is up in the air ~

hence my lack of posting.

can we say

d-i-s-t-r-a-c-t-e-d much?

HA!

so what's a girl to do

when her snow globe is all in a flurry???

why,

she must step into the light or course!!

so

 i will walk into the light...

where

 upon entering ~

 a most graceful hand of friendship has been extended

 life's load is always easier to carry with even one more pair of  hands...

and i am grateful...

merci dear heart

and because of that grateful heart ~

it is easier to seek the joys in every day

quietly pondering,

as i use my gifts to make pretties to share with all of you...

while i wait for the flurries to clear

for everyone knows that

it is only with a quiet soul

that you can hear the the direction

 in which you need to go...

 jeanne d'arc style wrapping paper i've been working on while pondering...

(don't look mom!!)

won't packages with this

 be lovely with a luscious silk ribbon tied around them?!

walking, walking...

ahhhh yes,

and as i step into the light ~

you may remember seeing these fairy lights in the past

i adore using them all around my home all year long.

but most especially for the holidays!

as who doesn't love some delicate twinkle??

(i do! i do!)

this is a 100 count light set

to which i have added flowers to

in an every other one pattern

using this tutorial found

*HERE*

as a guide line

i then used tiny paper nut liners for the every other "buds"

2 paper cups,  per light

just using hot glue around the stem of the each light

twisting the paper liners on

are they not lovely??

they give off such a delightful ethereal glow...

in the coming weeks,

i will be sharing with you

the little touches i am using to decorate my home

for the holidays.

now,

some of you may not want to think about this yet,

but some of the pretties i will be showing you need a little creative time

or

need to be ordered ahead of time.

so by sharing these things with you now,

you will have plenty of time to decorate when you are ready!

like,

let's say this

"silent night ~ holy night" mirror cling

which just so happens to be my holiday decorating "theme" this year

i LOVE how it turned out!

you can find them

*HERE*

very affordable and

they are very easy to apply!

just look at how much whimsy it added!!

love, Love, LOVE it!!

next week,

i will be revealing my giveaway

(tee, hee)

i will give you a hint

can you say "dreamy"??

see you then!

sharing this post with:

My Shabby Streamside Studio's: Holiday Decor Showcase

Common Ground's: Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled Laundry's: Air Your Laundry Friday

Romantic Home's: Show and Tell Friday

2805's: Potpourri Friday

Vintage Farmhouse's: Creative Things Thursday

here's to stepping into the light!

...fluttering about

...hello my sweets!

i have fluttered safely back home

and have missed visiting with all of you:)

it may take me a few days to re-calculate

and get back into a rythm

HA!!

 

in the coming weeks,

i have a few lovely Jeanne d'Arc style holiday pretties

lined up to share with you

and very soon,

a giveaway!

 

 

to thank all of you fabulous readers

for joining along

and always showing such support

for my creative heart and soul...

 

 

your encouragement means so much

and i am grateful for all of you in this blogging world

especially if you find yourself inspired,

 and take the time to comment when you visit here,

in the land of odds!

 

 

so stay tuned dear hearts!

sharing this short post with

Faded charm's: White Wednesday

here's to all of you!

...ethereal dream catcher tutorial

...to sleep

perchance to dream...

i'm sure you've seen a dream catcher...

they pop up every now and again

R.A.'s shabby chic couture ones are divinely

fab-u-lous

but as i have not found my way to the land of milk and honey

~ YET!

~ HA!! ~

that price sticker is a wee bit steep for me to fork over for one

(not that they aren't worth every penny!)

(i'm just sayin')

so what is a girl to do

to satiate a small desire of her heart

and to perchance

snare a dream in the process???

you know me all to well

YES!

we make one!!

before we do,

shall we explore the actual purpose of a dream catcher?

(just humor me and say, "a-huh"!)

a traditional dream catcher

was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams,

 while letting positive dreams through.

the positive dreams would slip through the holes

 and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below.

  negative dreams would get caught up in "the web"

 and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.

sounds like something i could incorporate into my dream land!

and i bet you already have most of what you need,

 stashed away somewhere in your studio like i did!

(priceless)

you can use an embroidery hoop

like i have here

(yes, i spry painted mine a matte, sparkly champagne color) 

a hoop or circular shape was used

because it symbolized strength and unity

and decorate it with whimsical findings,

you know,

 bits and pieces of your everyday life,

for me, that includes feathers, pearls, lace, roses and silk ribbons

but you may have a love for other materials

so this merely a guideline

~ use what YOU love

lacy, crochet doilies are something i have a slight obsession with

so i have a few at my fingertips at all times

so it just seemed natural to use them here

no web weaving required.

whatever size hoop you will be using,

just make sure you doily is slightly larger.

position your doily between the two hoops

when you are happy with it's position,

simply push your two embroidery hoops together.

that is the beauty of using this type of hoop

no fuss, no muss!

see, wasn't that easy?

now for the fun part...

embellishing!!

i tore strips of a white sheet into 1 1/2" wide strips

then hand stamped the word "dreamer" randomly down the length

 of my new "ribbon"

to make your own sheet ribbon:

start on the selvage edge, make a snip in your sheet

and tear it all the way down

it's that easy!

as you are playing with "the look" of your dream catcher

it helps to lay your pretty materials on each side

 to see what you like and don't like with it

here i added some lace ribbons...

and of course,

some sea silk ribbon!

on the top, i added a rose...

not traditional

but as these are my dreams

i need ethereal blooms!

a swan feather with the word "beauty" hand stamped upon it

gets tucked beneath my rose bloom

and a few downy feathers are attached along each side

along with some wired pearl streamers...

when you are pleased with your selections,

simply tie them together and then tie them onto each side

and voila!

an ethereal dream catcher!!

oh-so-lovely!

and with all of your personal pretties incorporated

how could you not have anything but happy, positive dreams

gliding down to you?!

i plan on making a few of these beauties for christmas gifts

as we could all use a little more whimsy dreams,

couldn't we?!

i hope you enjoyed your visit today.

and were inspired to create a dream catcher just for you!

also sharing this post with:

My Shabby Streamside Studio's: Holiday Decor Showcase

Common Ground's: Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled Laundry's: Air Your Laundry Friday

Romantic Home's: Show and Tell Friday

2805's: Potpourri Friday

Vintage Farmhouse's: Creative Things Thursday

here's to sweet dreams!

xoxo