Merry Christmas to Me!

I made an appointment for the family to have "real" photos taken for our Christmas cards this year. The photographer went to grade school with my daughter and is just starting this venture into her career. I have to say I am not disappointed! She emailed me a card she thought I would like and I fell head over heels! It has a front and back and needless to say, I had one of those "if we have to eat Ramen noodles for a month to get those cards" moments. (not really but I was prepared if need be) If anyone is in the area and wants her information just leave me a comment with your email.

Featured In Southern Living!

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened up the December issue of Southern Living yesterday and saw the Knobstoppers I carry in my boutique featured as one of the top 25 gifts of the season! These stoppers are made with vintage door knobs, and old gate finials. They make the perfect gift to bring to the hostess with the mostess that throws that great Christmas party every year. So classy attached to the bottle you give the boss, the newlyweds, or the new home owners. Bottles topped with Knobstoppers look great adorning an unfinished bottle of wine on your counter top, especially if you have a collection grouped together. These are nice and sturdy to be used for generations to come, a great family heirloom in the making. I have them topping my "cooking wine" and get compliments every time company comes. I priced nice wine bags when I was deciding if these would be profitable for me and the bags are $20.00 at Pottery Barn...on sale! And what exactly does one do with those after the gift has been given? I know I have about 5 stashed in a drawer! If you are interested in one of these little jewels leave me a comment and an email address. They range from $20.00 to $32.00 a piece. My motto is "The only thing better than receiving a unique and gorgeous gift is to be the person giving it!" Happy Shopping, Paula

Decorating with Family Treasures

The holidays always bring in a flood of childhood memories for me. I find it comforting to incorporate family heirlooms and heirlooms "to be" into my holiday decorating. As a newlywed I had a garage sale with my new mother in law and discovered a small box of shiny brite ornaments she had marked to sale for a quarter. When I asked her where she got them she said they were her first ornaments as a newlywed and upon closer inspection I discovered the box was stamped 1969 not only were they her first box of ornaments they hung on my husbands first of many childhood Christmas trees. I imagine my in laws carrying their son to his first Christmas tree to watch their tiny newborn open his eyes to focus on the bright lights and multicolored ornaments. Needless to say that box of shiny brites came home with me, along with their first tree topper. Every year I display these fragile ornaments in a footed bowl that once graced the table of my husbands great grandmother. This year I have draped it with a strand of pearls that my grandmother wore to church on Sundays. There is much history tied to so many wonderful memories in that small holiday display. My cloche holds a tattered book, a baby photo of my father and my prized ornament that my best friend Amy bought for me on her trip to Curious Sofa. This is sure to become an heirloom as time passes and the shine fades. Draped on the book is a vintage rosary. This is the rosary my father carried with him on his tour in Vietnam, if only these heirlooms could talk, what would they say? What have they seen? I would love to hear how you incorporate vintage pieces into your holiday decor.

Old World Christmas...Done!

I have finished decking the halls at Oliver's. My wonderful husband/chief financial officer/best friend/heavy lifter came to my rescue and helped me with the hanging and moving and I have to say I could not have gotten it all together without him. And just in time. The Market is hosting a Holiday Open House on Friday Nov. 13th. If you are in the area they will be serving refreshments, have live entertainment and hourly drawings. Now I just need to re-coup so I can deck the halls at home!

The Old and The Beautiful!

I often wonder if I ever built another house "what would I do different"? I go back and forth between nice traditional cabinetry or something like this. I have a friend who saved antique pieces for years and had her builder "build around" them. I can see this round corner piece as a great coffee/tea bar in the corner of a kitchen or breakfast nook. And this red piece as a place for fine linens, formal dishes, or even used casually as a pantry. The large blue/green piece would look perfect in a master bath as a linen closet with beautiful towels, and vintage apothecary bottles, sitting next to a slipper tub of course with a big fat chandelier hanging above it. I would use these pieces exactly as they are, the patina is priceless.

2 Days til Christmas Music!

I woke up thinking that in 2 days I will be breaking out the Christmas CD's! (I am embarrassed to say I have around 20) My family is giving me a hard time and almost had me convinced that Nov.1st may be a little early for holiday tunes...then I found this in my email and took it as a sign. Christmas is just around the corner and I "need" 2 months of the joyful sounds of Christmas streaming through my day. I did make a deal with my kids that I wouldn't play it to wake them for school or change my ring tone on my phone for a couple more weeks...yes, I do bend! This is from the "chalk guy" he is amazing!

Copper Pumpkins

I will be marking down what is left of my fall merchandise this week to prepare for my Tuscan Christmas. I will be sad to see it go. Retailers rush the seasons through so quickly that I feel like consumers don't have a chance to really enjoy the moment. I am still in "smores by the fire, leaves a cracklin', hot apple cider" mode but will be pushing "tree-trimming, gift buying, eggnog drinking" mode. And to think I will be purchasing next years Christmas in January...it's mind boggling! Here's to... slowing down, playing in the leaves, carving pumpkins, roasting marshmallows by the fire and savoring this beautiful autumn God has given us! Have a crisp and colorful day!