Visions of Sugarplums
Probably the saddest thing about this photo medley is that it might be the last one done in shades of pink and green, as my daughter tells me that next year she wants her room done in robin’s egg blue and green with ELEPHANTS on the walls. OK…no problem, honey! Actually, I’m not sure how I’m going to include the elephants without it looking tacky, so I’m hoping she’ll just forget about those. No need to remind me that I’m stifling her creativity by saying that! Her room is pretty much entirely pink, green, and white, so it will be a challenge to shift gears with the color palette. But, since I really do love to decorate, I will arm myself with a can of spray paint and create a more grown-up retreat for my seven-going-on-seventeen-year-old!
Teapots for Two
So, all of that is a little background as to why I really savored the Christmas decorating this year and decided to take pictures. I know that everyone’s taste is different—consider me and Annabelle to be absolute proof of that statement—but I thought it might give some of you inspiration as you decorate for the holiday.
I seem to have a bit of a “tea theme” going on in Annabelle’s room, hence the two teapots and the tea-related books stacked under the topiary. I know you probably can’t see that the books are titled Muffins, Scones, and Tea for Two, but that’s because my camera is pretty old and has been dropped on its head a few too many times. As a side note, I asked Santa for a nice one this Christmas, but I’m not really sure that I’ve been good enough to get it!
Back to the teapots…the larger one is from a dear friend who gave it to Belle on her fourth birthday, and the smaller one was actually hand-painted by my great aunt and is a real family treasure. I hold my breath over that one every time we move. The topiary is from TJ Maxx (raise your hand if you LOVE TJMaxx!) and is going on fifteen years old, but we don’t discriminate against the aged in this house, since the house is older than all of us put together.
A quick aside on the tree: it’s kind of a Charlie Brown tree this year, having lost several of its branches in our last move, but since we’ll probably be moving again next summer, I think I’d better hold onto it and buy a new one once we get there. Also, since I find tons of Christmas decorations at yard sales, I can keep an eye open for a “new” one. In the meantime, I stuffed it full of ornaments and other decorations and I hardly notice that it’s a little lopsided, although you might now that I’ve called attention to it. I continued the tea theme (but did NOT beat it to death, I promise) with her silver tea set and a Christmas-themed set under the tree. The Christmas set was from my mom and since she died before meeting her granddaughter, it’s extra special to me. The tree skirt is actually a dresser scarf and it was embroidered by my grandmother, but I think I need a better camera for you to see the detail on it (Santa, are you listening?).
Oh, and do you see the bed in the picture? That’s my old white iron bed, and I love it. My daughter, on the other hand, does not. She has asked me to paint it green or blue next year. I will normally spray paint anything that sits still, but I have to admit that makes me nervous. Any ideas?
This is normally Annabelle’s bedside table, but of course I had to rearrange to put the tree in the window so it’s hanging out at the foot of her bed this month. I actually snagged this little old table for $3 at a yard sale, painted and distressed it, and glued the pompom fringe around the top. Love it! (I wonder how it will look in green and robin’s egg blue?). The Sugar Plum Fairy nutcracker is a reminder of our annual trip to see the Nutcracker—my daughter’s seen it in three different states already. You can’t really see the quilt, but it was my great-grandmother’s and we think it’s almost one hundred years old. I sewed the duvet cover out of two fabric shower curtains I found at Marshall’s. My mother always told me I’d need to know how to sew, and as with everything else she told me, she was right.
“No Pouting.” These are words to live by during the holiday season, aren’t they?
I made this dollhouse for my daughter last Christmas and I won’t lie, it was nearly the end of me. It turned out great, although there were moments of despair along the way (and several bottles of wine consumed late at night). The dollhouse has been decorated for the holidays, but only on the outside. The residents are extremely messy and when I took a look today, the toilet was in the attic and the bedroom furniture was in the living room. Some of them were missing articles of clothing, too. It must have been some party!
I have a few more pictures that I’ll post below without a lot of explanation; if you’re like me, then the more pictures, the better.
Thanks for taking a look around, and enjoy getting your home ready for the season!
For a lot more pictures, you can check out this room on Rate My Space. I’ve never posted anything there before and am petrified that everyone will give me horrible ratings, so please say nice things (even if you have to fib a little bit–that’s what girlfriends do!).
Take a look at Southern Hospitality’s Vignette Party; Annabelle’s room is entry #192.
Santa Pillow (made by my talented aunt)
Pinky Bear (made by another talented aunt)
- Angel Chandelier
- Old Dining Room Chair–Redone
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Here’s her front door wreath–you know it’s going to be good with such an awesome wreath. OF COURSE she made it herself!
LOVE the firescreen wrapped up as a present–that’s from our Junior League’s Holly Day Fair last year. The magnolia leaves on the mantel are from my tree. She came over and cut magnolia and cypress boughs and I went to her house and cut pyracantha berries. They turn red instead of orange this time of year and are a great stand-in for holly (our holly bushes have been pillaged in the name of decorating for Christmas!). It’s a great idea to swap greenery with a friend, so you can have a nice variety on your mantel, and everywhere else.
Here’s the dining room, and the table is loaded with awesome food (I could do a post just on her recipe ideas). Meg and her family have lived all over the US, courtesy of the Army, and did a stint in Germany, too, so she’s got some great pieces in her home.
It’s hard not to be jealous of this stained glass window–she’s got a couple–one day I’ll find one I can afford at a flea market!
I was scolded because I took the pictures before the peppermint bark made it onto the table (sorry!!), but it still looks great. I never get tired of the apothecary jars filled with ornaments, and take a look at the antique goblet filled with peppermint straws.
A collection of vintage European Santas…
…and a tabletop vignette of clove-studded oranges and berries. It smelled heavenly!
What better time to bring out the heirloom silver and demitasse spoons?
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