2013

I don't think I've ever shared this, but I have to confess that I'm superstitious about the number thirteen.  Obviously, I dreaded the thought of a whole year of thirteen, but surprisingly, it was a pretty good year. 

 I wanted to share my most viewed posts from 2013.
 If you missed the post, or would just like to see it again, simply click on the image
 and the link will take you to the full post.

I had several wonderful and totally humbling things happen to me during the year.  The first was the fabulous opportunity to have my home professionally photographed and featured on Houzz.

 

Houzz Home Tour

I was honored to be invited to style a room in The Design House at The Old Lucketts Store.
Thank you Suzanne and Amy.

My Mix 'n Chic Girly Office

I always try to use architectural elements in my garden.  I guess my readers do too based on the number of pageviews.

Building Fragment in My Garden

I didn't realize how many different mirrors I owned until I walked around the house and captured room reflections in them.

Home Tour in Mirror Images

My brick patio was my warm weather workshop until I found some fabulous Chinoiserie garden furniture and was inspired to style the space.

Chinoiserie Furniture on My Patio

I'm always on the hunt for interesting empty frames.  Pinterest helped with this post.

Bundled, Layered, or Stacked--- Empty Frames Work for Me

Surprisingly, vintage bamboo was very popular.

Our Bamboo Bed

I do a lot of repurposing.  My most popular transformation was this old door which became a chalkboard.

Repurposed Vintage Door

My family room mantel undergoes many seasonal changes.  Here's one from this year.

Fall Mantel

Styling book shelves is a favorite of mine.  I had fun shopping my house and filling my latest find.

One of My MCM Bookshelves

Gallery walls are my nemesis.  I  guess you all were interested in some suggestions for wall designs too based on the pageviews.

Gallery Wall in My Daughter's Apartment

Last, but not least,  I shared my love for urns and trophies.

Urn in My Laundry Room

Thanks to all of you who continue to follow my crazy design experiments.

Here's to another great year with minimal thirteen worries.

Happy New Year


Kathy

Happy Holidays 2013

Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

Happy New Year too.

Thank you all for following my little blog.

See you all next year.


Kathy

Mercury Glass Spheres

I love spheres.  In fact you might say I'm obsessed with them.  

Imagine how thrilled I was when I found some huge mercury glass spheres on clearance at 

Pottery Barn last December.  I bought three and have been hoarding them all year.  I knew that they'd fit perfectly in my dough bowl on my dining room table.

I lined the bowl with some cedar that I had clipped from my yard.  I hate those ugly cedar trees, but I must admit that their branches come in handy during the holidays.  They last a surprisingly long time indoors and make fabulous fresh wreaths.  I hate to admit it, but they last longer than my favorite, magnolia.

Mercury Glass Spheres in My Dough Bowl

Here's another view.  I love how the branches hugged the spheres. Notice the marks on the dough bowl that show it was shaped by hand.

Another View of the Dough Bowl and Spheres

I always use my cow hide rug as a table cover.  To sparkle it up, I added a sequined table runner.

Cow Hide Table Cover Layered with Sequin Runner

As I was taking the photos, we had a burst of sunshine.  It made the spheres sparkle even more.

A Ray of Sunshine on My Dough Bowl and Spheres

A Closer Look at the Sparkle

The spheres created quite a lovely pattern on the opposite wall too.

Reflections on the Wall from the Mercury Glass Spheres

My Dining Room

I am so glad I have the dough bowl.  I use it all the time for seasonal change ups.  Do you have a special find that you re-style over and over?



Of course I have some other ideas for you in case you don't happen to have three huge spheres that you've hoarded for a year or an equally huge dough bowl.

.
A wonderful urn will work with some ornaments.

Via

What about a compote with pine cones from your yard and apples?

Via

What about lining the vessel with feathers?

Via Pinterest

This container is filled with mini ornaments, but you could also use strands of garland.
The addition of the belt is so clever.

Via

I could see these as a centerpiece or on your mantel.

Via

You could use a tray as your container.

Via

Happy Decorating

Kathy


I've written about my dough bowl before here.

I've written about spheres before here, here, here, and here.

I

We Have Giveaway Winners

As Oxido, the Giveaway organizer says:

"We have some lucky duck winners."

Jalapeno Photography- Winner: Terry Anne

Óxido- Winner: Mary Alice

The Daily Chip- Winner: Nicole Louise

The Painted Hutch- Winner: Cheryn

Traer Loves- Winner: Patricia 

Random Notion- Winner: Jessica

Seasons NL- Winner Marla Renne’

Carolyn Elizabeth Designs- Winner: Sherry @ No Minimalist

Simple Pleasures- Vintage Reimagined- Winner: April

Vignettes- Winner: Natasha

Catfish-Studios- Winner:  Kaaren

Misty Blue Candles- Winner: Jackson 

Primitive Beginnings- Winner: Jessica

Charliemadison- Winner: Trompetaz Lookatme

Black Sparrow Soaps- Winner: Jessica

We'll contact the winners by email so we can get your addresses and mail your treasures.


Enjoy your gifts.  I see some familiar names in the winners' list.
 Thanks to all for entering. 



 Thanks so much to Eddie too for organizing it all.

Kathy


If you'd like to see the list of giveaways, go here to the Giveaway post.

My Peacock Feather Inspired Tree

This year's tree was inspired by the colors in a peacock feather--turquoise and chartruese.  

To that mix I added some glittery pinks and lavenders.

2013 Christmas Tree

Surprisingly, the angel, copper bottle and shabby oil painting are still on the landing.  Last year I used magnolia leaves, but for this year, it's all peacock feathers and glass garlands.

Santos Angel, Copper Bottle, Peacock Feathers

Last year our tree was huge.  It totally filled the wall space.  This year it's much smaller, so I decided to add some holiday decor to the brass wall sconce.  I also tucked some peacock feathers into the tree.

Brass Wall Sconce on Striped Foyer Wall

One of my favorite frenchy leopard-covered chairs fit too.

Leopard-Print Covered Chair

Love the legs on this chair.

My Favorite Chair

I'm still so against garlands on stair railings.  Last year I used empty frames. 

 This year I used peacock feather wreaths.

Wreaths on Railing

I had a turquoise fabric remnant and wrapped it around the base.

Fabric Remnant Tree Skirt

The ribbon with images of peacock feathers was a great find.  I'm liking draping the ribbon vertically rather than wrapping it around.   It's easier to do too.

Peacock Feather Ribbon

Take a peek at the ornaments. 

 Many of them, as well as the garlands, were re-used from a previous tree.

The tree sparkles, reflected in my sunburst mirror.

Tree and MCM Mirror

Do you have your tree up yet?   Do you do a themed tree or just a collection of favorite ornaments?

Kathy

To see last year's tree go here.

It's a HUGE Holiday Giveaway

I'm the new kid on the block at the monthly Sweet Clover Barn vintage sales.  It's been so much fun getting to know all the talented vendors.  One of my retail partners, Eddie, the owner of Oxido, and Jalapeno Photography, is sponsoring a HUGE holiday giveaway and she's invited us to join her.

What this means is that there's not just one giveaway but
 MANY GIVEAWAYS AND MANY WINNERS.  

We've bundled our treasures and you'll have so many chances to win wonderful gifts.

Here's what you can win.  Yes, these fabulous finds are up for grabs.  

A Portrait Session

Candles

Cookies

Ironstone Pitcher

Stocking Pillow

Stationery

Frames

Preserved Boxwood in Urn

Vintage Cookie Jar

Soaps

All I'm saying about what I'll have is that it sparkles.

You'll have to go to Eddie's blog for all the details to enter to win. 

 She has photos and info about all the gifts and the participants.

Click on this highlighted Oxido and you'll be taken to her site where you can enter.

I hope my readers will be holiday winners too.

Good Luck!!

Kathy

Encased in Ice

 A yard full of shimmering shrubs greeted me this morning after our ice storm last night.

The first glimpse I had was from my kitchen window.
The cedar branches supported clumps of ice and the last buds of my climbing roses, encased in ice, glistened.

The Last Buds of My Climbing Roses

What leaves remained were also trapped in ice.

The Last of the Leaves Dripping

The branches also looked beautiful encircled and dripping.

The berries on my climbing hydrangea were encased in ice.

My Climbing Hydrangesa

My gnarly Japanese Maple was not spared.

Japanese Maple

The Red Tip was coated.  I love that it holds its color in the winter.

Red Tip

The apple tree was in quite a tangle.

Apple Tree

My neighbor's shrub was completely covered.

My Neighbor's Shrub

The pear tree didn't escape the storm either.

Pear Tree

I also had some non-greenery in my yard that was equally coated in ice.

My mailbox and the holiday greens and ribbon were covered.

My Mailbox with Holiday Decor

The lamp post wasn't spared either.

Lamp Post

I loved what the storm did to my garden architectural fragment.

Architectural Fragment

Check out one of my truck's tires.

My Big Red Beast's Tire 

They are predicting another storm tonight.  How greedy am I hoping for another snow day?



Kathy