Warning! this post may give you spring fever...

Being in retail, we are forced to think way ahead when it comes to designing products for the upcoming seasons/holidays. I am horrible at working on Christmas designs in the summer months, even the early fall months. However, I have no problem at all working on spring/summer items in the winter!

I agree the short days, snow, cold and ice we are buried under make it difficult to be motivated to do much.  But you do have to go to the market at least! So while you are there, pick up a small bouquet of flowers for yourself.  A perfect fix for anyone suffering from the winter blues.  You will think of spring every time you look at them!

After shoveling some heavy slush, snow and ice yesterday and losing feeling in my fingers, I couldn't wait to head into the studio and work on some new floral designs. You can find these arrangements in my Etsy Shoppe. 

Preserved roses, boxwood greens, hydrangeas and berries.

 a few of my favorite things...

So even if you can't get to the market, I hope this post brought you thoughts of spring.
It will be here before you know it!

Christmas favorites 2013...

So it's a week after Christmas and I'm finally getting to enjoy our decorations. The parties, cooking, baking, creating and wrapping are done. This is when I get to relax for a bit and take it all in (before I take it all down). I LOVE my business but boy does it get harder every year to juggle it all from October thru December. Thankfully my sister hosted Christmas day this year and that was one thing I could take of my long to do list!  
So before it all comes down, I took some photos of my favorites to share with you all.

Welcome!

Changed up the entry a little bit with a recently painted dresser/vanity. I really like it! I think it may be a keeper. I better take it off my website!

Throughout the house you will see the use of a lot of fresh greens cut from my yard or some preserved greens tucked in different places.

The Bistro sign was another piece that was for sale but we decided to keep. My husband loved this one too much to sell! I do love it in the dining room. A great use for an old armoire door. You may have one of your own around the house!

A rustic box makes a great versatile centerpiece.  I filled this one with burlap wrapped candleholders, preserved cedar, birch twigs, pinecones, dried pomegranates and artichokes.

A pretty vignette on a sideboard tray.

The front hall mirror found a new home over the fireplace. I love the elegant design over the rustic brick. This wall will soon receive a complete makeover. I used mostly artificial greens over the fireplace for obvious reasons.

A favorite cozy spot in the den. I especially love seeing the little ones peak inside the windows of the Christmas village.

Love this ornament - a new favorite - a gift from a friend.
May you leave a little sparkle everywhere you go!

We are expecting a pretty good blizzard tonight in NY. Be safe everyone!

New Year's Wishes

Happy New Year!

Wishing YOU a year of...

Happiness

Good Health

Inspiration

Creativity

Thanking YOU for a great year of...

Patronage

Friendship

Inspiration

Wanted to take this time to say YOU are much appreciated!!

Christmas around the house...

The decorating is done ~ cards, shopping,wrapping and baking ~ still working on that! But I'd love to participate in the home tours going on all around blog land. I like to keep it mostly natural but I do change things up a little from year to year.

So welcome to my home...

My standard front door basket filled with cut evergreens, berries and crystal stems.

The porch - more fresh greens and white lights. I also have candles in all of the windows. Wish I could show you but I don't know how to take a good night pic.

Another favorite decorating piece of mine is this etagere filled with greens and oversized ornaments.

Have to have a little sparkle!

We  have many different types of evergreens on our property - so it's this time that they all get a good trimming. Some types shed less than others.

But I just love how easy it is to make empty pots and planters look festive. This one could use some pinecones on top but I do love it just like that!

As you walk in the front door, here is my entry. More greenery with whites and silvers and a touch of red in my french script ribbon.

Are you spotting the bird theme here? 

I really love these white ones with the birch feathers that I found this year.

Love the glow of the mercury glass.

You can easily make your mirrors festive with a little greenery and ribbon.

The urn is a simple arrangement to recreate - white painted sticks, greens and pine cones. 

We are still painting our dining room furniture but I can show you a little corner of the room.

This tree is wrapped in a coil of grapevine and baby's breath is tucked all around.
 

Love these crates and they also get some greens.

The mantle in the family room is very simple this year. We will be working on that room next. Shhhh....don't tell my husband.

Mason jars filled with snow (epsom salt), cranberries and battery lit candles. Too much greenery around there - I was worried about my candles catching fire.

I filled one of my rustic planters with greens (there is a mixture of artificial and real in there), white lights and sugar cones. They are huge! I also tucked in some sparkly caspia.

This vase receives some sticks and greens from the yard and tall berry stems.

I set the table - just for you. A really festive, and inexpensive centerpiece you can create and eat! All using items from the market. Pomegranates and green apples with more greens and pine cones.

More snow and cranberries in my new Matthew Mead Jelly Jars.

My grapevine wreaths with preserved cedar decorate my cookbook cupboard and the backs of the chairs.

 I hope you enjoyed my tour.

Make sure you stop by the following parties featuring so many gorgeous Holiday Home Tours!

And if you have one up - please let me know so I can visit you too!