Jingle Bell Tassels

I enjoy a few tassels around. Most tassels are a little fancy. I made some last year using old glass door knobs for the top.

A few look good juxtaposed against my more primitive decor. Last night I was hanging some jingle bell garlands that I made, and had an idea for a bell tassel using a few left over bells.

First I cut a fringe from a scrap of black wool and some homespun cotton.

I tied the bells with some knit cord, and stained the candle cup.

I threaded a loop of cord through the hole in the bottom of the candle cup for hanging. Then placed the grouped end of cording on the fabric and rolled. After placing a generous amount of hot glue in the candle cup I shoved the rolled end in and waited.......How will this look????? while the glue cooled and dried.

Finished! A Primitive jungle bell tassel.

I hope you are enjoying yourself in the hurry of the season. Much of the time we rush about, as I have been doing, and neglect to ponder or appreciate the meaning of this season. Is it a duty? What family and friends expect? I want to be joyful and share the love that God has shown me (even during some hard times) with those I love and others I cross paths with day by day and on occasion. May you experience peace this day.

Debbie

The Simple Pleasure of Hydrangeas

One of my daughters has two beautiful hydrangea bushes. When the nights turned cool, she harvested a box full of blooms and brought them over.

With a salvaged straw wreath and some hot glue, I fashioned this wreath to enjoy till we see the new blooms next season. Simple pleasures.

Is The Color Right?

It's a project I had been meaning to do all winter. Really, I had been talking about doing it for over a year. But I couldn't decide. What color? Sometimes going into a project I will just "know" what color something should be. But in this case.....I just wasn't sure. I have a very old kitchen. Not much has changed in it since the house was built in 1892. I have one built in base of cabinets. The rest of the kitchen has free standing cupboards. Some old, some Gerry and I build to look old, and a large walk in pantry. The built in base was a combed yellow, matching the wood work . Yellow is very sunshiny in the gray months of the Northwest. But this was getting grimy and dingy and wouldn't clean up well. But what color to paint? I have yellows, greens, red, along with natural woods. I didn't need another color to add to the mix. Finally, I decided on black - the latest neutral I'm told. Black Licorice #0529 by Miller Paint. I was really afraid it would be too bold. In reality, it is a blending influence. I like it.

For handles, I bent old serving spoons and forks and screwed them onto the doors and drawers.

There is a slight green tone in some lights to the black. Also, the texture from the combing application in the previous paint is still there, adding more dimension.

I like the pop of the silver on the black.

Most likely there will soon be a few dings. When that happens, I'll softly sand the edges and around the handles a little for a distressed look. But for now, I'm enjoying this look. I'd love to know what you think.

Debbie

From Silk Scraps To Lamp Shade

I needed a lamp shade for a lamp by my work table. I had this old wire shade frame that has seen several makeovers. I wanted something different. Affordable lampshades can be so boring. What to do that would be creative and playful?

My inspiration was this bag of silk scraps. It's the bag I reach into for little applique pieces, or to make little potpourri bags. It's all those little, wonderful pieces of fabric in yummy colors. What I did was: cover the wire frame with black satin ribbon. I just wrapped it around the wire and tied it leaving a tail hanging. Then I cut strips of fabric, on the bias about 1/2 to 3/4 wide and 5'' long. I used scissors, not the rotary cutter, and cut the strips a little crooked for interest. I attached the strips with a half hitch knot to the horizontal wires.

Finished shade. It's very funky. I think I'll get a different bulb. It looks a little haphazard, yet rich with the texture of silk.

Well, that was fun, I better get back to work. Enjoy your day!

Debbie

Reclaiming the Window Molding

No way would I part with this window header and the surrounding molding when we added onto our home, turning the window into a door. This is molding from when the house was built in 1892. Old by Northwest standards. I thought about putting doorknobs on it and turning it into a coat rack or just something fun to hang things from. I never found just the right place. Finally,......inspiration struck! It would make a fine black splash for the table holding the sink in the bathroom.

So I added some new paint, and quickly put it up.

I think it would look good if I added a little stenciling to blend with the stenciling already in the room. But that will have to wait.........I loaned my favorite collection of stencils, the stencils were lost "somewhere". I am truly bummed about that. So I will add that detail later.

The mirror is off center from the table, but is centered to other features in the room. There are so many quirky, irregular features in this room that you have to look at the whole to balance everything.

I think I'm liken' it.

Her are some other views of the bathroom.

I found the decanter at goodwill and filled it with lavender and rose bath salts that I made with botanical from my yard.

I enjoy the sun and shadow effect that plays on the walls.

The sweet Amish couple I made years ago now aromatically sit on the ledge, scenting the air with their spice filled bodies and cinnamon arms and legs.

The large cast iron tub, original to the house, is perfect for relaxing and planning the day, or contemplating life's twisting turns. Things hanging from the shaker pegs need a little revamping. Another project....

I have a large old open shelving piece for storage. The old sewing drawers hold make up, clips, etc. The picnic basket holds the hair dryer and curling irons, etc. Jars and boxes add interest and hold all necessities, such as pot pourri, lotions, salts, and bath herbs.

I enjoy this old room. It hasn't changed much since first made as a very modern bathroom of that age. Time has almost stood still here. I'm glad I was able to take from one part of the house and add that part here, keeping it a part of the whole. Moving, changing, slightly, slowly, going forward, living.

Debbie

More Decorating

Gerry and I finally went out and cut some greenery . I have holly and cedar in our yard, but I wanted some fir too. Now I've been doing more decorating. I always have lots of greenery around.
I put it over pictures, with festive primitive ribbon.

Garlands over doors.

Inside and outside.

Around the Nativity.
The Nativity sits on top of the buffet in the dining room. I hang starry fabric on the wall and sheer over the stars with angels in the folds.
I made the copper angel several years ago .
My oldest son made the stable using cinnamon sticks many years ago. The floor of the stable is scattered with sandalwood and star anise and anise seed. The aroma is wonderful. Not the usual for a stable. The Christmas village is arranged. Carolers sing, couples walk, children throw snowballs. Each house shines brightly in the candle lit room.
The stockings are already hanging, ready for all the little fun things that fill them each year. Not so many this year. I've made crazy quilt stockings for each child.
Our home is almost ready. There are a few more things to do. I'm enjoying the moments, and the memories. Most of the decorations are older, so as I set out each item, conversations and and expressions are in my minds eye. So many happy times, then and yet to come.

Christmas: Simple Memories

Well,......here's a start. I have a few decorations up. It's has been really nice, enjoying the slower process. Most of it is done on my own time, instead of the short hurried time when everyone can get together. Other years more family has been involved, which it GREAT, but then I'm directing, there's more hustle and bustle, all the personalities - fun times, precious moments, memories, and exhausting being in the center of all that. Even though it is busy, I try to keep things simple. It is the family times, memories, what we have in our hearts that make Christmas. Next Sunday all the family that is in the area will come and we will have a tree decorating party. We have done this for many years, one of those family memories. As we decorate, the kids remember years past, and laugh over their ornaments they made and so lovingly have hung every year. There is one Snow White ornament that is affectionately fought over every year. It is one person's tattered treasure and most others abhor it. Outside, wreaths adorn every window, garland is swagged along the porch railings. The posts are circled in dark red ribbon. Inside, a light in each window, the old tradition of welcome, and lighting the way for travelers. .

The sugar cookies are ready for the grand kids decorate.
Peanut brittle and other goodies are ready.

My work areas are stacked with sweets. We have a big family and many friends who will eat most of this....thankfully.
Cranberry garlands are swagged over the cupboards.

Blocks, giving word to the message of the season are set.



Reindeer visit.
Today I will go and harvest pine and fir boughs to make wreaths and garland. There will be sprigs of green and holly tucked most everywhere. The house will take on the aroma of winter Christmas. There will be bowls of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and star anise scenting every room. There are still the Christmas village, Nativity, angels, etc. to set out. As I'm decorating, I'm thinking of making memories for my family. Thinking of the peace we can experience because of what happened so long ago, the precious gift we have been given. That gift is always at the center of our celebration.