The Magic Of Metal For the Holidays...An Etsy Treasury Feature!

Well it is only a week or so until we celebrate Thanksgiving and I am starting to feel a little festive!  I wanted to share a great "back up plan" or "default decor" idea with you for making your home more festive this year for the holidays.

Many of us are trying to save money and perhaps you are entertaining multiple times throughout the season and want to make your home festive without going on a special shopping excursion for a carload of decor?  Well, start going through your home collecting anything metallic with beautiful reflective surfaces.

Everything from silver mirrors, picture frames, candlesticks, votives, ribbon,boxes etc. can be placed in groupings in entry hallways, bathrooms and tabletops to create lovely vignettes.  By simply adding several live plants to the groupings, you have all you need to create instant warmth for the holidays!

Today's Etsy Treasury Feature looks at some amazing and festive metallic finds on Etsy....

The Country Living Fair 2011...The First Feature of the Series!

I have returned from The Country Living Fair in Stone Mountain, Georgia and Wow, what an extravaganza!  This year, there were more vendors and even more of a variety of wares!  I will be featuring highlights over the next week, including several talented artists from the fair and many beautiful photos of the booths and artwork.

Today I want to include several photos of the entrance and welcome area of the Fair.  Upon entering, you immediately walk into a stone pavilion with a giant fireplace. This area is beautifully styled and it sets the tone for the aesthetic of the fair, overall.

Enjoy...as you enter the Country Living Fair 2011.  

Did you go to Country Living Fair this year? If so, what was your favorite part?  What did you buy?  Did you discover any new artists or vendors?

Check back for more Country Living Fair highlights throughout the week!

Fire Up The Grill, It's Time For a Fall Backyard Barbecue!

It's Fall Y'all!  Lets get together in the back yard and have a barbecue party!  Today's treasury includes many of the staples for a festive backyard barbecue.  Take a look at some of my amazing finds on Etsy this week.

Double Feature: My " Top 5" Lists for Paper and Notions

Today's post is a Double-Feature!  Since I was not able to post yesterday, I am going to share a little "extra" information that I hope you find fun and helpful.

We all organize our references and resources in different ways, and mine are almost always "old school."  I have a notebook full of all my favorite websites and resources in every category you could ever dream of.  I will eventually get all of it on computer, but for now my old steno pad is my bible, of sorts.

One of the larger categories is the "Paper and Stationery" category. I am going to share my top 5 sources on the web for paper and stationery category.  Now...this section of my notebook has probably 50 entries, so this is the current short list.  My top choice is:

www.paper-source.com

personalized stationery choices are graphic and clean

great desk calendars

decorative wrapping paper...hello!

next...www.delphinepress.com

beautiful stationery

next choice:  www.redstamp.com

great personalized flat cards!

I know, you have already run out of money but...the next choice is: www.hellolucky.com

great colors and letterpress cards are tops!

and last but not least...www.lindaandharriett.com

calendars and stationery!

Now, if you cannot find some incredible stationery and/or a beautiful calendar in that collection, I would be astonished.  I have always read that one should have a stationery wardrobe and it stuck with me and I have used it as my excuse to buy beautiful papers and stationery ever since! If you would like to learn more about a stationery wardrobe, visit www.dempseyandcarroll.com, where they have a detailed description of one and some amazing choices for stationery as well.

The Second Featured Top 5 List is compiled of some of my favorite creative resources. These sites have some of the most interesting and gorgeous craft items ever.  Have you ever had a morning when you wake up and the first thought that comes to mind is: "What I really need is some french beaded flora!"- Of course you have, we have all had that morning.  Or..."I just know I would feel better if I ordered some hand dyed silk ribbon."  Again, a very common first morning thought for all of us.  Well now, you know where to go!

For brocade ribbon, one of my favorite types of ribbon ( I have seen amazing jewelry made from vintage brocade ribbon), my choice is:  www.britexfabrics.com

can you believe this? check out this site!

When you really need a Wendy Addison fix or much more, www.tinseltrading.com.

Wendy Addison

Wendy Addison

For great wrapping and crafting, as well as homeade food items and more, visit www.sks-bottle.com.

For that beaded flora we were talking about, as well as buttons, ribbon, headbands and wool, check out www.rosemille.net

This is made entirely of beads.

glitter letters are a staple...

I also enjoy www.greenpartygoods.com

yes, this is a hand painted poppy garland!

This is ALL paper!

There you go!  Some of my favorite sources for beautiful things!  What are your favorite sites for paper, stationery or crafts? Please share!

Have You Ever Experienced A Hostess Mental Block?

Whether you are "The Hostess with the Mostess" or "The Paper Plate and Plastic Last Minute Princess," you have wondered at some point between volunteering to host and hearing the front doorbell ring, "What am I going to put together to freshen up and decorate?"

Certainly there are different levels of entertaining, but most often with garden clubs, book clubs, supper clubs, birthdays and barbecues, you need only to concentrate on a couple of  spots to create a festive and enjoyable celebration!  Life By Design can help with this service as well. Often, the celebration will concentrate around a dining area or patio and you just need help with a festive centerpiece or theme.  Whether it is a simple get together for friends or a large graduation dinner, we can make sure you have the "Mostess"....and reduce a little of that stress that comes along with it.

Tips..... Where do I focus my time and effort to ensure the best experience for my guests?

• Front Door Entry...(or door you most utilize for your home and guests.)  Add  two nice size plants on either side of the door in clean containers.  Make sure your front door is clean, no webs, and your entry mats are clean and not threadbare. 
• A Festive wreath always works on the front door!
• Guest Bathroom...other than being extremely clean, your guests will appreciate humorous towels, extra toilet paper in the cabinet, fresh soap and even a small tube of hand cream.
• As long as your main floor is picked up and put away, the main focus should be where the food will be placed. A great centerpiece on the main table is a way to create drama and introduce any theme.

This photo is of a small centerpiece that I created for a springtime book club meeting.  About 15 ladies attended and the table was later filled with homeade hors d'oevres...kinda makes you want to join a book club doesn't it?