Simple Christmas Project Ideas - Saturday Sightings...

Its Christmas House Tour season...  I did a local tour today and am

sharing a few project and decor ideas that I found especially appealing.

This scene on the side of a barn greeted us at one property.  The old

 settee bench is an unexpected addition to this grouping. Was it

 staged just for the tour day?  Perhaps (as I can't imagine wanting to

 leave it outside in the weather)... but what a neat presentation.... 

Also outdoors - Planters filled w/ miniature tree/shrubs, white twigs

 and puffs of cotton that resemble snow balls... very clever!

Indoors - this banner of various wool fabrics & mostly just simple

 squares - surrounded a young boy's bedroom.  

And note the added pom poms.  Love this!

There are a host of things one can fill a crock or container with.

  Here there are faux berries, twigs, holly,  light branches... 

and burlap candy canes!  Don't forget a bow...

A little hard to see... but what struck me here was a piece of

 furniture simply laden with pillar candles on candle holders.  

Can't get much more simple than that - and it looked good!

Do you have a cake plate and cover?  

Creature a miniatures scene....

This homeowner put up a ladder over her sink - added fresh greens

 and ornaments and called it 'done'.  I asked how she'll decorate 

the ladder after Christmas - she didn't know yet! 

A little more advanced - but oh so neat - was this sunroom with a

 blue painted ceiling.  There were large branches hung from fishing

 line & adorned with LED lights in each corner of the room.  

Also loved the window shelves displayed with beautiful books.

  And of course the stained glass windows!!!  But the 

lighted branches are very doable if you have higher ceilings.

And finally - just one of the many beautiful country homes.

Hope something sparked an idea for you... I know I'm inspired!

   Thinking I just may spend my evening working on a fun banner.

What caught your eye?  ~Joyce  

Cookware in Christmas Vignettes...

Sharing some of the Christmas vignettes I put together at the 

thrift shop this week.   Christmas is my favorite time to do vignettes.  

With greens or a few ornaments - you can bring almost anything

into the Christmas spirit. 

In this 1st grouping - a red pan and some aluminum 

camping gear set the tone...

I filled the flat pan with greens - a red candle - and a few tucked in ornaments.

Behind this scene I worked another vignette using some aluminum

 cake pans.  I used candles again - but this time as a grouping of 

3 in varying heights... all on a red plaid linen...

...with a paper bag and jars to the side.

I think these brass urns are awesome.  At $2 each - not sure why

 they're still available.  Don't be afraid to turn things upside down

 to see how else you can use them...

Pewter is awesome for Christmas too.  I've had this tray and candle

 holders in a display for several weeks now.  It amuses me that

 someone is constantly sitting the one candle holder upright to

 match the other one.   

Pieces purposely laid on their side annoy some of us to no end. :)

And another display in gold with pops of red.  

The tall vase with poinsettias in the back is in another vignette - 

but of course - since they are seen from both sides,  they 

have to work together at least somewhat.

I'm sorry I was absent a few weeks.  We had a whirlwind wedding - 

just 2 months to prepare - that consumed my days.  

God showed up amazingly in the planning - was so neat.

I'll be posting more later on doing a pretty yet very budget

friendly wedding in a short amount of time.  

Are you doing Christmas decor at home yet?  

Nada here... just in the shop!  ~Joyce 

From My Week - Saturday Sightings...

I had the pleasure of spending time in a very scenic mountain

 region this week.  The morning was foggy...

But when the sun came out - what a view! 

This young lady happened to walk into my photo shoot - love it!

There was even a small covered bridge... 

Tis the season for visiting pumpkin farms...

And last - I was near a friend's house one morning so drove past 

& snapped a picture of her recently built backyard barn.  

Is it not just perfect?

Enjoy your surroundings today friends - whatever they may be!

  ~Joyce

A Canal Park - Saturday Sightings...

Took a little walk in a park... with a historical canal in its midst.

Enjoy...

Can you see the other end of the tunnel?

Saved my favorite for last...

I see the approach of autumn in these photos.  

What a blessing to have the gift of life to witness it!  ~Joyce

How To Clean Out A Shed the Easy Way - Friday Finds...

My Friday Finds are - well - come and see...

Loved this door...

...it went to this sweet shed...

...where everything inside was free!  Yippee!

Till I went inside.  Photo actually doesn't look bad.  But there were areas 

that looked like mice nests... and it didn't smell good... and I just couldn't go in.  

But hey - what a novel way to clean out your shed!

Here's what I did find...  

There's a wedding in my very near future - so as I'm seeing stuff I'm getting it.

I just may have a need for some sheer panels... so was happy 

to find fabric and some long curtains already made.  

That 'to do' tablet is still in its original package - 

great for my gift drawer...

These plastic figures are actually vintage cake decorations - a great find... 

And loved the patina of these old shoe shine brushes.  

Look at those bristles!

Twas a good little morning.  Just enough finds to make me smile! 

And remember that shed clean-out trick. 

Tomorrow is Saturday - a great day to try it out.  Ha!  ~Joyce