The Polka Dot Poppy

Harkening back to Girl Scout camp days, I made this easy garland to warm up the decor on my mantle this Christmas.  Using a skein of yarn, I just twisted long lengths together.  I started with about 20 strands 30 feet long.  Twisting the yarn will reduce it to half when you let it merge into the "rope".  Using fewer strands will give you a smaller circumference of course.  You can make them any length although I recommend having a little elf helper so things don't unwind on you or at least tie off one end securely.  The softness of the yarn warms up the decor and makes the display a bit more cozy and in my case brightens the mantle and balances the look.   A skein yarn will cost about 4 dollars at a craft store.  The large snowflakes were purchased a dollar store.  Using the yarn garland and snowflakes alone with clear votives or white candles will give you a lovely elegant look.

Happy Thanksgiving! A little twist on tradition using red for a Thanksgiving table.  Merlot colors blend beautifully with pumpkins but if you don't like orange just paint pumpkins to match.  I made these napkins for my niece who just bought her first home.  I think the contemporary rose design is romantic and youthful and she can use them for any occasion.  The Pheasant salt & pepper shakers I found at an antique store a couple years ago. 

My Grandmother, whom I like to think of as my "Gardening Angel", is a tough act to follow when it comes getting down in the dirt.  I don't believe there was ever a blade of grass out of place in her yard and the gardens surrounding her quaint little house rivaled any I've seen at a botanical garden.  So this year, as I'm waffling on whether to put in my winter color, I of course thought of her.  She wouldn't hesitate a second to get down on her knees to pop the pert little plants into the earth for the reward of their happy faces throughout the winter months!  I'm inspired, but tired.  Sigh. Off to the nursery I go bargaining with myself and deciding that if they don't have flats of Delta Blue, (my usual choice up against the white brick), it will be a sign and I'll just skip the whole process this year.  After all,  I reasoned, I was a bit late in getting to it in the first place and no one else in our neighborhood even goes to the trouble any

Perfect place to park the little spirits.  These are made with fondant, the "Play Dough" of the baking world.   My embroidered napkins are a design from Bunny Cup Embroidery. 

There's a lot of scary stuff going on this October not the least of which is starting this endeavor.  These little guys are the spookiest things in my house right now. I made these with instructions from the Ladies' Home Journal website.  They have a cuteness factor of 10 and are great for Halloween parties.  The only problem is that people don't want to eat them.  They are just that scary!

Coming Soon... Inspiration for fun, fabulous and affordable living!