A Little Christmas Magic

Just a little happy imagine of my treasured babies watching the tree.  They were quite mesmerized with it right after we put it up.  While I quietly watched the Auburn/Alabama game they just sat on the back of the couch and watched the tree. 

I'm getting very excited about this holiday season for some reason.  Perhaps my heart and head are just in a little better place.  Who knows....I just know that this season I'm preparing our family for a wonderful little holiday.

Little Christmas Vignettes Day 2

Onward we go up the stairs to find this little vignette nestled so sweetly for all to see:

We have a unique staircase that makes a hard left turn on the way up.  The builder placed this super cool corner shelf at the turn...NOT.    I mean seriously who needs a shelf in the corner of the stairs on the way up?  Is it supposed to be a bench to rest on the way up or something?  Anyhoo....while decorating I had an "AHA" moment for the corner bench/shelf/decorating thorn in my side.  I found the awesome feather tree at the Country Living Fair.  It's decorated with gorgeous vintage Shiney Brights from the fair as well!  The sweet sugary houses were a purchase years ago from TJ Maxx.  The $5.99 sticker makes me smile real big.

 Vintage books with the covers ripped off are a staple for my vignettes.  My go-to riser.

Tomorrow...a peek at the renovated half-bath.  So it'll be a before and after peek as well!

Christmas Vignettes Day 1

We've enjoyed preparing our home so much for the Holiday season.  I thought I'd share a few of our favorites over the next few days until Christmas.  I know...I know...this is supposed to be an artsy blog.  But decorating is such a sweet passion of mine.  I hope to share more of my decorating tips and ideas in the new year here.  It is big a part of my creative expression.  Yep.. one big creative explosion in this house.  Good thing I married a very patient and very easy going man.

So on with the tour.....this is how the Horne family is greeting its' guests for the Christmas Season:

The front door has no protection, so I literally bought picks and ornaments for the wreath at Wal-mart so at the end of the season, should they be pretty funky, I could throw them out without a cringe.  I wanted lots of sparkly too because when the sun hits the door it is magical.  Totally.  Magical....I LOVE driving up to our home and seeing this.  I started with a basic pine wreath, added lots of fresh greenery for smell goodness and then added the sparkly pics, nest and bird.

Inside you are immediately greeted with the banister totally decked out with lighted garland, more sparkly nests, silver painted leaves and this amazing creamy ribbon I found at Heeney.  I've never had stairs to decorate.  So you can only imagine how tickled I was this year to be adding this to our Christmas decoration box!

The balcony area received the same garland strands.  Below is a close-up of the coveted ribbon and sparkly nests.  The ribbon is by far my favorite ribbon find ever.

This vignette is also in the entry way.  I just love glitter house and have been slowly collecting them over the years. A few bottle trees and snow make this scene a wintery wonderland!

Of course our home would not be complete without one of these.

Because it is the reason we are blessed every year.  And look forward to the next!

Parties and Christmas

This past weekend we headed to the beautiful city of Monroeville, Alabama.  If you've been following me here a spell then you know I was just here a month ago meeting the other Jennifer Horne at the Beehive.  Yep.  This weekend however was the start of our FOUR Christmas'.  Not complaining.  Nope.  I mean, that's pretty darn lucky that I have family and friends to travel and see over the holidays to share the Christmas spirit with!!  Four times.  My kids LOVE it.  And I LOVE it.  I love to give, give, give gifts.  I get a total crazy high off finding and giving the perfect gift.  That look of "wow, you remembered...or Wow you really know me..." man it's the reason to give.  I don't even like to tell others what I am giving others.  And I really don't like knowing what is being given to my children.  I love the surprise and excitement of the entire holiday joy.   Yep....man....I am rambling a joyful crazy high right?  Whew.  Sorry. 

This weekend however, wasn't just about Christmas.  We also went to celebrate my sister Molly's only child's 2nd birthday.  Talk about time flying.  Seems just yesterday we were going down for his birth.  It was the best time for us(Molly and I) to be with our families and our Mother for Christmas.  And what a bonus to be celebrating Fielding's 2nd!  And celebrate in grand style we did.  Molly has a gift I had NO IDEA was in her.  And that would be the gift of Birthday Party planning.  Down to a tee.  Yep.  Just look below.  Not one detail missed.  Martha would be proud.  She worked us to death....but in the end it was a perfect day and a perfect party for a pretty darn cute little boy.  So enjoy the party pics below!

 There were 6 carnival games perfect for little tykes to enjoy, a jumpy house, fresh lemonade stand, hot dog stand, cupcakes to knock your socks off good, and a photo booth.  Geesh this is a cute idea.  I am SO going to implement one into my festival booths.  Wouldn't that be a hoot??

Is he the cutest little man or what?  Of course I am a tad biased.  Anyhoo....we celebrated much on Saturday.  From Christmas with our mother to a 2 year old's birthday.  It was such a joyful way to start our holiday season.  So.....how many times do you celebrate the season?

I'm Dreaming...Scratch that I'm Living the WHITE CHRISTMAS!!

HOLY TAMOLY!  Seriously folks.  Living above the Mason Dixon line you get snow.  I know.  But those of us living below it, like moi, snow is like magic.  It shuts down schools, major and minor roads, and even churches!  And look what came today!!!!  On Christmas Day!!!!   A white Christmas!!!!!  I am freakin' 38 years old and have NEVER HAD A WHITE CHRISTMAS!  I am like freakin' out, can you tell????

Ok, so it's not like snowboarding level, yet.  We've got some cool ripsticks and skateboards that can easily have their wheels removed though and don't think I'm not already scheming.....for tomorrow that is.  Tonight I think we'll keep the fire roaring (real wood one that is....yes not all Southerners have remote control fireplaces) and continue to roast marshmallows till our bellies explode!  Man, can this holiday get any more brimming with joy?  geeeeeeshhhhhh.  We are like a  bowl full of strawberry jello topped with a heavy layer of real whipped cream in the Horne house this holiday!!  Eeeekkkkkkkkkk!  It's snowing!   Ok.  I think I may need to get back outside now.  See ya later!! I simply can not stand it.  Bye ya'll!!

It's Party Time!

I am in awe that 2010 is nearing an end.  A crazy word to use....but seriously where did it go...amazing.  We say that every year I suppose around the holidays.  I found pictures of William's first Christmas recently where he was a mere 11 months old.  So innocent, had no idea what the fuss was all about, and certainly didn't ask for a thing.  Since that first year we've tried to create traditions with our family, ones that hopefully they will carry on with their own families.  William is 10 now and I am holding on to every last morsel of hope that he still "believes."   

Today our family is heading to LA....That's Lower Alabama folks.  Where the weather is warmer and southern comfort food is always a staple.  It's my Nephew Fielding's 1st Birthday!  And if Christmas wasn't enough to celebrate this month, this little man brings even more joy to the table of celebration Saturday.  We'll be tearing into fabulous presents with my Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Fielding and us!   My kids are beside themselves.   Love this part.  Like BIG PUFFY heart this part.

Oh, and I just HAVE to show off how super duper cute he is.  Man.  Didn't know I could love something so much outside my 3 little sets of legs.  Well, make that two little sets and one big set.  And perhaps 20 furry ones.  But you get the idea, right?  Love has this way of creeping into your body, not just your heart because man you can feel it in your bones sometimes.  During this time of year overwhelming joy, happiness and LOVE abounds in our family.  I hope it does yours too. 

PS.......just in case, I'm sending puffy hearts your way to use any way you like.

What A Find!

Just wanted to show off a thrift store score!  When I saw this box amongst all the Christmas gone bad on the shelf I nearly fell over trying to get to it.  I mean look....original cardboard box with amazing graphics and  it's written twice that they are American made.  I bet there are very few ornaments made in America now except the ones we make, with foreign parts though!  Then to open the lid and find ALL 12 ornaments in perfect condition and the most amazing Tiffany blue color....it was a yipppppeee moment for sure.  And the little yellow sticker on the box said, $3.  Yep.  Wallet breaking day I tell ya!

I'll show you how I'm using them later in the week or so.  Right now the area they are in is under construction.  So what's been your favorite find for the season? 

Scents of Christmas

Nothing says Christmas more than the scents to me.  We grew up with real Christmas trees, so the natural smell of tree filled our home.  Now that I am all grown up and have chosen the artificial tree tradition, which is quite lovely covered in flock, it definitely has no smell.  Recently I walked in to a local retailer and found the solution to my lack of Christmas smell in the home:

So if you are wanting the fresh smell of just cut Christmas trees in your home, I highly recommend this candle!

It's That Time Again

Maybe it's the strangely warm temperatures in Georgia, or maybe it's my crazy busy artsy schedule, but I am freaking out a tinge that it's time to pull down the red Rubbermaids from the attic!  Our daughter Mailey was chomping at the bit to get down the carolers before Thanksgiving.  So we did.  And it was kind of fun to get them out so early to enjoy their silly little singing faces.  No sooner had the turkey filled our bellies was she bugging us to get out the tree.  So we did.  And then last night as a family we decorated the beautifully flocked tree.  We turned on the Christmas music loud and sang and ooooed and ahhhed over the ornaments.  Just like a sappy Hallmark commercial....seriously.   It was time to place the angel on the tree and I quickly ran to get Cherish, you know the new angel I made for our tree this year?  Well let me tell ya, my kids went crazy!  NO! Mom they said, we always use Grandmother's angel...and Mailey remembered it was her year to gently place it into position.  I have to admit I do love her shining face looking out over our Christmas tree.

The kids were just so....happy.....all Thanksgiving break.  I know, no school can do that for a kid.  But there's something else in the air at our house.  I can't quite pin it down, and neither can Billy.  But we like it.  And the joy especially Mailey has right now about decorating and Christmas, well I can only describe it as MAGICAL.  Because that's what it is.  And it's contagious, this magic she is spreading.

Speaking of like, here is the #1 ornament of conversation at our house.  And the family voted favorite.  The stories we have about this man, well it brings back many happy memories....... 

 My mother-in-law surprised me with this squealing cute ornament this year.  Am I a lucky gal or what?

Yep, we are all happy campers here at the Horne house.  I'm hoping you've had a moment to do a little decorating as well.  We are hosting the family Christmas this year in our little bungalow, so I'll be going ALL out with the decorating.  Just as soon as the show this weekend is over and my house is no longer a giant art studio. 

All smiles....sending your way some puffy hearts and hoping to hear about your favorite ornaments soon!

Mattie's Flea Booth

I really don't know why, but for some reason I've been obsessing over my little 8x8' booth at the Flea for some time now.  On my way to Marist I swung by Heeney wholesale florist (to the tune of $350) for more Christmas merchandise.  I wanted it to be magical in my booth.  I know, many tell me just set up like you do for shows.  But for some reason I can't.  It has to be different.  More.  Different.

 There is sparkle a plenty in this little square.  Oh it made me so happy when I left on Wednesday after setting up.

There are so many special items to buy in the booth; items with my art printed on them to glass votives lovingly embellished with paper flowers and vintage finds.

Oooo...and the Santa necklaces below, you just gotta have one.  The pendant has been gently place on my favorite antique brass bee bee chain.  I think they are priced at just $12.oo too!

Of course, as mentioned in the prior post there are plenty of glass jars with gentle messages about living life to the fullest.

And lots of fun ornaments to adorn your tree.  All have been embellished with a loving touch by me.  :)

Making of Ornaments

Do you ever have that block? The creative block that is? I needed to make ornaments for the Kitchmas Show at Naked Art in Birmingham, and I was totally stumped. They needed to be made inexpensive, be clever, maybe even made from recycled materials. So I walked around Hobby Lobby in search of "the" idea. And I had one....little glass votive, a dozen of them stacked in the cart ready to take home and add felted wraps from my stash of old sweaters. And then I found these little green paint brushes hanging up and had a voila moment! Here they are dipped in red paint, and hanging to dry. Then little paper wishes, "May You Have a Creative Christmas" were added along with red tiny bows and some holly. Oh, and a hand-made wire hook. Ooooo....super cute. And I think a perfect ornament for those creative types you have NO idea what to get for the annual ornament exchange.

Giving Handmade

I had the BEST weekend folks! Marist was a huge success. Not just with sales, but with the new artist friends I made. I get just giggly when I think about it! And then my son's baseball team made it to the finals in another tournament, finishing 2nd. Whoooohoooo! Our goal is to make enough points to get to the Little League World Series. Which would be super family fun! Holiday Open House at the Flea was a success as well. Valerie said sales soared! I am hoping this is a sign that people are seeking thoughtful, handmade gifts this year instead of the big box mass produced. Here is just one gift idea if you are looking for just that! This is a set of 4 hardboard coasters with corked backing. Great price too- $25.00. They are available at The Vintage-Flea and at my upcoming shows at both Dunwoody United Methodist THIS weekend and St. Pius High School the following. You can also email me! artsyorange@yahoo.com if you'd like a set.