Blessing

 It's time for a new decade, a new year, and an open calendar...

'TwentyTen' offers us a chance to choose afresh what to focus on.

As we leave behind the past and step into a wide-open future, I pray that the coming year brings to each of us opportunities for service to others, possibilities for growth of our perspective, enrichment of our minds, and attainment of our goals. If we each strive to become the best we can be, and to share our blessings with those around us, what a wonderful world it really could be...

My friend Beth says 'Dream Big', and I agree with her. Thinking small never saved a soul, healed a heart, or changed the world. We all owe it to humanity to step up, step out, step forward, and bring all that we have to the table. Give of our talents, our hearts, our time and ourselves joyfully, wholeheartedly, and generously.

Our word for the coming year is 'Blessing'.

We chose this name for our home when we moved in last year, and that concept has permeated every part of our lives ever since. In 2010 we'll build on that as we strive to accept all that comes our way as a Blessing, and to share all that we have and all that we are to be a Blessing to others every day. Some may be small, others may be huge, but to contribute to our family, community and world in a positive way is very important to us  - and a mission we find well worth pursuing. The way that others have blessed us this year has touched us so deeply, and we want to keep that energy in motion! (Do you choose a word or concept as your touchstone each year? I'd love to hear about it...)

May 2010 be the year that you affect change in your world, my friends...

Do What You Love...

I don't think there are enough superlatives in the English language to adequately express my (shock? awe? surprise?) incredibly elated and yet astounded reaction to the news I received in an email on Monday. Dear SWEET Robin Laws, photographer extraordinaire and writer of laudable prose, let me know in her oh so nonchalant way that one of the photos she took of our tent at the BarnHouse Flea Market last July had been chosen to appear along with her story about the Boys in the January issue of Somerset Life Magazine.

My reading of that news caused me to quite literally fall out of my chair. Then I screamed out loud. Poor Bob, who knows what he thought had happened to me, but he came a'runnin'! I was finally able to stammer something unintelligible like 'Tent - photo - Robin - BarnHouse - SOMERSET MAGAZINE!!!!!' and he figured it out from there.

Friends confirmed yesterday that they had seen the issue, so I was at liberty to share the news. It took me until this afternoon at four o'clock to get my own hands on a copy so that I could see it for myself. But I finally did, flipped it open, and... sigh.

Yep, that's it, right up there - a beautiful Robin Laws photo of our 'Taj Ma Tent', on the title page of her story about the Fabulous BarnHouse Boys. These three are a part of a group of the kindest, most generous, most funloving and hardworking people we have ever met, and we are blessed to have them as friends. We are so grateful to have their support behind what we are doing with Retreat, and we thank them (profusely and eternally) for sharing us with the world so generously. To be a part of 'The Barn People' is to be welcomed with open arms, let me tell you!

Everyone is talking about resolutions and dreams and goals right now...
I have to share that a few weeks ago, we sat down and had a serious pow-wow about Retreat's business goals for 2010. Wanna' guess what one of the big ones was?

Being on the pages of Somerset magazines. 

Do you know what we did to get there, on page 12 of the January 2010 issue of Somerset Life?

Not a thing.

Well, we designed & created products, went to shows and  set up our booths (and that TENT) in our own unique style, and sold our merchandise, and met wonderful people who became friends, and tried to be a helpful part of every show we were in... and that's all we did.

'Do What You Love, and the Rest Will Follow'...
You've heard that one before, of course. We all have. Guess what? IT'S TRUE!

(If you'd like to see more of our 'Taj Ma Tent', visit our Retreat Blog)


Image Credit: Somerset Life Magazine & Robin Laws

Winter Decorating

Oh, I know, I've already posted once today....

but as I was visiting blogs, I came across this lovely photo, and wanted to share it.Just perfect for this time of year, isn't it? (Well, maybe if you live in Cali or Florida, it isn't so perfect!) But to me, January & February are all about snowflakes, snow, warm cozy textures, sparkling glass, and more. Winter Personified!

This window decor idea is also a great example of decorating on the cheap, recycling, and finding a new use for Holiday ornaments that are not 'Christmas' specific - and how can you not love that?!

I have some white Tord Boontje cutout garlands that are very snowflake-like, and I think I'll be hanging them in my laundry room window to replicate this effect.My crystal snowflakes will stay on the chandelier for awhile, and the crocheted snowflakes from the tree will find new homes in winter-y floral arrangements.

Seasonal Redecorating without spending a penny? 'Priceless'!

The photo came from Simply Stated, a decorating blog from Real Simple Magazine. Like it's parent, it has a chic mod style and clean look - I found it through the Decor8 blog. Now, I'm a vintage girl through and through, but there are some nifty ideas in mags & blogs that espouse other styles of decorating! Some of the best ideas come from seeing a new 'take' on a tried and true decorating trick, then adapting it to fit your own unique style. And isn't that the FUN part, anyway?!

I think this is the perfect attitude to herald the New Year!

What are YOUR dreams for the coming year, my friends?

Ideas Are Swirling Like Snowflakes...

The Christmas rush is over, and I'm on to the next thing already.

I know, that can sound so heartless... by that, I only mean that there are so many ideas swirling around in my head like snowflakes during this perfect time of year for new things, that I am just very excited to begin them! I'm expecting a call on Tuesday about a future project, and that alone has me all revved up. But my goodness, there is so much more!

Have you figured out what to do with your homes once the Holiday decorating is gone, my friends? The little guy up top and in this photo are basically my inspiration for my 'Winter' decor. (That's what comes after 'Holiday Decor' and before 'Spring Decor' around here.) More white, some lace, soft textures, and just a tiny hint of the coming spring.

Now all that's left is to actually bring in the boxes, take down Christmas, pack it up, take it all out, clean... and then gather and redecorate. Sure. No sweat.

And I'll get to it, I will... but first (as they say)....

I need to continue research and do some work on a project for 'the wedding' that Miss Ashley has been patiently waiting on. I'm gettin' there!

Some dear friends have a wonderful new venture underway and have asked Retreat to take part in it! Bless their hearts, we are so thrilled to be asked, and we are preparing some special products just for them!
(Stay tuned to our RetreatStyle blog)

I've also been 'cookin' up' a plan for the next setup to go into our space at Poppyseeds after the first of the year, and am hunting & gathering for that.

We have a plethora of projects underway for Retreat, actually.... blog updates, a web site in development, a new product line, a whole new look, and SO much more. We just got word today of a very special, wonderful 'happening' for Retreat - but I can't share it yet. I'm sorry! I promised. (I'm just too excited not to mention it!) 
Edited to add: it's the photo in Somerset Life magazine - see post above!

So, that's my week - and it hasn't even started yet!

Christmas Elves

Do you know how HARD it is for me to refrain from sharing

every.last.Christmas.photo. of my sweet little grandsons with you?

sigh. SO hard.

Here, Mr. Troy is wearing his official Christmas Eve pajamas from Grampy & Grammy. (It's our job to provide those, don'tcha' know)You can see his impish grin just before he launched himself over the footboard and onto our bed to jump like a madman....
He gets away with murder around here, I tell ya'. That grin just does Grammy IN!
He's had that affect on me since his first Christmas.

Then there's the other lil' squirt....
This was a newborn Jameson LAST year, when we spent Christmas in Texas:

One very short year later, here he is:

I just want to know one thing:
What are they feeding these boys?!!!

'Christmas Wishes and Holiday Dreams'

My goodness, it's finally here...

the packages are wrapped...

the tree is decorated...

the table is set, and the candles are lit...

a fire is roaring, the house smells of vanilla and fir,
and Christmas harmonies fill the air.
We sit and enjoy the moment, and
in the still, quietness of night outside....the Celebration begins.

When you gather with family and friends to celebrate the Holidays,
know that I am thankful for your friendship here in Blogland
It is such a precious gift....
Merry Christmas!

Say Goodnight, Gracie....

Um..... yeah, well, I tried to do this today.

I tried it when Blogger refused to accept my modifications to my blog templates.

I also tried it when Photoshop refused to save my images at the sizes I specified... after I had worked for hours in my new copy of Microsoft Digital Image Pro to create them. (Learning new locations & tags for all of my fave tools in the process - soooo fun. Not. ) And I tried it when the links from Photoshop to Blogger refused to work.

Everything I did today worked on my 'hidden' test blog, but when I linked images to the 'real' blogs - sigh. Chaos & Mayhem.

I even tried it when Firefox revolted and decided it was time to not only shut DOWN (without warning), but also completely disappear from my program menu. I could not get back online.

Cue total and complete mental breakdown in 3... 2... 1...

Fortunately for me, I have a husband with a prevalent geek gene, and he was able to restore my computer while I was sobbing and drinking rum with a drop of eggnog in it.  I kid you not. My graphics program will have to be re-loaded, which is a pain. BUT at least I can get online now, to repair the damage from half-completed tasks that everyone in the world can see on my blogs. I've repaired all that I can for now, and am signing OFF for the night.

I do really like the way this blog looks now. It fits my personal aesthetic better than anything I've had before. I hope you do, too! 

Goodnight, my friends....

Restful

I made this sweet little 'Santa' cap for myself... and yes, I cheated. ;0)

I sewed the burlap cone, and then popped it over a red velvet and white fur hat! Then I added vintage ribbon and one of my vintage rhinestone pins to bling it up a bit. It sits on my velvet vintage jewelry box (that was created by the lovely miss Cindy for one of the Flourishes events) when I'm not wearing it... and I do. Wear it, that is!

A few detail shots of our master bedroom:

Mmmmmhmmmmmmn. 

I told you I wasn't about to put all of my seashells away this year! Now that we live here at the beach, my lifetime collection has a permanent home in these glass jars & bowls. They move around the house from season to season, and now they are in our room. I added a bit of white faux foliage and some silver balls with white snowflakes on them to coordinate with the rest of our home's decor. Simple and very serene.

This was a late addition: the eight foot tall vintage white faux tree I found at our local thrift shop for FIVE BUCKS last week.  ;0) It's not just tall, my friends, it's just plain BIG! Next year it will be our main tree, decorated to within an inch of it's life. But this year, it will remain delightfully plain right here in our sanctuary. Sticking out from the wall. And I will try to stop running into it in the middle fo the night. I'm paying for my obsessions, I tell ya'....

Creative Space

In previous posts, I've shown you the Holiday decor outside, in our entry, living room,  and dining room. Are you bored yet?! I hope not! I've got more to share....

Let's go around the corner from the entry, to my studio/office. It's sometimes as clean and organized as these photos depict... but most of the time there are products in development making little piles & messes everywhere - or packed into bins awaiting a show, research materials piled up, various notepads scattered about and a general sense of 'creative chaos'. And I love that!

My everyday decor in this space is soft whites, ivories, and a bit of brown. A calm, warm, enveloping palette that helps stir my creativity. Making it 'Holiday Ready' just meant adding in a few easy, special touches:

 

These are a couple of little snowmen I made a few years ago. The glass 'globe' is actually a stemless wine glass turned upside down! I attached it to a rusty metal jar lid, to which the snowman is glued, and then added vintage crepe paper ruffle.

The other little snowman originally had a green scarf and cap, as he was part ofthis group a few years back, so I updated him to fit the soft white theme this year. His hat is a snippet of vintage sheet music & rickrack, and his scarf is a length of plain old string that I simply knotted repeatedly to get the textured 'knit scarf' effect. He's holding a vintage metal icicle that accidentally got caught up on another ornament and stretched out.... I needed to use it for something, and this worked out perfectly!

I've seen this idea used in so many creative ways by so many of you out there in blogland, that I thought I'd give it a try: the 'Vintage Cupcake Tin as Inspiration Board' tactic! I loaded up a bunch of miscellaneous little somethings that have been sitting around in here... not as incredible as some I've seen, but it will work!

I hope you enjoyed this peek at my studio... and there are still a few areas left that I'd love to show you, so I hope you'll visit again!

(Blogger's doing something weird.... sorry about the strange formatting & bold type!)
PS: Do you know what today is? The first official day of Winter. The shortest day (of daylight) of the year. I LOVE this day. Why? Because as of tomorrow, we'll be gaining a minute of light every day...... we are on our way to SUMMER, people! ;0)

Santa Gets a Makeover

I found a box of long-lost holiday decor yesterday, and it included this lil' item. (Actually it's not little at all, it's over 18" round and is made of metal.) I bought it several years ago at Tar-Jay at a post-holiday markdown price. The tab is attached to a metal disc on the back, and spins to reveal ever-changing dates. It's an advent calendar, basically.

Originally it was bright red, with Santa appearing as dark brown and ivory 2-D graphics. Not bad, but since I am overly obsessed with making things match in my decor, I just had to paint it. Some basic brown covered the red, a brown wash added detail to the ivory, and some black lent depth to the details. He looks more vintage now than ever, even with all that new paint!

To finish him off, I added a little red lipstick rubbed onto his cheeks and nose (Um, I had no red paint....), and some glass glitter to all of the 'fur' and 'hair' elements of the graphic.... unfortunately, those don't show up in the photo. But I hung this on the wall adjacent to the tree, and the reflected lights make that glitter just sparkle and shine!

I know what you are thinking. And no, I really can't leave well enough alone. I'll be decorating until 5:00 Christmas Eve when the kids arive for dinner!!! ;0)

At Table

Another perfect moment... he discovers the nativity scene.

It's made up of simple plaster figures that I, then my children, played with as a child. Now my grandson clip-clops the donkey, 'baabaa's the sheep, and plays with 'daddy,mama, baby cheesus' near the tree. His little smile and sing-song voice were angelic yesterday as he played while we 'babysat' him.Yes, this is a happy grandma!

OK, so, back to the decorating.... how about the dining room next?
More lace, more burlap, more whites and clear glass.  I'll have to move everything on the table for Christmas Eve dinner, and create a smaller-scale, simpler centerpiece that we can see over!

I love playing with chandeliers, adding things seasonally to change the way they look. (Or just changing the fixture completely!) I gathered dozens of clear glass ornaments, snowflakes, and crystals to hang from a few snowy white branches around the chandelier...

LOVE the way it looks when the sunshine comes in the front widows. (Yes, there have actually been moments of sunshine - and Saturday promises more!) But true to form, I've already made additions since taking these photos.... look below.

I discovered two strands of clear bubble lights in a box, and instantly decided to put the bulbs into the chandelier. These remind me of a tiny tree my grandmother once had, and seeing them dozens of times every day as I walk by just brings a smile to my face as I think of her. Up above on the ceiling, I took a large white felt 'lacy' placemat that I had and used it as a medallion. Easy up, easy to hold in place with small pins. Makes a nice finishing touch  - for now!

'Phoebe BUffet' on the other side of the room got all gussied up with goodies, too...

(I found six of these little white ceramic plates with embossed snowflake designs at a thift shop. They are all glazed and individually hand-stamped on the back. I'm guessing they are a cookie mold for some kind of luscious Scandinavian treat.... anyone know?)

Even the opalescent crystals on the sconces blend perfectly with the winter whites.Let's just imagine the smell of sugar cookies and pretend that I actually had time to bake some and offer them to you, shall we?! ;0)

To Tree or Not to Tree?

I went into the local thrift shop today. Spied two huge plain cardboard boxes labelled 'White Xmas Tree: Part 1 and Part 2'. They were taped shut. I asked how much for the tree, was told ten bucks - plus 50% off, so a total of FIVE BUCKS. "SOLD!" I said. I'm no dummy! The gal cut open the boxes so I could check out the tree, and it's a really NICE white nylon tree. 8' tall. No lights. I think it's going to find a home in the corner of the master bedroom, where lights are not necessary..... Now I ask you: did I or did I NOT say yesterday that I wanted a really good white tree? Yes, I did. Poor Bob is just shaking his head right about now....

After finishing the original tree's decor, I started in on adding seasonal touches to other areas of the living room... not too much, since the tree IS the star of it all. Just a few little vignettes of more sugary-white sweetness:

A sweet way to add 'a little something' to a candle: I took a vintage crocheted collar, added a silk ribbon and a vintage rhinestone clip earring, and wrapped it around a glass hurricane shade. It fit perfectly!

This is, by far, my favorite Holiday decoration: My now three year old grandson, sitting by the tree in his jammies, playing for hours with a toy that his mommy, aunties, and uncle all loved as children. Sometimes it really is the simplest things that mean the most... along with a killer deal on a swanky new white tree. ;0)