Hi all – I happened upon some wonderful vintage glassware this holiday season and, while I’d love to hang on to every piece I find, I just don’t have the space! What do I love about vintage glass? I love that these pieces have made it to 2013 with nary a nick or chip despite being handled repeatedly over the last 60-70 years. Many pieces I imagine have been set aside in Grandma’s china cabinet and when the time came, the heirs just donated everything. Lucky me!

Found a gorgeous almost complete set of Hazel Atlas green depression glass – 11 teacups and 12 saucers. Had to fight a dreadlocked guy for them – he was buying cereal bowls and thought he needed my saucers. WRONG! Don’t mess with a woman who loves depression glass Same trip, found a set of vintage luncheon plates – the kind that bring to mind 1950′s tea parties, complete with white gloves. Love these beautiful pieces of history but, have nowhere to display or store them. I know you love them too – won’t they look pretty in your home?

Visit my SHOP page to see photos and learn more!

Well, the season is upon us and, I have to say that Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. I love how sparkly and pretty the house is, I love the smells of cinnamon and apple cider, I love our relatively new family tradition of gathering all the women in our family (four generations are represented!) who are home during Christmas and planning a treat-making day and baking, I love the kids’ programs at school and church, I love that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and I love creating an environment that makes my kids smile.

My daughter singing in our church’s Christmas presentation

Click on the thumbnails to view as a gallery.

For the last four years, we’ve thrown a Halloween party. It’s not an all-out come-way-dressed up party but more of a kids can dress up and the parents chat, eat and drink. This year I was looking at my decor and serving pieces and realized how many were thrifted. We have a wonderful resource in St. Augustine called the Betty Griffin Thrift Shoppe and it’s only a few blocks from my neighborhood. The proceeds from the shop go to a women’s shelter so I always feel good about my purchases.

Here are some pictures of my party decor – I’ll point out thrift items in the captions.

The silver pitcher on the mantle was a hand-me-down from my grandma when she downsized this spring – it’s actually silver. Candlesticks on mantle were brass and I spray painted them black- $1 each. Halloween silhouette candle on the side table – $2. Small table in foreground – hidden by tablecloth because I haven’t refinished it yet – $25 at an estate sale.

Cookies are sitting on a dessert “tray” I made from a thrifted chandelier ($4) and thrifted plates (50 cents each). Will probably spray paint it later. Spider candleholders were $1 each. Actually, the kitchen table was thrifted too – a gorgeous Thomasville table with two leaves and six chairs. A light cleaning and new chair fabric were all that was needed – pretty good for $150.

Glass jar on rear counter – $5. Tiered cookie tray – $5. Cake dome – $1. Two milk glass pieces – $7. Nine tealight candle – $2.

Then because I was feeling crafty and relishing the rare opportunity to spend some time doing something for pure pleasure, I made a “gameday” wreath for when the Crimson Tide is on TV punishing some poor boys who thought they should be on the same field with our team

My sweet Grandma and Grandpa just moved into senior living and they don’t have a lot of storage for holiday decorations. So I made them a smaller version of the Harvest Wreath for their new front door.

Had a little time to work on these but didn’t want to spend too much time!

yummy!

I’ve decided I want to make ornament wreath for all upcoming holidays! So easy and affordable to make.

*October 10, 2012 – Thank you for the wonderful compliments about my wreaths. Unfortunately, I am not making them to sell at this time. I’ve got a tutorial posted here and they are pretty easy to make. Good luck!

We’re having our big Halloween bash in a few weeks but I was feeling a little more Thanksgiving-y this weekend. I’d been flipping through my cache of old Southern Livings and Pottery Barn catalogs and came up with a plan for a fall wreath. I am loving how it turned out! Even better, because the ornaments are unbreakable, it will be a cinch to store!

*October 10, 2012 – Thank you for the wonderful compliments about my wreaths. Unfortunately, I am not making them to sell at this time. I’ve got a tutorial posted here and they are pretty easy to make. Good luck!