Tablescape Thursday and Giveaway Reminder

I am leaving for Southern California to spend a few days with my son and daughter-in-love, and attending Amy's baby shower..it's getting close! She's due December 15th~I can hardly wait!!
So...I am running a repeat of  a tablescape I did last year and thought maybe you'd like this idea for place cards. You could get started making them well in advance for the holidays!
I made ATC's with each person's initial on them and placed them on their plate. Then they took them home with them...

I layered a large bolt of toile fabric over a gold tablecloth...just bunched it up and arranged it. Used my blue plates on top of gold chargers.

Napkins were a thrift store find, and napkin rings were a birthday gift from a friend years ago..(thanks Sheri!)

Used my handpainted wine glasses that I painted with holly berries and pine cones..I always change them out from the floral ones I use in the summer.

Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch for other wonderful tablescape ideas!

And a little reminder of my GIVEAWAY...you can enter on THIS POST and the winner will be notified the evening of October 7th!

Here's a peek at what I'm offering:

I'll be back next week!!

The Grand Opening of my new Etsy Shop and a GIVEAWAY!!

I have FINALLY got my nerve up to open my own Etsy shop, and to help spread the word, I am having a giveaway! I am offering this lovely collaged mirror that I created with the quote "aspire to BE" which I think is so perfect for this time in my life.

Many times over the years I have let fear run my life and oh, how I hate it when that happens. I have had many people encourage me to open an Etsy shop. It's a very vulnerable expericence, I have found. What I wrote in my "profile" on Etsy explains it:

I have always been uncomfortable being referred to as an artist until I read the definition: Artist:

“A person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination”

I like that. I can handle that.


I live a rather traditional life, married 30+ years to a wonderful, supportive man. Three grown kids. Live in the suburbs, go to church every week. But there's a nontraditional side to me--quirky and off-track. That's what attracts me to mixed-media art--collage and assemblage--using found things.

Growing up I experienced tragic, difficult and ugly times in my life that altered my world-view. As an adult I pursued beauty--from decorating my house to creating things, it became important that I be surrounded by what I thought to be beautiful. Using found objects or making collages have been therapy for me--a reflection of what God has done with my life--taking the broken pieces of my life and making something lovely. My goal is to find the beauty in life. Being able to express beauty through creativity (even if it's only me that thinks it's beautiful) rewards me with a sense of healing, fulfillment and satisfaction.


I hope you too may find something here to add beauty to your life!

So you guys know the routine...if you leave a comment on THIS POST your name will be entered ONCE, AND if you link back to your blog and 'advertise' my giveaway there..let me know, and you'll be entered TWICE, AND if you sign up as a follower..let me know, and you will be entered THREE TIMES!!



I will be adding a few goodies to the Giveaway mirror, and will announce the winner on the evening of October 6..






Thanks for playing and be sure to check out my Etsy by clicking on the column on the left!



























 

Metamorphosis Monday~A Different Kind of Bookshelf

For Met Monday I am going to show you a little book shelf I 'built' last year...

All you need are a few books, double-stick mounting tape, and some L-brackets.

Run the mounting tape along the edges of the back page of the book you will use as the base. When you stick the pages together it will form a pocket.

Measure the width of the book and mount the L-brackets on the wall accordingly..making sure the L-brackets will fit inside of the pockets.

Set a few more books on top and voila! A "book-shelf"!

Visit Between Naps on the Porch for other fabulous ideas!

OH! And since I have your attention....stay tuned for an announcement and a GIVEAWAY on Tuesday!!

Here's a little peek at the GIVEAWAY!!

Have a great day!!

My Little Fall Tour..

Welcome to my little fall tour! This is what would greet you at the front door...

I got two crows at the Dollar Tree and dolled them up in pearls..

And this is who'd greet you inside! Say hello to Winston!

In the family room...

See the candle holder? It's an old telephone pole insulator, inverted and sitting in an iron candle holder.

Hope you enjoyed the little tour..thanks for stopping by!

Have a great weekend!!

Fall Tablescape Thursday

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday hosted by our gracious hostess, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.
In keeping with my fall decor theme this week, I've displayed a fall tablescape in the formal dining room.

Here is the front view..

..and the back view.

These plates were a birthday gift to me this year from one of my dearest friend, Laura.

They are very old and trimmed in 18k gold! When I began thinking of a tablescape, I knew I wanted to use these beautiful dishes and incorporate blue into the color scheme of golds, copper, and rusts..

See the sweet little birds? They were 90% off at a craft store after Christmas!! And the 'candle holders' are amber wine glasses from the thrift. I got two of them for a buck!!

Trimming out the napkins are blue Christmas ornaments, and blue 'netting' is tucked into the centerpeice.

Adorning the candle holder is a velvet Christmas ornament I got for a song at Tuesday Morning.

So here's the table in different lighting...the candle holder in the center is also a gift from Laura. She finds the coolest stuff for me!!

The pumpkins sitting on the plates are from the Dollar Tree..Silverware from the thrift and etched wine glasses are heirlooms from my mom..

I swagged some garland and acorn lights across the buffet.

a little fall display in a cloche..

The pilgrims Steve and I picked up when we visited the Berkshires in Mass. a couple of years ago. I just love them!

The view of the formal dining room. Thanks for visiting~I had so much fun decorating with those beautiful dishes as my inspiration! Thanks, Laura!

Be sure to visit other lovely and creative Tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch.

And come back for a visit Friday if you have time~ I'll be giving a little tour now that I have my home all decked out for Fall!!