~~~Decorating my Best Friends House!!!~~~

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyT96F8ncPp1NEVYDgGqTEcYD754gATr3TL4IiggqVL4doc3JsTpR6mRvL0TKdoAt8cjqlzagC35HrYaZCx7OrvcaI58TyH6MwcCq1o5x6z4ZmnC2XbaGiIdKv8gvOFHmrRZTEOrThlQ/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyT96F8ncPp1NEVYDgGqTEcYD754gATr3TL4IiggqVL4doc3JsTpR6mRvL0TKdoAt8cjqlzagC35HrYaZCx7OrvcaI58TyH6MwcCq1o5x6z4ZmnC2XbaGiIdKv8gvOFHmrRZTEOrThlQ/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+012.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> Happy Saturday everyone. I have been a crazy, decorating fool this past week and that is the reson I have been MIA from blogging. I apologize! But now I am ALMOST done; I have to do outside today. But so far I have decorated my daugter and SIL's house, my best friends house (this post) and my house! OY!!! But it is fun. I love doing it, I am just realizing now that my right hand is NOT GOOD. It is painful for me to now cut stems of flowers and to make bows. DARN! But I am working through that. Anyway, enought of that. I want to share my friend, Wenda's home. I help her do it every year. We have been friends for 45 years and we also share a birthday!!!!!!!!! Isn't that amazing!!??  So this is her tree. I did the topper a little differently this year because she had bought some new branches. Plus her ceiling is VERY high so I wanted to make her tree GROW a little:)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe1XiZv7rp26LKLQJLqN2bdP4Xr6cwc1yqODT_AMDSiwCyfOkMxxA6sfJoVgFu-4iHlO6ejomLkmcv7ELMz6lyaRaHJUn0KxK4otp7Z51uB_TJOEPuNu3Gqlk5qc7DDVx6GGpRoIHYKQ/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe1XiZv7rp26LKLQJLqN2bdP4Xr6cwc1yqODT_AMDSiwCyfOkMxxA6sfJoVgFu-4iHlO6ejomLkmcv7ELMz6lyaRaHJUn0KxK4otp7Z51uB_TJOEPuNu3Gqlk5qc7DDVx6GGpRoIHYKQ/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Here are some tips for you when decorating your tree. I use these fabulous leaf branches to fill in spaces that need a little something. Then I place these grape clusters so they look like they are part of the branch.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIrBRqCXs6C6SUibrFS0bZDr2YTi6rmZ1Hkb0Zu6ad82xSILxRUAtJJhMMG0F-OOko-NuE99cvzCM8FrwKisR86DcWf0WeQghShw5O6_PgS5GjrhGCPFbRDporMxYnc0-Z64oLPmKPzg/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIrBRqCXs6C6SUibrFS0bZDr2YTi6rmZ1Hkb0Zu6ad82xSILxRUAtJJhMMG0F-OOko-NuE99cvzCM8FrwKisR86DcWf0WeQghShw5O6_PgS5GjrhGCPFbRDporMxYnc0-Z64oLPmKPzg/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Flowers are always a great filler on a tree, or wreath.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinOX9qFBhte1bZCCLM1b0ACKj-5QNVCJbHmbrKYZq495CjLrS82VY1fj1LpCIPYKzgQBGW9VLbr5JpKAoaWFwOiKAMB5Tc_ANnRypHZJwWmLb0PCgTZMFy4uznqOS7T_pk_eDwSZQ6rw/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinOX9qFBhte1bZCCLM1b0ACKj-5QNVCJbHmbrKYZq495CjLrS82VY1fj1LpCIPYKzgQBGW9VLbr5JpKAoaWFwOiKAMB5Tc_ANnRypHZJwWmLb0PCgTZMFy4uznqOS7T_pk_eDwSZQ6rw/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+015.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> Her ornaments are all burgundy or gold, SO pretty. I also found these pearl like berries and they just POP against the tree.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATJdgmpAY_ho56uZymDp6mPudwCD-wn0oFOJWuTaBLN5gyC6MR9_6vAW0a7SFI3xUnSC6Tncn2kEqEDvVMwIfb1TZE6rMi36WttQeRzrrhQkvONJmUhvvmdNXd18B3gTjzNwo8lWMz5Q/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATJdgmpAY_ho56uZymDp6mPudwCD-wn0oFOJWuTaBLN5gyC6MR9_6vAW0a7SFI3xUnSC6Tncn2kEqEDvVMwIfb1TZE6rMi36WttQeRzrrhQkvONJmUhvvmdNXd18B3gTjzNwo8lWMz5Q/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNsuClXyTMSLNJe-WY8wjnv0aU6TZzAYF4RuVxKV02ao-DCbJp-VQkxA_JKnaqqRAgB2Oa6MmGwkhpxp4LloTwzIqdLcVrOq2UqxASpNPiCP8dIOUpVl0Xfz99e4Z76FpV1Ue0IDd4eM/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNsuClXyTMSLNJe-WY8wjnv0aU6TZzAYF4RuVxKV02ao-DCbJp-VQkxA_JKnaqqRAgB2Oa6MmGwkhpxp4LloTwzIqdLcVrOq2UqxASpNPiCP8dIOUpVl0Xfz99e4Z76FpV1Ue0IDd4eM/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> I make the branches stick out a little bit beyond the edge of the tree.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q90IhOdkVEWzSDqX66STX3H5SuliFWodvVLfzzDmMGuJZF97IrcEo3BdlBjZ4pcSW3SjoRdtBsVmu0LVFB9xjPKuayCuiO515_Dyp4ULsZj602EdR8GskEMB9sfV7nkXtdfmjuCP8yk/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q90IhOdkVEWzSDqX66STX3H5SuliFWodvVLfzzDmMGuJZF97IrcEo3BdlBjZ4pcSW3SjoRdtBsVmu0LVFB9xjPKuayCuiO515_Dyp4ULsZj602EdR8GskEMB9sfV7nkXtdfmjuCP8yk/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8jBgmMkDEMgyOIJS1LC75ZaoAanLb4_qmSqsdTRfYjnYDXkWoJx7r7eVmL-f1sstLhXUol-sQhWYtpfGupt1PtEyvtK_i20maGVDxSAwhAcz9RLh1AAq-FGQq8gHXM_xA12q9plc9_Q/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8jBgmMkDEMgyOIJS1LC75ZaoAanLb4_qmSqsdTRfYjnYDXkWoJx7r7eVmL-f1sstLhXUol-sQhWYtpfGupt1PtEyvtK_i20maGVDxSAwhAcz9RLh1AAq-FGQq8gHXM_xA12q9plc9_Q/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Have any of you seen the glitter spray paints??? I use glitter gold on plain burgundy flowers and they look terrific. Another tip, if you can't find the COLOR of a flower that you want, just spray paint a white one!!!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNAa1Izj_z8Fj7AozQipCnC480ghNgIMNd-orRvHML6Bx5QHlvmGU0moL-LdlQTdppWChtsfjDr_cfdGyJKh1Zv4OYXdkwEBrzQJHV65U7iv-MkephHTR-UdRHgaLN5gjgQvmbOTffaY/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNAa1Izj_z8Fj7AozQipCnC480ghNgIMNd-orRvHML6Bx5QHlvmGU0moL-LdlQTdppWChtsfjDr_cfdGyJKh1Zv4OYXdkwEBrzQJHV65U7iv-MkephHTR-UdRHgaLN5gjgQvmbOTffaY/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9sj2WX-iI1iBGU8OSTdXBeQeaqmpocXLa5hq9oVLN7Dve5fr0WPmJWY7tQ5G_e8YipFA1Vge-o2JpsVxvQH4ni7qEoQ-olrATmy1S8iCHSoDaPCu3NcR6xMYGHqn0Fa55fyZDV_24Eo/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9sj2WX-iI1iBGU8OSTdXBeQeaqmpocXLa5hq9oVLN7Dve5fr0WPmJWY7tQ5G_e8YipFA1Vge-o2JpsVxvQH4ni7qEoQ-olrATmy1S8iCHSoDaPCu3NcR6xMYGHqn0Fa55fyZDV_24Eo/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeS-a6RmJT08VYtEJej6VGSvSa3RqDAJiBTJRHlYyAoK4lRCzcv0R3gT4HIujv5p3nIePVgXk36-HQ9RGO0MqFJbj0wNa1CoUFPsChyBKzs3gjyXfu1QycJcApXMpBdP2fNOO5pxWOck/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeS-a6RmJT08VYtEJej6VGSvSa3RqDAJiBTJRHlYyAoK4lRCzcv0R3gT4HIujv5p3nIePVgXk36-HQ9RGO0MqFJbj0wNa1CoUFPsChyBKzs3gjyXfu1QycJcApXMpBdP2fNOO5pxWOck/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Here is her mantle this year. After I took these pics we went shopping and she found beautiful gold candles for the candle holders. There are 2 more on the hearth, and for some reason I didn't get a shot of the hearth????<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9A3HNngoxtbVN-Kjil5Gv6pKctm6ojkHOI_5LJmAsY7UgD01U8yjcwhR6WNN8d7YdGfIXW0wyC2GhMAp1FmJSbU6opSyl9oX2nMl5OmRDLeRfHDvP6bfVfNr6vKg4gx7I8-kpja_W7E/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9A3HNngoxtbVN-Kjil5Gv6pKctm6ojkHOI_5LJmAsY7UgD01U8yjcwhR6WNN8d7YdGfIXW0wyC2GhMAp1FmJSbU6opSyl9oX2nMl5OmRDLeRfHDvP6bfVfNr6vKg4gx7I8-kpja_W7E/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> We also did her wonderful stairway.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfGpFt1LRIUGN8nnsthddOvgsNTpJ4cXFeJ5kY-FjGDz8KBFz88qRPicz_KFaWXxUwD4zzqBw0NxLU9I4q9HtejMuN89jrT4z_5sJLimAlKdsIsBJIJYvo_Gv2d7glFWNMD82nSmk9hU/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfGpFt1LRIUGN8nnsthddOvgsNTpJ4cXFeJ5kY-FjGDz8KBFz88qRPicz_KFaWXxUwD4zzqBw0NxLU9I4q9HtejMuN89jrT4z_5sJLimAlKdsIsBJIJYvo_Gv2d7glFWNMD82nSmk9hU/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+002.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> Lots of garland, lights and decorations!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CQci_9WvslYRehK08zHh8ApWHiBY4ulx3GixCWe3N05ot8Y8xfHyAkwwM7VwvE1A1eqkrjfWta9-Iqgw0dvev0DoOLM-FFV4_m5ZXTyL-sGXQUk1U7cNTGLdT40Q8A5Mi3DXe6jpY2g/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CQci_9WvslYRehK08zHh8ApWHiBY4ulx3GixCWe3N05ot8Y8xfHyAkwwM7VwvE1A1eqkrjfWta9-Iqgw0dvev0DoOLM-FFV4_m5ZXTyL-sGXQUk1U7cNTGLdT40Q8A5Mi3DXe6jpY2g/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> It goes across the bridge upstairs too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlF4RmPt-jl_rr4iLFIU9WBb9ySlXV0kjbNZLdk1T-ayOYBs_z3iwZJj6hPaWbLccUIJQ81bTc4N7odxL0xkyZ9DE17WN9VnHSBJocDyoeZJrMbycmi1YWHYt89p03fDQii01oqfCPfFg/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlF4RmPt-jl_rr4iLFIU9WBb9ySlXV0kjbNZLdk1T-ayOYBs_z3iwZJj6hPaWbLccUIJQ81bTc4N7odxL0xkyZ9DE17WN9VnHSBJocDyoeZJrMbycmi1YWHYt89p03fDQii01oqfCPfFg/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AeqHzWQE-qPZGB58J65enRYHO8DfDspjTEjZKbBUuS-abqDhxV0NLqOeQ3lcMquIqxsegT-p3xR3Mg149E3zfdja2KFljsXDEprrSk9-Z5SiWrHS8-uEbWRiNnAN3qi_H0u1L1qWOZk/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AeqHzWQE-qPZGB58J65enRYHO8DfDspjTEjZKbBUuS-abqDhxV0NLqOeQ3lcMquIqxsegT-p3xR3Mg149E3zfdja2KFljsXDEprrSk9-Z5SiWrHS8-uEbWRiNnAN3qi_H0u1L1qWOZk/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> More flowers, grape clusters and leaf branches.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzHDZLPF0EyAPfF_Zn0bGxm3lctxcMkxoVMqgeAY0uzowMtq-Uu_FAJha27XzfkBOTcF6judd7lOPLdrtPBmyqulbXXyAKtAhixxQC-oK0S2xmeBMJNvfuel4M4X45eCcH_qQUxOj1Ro/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzHDZLPF0EyAPfF_Zn0bGxm3lctxcMkxoVMqgeAY0uzowMtq-Uu_FAJha27XzfkBOTcF6judd7lOPLdrtPBmyqulbXXyAKtAhixxQC-oK0S2xmeBMJNvfuel4M4X45eCcH_qQUxOj1Ro/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+006.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> I got these grape clusters several years ago at the place where I worked and they have never carried them again. I am so glad I got enough for her and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAuvYNpbIGU_FcYnhWghPQGDXJbvo6Cyf-Bye5IKuhbb3kT6jsKH0Yio3T7HMZ76byvAeBnmG9o-cpKtu1RABIZIHZScrFaW5ytSMKxYZLA2BnygORnmAXvL_acG_makFHo9wq7sDeQU/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAuvYNpbIGU_FcYnhWghPQGDXJbvo6Cyf-Bye5IKuhbb3kT6jsKH0Yio3T7HMZ76byvAeBnmG9o-cpKtu1RABIZIHZScrFaW5ytSMKxYZLA2BnygORnmAXvL_acG_makFHo9wq7sDeQU/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76XzL-KXzwFHVCqpV4tohRnsmYppSxeCep6jKo0nCWU9uJuFaErwJZtSviY3S7esIYOlrxmcdYe15NEO6uNI-ie2wKNteBKvZXLmQS5cTBb3NAUpoNffIR_emSorvwYLASYT1od7G4yk/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76XzL-KXzwFHVCqpV4tohRnsmYppSxeCep6jKo0nCWU9uJuFaErwJZtSviY3S7esIYOlrxmcdYe15NEO6uNI-ie2wKNteBKvZXLmQS5cTBb3NAUpoNffIR_emSorvwYLASYT1od7G4yk/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Then we moved on to decorating her ledges with her village pieces.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gI6dMik7YkPyr3zg-iTovgGOTMe2bx-WrdXz4gt-I_TXGtvZC-H8sfx5-Xu0NJaC2-04GqQi1JWzug1Ud9y_r_2ZOKPMlY6605FKdJtiNFRz-3Iwlo55AX38Paf2U6Lg0iNOxVb-idQ/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gI6dMik7YkPyr3zg-iTovgGOTMe2bx-WrdXz4gt-I_TXGtvZC-H8sfx5-Xu0NJaC2-04GqQi1JWzug1Ud9y_r_2ZOKPMlY6605FKdJtiNFRz-3Iwlo55AX38Paf2U6Lg0iNOxVb-idQ/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> We just used buffalo snow around the pieces and white lights.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6yHWp-4-bg1IZSMC862MOA9YqPe8EjdMBs6qc0f0_d88oKFAYkU3QXby7oaPdIM4V1orkSZucPKXwWe2MlYlhiDSsURubQyLxXREe0w0eikeEWe24ZKzn2DPfYSPx5SEWSr0acT420o/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6yHWp-4-bg1IZSMC862MOA9YqPe8EjdMBs6qc0f0_d88oKFAYkU3QXby7oaPdIM4V1orkSZucPKXwWe2MlYlhiDSsURubQyLxXREe0w0eikeEWe24ZKzn2DPfYSPx5SEWSr0acT420o/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This is a sleigh I made her several years ago for her coffee table.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJZLANtYjudib2ys1PV3ilVcboadNYYWAvckIb5fp8W99_BDGVgMyJXngu9Y6YExoRpsV16v0OHLzplaaMqPfydvqBOMFM3eA0ENTt4cYXVni9qysXHiM2fnm6bwKG6EPYeJR-FCFRqQ/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJZLANtYjudib2ys1PV3ilVcboadNYYWAvckIb5fp8W99_BDGVgMyJXngu9Y6YExoRpsV16v0OHLzplaaMqPfydvqBOMFM3eA0ENTt4cYXVni9qysXHiM2fnm6bwKG6EPYeJR-FCFRqQ/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjODON59YgYzjEaBmCJnTD56DDCrYJfDZUnxJwGvPGRXjSUOPspgy01bl3yJ2gbD7Dq194fmRVRD7Cq01qhYnF46fu00Nm1B1wpioec54QhCI-4qdZ5mV6HkQwHU8VQAE69jhhtYvzn44/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjODON59YgYzjEaBmCJnTD56DDCrYJfDZUnxJwGvPGRXjSUOPspgy01bl3yJ2gbD7Dq194fmRVRD7Cq01qhYnF46fu00Nm1B1wpioec54QhCI-4qdZ5mV6HkQwHU8VQAE69jhhtYvzn44/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> So, that is her beautiful home all dressed up for Christmas!!! I will start to share MY house next week. It has been alot of fun deciding what to use and where to put it in this new house!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOArsXM2CHymVFcVarLoMo1u0hdjQ54cLtXI1ODresnHDei9b8GFvTXfJAH02JSB7i-1KRITYPJEzhVu0BGILZxkqDuiFWACsWvo9Co8twJs-fUIkwTI9AuIukrjFI5uBvTG2fCUhMDA/s1600/Decorating+Wenda;'s+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOArsXM2CHymVFcVarLoMo1u0hdjQ54cLtXI1ODresnHDei9b8GFvTXfJAH02JSB7i-1KRITYPJEzhVu0BGILZxkqDuiFWACsWvo9Co8twJs-fUIkwTI9AuIukrjFI5uBvTG2fCUhMDA/s640/Decorating+Wenda;'s+012.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>I hope you all have a GREAT weekend. I am joining some of these great parties:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Andalus; font-size: large;">SEASONAL SUNDAY</span></strong></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Andalus; font-size: large;">MOSAIC MONDAY</span></strong></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Andalus; font-size: large;">MEET ME MONDAY</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/" title="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #72179d;">Feathered Nest Friday</span></a></i></span></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Andalus; font-size: large;">METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-109/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tuesdays-treasures-109" title="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-109/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tuesdays-treasures-109"><span style="color: #fa7630;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</span></a> for Tuesadys Treasures</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><em>Paula and Patti at </em><a href="http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/" title="http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #004c99;"><em>Ivy and Elephants</em></span></a><em> for What's It Wednesday</em></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: #011541; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Potpourri Friday at </span></span><a href="http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/" title="http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/"><span style="background: white; color: #919d39; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">2805</span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">Open House Party Thursday at <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/" title="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #919d39;">No Minimalist Here</span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">Share Your Creations on Thursday at <a href="http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/" title="http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #919d39;">Kristen's Creations</span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">Wow Us Wednesdays at <a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/" title="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #919d39;">Savvy Southern Style</span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">Tabletop Tuesday at <a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/" title="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #919d39;">A Stroll Thru Life</span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">Metamorphosis Monday at <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/" title="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #919d39;">Between Naps on the Porch</span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">Thanks SO much for stopping by. I promise to be a BETTER BLOGGER:):) XO, Pinky</div></div></span></div></span>

~~~Decorating my Best Friends House!!!~~~

 Happy Saturday everyone. I have been a crazy, decorating fool this past week and that is the reson I have been MIA from blogging. I apologi...

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Dreaming of Christmas in the old house

<div style="text-align: center;"> A dream I have had for years would be to build back the old house my great grandfather bought here as his summer place. My dad was born in and grew up in that beautiful old house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-Mtsf5SEHuhLmG8ftqZQ4JJ9YV4uCZVxmrhwk-3SWIDZNVjZgGj5tRy3sEwr8umAcNPf7lG6loX-GwQWEbqI_ApuF5KtxrQarjvMnMIi3k7bhhylB_F12Q0XkJuJLGbpYcxs-I5C_I0/s1600/2012christmasbuffet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-Mtsf5SEHuhLmG8ftqZQ4JJ9YV4uCZVxmrhwk-3SWIDZNVjZgGj5tRy3sEwr8umAcNPf7lG6loX-GwQWEbqI_ApuF5KtxrQarjvMnMIi3k7bhhylB_F12Q0XkJuJLGbpYcxs-I5C_I0/s640/2012christmasbuffet1.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luckily, when my grandparents tore it down to make way for a new house, my grandfather carefully took out all the trim, doors, windows, etc., and carefully bundled and stored them where they sat untouched until Luis and I moved onto the family property. If you have ever visited here, you know that we are taking some of those things and adding them to our house little by little. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZGP0qGT3Va9n_t1KCSElwG81g9lWf8-NTVIIw93HlYRfAKZW_9rE08BTC6fhDQ7ROWwPtx2HPN1loLXIzaqEGH8p8THQ0ThY6gF7NbO4-8d1hIvrVE7cnV6I-Ugg3sCSeQwtogW_OB8/s1600/2012christmasbuffet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZGP0qGT3Va9n_t1KCSElwG81g9lWf8-NTVIIw93HlYRfAKZW_9rE08BTC6fhDQ7ROWwPtx2HPN1loLXIzaqEGH8p8THQ0ThY6gF7NbO4-8d1hIvrVE7cnV6I-Ugg3sCSeQwtogW_OB8/s640/2012christmasbuffet3.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I became fascinated with the Putz cardboard houses from Japan post WWII and tried to get some on ebay for my vintage Christmas, but kept getting outbid. Plus, they are pretty small at 4" high. I decided to make my own.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I thought why not make the old house? So, I gathered up some cardboard -- which in my case is easy as I recycle *everything* and usually have stacks of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5YC6hsL8zSToVaKkjaQ4E6x1oziTdTDVBZ4zYXIGZ_TdxV3m8W1v4-kN8mwg4ZhFhzoWqAU3NRZspVMpbNTfSd58HwYDIr00aIn8FZS8glRmwWE68rSklQmmBKdk8XWfWj8w0-uN8Zs/s1600/oldhousewinter052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5YC6hsL8zSToVaKkjaQ4E6x1oziTdTDVBZ4zYXIGZ_TdxV3m8W1v4-kN8mwg4ZhFhzoWqAU3NRZspVMpbNTfSd58HwYDIr00aIn8FZS8glRmwWE68rSklQmmBKdk8XWfWj8w0-uN8Zs/s640/oldhousewinter052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started cutting and glueing and finally ended up with this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG9yxHZnNzBNc6_ZY4ejtuWjCRhyE7GsAJEvyTQf8EFsLptvrJlQ_O9Ms-gDJUkLySlFTVJsVy9aWXIF6iPZ9nj20XrzobpNP0mugJEWSMLgvouYhYdFtohWZTDkcZr5Q6gXWZ7q8IUE/s1600/2012christmasbuffet7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG9yxHZnNzBNc6_ZY4ejtuWjCRhyE7GsAJEvyTQf8EFsLptvrJlQ_O9Ms-gDJUkLySlFTVJsVy9aWXIF6iPZ9nj20XrzobpNP0mugJEWSMLgvouYhYdFtohWZTDkcZr5Q6gXWZ7q8IUE/s640/2012christmasbuffet7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My dad recognized it right away and told me I needed the bottle brush trees as my grandmother apparently had them. So I found some vintage ones on ebay. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oMwDp8dvmTZZQaQ5iU6LGtrtmAsfOGG_-04KMZxMidjfT3c5MZbikOSBNpnSlik3e8Ce3OeMNkpvdLOm24NDWKwiay3CbdkfokS5tqaL119hJrNUJ3mDsEuy7kjS97Ghmn2LyPsJLp4/s1600/2012Christmasbuffet12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oMwDp8dvmTZZQaQ5iU6LGtrtmAsfOGG_-04KMZxMidjfT3c5MZbikOSBNpnSlik3e8Ce3OeMNkpvdLOm24NDWKwiay3CbdkfokS5tqaL119hJrNUJ3mDsEuy7kjS97Ghmn2LyPsJLp4/s640/2012Christmasbuffet12.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought the house needed a snowman out front.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8z6cPvJOYWanmnsVZgHt_IFCzNZGXNyq8WtwicPm9lFnJIn7h4PdNF4LM7zA6jtiK4V-3u71c4odWpWwywUOBWBfUl0rlB_4XEiILO07szZRJfXh2kK27DZcwJ0r17dbQF6cvkqA5jI/s1600/2012christmasbuffet13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8z6cPvJOYWanmnsVZgHt_IFCzNZGXNyq8WtwicPm9lFnJIn7h4PdNF4LM7zA6jtiK4V-3u71c4odWpWwywUOBWBfUl0rlB_4XEiILO07szZRJfXh2kK27DZcwJ0r17dbQF6cvkqA5jI/s640/2012christmasbuffet13.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used tissue paper for the windows and Christmas lights for the inside. I dusted everything with "snow" and lots of glitter, which I was amazed to find these products "Made-in-USA." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The old rock wall still stands around the new house my parents live in.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa2Pb3sRHkY3W13aiTE8P4rUkt3YbyP6FbpivYQLmeob41B8mng0Fh4cYjomvA0f-8GAgg19Bd07vBp84p4xYAk1QuRmv2py-a1VhgawS5cvb32WDbpQ24rGjGmNId2_rIM8NHgBlPI4/s1600/2012christmasbuffet6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa2Pb3sRHkY3W13aiTE8P4rUkt3YbyP6FbpivYQLmeob41B8mng0Fh4cYjomvA0f-8GAgg19Bd07vBp84p4xYAk1QuRmv2py-a1VhgawS5cvb32WDbpQ24rGjGmNId2_rIM8NHgBlPI4/s640/2012christmasbuffet6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I used a window from the house to showcase old photos of the house and my dad and his family here in Balsam. I made cardboard panels to fit behind each window which I covered with vintage pink-flowered paper from my parent's basement. I put some of the copied photos on sheet music or black poster board so they would stand out against the background. I then trimmed the edges with vintage lace from my grandmother's sewing room.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ms95itAONtrSVGsAREWTnRHAjvFRcAbiYvF70XPKZwuzdR3HoIY1MiVU4_hjjsCd7bEq3wwmxAcLLkYfXH3RDKvbObpKMKioEL6syQoEAMUOxHil0CqJBzeQ7aH8dt8hRiK2RrA1rl0/s1600/2012christmasbuffet8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ms95itAONtrSVGsAREWTnRHAjvFRcAbiYvF70XPKZwuzdR3HoIY1MiVU4_hjjsCd7bEq3wwmxAcLLkYfXH3RDKvbObpKMKioEL6syQoEAMUOxHil0CqJBzeQ7aH8dt8hRiK2RrA1rl0/s640/2012christmasbuffet8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These photos include my dad, his brother, sister and my grandparents in front of the house. I wanted to add the photo of my children as it was taken in front of the little guest house that once stood behind the "big" house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNUz6iduLnIMEDZi_0CWEE3bThdt2TLaNbtAZLy536ADamjIW8tK9q89nLVpjJnFxTSWN_gnneC1iqDqILf-VRiUUhCg-7r45S-v6RDydOdxisyFMjKk7mSSBFV77EBskgK7x4uyN4eM/s1600/2012christmasbuffet9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNUz6iduLnIMEDZi_0CWEE3bThdt2TLaNbtAZLy536ADamjIW8tK9q89nLVpjJnFxTSWN_gnneC1iqDqILf-VRiUUhCg-7r45S-v6RDydOdxisyFMjKk7mSSBFV77EBskgK7x4uyN4eM/s640/2012christmasbuffet9.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3APdmqSOVbEVMJVx90KFfxvkDxGoMD7g5P8QnDAzk8xAnF3UrktueYhyphenhyphenWYWm_ACPT6fjHTL7MMmN845xK2WoFh0FNRAnevtBmtz_yl_7JBQ-RhSiowt_uY3A4yoGvqaMBPvgneNC3t0/s1600/2012christmasbuffet15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3APdmqSOVbEVMJVx90KFfxvkDxGoMD7g5P8QnDAzk8xAnF3UrktueYhyphenhyphenWYWm_ACPT6fjHTL7MMmN845xK2WoFh0FNRAnevtBmtz_yl_7JBQ-RhSiowt_uY3A4yoGvqaMBPvgneNC3t0/s640/2012christmasbuffet15.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I decided to use this burlap runner I had made for my etsy shop then topped it with white pines in old vinegar bottles from the "store."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4UknxgznuUS5YaIBaZD1AjQ-Z0QL7-GZAUxj8v0Vd74KPGEwGnUsImGoG3riyXta03gkQc2TChbIv7LNtpr1qTrAPwsiGJjWURDxRdNZw0TMdxWIH3jDDZc5jPFk1fLVEaZ_eSQKNFs/s1600/2012christmasbuffet10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4UknxgznuUS5YaIBaZD1AjQ-Z0QL7-GZAUxj8v0Vd74KPGEwGnUsImGoG3riyXta03gkQc2TChbIv7LNtpr1qTrAPwsiGJjWURDxRdNZw0TMdxWIH3jDDZc5jPFk1fLVEaZ_eSQKNFs/s640/2012christmasbuffet10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An antique family lamp along with my great aunt's handmade gown make every element in this vignette not only vintage, but part of my family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VYMTMQSOQqbXLksL86yqJHeoQWFFhEXeOS3ibGje23GtjV0aeSG5IG5T7yGiB5M3s1CwwW4va32ir4T26wVgSpAWkkMvZXSJCmPckIPJ7DiJYsu4gniS2hcQ04wdtChmFO7R9KF3gnY/s1600/2012christmasbuffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VYMTMQSOQqbXLksL86yqJHeoQWFFhEXeOS3ibGje23GtjV0aeSG5IG5T7yGiB5M3s1CwwW4va32ir4T26wVgSpAWkkMvZXSJCmPckIPJ7DiJYsu4gniS2hcQ04wdtChmFO7R9KF3gnY/s640/2012christmasbuffet.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that, for me, is one of the most important parts of Christmas -- family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love taking trips back in time, and Christmas is such a wonderful time to remember. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks so much for stopping by:-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anita</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll be joining:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://atthepicketfence.com/">Inspiration Friday</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">Feathered Nest Friday</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.commonground-do.com/">Vintage Inspiration Friday</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sandandsisal.com/2012/11/countdown-to-winter-party-kickoff.html?spref=fb">Countdown to Winter</a><br /><a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2012/12/clay-filigree-ornaments-link-party/">Holiday Craft Link Party</a><br /><br /><a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.net/">A Homespun Christmas/Vignettes and Mantel Party</a><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciC9S7SP93_pq9Z0J3kuoDWzvofPHpNm_89zZLlSrGUQaFMXO5hbXwMeU_ysREdxG97zxjXru5sgV0lwiAUCNKGqZlv18H_UowMD_Kg5ZTPJNIoL5ZPd60XHuXq1moqBbeKDrq3Wf1nQ/s1600/Homespun+Christmas1+(1).png" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" /><br /><br /></div>

Dreaming of Christmas in the old house

 A dream I have had for years would be to build back the old house my great grandfather bought here as his summer place. My dad was born in ...

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Christmas at Biltmore

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hi everyone! I hope you are all warm, safe and enjoying this beautiful season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have wanted to share this post for a while, and thought Christmas would be the perfect time to do so. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a college student, I was involved in Early Music Ensemble, which every year presented a series of Madrigal Dinners in early December at our university. This group also performed each year at Biltmore House in costume to celebrate the Christmas season. We were actually featured on NBC's Today Show one Christmas morning singing there at the house. But singing wasn't all I was doing.  I designed and made costumes for the group totaling more than 40 by completion of my college career.  I remember so fondly being home during Thanksgiving finishing everything up for the performances. My mom, who had a clothing design business, and my grandmother always helped me get everything done and we spent many late nights sewing together. How I miss those days:-) Sewing is something I love and definitely inherited from my mom and both grandmothers. My great grandmother was also a tailor and I've been sewing and designing since I was 9.<br /><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few of the photos taken at Biltmore House. I'm amazed that I actually have photos of several of the group members. It was the late 1980s after all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQC4k_8y9JPSAaixuyq9G0YRcn9k_xlDq7xecApeztZG5lnT2dpPkAzYdU6gXJcGEqWHScpOFedLPa7Xo82IkAq8S9rkV5Edrm7QlzDxl5ym_tsxSJmXUoIxSBnqdlnL2PyE9NhqX9_U/s1600/madrigal1079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQC4k_8y9JPSAaixuyq9G0YRcn9k_xlDq7xecApeztZG5lnT2dpPkAzYdU6gXJcGEqWHScpOFedLPa7Xo82IkAq8S9rkV5Edrm7QlzDxl5ym_tsxSJmXUoIxSBnqdlnL2PyE9NhqX9_U/s640/madrigal1079.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These were mostly made from upholstery material and remnants that I put together with what I could find at home.  There are patterns for this style of costume now, but there were none then. I designed all of them myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQC4k_8y9JPSAaixuyq9G0YRcn9k_xlDq7xecApeztZG5lnT2dpPkAzYdU6gXJcGEqWHScpOFedLPa7Xo82IkAq8S9rkV5Edrm7QlzDxl5ym_tsxSJmXUoIxSBnqdlnL2PyE9NhqX9_U/s1600/madrigal1079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA41xn7zZB9okxi40H2_5tSJx3wtmqc9j4YiATOUbJQlKCv1DjwwX9WdBm-oWpnXudBmJQAFhoXeJohMMW4qJ4JmiQWHdtPDZGy7067ys-mh1bQ8GsnvI-C4xeIvaBfHNI8JpWN8BJWgg/s1600/madrigal10088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA41xn7zZB9okxi40H2_5tSJx3wtmqc9j4YiATOUbJQlKCv1DjwwX9WdBm-oWpnXudBmJQAFhoXeJohMMW4qJ4JmiQWHdtPDZGy7067ys-mh1bQ8GsnvI-C4xeIvaBfHNI8JpWN8BJWgg/s640/madrigal10088.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one, I designed and cut out for Dr. Bob Holquist, our director, then his wife put it together. She had been a student of my mom's when she taught clothing design at a community college here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVLcc8vGVAtDnWDw7JZK5_GjHjC1yqPrYkE9hdTmVdWq_irDnvDwq-F6jb9WQqnJPSrvlrMewyLdYeA8jn24Ye5CEbDJFKIO4h1JL_slM07S4NteI0OTGqRxmBmnlu5fKUpsBkK6oEv4/s1600/madrigal5083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVLcc8vGVAtDnWDw7JZK5_GjHjC1yqPrYkE9hdTmVdWq_irDnvDwq-F6jb9WQqnJPSrvlrMewyLdYeA8jn24Ye5CEbDJFKIO4h1JL_slM07S4NteI0OTGqRxmBmnlu5fKUpsBkK6oEv4/s640/madrigal5083.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7s8XzasjiFsJK_KHXEUDoYCjmQQGqHf166DBngi3dVcAigqMiaTWLbDizuLP_njSBfYfz4nCtV0tbhLl0bieP9z8O0O3iuXcHWTngByyDMujd3sw7otQSyMAbYzcn8mMF22hNHOP0Ws8/s1600/biltmore-house-in-asheville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeF2alUm70p9OiU-FyFM_dcBjxqr1B4eCAaqzvbAHjfFLD550BjLsYG6fMhP19I1r1458jjZEdDgPvBA6qRULGpcsh3tHMiijl9B7n0Z9EivRQqpQ6byT8hHA7ZLZjP7435zX9e7F1gU/s1600/madrigal7085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeF2alUm70p9OiU-FyFM_dcBjxqr1B4eCAaqzvbAHjfFLD550BjLsYG6fMhP19I1r1458jjZEdDgPvBA6qRULGpcsh3tHMiijl9B7n0Z9EivRQqpQ6byT8hHA7ZLZjP7435zX9e7F1gU/s640/madrigal7085.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made all the hats too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5li4ME5qZAqWvkrohFwp_52a36xlOtSlw1ismySBGzL4N68bWRExecn2r_gK6IJzRaTgXutUBpJCf9HNXh08zmlH58aU2anpB3E6bQm67wHAPwYJUvX3w4tvc-f2MV3o3y21-_BTRWA/s1600/madrigal9087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5li4ME5qZAqWvkrohFwp_52a36xlOtSlw1ismySBGzL4N68bWRExecn2r_gK6IJzRaTgXutUBpJCf9HNXh08zmlH58aU2anpB3E6bQm67wHAPwYJUvX3w4tvc-f2MV3o3y21-_BTRWA/s640/madrigal9087.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was always freezing cold inside the house, so we looked forward to going in costume knowing that we would be semi-warm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aLvO_YBydHPd1-UBMCqlOVoALAfPHvsV29aaUAcm12uAXnemDOeJ7hYw-8YkwUgSwbl9awbMxTnf3OhW_xUYvC4VPdcjzy_dVDm79Z2lLwVFRG90EEpiTeQ5n1-8ctgRCn-YWZ-5Dl0/s1600/madrigal3081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aLvO_YBydHPd1-UBMCqlOVoALAfPHvsV29aaUAcm12uAXnemDOeJ7hYw-8YkwUgSwbl9awbMxTnf3OhW_xUYvC4VPdcjzy_dVDm79Z2lLwVFRG90EEpiTeQ5n1-8ctgRCn-YWZ-5Dl0/s640/madrigal3081.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also enjoyed looking around where visitors are not allowed to go in the house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdNrD-s3fd2PKrOYW7BDyn-TG5OvNtVSzdwyjEYpEre12PoJ91PtV832jwXfnlUDwixZmvu7i49ARxA8FKwu0SPICPAOovz7s6MTocfhwnoviyMU07KnVonfEiH5KxKVD26NZRVcVyZM/s1600/madrigal8086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdNrD-s3fd2PKrOYW7BDyn-TG5OvNtVSzdwyjEYpEre12PoJ91PtV832jwXfnlUDwixZmvu7i49ARxA8FKwu0SPICPAOovz7s6MTocfhwnoviyMU07KnVonfEiH5KxKVD26NZRVcVyZM/s640/madrigal8086.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfwyJrbsLfyMLuKr8lTj2MZU0_l_0oZmhJM1MUZxNDPgzXZpNkimVjKCgWQGNRxNTXr28KBuDz7mu3hHIhUNC45npH7M_2f8jin9-nZ2V0pC1yQpmThge1Jry210CuaA5iEMBFm-nAe8/s1600/madrigal2080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfwyJrbsLfyMLuKr8lTj2MZU0_l_0oZmhJM1MUZxNDPgzXZpNkimVjKCgWQGNRxNTXr28KBuDz7mu3hHIhUNC45npH7M_2f8jin9-nZ2V0pC1yQpmThge1Jry210CuaA5iEMBFm-nAe8/s640/madrigal2080.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3TD1n1ZqJP06aYBxKAmMfbJCFZQsIp65_pLSivahgco2eu1BjVieaU1XheNqtR6uzURKLYVXx60hMy5LFPgiDZeWVTbM1qKg0IQA5W20gHXlaALhlUBqv9skexo4lZEP0ebsnjz0mxc/s1600/madrigal4082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3TD1n1ZqJP06aYBxKAmMfbJCFZQsIp65_pLSivahgco2eu1BjVieaU1XheNqtR6uzURKLYVXx60hMy5LFPgiDZeWVTbM1qKg0IQA5W20gHXlaALhlUBqv9skexo4lZEP0ebsnjz0mxc/s640/madrigal4082.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq7IZzIXznsZxAz5624H_B0BLNtbzeAlpSisKiV54G47LjUqvpNBOdyrkUmdhLa_j2An5_x9J_aHMGrU_fTd3sPi0N96yqzZDgFwAap4TXhl-zyx5SQM4MjxWjCVgjs9rkYrlbLWyVT8/s1600/madrigal6084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq7IZzIXznsZxAz5624H_B0BLNtbzeAlpSisKiV54G47LjUqvpNBOdyrkUmdhLa_j2An5_x9J_aHMGrU_fTd3sPi0N96yqzZDgFwAap4TXhl-zyx5SQM4MjxWjCVgjs9rkYrlbLWyVT8/s640/madrigal6084.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Madrigal dinners were actually presented at the university and always sold out. We looked forward to them so much each year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favorite costumes is the red and grey one below. I made it from three different dresses I cut up and put together. I wish I had a better photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT5SWj8e8bqXCpF0iZt3rs5crNrRpKbZMqu3B75raUF0Ar1Ck5SAaJKXiP8F1fmJlqbpw0gdx6aQTpNWom8KrL1HH8mdooTAlLPDkg32dYbq3eXttJuEqyuG5p79NhtxGC2_Njyu8418/s1600/madrigal12090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT5SWj8e8bqXCpF0iZt3rs5crNrRpKbZMqu3B75raUF0Ar1Ck5SAaJKXiP8F1fmJlqbpw0gdx6aQTpNWom8KrL1HH8mdooTAlLPDkg32dYbq3eXttJuEqyuG5p79NhtxGC2_Njyu8418/s640/madrigal12090.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, Queen Elizabeth I was always in attendance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT5SWj8e8bqXCpF0iZt3rs5crNrRpKbZMqu3B75raUF0Ar1Ck5SAaJKXiP8F1fmJlqbpw0gdx6aQTpNWom8KrL1HH8mdooTAlLPDkg32dYbq3eXttJuEqyuG5p79NhtxGC2_Njyu8418/s1600/madrigal12090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOM-KDo9Z0amZxl4DA3Peq_ZD7awhFb-JB8wIC6s9JQ5UFyUFlEHNVICZr4awsBGnoh6zC-ixGyqCfhXxzA4pZ68m_q6AXyVe7OFeB_iy8RVrhbEq5KGg5esCDjpXDqlsanATAiCx-zY/s1600/madrigal14092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOM-KDo9Z0amZxl4DA3Peq_ZD7awhFb-JB8wIC6s9JQ5UFyUFlEHNVICZr4awsBGnoh6zC-ixGyqCfhXxzA4pZ68m_q6AXyVe7OFeB_iy8RVrhbEq5KGg5esCDjpXDqlsanATAiCx-zY/s640/madrigal14092.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One last photo performing inside at Biltmore...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGuqp1pWR4bJE6o1SPK5qQmoRV1Yj-ZlM6uCXXkJMSDAJs2vr1j6KHg2AugGmGpgyK2jNHZ_ORZ99C-g8Yc-AsZ0JCo_JxjO5bp8KySvX73u7eRcq7eFhngctkXS5yMxsDrzSEIuEcVI/s1600/madrigal13091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGuqp1pWR4bJE6o1SPK5qQmoRV1Yj-ZlM6uCXXkJMSDAJs2vr1j6KHg2AugGmGpgyK2jNHZ_ORZ99C-g8Yc-AsZ0JCo_JxjO5bp8KySvX73u7eRcq7eFhngctkXS5yMxsDrzSEIuEcVI/s640/madrigal13091.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are near the Asheville N.C. area and have not been to Biltmore House, you must go see it. I always took away so much inspiration for Christmas decor and still use some of the ideas I got from the house then. The sights, scents and sounds of Christmas are honestly just unbelievable in there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7s8XzasjiFsJK_KHXEUDoYCjmQQGqHf166DBngi3dVcAigqMiaTWLbDizuLP_njSBfYfz4nCtV0tbhLl0bieP9z8O0O3iuXcHWTngByyDMujd3sw7otQSyMAbYzcn8mMF22hNHOP0Ws8/s1600/biltmore-house-in-asheville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7s8XzasjiFsJK_KHXEUDoYCjmQQGqHf166DBngi3dVcAigqMiaTWLbDizuLP_njSBfYfz4nCtV0tbhLl0bieP9z8O0O3iuXcHWTngByyDMujd3sw7otQSyMAbYzcn8mMF22hNHOP0Ws8/s640/biltmore-house-in-asheville.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on this link for info and tickets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.biltmore.com/visit/calendar/christmas.asp">BILTMORE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks so much for stopping by! I posted a preview of Christmas decor yesterday, then my mom called me up to her attic, and I came away with a huge box of ornaments some of which belonged to my great grandmother. I *had* to add ALL of them, of course! Can't wait to share all of that soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anita</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll be joining:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://atthepicketfence.com/">Inspiration Friday</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Christmas at Biltmore

Hi everyone! I hope you are all warm, safe and enjoying this beautiful season.  I have wanted to share this post for a while, and thought Ch...

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