Friday, December 20, 2013

Last minute projects . . .

Lately, my mornings begin with a look at blogs and Pinterest for Christmas inspiration followed by some sort of "tweaking".


 Yesterday I came across a fun ladder at Sweet Inspirations by JP Designs.

Nostalgic Holiday Ladder

After seeing the sweet ladder, I knew that, despite the cold, my garden ladder needed to be dressed for Christmas


I found a few stockings I made over 25 years ago hiding in the attic.


A Believe sign, wooden stars and jingle bells completed the ladder decor.


At the same time, I came across the old wooden N O E L  blocks and added them to my garden vignette.


When it came to setting the table, I decided to use one of the tea towels I ordered from H & M Home.


I love the Santa postage stamp tea towel and had hoped to make a pillow from it, but the shape is all wrong.


To showcase the great vintage Santa, I went with a really simple table setting.


Felt stockings I found at Michael's a few years ago hold the flatware.


A centerpiece would have covered up Santa so I simply added a little greenery and ornaments to the candlesticks.


I have a confession to make in these 2 photos - the Christmas pillows on the bench are not pillows at all.


I laid the tea towels on the pillows to get photographs.


There won't be a table setting tonight because we will be on a friend's dock watching the Parade of Lights and enjoying all the beautifully decorated boats as they make a slow crawl through The Keys.


My day will be occupied with crafts - JP has promised to teach me how to silk screen to make KC an apron.


And, I will be making the tea towels into pillows.


With just a few days left until Christmas, what are you doing with your time?

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

I am joining these parties

Shabby Art Boutique - Shabbilicious Friday

The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday

Common Ground - Be Inspired

Redoux - Weekend Link Party

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative Friday

Sunny Simple Life - From the Farm Blog Hop

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

The Golden Sycamore - Inspiration Gallery

The Thrifty Groove - Thrifty Things Friday

37 comments:

  1. As usual your home is so charming with your Christmas decorations. Love the idea of decorating your garden ladder - now I am going to decorate mine and copy yours!!!
    Sending Christmas Blessings to you and your family and Lulu.
    Erin

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  2. WOW, Carol! That is the best word I have for this post. The ladder idea is incredibly charming and your table setting with those amazing tea towels . . . well, I'll say it again, WOW!!!
    Have fun at the parade . . . what a fabulous tradition :)
    Your blogging sister, Connie
    P.S. I am enjoying your table settings, so much.

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  3. You are always finding great thi gs in that attic. I want to know where you find all your energy?

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  4. Carol, I love the tablescape and the tea towels, I think they will make wonderful pillows.
    Have fun at the Boat Parade - looks like it would be lots of fun.
    Today, I am baking and sending rest of Christmas cards. Tomorrow I am packing the car. I have some antique china that I am bringing up to my son that was his g. grandmothers so have to wrap all that and load the car. I will probably look like the Beverly Hillbillies LOL So Sunday, I am on my way to San Jose - will wave as I pass by.
    Mary

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  5. Thank you, Carol, for including a mention of my ladder in your post. I am so happy that I inspired you to retrieve your from outside and adorn inside your home!
    I love those Santa tea towels...they are just great!
    Merry Christmas to you and enjoy your wonderful day!
    JP

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  6. Pretty things! I love the stocking on the place settings!

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  7. I love your ladder!! i've been looking for a small one, but no luck so far ~

    I used to love going to the lighted boat parade at the Morro embarcadero ~ Enjoy yours!

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  8. I really like the look of your table and the ladder is great.

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  9. Your Santa tea towels are so fun--I really like your table setting--the stocking flatware holders are genius! For Christmas today I'm baking toll house pies (my daughter's request) and wrapping some gifts; it'll be pretty low-stress, which is a goal for me :) Blessings and Happy Christmas--

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  10. So many cute things and ideas! Love the ladder, the handmade stockings in great colors, the blocks, the table, and the tea towels. You and I think alike. I needed a Christmas touch in two chairs and was blessed to find two placemats that worked.

    This is so cute!

    Have fun at the boat parade!

    xo

    Sheila

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  11. P.S.

    Carol, what is that little Santa face with the flatware?

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  12. Love the the ladder...great job and the fake pillow covers give the look anyway. Hope you show us the apron for KC.

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  13. You are such a busy little elf! You have some wonderful tea towels! They will make great pillows. The one on your table makes a wonderful centerpiece! And what a wonderful way to spend a Friday night before Christmas! Ya'll have fun, and Merry Christmas!!!

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  14. Love the tea towel~ so pretty and so red! :) I also love those super sweet little red stockings! You always have the prettiest tables! Merry Christmas!

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  15. Very cute! I love that towel and those beautiful red glasses! :-)

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  16. This is my favorite tablescape yet, I supposed because I truly love that tea-towel centerpiece! The pillows are going to be awesome, too. The flotilla sounds like fun, enjoy! To answer your question, today Elizabeth and I had lunch with my brother and our cousin (who I only see about once a year since he lives out of town). The food was okay but the laughter we created was LOUD :) Good times ~ Mary

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  17. oh, i can't pick a fav. love the ladder ... but wonder how much of hazard it would be for any one really? i love the postage stamp Santa place mat. so neat!! you always find the neat decor & fun designs. ( :

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  18. Those tea towels are the best and I love how you've used them!! I was gonna order some but procrastinated and now I wish I would have!
    Susan

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  19. I love all your new tea towels and I know you're going to make some fabulous pillows out of them, Carol! And with the below average cold weather we've been experiencing, I'm envious of the parade of boats you'll be watching tonight! Have fun!

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  20. Love the Santa tea towel!! Your ladder looks great. I have a little one that I put tea towels on and added a tiny stocking to it. Thinking about putting new toys for my Yorkies in it.

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  21. There goes that Magic Attic of your again! Love seeing your table settings and looking forward to the day when I can do a little "tweaking" each day. We have Chirstmas Boats here, too, but it is quite a challenge to find a spot to see them.

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  22. I need to come and visit that attic Carol. There are some great treasures found up there. Love the tea towels and the ladder all decked out with the stockings. Tooo cute. Oh that parade of boats sounds like a lot of fun. Enjoy.
    Kris

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  23. I'll be baking, making gift tags and getting the house ready for the big day. Your tables this month are gorgeous!The ladder dressed up is adorable too. That is such a great idea! Enjoy the lights tonight!

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  24. Another darling Christmas tablescape! I think that attic of yours must be filled with treasures. Glad you are pulling them down to enjoy and to share with us. The water parade sounds like a special time. Love the cute tea towel pillows. ~ Sarah

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  25. I love your table scape. And the tea towel and ladder. So cute. What am I doing? Feeling behind. Finishing shopping and decorating. And taking care of my sister who just had surgery this week. I've done very little baking but plan to make a couple things this weekend.

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  26. your table is darling, carol:) love the towels--they'll make very cute pillows. merry christmas to you and yours!

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  27. Carol, your table is so pretty! Love the ladder idea and your tea towels are so beautiful! Merry Christmas!

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  28. Carol!
    I too, fell for a few pieces of the darling affordable Christmas charm from H & M home. I must say that I LOVE how you have interpreted their pieces in your home! Lovely, bright, warm, welcoming, and soooo very festive! I can ALWAYS count on you for my color fix!
    w/L

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  29. The Santa tea towels are great and the parade of lights so pretty.

    Wishing you a your family a very Happy Christmas.
    Sarah x

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  30. Love those vintage-y Santa tea towels for their colours and textures! Pretty table setting, once again, Carol!

    Poppy

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  31. I love decorated ladders and yours is so cute! Always love the bright colors you add. Oh that tea towel is adorable! Love the simple table setting, goes perfect with it. Can't wait to see your pillows. These last few days I'm trying to organize my Christmas decor and decide what to keep and what to donate.

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  32. I love all the red! That's so cool, not even real pillows! Love it! We are just winding down, finishing another year of the ballet and getting ready for a symphony event. I otherwise hope to drive a bit less for a couple of weeks. I hope you enjoyed the parade and Merry Christmas! XOXO

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  33. Your decorated ladder is so cute all decked out in those sweet things you found! Your table is precious with that adorable Santa tea towel. I wouldn't want to cover him up either. Your secret is safe with me about those "faux" pillows -- sometimes you really need to know for sure that something is going to look good before you make it permanent, and those tea towels will make adorable pillows!

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  34. Oh I love those tea towels, I need to go check out H & M !

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  35. I love that tea towel. i wonder if it was available in France? Anyway, I don't think they would have been in our very small store in the nearby town. I've been busy lately doing my embroidery for Christmas presents... day and night, litteraly! Merry Christmas to you!

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  36. I'm jealous of your Christmas Ladder. That was such a cute idea. I might have to make one for my patio. And I have stockings from years past also I could use. Or maybe I'll put it on the front porch. Hmmm Thanks for sharing that idea.
    Also that was a neat idea of putting the flatware into the stockings. You're good.

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  37. That was a great idea showing what gifts you like - and I see you were a good girl! sandie

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