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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Paper Rosette Tutorial

I got lots of compliments on the decor for the bridal shower I helped with last week. I thought I'd show how easy it is to make this paper rosette garland. There are so many cute papers out there but I chose to use book pages from an old encyclopedia. I also like using vintage sheet music.

 Take 3 pages and accordion fold them about 1/2" wide.

 Separate the pages, fold each in half and fan them out.

Use either hot glue or double stick tape to seal the folded edges closed and the 3 pieces together. Sometimes I glitter the edges by brushing on a little glue and dipping in loose glitter. You can also distress the paper if you want a vintage look.

I printed out the lettering I wanted onto regular cardstock, cut out the circles and hot glued them to the center of the rosettes. There are lots of creative ways of embellishing here by using contrasting papers, layering small rosettes onto large ones, or using vintage photographs.


I simply used clothes pins to attach the individual rosettes to some twine. Alternately, you can paper punch holes and string your letters onto ribbon.
Ta da! A super easy and inexpensive decoration. 
Now, to make some for Christmas!
I'll be joining
Open House Party

Monday, November 11, 2013

Bridal Brunch


Saturday the weather was perfect to host a bridal shower for my dear friend's daughter. We've been going with a "book" theme for the party as the bride is planning on becoming a teacher. This has been a really fun theme to play with, there are so many great ideas for using old books and paper. Here are some of the ways I incorporated this theme into Becca's shower. 

The invitations introduced the colors and the theme.

 I made a banner using pages from an old encyclopedia. I'll do a separate post on how to, but it was pretty simple - it reads "A Love Story".

My co-hostess found this charming sign that we placed in the front entry to her home. 

There I am caught in the mirror taking a picture. I've never figured out how to do this!

 Remember all of those book bundles I've been making? Here are a few of them. If you missed the post, read about HERE.


We served some wonderful brunch foods. 
Sweet orange rolls,
 an assortment of light salads

Ham Spinach and Gruyere bread pudding, and 

 fresh fruit and cookies with flavored cream cheese spreads.

I've been playing with homemade chalk boards lately and made this one  for the couple's new home.
It's made from an old kitchen cupboard door.

Guests could take home a packet of book plates 
for their own library.

I was too busy to take many photos during the event, but that beautiful brunette is the mother of the bride!



Isn't it lovely that good friends and family get together to help a young bride set up her new home? I'm so grateful for a dear friend who did this for my daughter last year. 

Now is the count down to the wedding!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Three French Hens Tablescape

Every year the women's club that I belong to puts on a fabulous Christmas show house. We call it the Christmas Idea House and it is full of home decor items, gifts and holiday goodies for yourself and to delight your friends and families. All of our proceeds go to local charities and scholarships so it's truly a win-win event! This year's featured home is in Gilbert, AZ and has been part of the Street of Dreams home tour. It's an amazing house!

For the past few years I've been assigned to put together a tablescape to be raffled off. This year the theme was The Twelve Days of Christmas so I narrowed it down to 
Three French Hens!

I started with an old crate that I embellished with a hen label printed on old sheet music and filled with three feathered hens and hydrangeas. 




The dishes I chose are vintage ironstone, the Richmond pattern by Johnson Brothers.

I took mint julep cups and added a bit of burlap and bling to make votives.


I made napkins out of some French script fabric and found a full set of silverplate flatware at a thrift store, Wakefield by International.

Goblets embossed with crowns hold chocolate peppermint balls for favors.


I also made a burlap runner and placemats shown here with this charming hen casserole dish. 

What fun I've had putting it all together! Some lucky winner will get everything on the table, linens, dishes, silverware, centerpiece etc! If you live in the greater Phoenix area mark your calender for the first week of December and come and see us. For more information click on 

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Book Bundles

I am preparing to host a bridal shower for my dear friend's daughter. Both mother and daughter are teachers and we thought a "Book" theme would be fun. I showed in a previous post the centerpieces I'm working on for the wedding reception. The shower will be a brunch and much less formal and I thought we could use the same books I've been gathering. Shabby book bundles have been spotted all over blogland and Pinterest. 
What an easy and inexpensive centerpiece idea!


The color scheme for the shower is black and white with red accents, so I raided my bookshelves for all of my hardback red books. Who knew I had so many? I tied them up with random lengths of old lace, twine and tulle. Then I added an antique key and a tag printed on old book pages.



I'll be using my black and white toile table toppers that I made for my own son's wedding wedding 10 years ago. I have gotten so much mileage out of these!  The bundles will be anchored on ironstone platters along with some pots of red geraniums. 
As a favor for the guests I'll have book plates to take home for their own libraries.
So next time you're stuck for a quick and inexpensive centerpiece, just raid your bookshelf!

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Arabia of Finland

The weather here has turned milder and mornings are delightful. I've resumed my morning bike rides and headed out yesterday for a quick ride around a nearby neighborhood. Ooh, a garage sale on my route! I pulled over to see what treasures might be found. I spied it immediately-
 a table full of Arabia dishes!

Arabia of Finland (pronounced a-RAH-bi-a)  is a pottery manufacturer that started in 1873 as a sister company to Rorstrand of Sweden. They are known for their excellent quality and clean, bright Scandinavian designs. 


I registered for the Anemone pattern when I got married in 1977. I was fortunate to receive 8 dinner plates, 8 salad plates, a few soup/cereal bowls and a couple of serving pieces. It was designed by Ulla Procops and gets it's name from the beautiful blue anemone flower.


The hand painted pieces are all signed on the bottom.


The pattern has been discontinued and was a bit pricey even when I got married ( the dinner plates cost $10 each  in 1977). So to find a table full, set my heart aflutter!

 There was a sugar bowl and creamer,

coffee pot and pitcher, 

8 large mugs, 8 small cups and saucers, a serving bowl and 8 bread and butter plates,

 plus a charming teapot with a removable infuser.  

There were 31 pieces in all. How much did the seller want for the set?  $75. What ?! Now, many of you wouldn't think of paying that much for dishes at a garage sale, but I snapped them up!  


When I got home (of course I had to return with my car!) I pulled out the rest of my dishes and put together a simple, classic tablescape  using a blue ticking runner and some Pimpernel place mats. 



So, did I get a bargain? I looked up Arabia Anemone on Replacements Ltd. to find out. Replacements Ltd. offers a great service and are perfect for finding random extra pieces of china, but they are a bit pricey. If I purchased my garage sale finds from them I would have to pay $2,445.00!  Even on Ebay or Etsy it would cost over $1,000.00 for all of these pieces.

So that was my bargain of the week! What did you find?

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Centerpiece Prototype #2


Yesterday I shared some photos of a wedding centerpiece I'm working on for my friend's daughter. (click HERE ) 
I believe the bride has decided she wants silver and cream with some deep red as her color scheme so I've worked up prototype #2. This time I used a silver tray as the base, added some red flowers to the creamy hydrangeas and used vintage red books for some color.





This is tough choice, all silver and cream or add the red? I'll let you know what the bride decides!