Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Casual snow family table...

Hi everyone! I am again participating in "Tablescape Thursday" over at Between Naps on the Porch, hosted by the lovely and very talented Susan!



I was looking for something last minute as I have been working on a "Spode Woodland" table with the four American Horses. I bought those for my girls for Christmas as they love to ride. However, it has been a difficult one for me to visualize, and I realized there was no way I could get it done this afternoon so I started looking around. Hmmm. What to do? Then it came to me. We still have snow...lots of snow. So it dawned on me that it is still winter, and what better for winter than snowmen? So here it is...the kids love these plates and enjoy using them only this time of year. Hope you like it!

I love to set the table and have family meals with the children. I really want them to learn to make meals special and a time to share with family.

The runner is a lovely paisley fabric I found at the fabric store I frequent called "Vertigo." It seemed to tie it all together so nicely, don't you think?


I just love these plates! They were $1 at the Dollar Store a few years back. I came across them and knew the kids would love them.


Aren't they cute?


Then, I found this S & P that coordinate so well that it looks like they were part of the set!



I love these crystal glasses because they are not only pretty but very durable.


Notice the centerpiece? I used it at Christmas on the breakfast bar.  I bought these arrangements at a local store here that is part nursery part floral shop and decor. It is really a fabulous shop. The candlesticks coordinate also with the cranberry tree I used with my Christopher Radko table.  But the best part is they remind me of some winter arrangements my mom made in the 70s that we brought out at Christmas. They were really fabulous and these bring back all those memories of Christmas and winter long ago:-)


I just love this, and it's low enough for us to see over and carry on those family conversations!








I hope you enjoyed my snowmen table! I think it's such a nice thing for the children to see you can set a nice table that is simple, but shows that mom cares:-)

Snowmen plates, Dollar Store
Oneida "Arbor" stainless flatware
vintage linen napkins
Durand cristal d'Arques crystal stemware

Please go see the gorgeous tables over at "Between Naps on the Porch," and please come again:-)

Anita


Sunday, January 3, 2010

Playhouse

Hi everyone!! Hopefully you have all recovered from the hustle and bustle of the holidays! We are in the middle of the coldest weather in years...down near ZERO every night and this will last for about two weeks!! So I thought I would share an outside metamorphosis for "Metamorphosis Monday" hosted by Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch."

My husband started a small building we had planned on using for a studio, but it turned into storage and then he added a playhouse for the children. He built it totally from scratch...he is so smart:-)  I cannot show the inside because we have not finished that. Here it is...

This is the beginning. We had some extra french doors left over from the house we needed to use, and they worked perfectly here.


And this is the finished building!! The right side is for the kids. My husband made all those adorable shingles from wood he found in my father's woodshop. I love the little cottage look! The door was recycled from my great grandfather's house originally on the property.


I had just planted in the little flower beds, but they were so pretty into the summer.




The rock path is made from rocks I collected also on the property. There are LOTS of rocks of all kinds so we are using them a lot in the landscaping.




So this is our little playhouse/storage that my husband built. Honestly, I did not know how good he is at this. Remember, he is a musician. His father is a builder in Puerto Rico and he used to work with him. 

Thank you for stopping by! I will get around to you, but I'm slow doing it! Thanks so much for your comments...they really make my day:-)  Happy Metamorphosis Monday to everyone! I'm off to see some great transformations!!   Anita