How about some kick in the hiney inspiration from Brooklyn Limestone?
Another clever idea from Junk Camp.
Check out a super frugal yet darling nursery at A La Mode.
Top Referrers to Nesting Place for December {Thank you!}:
Bird Watching
Storing Your Garland
Time to take down The Most Wonderful Christmas Garland Ever. Not to mention all of the less wonderful Christmas garland that might still be hanging around.
First take out all that extra junk that you put in to make it wild. Save all the fern pieces and nests and keep them handy for your spring wreath.
If you have space in your attic, garage or basement you can just slip a heavy duty hanger on each end of your garland and hang it up until next year.
If you are short on hanging space just stuff it all in a plastic bin. The garland is so easy to fluff back up you don't have to worry about smooshing it. Make sure you make a label and place it on top of the garland so you know what you are looking at come next Christmas. You don't need to remove the lights. Next year, plug them in and cut out or unwrap any light strands that have burnt out over the summer.
Do you pack away your Christmas decor before or after New Year's Day?
2008 Roundup
In the spirit of reflection and laziness I thought we could revisit some posts from the past year. Click the words under the photos to read more.
Gift Yourself
Did you get something great for Christmas?
How about giving yourself the gift of Bliss?
Registration is half price until December 31 --did you get some cash for Christmas? Buy yourself some encouragement and fun! This conference is designed for bloggers and there are two tracts this year.
I'm thrilled to be speaking about blogging with Melissa for one of the sessions. We don't have a big toile book of secrets but we will gladly share all that we do know, what has worked for us, our embarrassments and try to answer any questions you have. Maybe we can have a secret session over lunch where we talk about house stuff!
Let me know if you are coming! I promise you won't regret it!
Ragamuffin it
Even the simplest of appetizers can be made to look irresistible.
Next year, I'm stocking up on these cheese boards with the glass cover and giving them as gifts. I see them at almost every thrift store and yard sale and cringe at how many I have passed up at the small price of $2.99. Fill it with an easy dip, tie it up with some ragamuffin scraps and you have a stunning gift.
Use What You Have {or can get at a thrift store}
Did you see this post at the Inspired Room? I thought it was brilliant and I had red bags on the brain until I found a red and white striped one for $1.99 at a thrift store.
I just stuffed it with leftover garland and popped in some pine cones, leaves and feathers.
A great filler for that room that is lacking in the festive feel or, like the original idea, it looks great on the porch. Don't have a Christmasy bag? Why not wrap up a cardboard box with some pretty toile Christmas paper, tie a bow around it and stuff it with garland? Or, you could dig out your old picnic basket and fill it with garlandy things.
Need a break from shopping for other people? Why not buy yourself a pretty tassel?
I just stuffed it with leftover garland and popped in some pine cones, leaves and feathers.
A great filler for that room that is lacking in the festive feel or, like the original idea, it looks great on the porch. Don't have a Christmasy bag? Why not wrap up a cardboard box with some pretty toile Christmas paper, tie a bow around it and stuff it with garland? Or, you could dig out your old picnic basket and fill it with garlandy things.
Need a break from shopping for other people? Why not buy yourself a pretty tassel?
Food: More Entertaining Than Fabric?
My husband and I went to a Christmas party last week. The friends who hosted are one of those great couple friends who include you in everything. We are major moochers and take them up on all of their fine offers. I sure hope they don't think we just like them for their chefs and pool access and golf tickets and dinners and hummus.
Guess who was catering? GUESS!
If you know me in real life you know that I would much rather watch a food show than HGTV. And, if you watched Hell's Kitchen this past summer and paused it while you tucked your boys in bed and then had to have a second dinner every night after you watched it because you were craving beef tenderloin and shrimp at 10:30 pm like we did, you will know who this talented man with the expressive eyebrows is.
Petrozza! Yes--in the flesh! When I found out he was catering the party I literally flushed. Petrozza was a favorite of the viewers this year because of his attitude and personality. I'm pretty sure I'm his biggest fan. At the party he was not only chef but entertainer as well--that's just what happens when he's around! And the food was unbelievable. I mean really, do I even have to tell you that the food was good? The guy ended the show as runner up! Congrats Trozzie {that's what us fan types like to call him} for your success on the show!
Am I the only one who would rather watch food being cooked than someone painting a wall and custom making a window seat?
Door on the Wall Take 2
Are you sick of seeing this room yet? I love lots of pillows on a sofa. It's completely impractical if you are sitting on it all day but they look so wonderful! And, sadly, this sofa doesn't get sat on all that often so I can pack the pillows in.
I got a few questions about the door on the wall yesterday so I thought I would show you a bigger view of it.
Months ago I told you how you could get one for free--and how I hung my door. Maybe you have an old door in your attic that could be used to fill an empty wall.
I just get out my trusty paints every now and again and repaint it. Nope. I don't even take it off the wall. I just wait until my man has left the house {that's the most important part} and then drape some old towels on the back of the sofa and paint. I usually mix a few colors together until I find something that looks right.
Don't forget to link up for Kimba's open house! This is my slacker excuse for an open house post. Kimba's nice, she'll forgive me.
Winner of L. Herbert Designs paintings: Holly of Homebody!Tour De Rental: Christmas Version
Can we ever see enough Christmas Decorations? I think not.
The delightfully personable and ever funny BooMama and the uber creative and perfectly charming Julia from Hooked on Houses are both hosting Christmas home tours and there's not a chance that I would miss them. {edited: Rhoda is hosting one as well--you must see her home!} Cause I get to talk about house stuff. And I love talking about house stuff. Instead of trying to drive through neighborhoods really slow and look in the windows of the houses with their lights on, you can be nosy in the privacy of your own home. Genius.
If you are new here, this is the part where I link to myself over and over again in an effort to get you to fall in love with me and never leave. If you are a faithful reader, thanks for putting up with me and my big self.
I live in a house with three boys and a manly husband who comes home from work dirty every day. I have a little room that is mine all mine and I'd love to show you how I winterized it on the cheap.
I just added some ribbon to my garland to finish it off. Want to see how I made mine?
Then we had a garland party. Want to see how over 150 different women made theirs?
Killing 3 birds with one post: Here's my entry for THAT Family's tree party!
Currently, we are renting a house. The family room is small so this year, we let the garland decorate it, and put the tree upstairs in the playroom. My boys BEG for colored lights every year and usually I pretend like I can't find them until after the tree is decorated. I'm not all mean. I always let them string up the colored lights in their room.
But not this year. I bought extra colored lights and piled on a few inexpensive plastic ornaments and bright colorful ribbon. My boys squealed with delight, jumped up and down and hugged me. I think we'll be using colored lights from now on.
Does the black star look satanic? I like it. If you still haven't had enough of me, I'll be back tomorrow for Kimba's Holiday Open House.
If you still need more....
Last year's Christmas tour with BooMama
My Philosophy of decorating
Best of the Nest: Fun, well read posts
All this talk make you hungry? How about a virtual cookie exchange at Cottage Magpie?
Garland Roundup
You did visit every single one of the 150 plus garlands that were showing off over the past few days right? Y'all are insane! And I adore you! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful workmanship! Just in case, I thought I would share a few highlights. This top photo is from Life on the Ground.
A simple ribbon garland from The Tulip Lady
How about some color from Sara's Art House?
Forever Whenever--painted piano and matching garland? Will you marry me? Emily, I'm gonna paint that piano if you don't get it VERY soon!
How about a paper garland: Nikki's Nacs
Harrington House I want plates!
Self Confessed Lamp Tramp everything and the kitchen sink.
Notions on Nesting fab-o-licious!
Chatting at the Sky. Longest garland award-- it's spectacular!
Okies at Heart rustic, classy, charming.
Bless Our Nest simply wonderful.
Home Sweet Home Inspiration great use of blue and dried roses and a view from afar...
Karol lives in Florida--how fitting for her Christmas decor!
My personal favorite: Life in Grace above...
oh. my. glorious colored lights!
Color!!!! I'm adding colored lights to our tree this year--if I can find where they are hiding!
Thank you all for your inspiration! I've had the best time and hope you have been inspired too!
Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Nester
Your Garland is Showing
I couldn't resist using the title that my friend in real life suggested--thanks MEME!
It's time to share your garland with us! Whether you were inspired to make a big bad garland this year or you simple put Polly Pockets in a piece of greenery, here's your chance to tell us all about it. I'm hoping to see some garlands that are fatter and more extravagant than mine.
If you haven't gotten up the nerve yet to make a garland and you still want to here's your chance to get some great ideas. If you made yours and it's just not right my advice is to keep adding stuff to it. Fern pieces, starfish, feathers, berries, sticks if you don't like them simply take them out but at least take a risk and push the garlandy limit a little.
It's time to share your garland with us! Whether you were inspired to make a big bad garland this year or you simple put Polly Pockets in a piece of greenery, here's your chance to tell us all about it. I'm hoping to see some garlands that are fatter and more extravagant than mine.
If you haven't gotten up the nerve yet to make a garland and you still want to here's your chance to get some great ideas. If you made yours and it's just not right my advice is to keep adding stuff to it. Fern pieces, starfish, feathers, berries, sticks if you don't like them simply take them out but at least take a risk and push the garlandy limit a little.
Giveaway: Real Art!
I'd like to welcome my newest partner for December, Laryssa from L. Herbert Designs. You might have noticed her beautiful button over there on the right with the other advertisers labeled Nester Recommends.
Laryssa is the whole package when it comes to being a mom in business. She is young {still in her 20's!} and married with two children whom she home schools. She keeps a blog, Heaven in the Home and runs an etsy shop where she sells her watercolors. And I'm not talking about your hokey sunsets and beaches kind of watercolors.
Some words that come to mind when I look at her pieces are simple, timeless and classy.
Charming.
Fun.
Funky.
And packed with whimsy and personality. Plus, you can collect these pieces without breaking the bank. Each one of her original watercolors is only $15. Not only that but, Laryssa and I have put our pretty heads together and she will be offering a limited edition surprise to be revealed in a few weeks! Oh the anticipation!
How cute would a set of three shoes be in a girl's room?
Leave a comment to enter to win a set of two 5 x 7 prints of your choice{my favorite ones are the speckled eggs} Be sure to visit L. Herbert designs to see the other lines she has including hats, bags, chicks and dresses! Click on the button in the sidebar and then click on the egg.
Be sure to check out my other partners up there in the "Nester Recommends" section on the top right of my blog. If you want to find out more you can click on the square buttons.
Have a business and want to partner with Nesting Place? Click here to find out more!
Don't forget, tomorrow's the big Mr. Linky Garland Show and Tell!
Winners from the Small Words giveaway:
Mom in High Heels
A Mommy in Jeans and High Heels {seriously! do you see a trend here?}
Leslie Miller
Please email Kim if you won and let her know what letter you want.
Everyday Unwrapped
Welcome to my everyday.
Emily, also who I call my little sister, at Chatting at the Sky is hosting a well timed notice the wonderful in the everyday, also everyday unwrapped party at her site. I love her post here where she talks about the why she wants to notice the everyday. I could relate and I bet you can too.
Here are a few of the things I noticed over the past week. The ones I was able to capture on camera don't look near like what they did in person but I guess that's part of the enchantment of the moment.
Now that the seasons are changing we get a beautiful view of the sunrise out of our back yard every morning.
My oldest son and I love to star gaze. This past week Venus, Jupiter and the moon put on a show.
We had beautiful fog that lingered longer than normal.
All three boys found a project that they worked on together for hours after school.
And furniture in a home full of boys used the way God intended.
In the midst of what can be the busiest season take some time and enjoy the little things that are happening around you right now.
This just in: Kim at Small Words has decided to give away 3 yes THREE of her letter paintings because of the great turnout of comments for the giveaway last week--we had almost 1000 people wanting her beautiful works of art! Winners will be announced tomorrow!
Fresh hot handmade tassels for sale now!
Garland Show and Tell
Show Us Your Garland
Have you been inspired to make your very own wild and crazy, lush and robust garland? Maybe you've been making your own garland for years and want to show us all how it's done. Let's all meet back here Wednesday, December 10th and link up and share our garlands. If you don't have your garland up yet, get crackin' and if you still need some ideas this will be the mecca of garland inspiration. As usual, there are no rules--you don't have to have a mantel, you can hang a store bought garland, you can break all the rules and surprise us all! I can't wait to see what you've been up to!
BlissDom '09
I want to meet you at BlissDom '09 in Nashville. If you have never been to a blogging conference and you have a blog or want to start a blog let me tell you how much will love yourself for attending BlissDom. You can read about my experience at BlissDom '08 here. The women who host this are some of the most talented, connected and friendliest bloggers around. And the people they have lined up to speak, well....
Let me know if you decide to go, I'd love to meet you!
Tassels in Greensboro
Also, if you are in the Greensboro, North Carolina area I'm doing my final show of the season this Sunday from 2-5. I'll be selling tassels and a whole slew of super talented women will be selling all sorts of irresistible stuff. It's too late and I'm too lazy to write any more but if you think you might want to go, contact me by hitting that drawing of an envelope in the sidebar that says "email me" and I'll happily send you directions.
If you want to grab that stunning and oh so stylish show and tell garland button for your own garland post, simply copy and paste the code below where you want the graphic to appear:
Winterized Decor
A few photos of the keeping room. It's the only lady room in this house with three boys and a big strapping man. I'm lucky to have it. No red. No santas. No stockings. Not much money spent. But a warm chill has crept over this room.
Not that there's anything wrong with red. Remember the before? I just switched out the piece of fabric from the table and shopped the house. Here's what else I did. It took all of 20 minutes.
Vintage bells Habitat ReStore $1.69, tiny fake fall berries $4 Hobby Lobby, silver mixed with white dishes.
Texture from the Goodwill $2. This was a middle of the summer find!
Natural, from the restore 69¢.
Feathers and the pretty wings that broke off of my favorite angel. From my stash.
Silver final from the Goodwill. $2.
Shopped the house.
Cloche with glittered house: $5 Walmart last year after Christmas sale.
And the reason.
You better believe it. Nests work in every season. And don't you worry, I've got red stockings and colored lights going up in another room!
You have until midnight tonight to enter to win the small words contest. Good luck. I never win anything.
Freeloaders Alert: It's a Giveaway!
This contest is now closed.
Y'all, this is my favorite giveaway yet. I am telling you if this woman, I mean if Kim Wheeler is not one of the most talented women I've ever met then I don't know who is. Look at her hand painted, "incredibly cute personalized art".
She can custom make a sign to match your nursery.
Wouldn't this be a perfect wedding gift?
Look at the detail.
Loving these colors.
After you have Kim make a sign for your baby, have their photo taken with it--makes me want to have more babies.
Everything Kim makes is packaged to the hilt. I felt like royalty when I received my "S" all wrapped in clear packaging with all of her shiny cards and darling tags and thank yous and ribbon with her logo. I also felt like I needed to personally apologize for my boring packaging for my tassels. I hereby promise to step it up a notch. I shall not be out packaged.
Here's what Kim made for me and I cannot wait to put it in the perfect frame and really make it stand out!
Kim is offering a free, hand painted 8 x 10 letter of your choice. You know it would look great in your house.
Don't forget to visit the Small Words website to see and hear some more adorableness!
You know how I love these mompreneures -- don't forget to visit the moms with Mom's Unite on the sidebar. See Kimba's directory for the complete list with photos.
Thanks to the top 10 referrers to Nesting Place for November!
1. Bring the Rain
2. Chatting at the Sky
3. A Soft Place to Land
4. The Inspired Room
5. BooMama
6. Simple Mom
7. Like Merchant Ships
8. Kelley's Korner
9. I Should Be Folding Laundry
10. Just a Girl
Simply leave a comment to enter the giveaway-- contest closes Thursday at Midnight--winner will be announced on Monday.
Fur Wreath Tutorial
Are you ready to make this wonderous wreath?
What you need:
1. an 18 inch pressed straw wreath {I don't even unwrap mine}
2. a low melt glue gun with glue sticks {high melt is fine if you don't need to use your fingers for the rest of the week or if you are planning to commit a crime and no longer want finger prints}
3. about a half a yard of long haired fur {ask the ladies at the local fabric store Hancock usually carries it as does Mary Jo's}
4. a nice day 
I sure wish I had a nice tight little list of hard and fast rules for you to simply follow to my specifications in order to get one of these babies made up without a mess. But, you know how I hate rules and all.
Like most of the projects we do here, there's a little risk, a little trial and error, a little imperfection and it's all worth it. Basically, you want to cover the wreath form with the fur. And the longer the hair, the more forgiving it is of your messy, inpatient, non-measuring self.
The way I start is I just lay the edge of the fur over the wreath and wrap it around one part and hot glue part of the wreath and stick the edge of the fur to that. As I go, I cut slits into the fur so it will turn around the circular wreath form.
I try to glue as much on as possible and then, I cut off the fur and start again. Because of the round shape, you can't just wrap it all the way around. But, because of the long fur, as long as you glue pieces on in the same direction, you can hide all of your seams.
At the end I had a hole. I eyeballed the size of the hole and cut an extra piece to fit.
Just patch that right in--no one will know.
Did I mention that you will want to do this outside? That's why you needed that nice day.
Another space, another patch. I did try to keep most of my seams on one side of the wreath so I could have a front and a back and if the back looked messed up then it wouldn't matter. This space is small enough to just shoot some glue in and press down on the fur to cover the bald spot.
There's a new wreath in school. Don't let your wreath be humiliated. If your wreath looks like a momma cat patted it down with a wet paw, make sure to fluff it out a little.
I've even use a little hairspray to make sure it looks like Ty Pennington.
Ta Da! A finished fur wreath. It only took about 15 minutes. And, the back looks good too! The messy hair look is what allows you to make mistakes and cover them so easily.
Priscilla needs a shave now. And my yard looks like I killed the Aristocats. No worries, no one will know I did it since I no longer have finger prints.
So, once you vacuum your yard and shave your glue gun, you can hang this wreath just about anywhere. I used some kind of fancy fabric trim and hung mine over a mirror. How pretty would a big silver ornament look hanging in the middle of the wreath? I love the fur mixed with a wide velvet ribbon.
Related Posts:
How to Hang a Wreath
Extreme Wreath Makeover
I Never Cease to Amaze Me
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