Fairyland

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We named her Morgan le Fay after the sorceress from the Arthurian Legend of King Arthur and Guinevere. She was said to be a fairy. When I found her a couple of years ago, adorned in such beautiful finery, with angel hair and gossamer wings, I brought her home to keep my Bohemian Santa company. Morgan stands over two feet tall so is quite striking in her silks and velvets. This display is in the dining room.

How amazing that so much beauty is bestowed on a 'holiday decoration'. Details of the layered velvets in the gown, with a long silk train, tiny velvet leaves and berries attached......and that hair!!

As for Santa, the rich colors of his velvet clothing, devilish little gnomes at his side, not to mention that beautiful hat..............all make him a legendary Father Christmas from a faraway land.

Next time - a visit with the 'little uglies'.

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Candle Glow

Although we often burn candles throughout the year, the candles of Christmas somehow seem more beautiful. Perhaps because other special displays around the room help with illumination, the shadowy dark corners suddenly light up, the room is different, more homey and cozy. Heidi at Celebrate the Seasons shared an easy candle decorating project using things we already have. She asked that we post pics if we came up with a design..............this is what I did last evening while decorating the living room.

I've had these wonderful old world map candles many years but hesitated to burn them - don't you do that, buy lovely candles and then want to hoard them? I wouldn't even light these when the power went out in a major ice storm a few years ago and we were without electricity for well over a week!! This is the first lighting and they really are beautiful. The heavy painted glass plate is the perfect base, and with a few sparkly tree ornaments, some real pine cones and faux pearls, voila, a great hearth display when the fire is not burning.

While by the hearth - my favorite Winter spot - I started on the mantle decorations. I love pears, to eat, to cook with and to use in my decorating. When setting up my Christmas vignettes I usually blend in Holiday items along with what I'm already using - partly because I have a shortage of storage space, but also because I like this look and don't feel rushed to take it all down after the Holidays. Closer to Dec. 25 I will add fresh greens and berries to the mantle.

A little whimsy is always fun - these stocking holders come out of storage each year and always make me smile. I'm still working on my new stockings for this year - they're hanging but later today I plan to decorate them so will show a close up another time.

Well I'm starting to get the Christmas spirit now. Will have photos from the dining room next time - my favorite place to decorate.

Have a fabulous weekend.............stay safe if traveling, have fun if cutting down or picking out the Christmas tree, enjoy being with loved ones whether family or friends.............and decorate because Christmas will soon be here.

Hunt and Seek

Time stands still when you drift through the dealers' spaces at a large vintage or antiques shop. So much to see. You start out slowly in the first booth just inside the entrance, so many treasures to take in. You cast a glance around and notice the vastness of the space and know that this will take time - then you worry you will miss something special. Will you have time to see everything?

With Christmas just around the corner there are Holiday items tucked among the regular stock.

And then you spy Her in the far corner, reflected in the tall French mirror, surrounded by beautiful objects - you feel calmer, you know you have time to enjoy. You tell DH to sit in the bookshop section - have a coffee - take a nap - you will be a while as there is so much to pause over.

Dark tarnished silver mixed with delicate bone china.

A fainting couch to die for! Upholstered in new linen with old bronze nail heads this would be fabulous. I would read here while sipping my afternoon Earl Grey.


This chair was almost mine - but see those protruding springs, the major makeover required would up the cost way beyond my budget. This is a treasure I've been hunting and seeking..............I loved and lost.

A French store display cabinet - a lyre lamp base and dangly drop crystal candlesticks.

Romantic crystals and bows - this can only be a French wall sconce, beautiful when illuminated.

Already showing verdigris, in a garden, at the porch entry or even inside on a table, this would be lovely. I enjoy anything that will hold stone balls, woven globes, or treasures from Nature.

All images shot at Screendoor, Asheville, NC - Nov. 23, 2007

A veritable treasure trove of wished for items in Western North Carolina.

I'll soon return to my local hunting ground SuzAnna's - time spent with these wonderful gals, Susie, Anna and their awesome assistant Linda, brings not only new items to contemplate and design ideas to share, but laughs, giggles, hugs and friendship.........and good things to snack on now the Holidays are here!!!

"We're Waiting"

Wishing and hoping............................that someone here will soon get into decorating mode. Christmas is coming, fast. Cherubim are anxious to be displayed along with sparkly ornaments, tinsel and pine boughs.

The seasonal hearth will always provide a focal point for the coming celebration - but we must spend time sitting in front of the first fire of the season, staring into the flames, warming cold toes, sipping hot chocolate...................................anything but putting up those decorations.

Still enjoying the falling leaves. These large maple leaves fell on our car while in Asheville, brought them home to enjoy for a while before filling the bowl with Christmassy things.

"Deck the Halls" they say..................we will, we will, just let us continue enjoying Autumn a little bit longer.

Mountain Discoveries

The 'Screendoor' - vintage and antique furnishings for the home and garden - in Asheville has now become a favorite stop when in Western North Carolina.

One area held an unusual display of original items handcrafted out of assorted metals.

This star cut from old galvanized tin roofing caught my eye - I love the shading of colors, rust silver, blue grey. Hanging on the arbor gate it awaits a garland of white lights for the Holidays.

Other treasures I found to bring home.

The window frame with beautiful rusted white roses.

A stunning handmade Journal incorporating items from Nature - a packet of pretty fairy bookplates.


A set of 'Perfect Penmanship' cursive writing guides in the original box with instructions - mailed to Mrs. Foster in Hampton, Virginia in March 1963 - postage 10 cents! This will be fun for art projects. Lastly, this Italian ice bucket, hammered silverplate with bunches of golden cherries for handles. It shows some wear, nice, but has been polished - if anyone knows how to speed up the tarnish process, please let me know. I want the outside dulled to the interior color if possible. This will be used for flowers, perhaps hold decorative balls, as well as cooling the Holiday champagne!

On the way out of Screendoor I spied this basket of exceptionally beautiful gourds - bought just one to take home and add to the porch display.
There's that word again SIMPLIFY - I'm trying but it's awfully hard.

Just spent a long day - 6-1/2 hours - on the Grand Jury. Only one more session to go and my six months term will be up. Will catch up with everyone later this week and hopefully get some Christmas decorating done.

Mountain Majesty

Photo above from a publication - remainder are mine.

Trip to Asheville, North Carolina, beautiful small city set between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Pisgah National Forest.

Looking out over the city toward the Blue Ridge at sunset.

Window shopping at the historic Grove Arcade.

Guard dogs not needed - griffins at the ready, dressed in Holiday attire. The mountains are just visible in the distance.

Beautiful interior of the arcade. Christmas windows in downtown Asheville where a contest was held for the best display.


Casual or formal - everything one needs for an evening of dancing on the town.

Even paper ball gowns!

Early morning - the real feeling of being in the Great Smokies - we had a few snow flakes to jump start the chilly day.

Breakfast was waiting - thank goodness some girls are up early in the kitchen!

He said "You can't go home again" but this charming home, his Mother's boarding house depicted in his famous novel 'Look Homeward Angel', in this lovely, vibrant city in the mountains would be hard to leave for ever. Surely Thomas Wolfe came back for a visit now and then.

Next post I'll tell you about my return visit to 'Screendoor' that great place for vintage treasures in Asheville - and show you the neat things I brought home!

Celebrate Thanksgiving

Although I don't eat turkey, or any other meat, I love this vintage postcard from my special friend Julie, the amazing Celtic Woman ~ be sure to visit her beautiful blog.........................however I will definitely eat pie!!

Julie has just surprised me with a lovely Thanksgiving parcel full of sweet, and quite unexpected presents. Thanks again dear friend Julie.

This fabulous, healthy, and again easy, soup recipe (although not from the Cranks cook book) is not for lunch today because we gobbled it up for supper last night instead! I followed the recipe other than using vegetarian broth and just one teaspoon of curry powder. Recipe should enlarge when you click on it. Oh, don't forget to use your stick blender - much easier cleanup with that little gem.

This one's for Manuela at the Feathered Nest another great gal who has been a friend since starting my blog - thanks Manuela for always being there!

Sending happy Thanksgiving thoughts to all of you. Every one of you is special, each of you always welcome when you stop by ~ I love hearing from you. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with so many wonderful friends, but know I think of each one of you very often, and am thankful for your friendship.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner no matter where you are, or whom you may celebrate with. I'm off to the Blue Ridge Mountains, staying in beautiful Asheville NC for a few days.