Designs by Pinky: grapevine mini wreaths

Sunday, December 11, 2011

~WELCOME To Our Home!!!~

Happy Sunday to everyone!!! I hope you had a GREAT weekend. I can not believe Christmas is in 2 WEEKS!!!!! Where has the time gone? I am not ready, gift wise, but I'll get there! I try to AVOID shopping on the weekends, it is too crazy out there:):) So, here I wanted to share our outdoor decorations. These have been up since the Sat. after Thanksgiving but with all the linky parties ths is my first chance to share. Hope you enjoy. When I saw this first picture I decided that next year I am going to do lighted garlands around the door and side windows! They are looking too bare to me and I can't believe I never noticed that before. We used to have a lighted garland around the door but I had to use it elsewhere and haven't replaced it.

We found our sleigh in Lancaster county, Pa. many years ago. We were on the HUNT for an authentic sleigh!

I wrapped some garlands on it and one of them is lit! The Santa came from the shop where I used to work. As soon as he came in and I saw that he was SITTING, I knew I HAD to have him for the sleigh!

The fence post Santa was bought at a craft fair many years ago too. The sitting snowman also came from a craft fair and you could have it personalized with your name!

The Flexible Flyer got some new decorations this year.

These plastic berries are the only kind that will survive frost. The ones that have a styrofoam base will pop and the white shows through.

Doesn't he have a sweet face?

LOVE......

He is reading the Night Before Christmas!

I added the lit swag to the snowman so he can be seen at night too!

This little tree used to sit on our console TV, but now we have the flat screen so out here it came!

Red and natural pine cones. The natural ones all came from my yard.

This is a 5 foot wreath I made for the garage. I decorated it with a LARGE bow, bells, clusters of Christmas balls, gold pine cones and poinsettias.

details...

Here are some nightime shots. My camera does NOT take good nighttime shots and I apologize but wanted to give you the idea. There are candles in all the windows,

red and green spotlights all across the house,

the wreath,

Santa nd the reindeer,

a lit snowman waves to you as you approach,

red and green spotlights on the stone garage wall,

A snowmman greets you at the top of the driveway,

The numbers are lit up and a candy cane on the mailbox (which Joe made too).

A shot from the street.

I will take you into the foyer tomorrow. You may not believe what greets you there;):) My prized possession!!!! I will be joining all these great parties agian. Thanks so much for stopping by, I know everyone is so busy. Love to you all!!!! XO, Pinky

Holiday House Tour at Hooked on Houses

Meet Me Monday http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Making the World Cuter Monday at Making the World Cuter

More the Merrier Monday at DIY Home Sweet Home Project

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Show and Share on Thursday at Southern Lovely

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Remodelaholic's Anonymous on Friday at Remodelaholic

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Sunday, December 4, 2011

~My Christmas Mantle!!!~

Good Sunday Evening everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the process of decorating for the holidays! I am all finished and can finally RELAX and enjoy my efforts! I am joining some linky parties for the holidays and especially tonight the Mantle party over at From My Porch to yours. The button for the party is right on my left sidebar so click on there and see LOTS of beautiful mantles!!!! I have been collecting Santas for almost 30 years now so have quite an extensive collection. This first one I am showing you was handmade by a lady in Texas. She did this to put her daughter through college. We eventually bought 4 from her but this was our first. He is a Polish Santa, and she would research what they would have worn and included a typed page to explain everyting!

Here is a shot of the entire mantle. I redid my wreath this year, added alot of picks and some gold swirly sticks (remember "ting ting"!!!!) The Santa on the left is another Polish Santa from Texas that we bought for Joe's parents. When they died we inherited it.

The beads are new this year too. BUT, I only wanted the one simple strand of beads because I didn;t want to hide the beauty of the mantle and bamboo molding. Joe MADE the mantle and did the bamboo trim. That stuff was a BUGGER to stain!!!!

My 2 dancing reindeeer are treasures of mine. I had them for 2 years when I got my copy of Southern Lady magazine, opened it up and there were MY reindeer in someones house!!!!! I was so excited to see them!:) The gold trees are narrow so perfect for the mantle. They sure SPARKLE at night with the lights.

The wicker reindeer attached to the wreath with wire, we found many years ago in Intercourse, Pa. at a neat old hardware type shop! Joe attached the red ball to his nose.

I used the same ribbons for the bows that I used for my tree toppwer since they are right next to each other.

The Santa in the center is a Joyce Ditz santa. I have several of them now too, including a LIFE SIZED one that greets you as you come in the front door. I will share him soon!