WINTER CLOCHE PARTY - only my 2nd one!

In getting photos for this post, the Winter Cloche Party at Marty’s, I realized that the things which I am putting in or under these cloches are some of my favorite things. Maybe it’s just things I am wanting to see. I know it is a winter party, and you will see winter items in my cloches, but you will also see some hints of spring.

Here is list of things you will see in my cloches:

White trees (hope it’s not too “Christmasy” looking; we've seen a lot of white trees lately around here!),

a black and white snowy, house picture which I tore off a gift bag at Christmas, (yes, I'm sorry, but I do love snow!),

bird figurines,

touches of silver,

touches of green (the color that every one is looking for nowadays!

I love decorating with moss and these fake artichokes !

Then there is my favorite cloche which is on the piano which sets in the foyer (I know it is a weird place for a piano, but it is the only place that has room for it)

Under this cloche are some more of my faves: a collection of old doorknobs, (from when I was really into “junking”!), and also an animal printed bauble (or whatever you call it!)

These are just a few of my favorite things, but at the top of the list is the cloche itself. I have loved them ever since I saw my first one a couple of years ago. I am so notorious for changing my decorations, and cloches are wonderful for doing just that; you can change them with the seasons, with your moods, or on a whim!

So here goes my Winter Cloche Party!

"SPRINGY 'SCAPE"

This is my first Tablescape Thursday post. I have been wanting to participate for a long time, but am just now getting to it. I have just been "stalking" everyone else's! I really haven't been blogging very long, and am just getting the "hang" of some things. I have enjoyed getting to see so many wonderful ideas by so many wonderful women! It's so inspiring, and much less expensive than decorating magazines!

It seems that even though SPRING may not be in the air, it is in everyone's mind!!!!. Many of us are trying to figure out ways to get it here sooner or to get our homes to feel like it is here at least.

So, for my table scape, I along with others am doing a SPRINGY THINGY! It is amazing how just a little touch of SPRING does lift your spirits!

Since we are experiencing some very "wintry" weather, here in our neck of the woods, I kept a few "wintry" touches, such as the silver twigs in the bowl. They are actually left over from Christmas, and do add a little BLING!

Here is a "bird's eye view ("you will get the connection soon! Ha Ha!!!) of the table scape!

These colors say SPRING to me: This kind of "robin egg" blue, and of course GREEN. By the way, I was able to purchase these homemade napkins at a antique store last fall, and only paid $5.00 for six of them. I love them. I used them at Christmas as well. They looked beautiful with some red touches.

Of course, birds and SPRING are thought of together. So I have, along with several other elements, birds on my SPRINGY table. I love these birds that I have had for several years and have used them over and over. As a matter of fact, they have taken flight and have perched in many different areas of my house! I'm notorious for moving things around. Just ask my family members. Another decorating item which I love are my "new found" faux (but don't they look so real?!) artichokes! These just add that little "umph" that is sometimes needed; or maybe it's because they're GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I think of SPRING and GREEN, I think of my little collection of these Homer Laughlin plates. I don't have many collections, but this one is problably my favorite. I love it so much that it is actually my inspiration for my decorating theme, not only for my table, but for the whole house. I don't really know what the name of that theme would be, but on the name of the print on these plates is "Pastoral"! Ha Ha! I thought that was interesting since my husband is a Pastor! The word however, means: a poem depicting country life, or in music..... harmony. (something like that anyway!) I love this definition. It really does describe our life. I love these little plates (if anyone knows where I can find any, please let me know since I only have four), for several reasons. One the "pastoral" thing; secondly, the fact that they are GREEN in color, and thirdly, they remind me of my child hood when in the SPRING, my grandfather and dad would begin to plow the fields for planting.

One of my "more interesting" shots!!!

After taking a "kazillion" pictures, trying to get the "perfect" shot of the dining room, I finally got these by setting the camera on the island in the kitchen and taking the picture from behind the iisland. I like the way these pictures turned out. You really do have to play with the light in a room. The dining room which is painted a grayish, greenish, color (kinda like the moss on trees), actually changes colors through out the day depending on where the sun is.

It is so easy to make a center piece with cake stands. I have several cake stands, and the arrangements you can come up with are endless. Here there is a large cake stand on the bottom with a clear glass pedestal bowl placed on top. On the cake stand a black wreath with glassy, clear, crystal "thingys" on it which SPARKLE. I like to use this from October all the way into winter because it adds SPARKLE, or BLING! I also love to add animal print. So, that's why there's a zebra print bauble or what ever you call it in the bowl. I heard from a decorator somewhere that you should have some animal print in every room. I don't know if I am that crazy about it, but it does seem to make things pop. I have used it in several places in the dining room. The color that we are all looking for, though is........GREEN. The green limes, a Hobby Lobby favorite!

PROJECT SNOW DAY 2010

One of the things which I have enjoyed about blogging is all the wonderful ideas and inspiration you get from others.

I got this idea from some blog which I read. I must learn how to link to other's blogs in my posts. Any way, she had done the word "HOME" on chip board letters and hung them over her sofa. I have always been at a loss as to what to put over the fireplace (it is a two-sided one that separates the living room and kitchen - see side bar). I thought this would be perfect. My intentions were to put them on the living room side, but I had them propped up on the kitchen side and decided they looked better there. This is pretty much the first thing you see when you come in the door. So, the word "HOME" is, hopefully a welcome sight to family and friends as they enter.

We had a snow day (which I love!!!!!!!!! seriously it is like a vacation day to me. I love it when everyone is snowed in! shhhhhhhh, some people round these parts might not like me if they heard me say this!) So on this snow day, I decided to do this project. Thankfully I already had the supplies purchased. It was very easy to do and I really like how it turned out!

Here are the instructions. (Tutorials will come someday........maybe!) For now it is just written words and pictures. Hopefully it will inspire someone.

These are all the supplies you need to do this project:

*Chip board letters for the word you are wanting to make (from craft store),

* a canvas for each letter (mine are 8x 10),

*a piece of scrap booking paper (I chose silver, cause, I love silver accessories this time of year), *some scissors,

* pencil,

* wood glue

*regular white glue,

* craft paint (pictured in a couple pictures below)

That's all!

No drills,

No nails,

No hammers,

No staples,

No sewing, not even a ruler. Well......., you could use a ruler or tape measure. I didn't and got into a l.i.t.t.l.e. trouble (read on!)

These chipboard letters are so inexpensive. Got these at Hobby Lobby for a dollar and something each. I really do like them....if you mess up, (you must read on!) well, then you haven't wasted a bunch of money like if you had bought real wooden ones.

Of course, you want to paint the letters. I chose this black, matte, paint. It is cheaper to use this craft paint than to use spray paint. Even though spray paint would have been quicker and easier, I guess. I do not like to spray paint unless I can be outside, and even then I feel like I am breathing in toxins. I know, I know, I know, Please don't tell me, my kids give me a hard enough time about my hangups!

Simply trace around the canvas on the paper with a pencil and then cut out the marked off piece. It is exactly the size of the canvas. (No wrapping needed, no spray painting needed, because you just use glue......keep reading!)

Glue the paper on to the canvas. Use only a small amount around the edges. A small dot in the center might be helpful. (Notice the paper is a textured paper so it is very forgiving if you make mistakes and I love the texture element as well!)

Using wood glue, I simply glued the letter to the canvas.

If you ever do this project, warning!!! Make sure your letters fit the canvases right. This is why you might want to add a ruler or tape measure to the supplies list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is why I don't do crafts very often. I didn't plan it all the way through, and as you can see there's a problem.....the "m" is wider than the canvas!!!!What to do???????????What to do??????? I don't want to redo all these. That would mean another trip out in the snow to Hobby Lobby. I don't think so!!!!!!!!! Just turn it over and it fits the other way!!!!

But wait.......it still was not the same size as the other letters, and looked kinda strange. I was pretty much ready to give up on it when my "knight in shining armor" came to my rescue.

"Lonnie Love" suggested putting it in this picture frame which I found going through some clutter! Amazingly, this picture frame was already painted silver. YAY! Otherwise, my simple, little, snow day project would not have been so simple! He tacked it in for me so it wouldn't fall out, and it turned out pretty nice.

One huge blessing is that our last name starts with the letter "M". Soooooo, the letter "M" is emphasized! Guess what? If our last name had started with some other letter, the letter "M" would still have been emphasized!

Awwwww! Finally........HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!