sparkle is important...

Today was the day that I put away our nativity.

I could not get myself to put away the wreath yet.

I love the sparkle that it gives the room so I will

just keep telling myself that it is a 

Winter Decoration

and not just for Christmas.

Sparkle is important,

nobody will ever be able to convince me otherwise.

Truth be told all of the wreaths are still up

both inside and out.

o.k. the trees are still up on the porch too,

it's way to cold for me to put them away.

plus there is the sparkle factor to consider!

It is a beautifully sunshiny day here in Michigan

freezing but beautiful.

A good day for a cup of tea.

Vanilla Chai for me...

what can I make for you?

Thanks for stopping by!

love,

Theresa

xoxoxoxoxox

Happy Valentines Day!

Sometimes it feels good to make something just for us.  

So for the day of love I made us some scrap hearts to hang on the white branches

on the dining room mantle.

They are just about the only decoration that I have out for today.

But I think they do the trick.

I made the birds last year and put them back out for today.

They are made from script paper and have a tiny banner hanging from

their beaks that says I Do with little hearts.

They have turned pink do to using mod podge on top of 

an ink jet print but for today that works! 

so this is how I did it...

I put strips of lace on top of a piece of cheesecloth that was

on top of a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock.

make sense?

Then I sewed them across the paper.

I turned the paper over and drew hearts on the back of it.

I then cut the hearts out, and glued them to a piece of 

scrapbook paper.  I did this because you would be able

to see the backsides in the mirror.

Then I hot glued jewels and aluminum letters and numbers to them,

all things that mean something to us.

There are 7 of us, and X and an O for hugs and kisses,

612 for our address and the frozen charlotte well because,

who doesn't love a frozen charlotte?

:)

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

love,

Theresa

xoxooxoxoxoxo

linking this to:

 White Wednesday

Primp Your Stuff Party

thanks for the parties girls!

milk glass glow...

This is a trick from my sister Molly.

The glow from milk glass with a tea light in it is so pretty.

Mixed with a little mercury glass and you have magic.

The first time I saw her mantel lined with milk glass and filled with candles

I scoured every GW in the area for some of my own.

This piece is one of my favorites.

Milk Glass is ususally pretty inexpensive at the thrift stores,

 but it sure makes an impact!

So tonight my mantel is all aglow.

lucky me.

I hope your evening is all aglow as well!

love,

Theresa xoxo

linking up to:

White Wednesday

Transformation Thursday

Vintage Inspiration Friday
Show and Tell Friday

Bloggers' Bodega

This mantel changes all of the time, way more than the other ones, probably because I like it and the room it is in the best! 

This was last spring and the mantel is featuring the decoupaged egg I made which is now listed in TheOldWhiteHouse.

Why do I mention this you ask?

Because I am linking up to Bloggers Bodega over at Capers of the Vintage Vixens!

It is a linky party where anyone with a etsy, or webshop can join in the party to share the news of their shop and maybe even do a little shopping with their blog sister friends!

I know you all know how to decoupage,  I'm not fooling myself into thinking that I am going to show you anything new... but maybe you don't have the time or you hate the feel of the goo on your hands...

So I  have done the gooey work for you!

I covered the egg, and then wrapped it with a scrap of burlap and a

matching burlap rosette adorned with a little bling, cuz we all need our bling!

and look how sweet it is with its moss trimmed urn and french tag.

Fill it with a little sweet primrose when it arrives on your doorstep wrapped all special just for you :)

***** this infomercial is now complete

 you may return to your regularly scheduled program now*****

love ya!

Theresa xoxo

just for good measure I thought I would show you what the mantel looks like today!

one trip to the barn was all it took!

let the decorating commence...

Yesterday I went to our local fruit market and bought some cedar roping to hang outside, I'm hesitating going out there to get it hung up because it's 29 degrees out there!! So that's why all of my smart neighbors were putting their decorations up two weeks ago! go figure.  So I started inside to get the juices flowing...

I know I'm a week late but I just finished this advent 'wreath' this morning and I needed to show you the beautiful exvoto tags I bought from Rosemary over at Ozma Of Odds  they are really gorgeous and I knew when I opened them that I needed to use them on something special.  I love how this turned out!

These tags are stunning, truly.  I wrapped the dollar store candles in music paper that I printed onto vellum paper so that it will glow nicely and then just attached it with double sided tape, and tied the exvotos on with creamy string, tucked some cedar from the yard inside the old toolbox and waalaa!

One mantel down and 2 more to go!  I wish all three were real fireplaces, this one is simply the mantel, one day I would like to put a little electric fireplace in here.

  While I was at the market, I noticed that they had a couple of boxwood wreaths for sale as well!  Honestly I was doing the happy dance, went back inside to pay for those and get out of there before I saw anything else that I couldn't resist!  I planted boxwood this year just so that I could do things like this one day, but if I were to take any clippings from then well, lets just say I would only have little stumps in my dirt.

I quickly took the old picture down that was there and replaced it with the wreath tied with burlap (all while making dinner mind you).   Did you all know that in the floral section of Michaels you can find a roll of burlap ribbon that is about 6" wide?  I didn't and that caused another happy dance while in the store... hmmm,  no wonder my kids don't want to go shopping with me anymore!

This morning I replaced all of the cabinet card pictures that were hanging here and put up some of the vintage Christmas postcards that I found while cleaning the workroom.  I have a new mantra... cleaning is good, cleaning is good, cleaning is good...

I just love the graphics on them, so sweet and the little notes on the backs are even sweeter.

the view from the bench at the table.

So there you have it, the decorating has officially begun here at 612.  Now I'm off to brave the cold and do a little of it outdoors.  We'll see how long I last,  maybe some of the roping will end up inside!  Here's hoping someone will have hot cocoa waiting for me when I come in.

I'm joining in the fun over @ TeaRoseHome, stop by and see all of the inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful Sunday!  Theresa xoxo