Saturday, December 15, 2012

Don't know what to get your wife for Christmas?

Here's an easy option:  ME!!!

Get her kick started with REorganizing and REdesigning for 2013!

For $125, I'll give you this gift certificate that entitles her to an initial consultation for whatever she needs help with in your home!

Boom.  Done.  Check it off your list.  



Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Deck Your Halls! (or AT LEAST your front porches!)

Every year, I ask my friend, Sheri Ely, to come over to zshuzsh up my urns for the holidays---Halloween, Thanksgiving, and (MOST IMPORTANTLY) for Christmas!  This year she outdid herself...if she does say so herself!  Ha!  I love what she creates--always a little bit different, but original in its design for just your personality.  

I had already shopped and bought a few of the items that would be going into my urns, but we still needed a few more things.  We got the fresh greenery boughs, small white twigs, and fresh winter berry at Rolling Ridge Nursery in downtown Webster Groves.  The lighted twigs I bought at 7 Gray...and the gold snowflakes at Hobby Lobby.  



My wreath we created a few years back--hot glue is an amazing thing!  Since this photo was taken, I have added a few more ornaments...


I changed out the pillows on the rockers...added a bowl of pine cones...wreaths with coordinating ribbon bows on the windows hung by jingle bell hangers...and, of course, the softest, and warmest blankets on the rockers!


I bought this antique sled a few years ago at an antique store and zshuzshed it with another coordinating ribbon, and a bough of greenery...easy and a bit unexpected.  If you haven't noticed, I don't like using the same ribbon on everything...I like different...it adds interest.


I've been asked by a number of friends this year where I got my very TALL and curly white branches.  This makes me so happy because they were able to see them from street when they were driving by---just what I wanted---IMPACT!


Well, the answer is that I sort of created them.  Again, I bought them a few months ago at an antique store in a bundle---only $12 for all of them.  I loved the height and the crazy twists and turns of the curly willow branches---they just needed a little zshuzsh!  


Here is my cute little elf that helped me create the look I wanted...he looks thrilled, doesn't he?


All it took was high gloss lacquer spray paint in white and a bag of white glitter.  It took about 20 minutes from start to finish in my front yard.  Sheri was creating her masterpieces on my front porch, as I painted these.  They were the finishing touch---and I LOVE them!  I will definitely keep them to use next year...just don't tell my husband.  Seriously.


I didn't forget my back gate...I added the burlap and red button bow...TADA!



Sheri, created these, as well, in about 20 minutes.  There at two window boxes that flank my back door.  Most of the greenery was left over and we got the holly springs from my front yard bushes.  Voila!



Sheri doesn't just create for me...she has helped a number of friends with the front of their houses.

Take a look...

Giant Nutcrackers greet you at my friend, Jo's, house--again, love the unexpected!


Sheri arranged fresh greenery, oversized red and gold ornaments, lighted twigs, fresh magnolia leaves and winter berry into four pots flanking the door!  Love the hand painted polka dotted smaller pot and the larger in urn coordinate with its polka dotted bows!



She added fresh pine boughs to her light post and used the same lime green and red and white polka dotted ribbon for that extra little zshuzsh!


My friend, Rhea, likes to decorate a bit more simply...with silver, lime green, and purples!  Sheri totally is able to see what she wants and creates this more modern feel with ease.


Her window boxes are lighted to show off the fresh greenery, tall silver twigs, white snowflakes, and shiny purple and silver ornaments--gorgeous at night!


And, finally, here is Sheri's house!  This year she added the four wreaths to her windows that are hung by simple red ribbon.


Her antique stone urns hold lighted twigs, red twigs and berries, fresh greenery, and some rustic twig balls.  Instead of a wreath on her front door, she has a red basket with fresh greenery, pine cones, and a tassel of giant jingle bells that ring when she opens her door--so cute!



Her window boxes are not forgotten...holding more fresh greenery, red twigs, silver ball ornaments, snowflakes, and huge pinecones. I love the detail of the Cardinal birds in her wreaths...



Want the outside of your house to be decked out?  Contact me and I'll get you in touch with Sheri Ely...it is worth the money!  She's only $25 an hour... 

You'll love it (and her), I promise!

Happy Holidays!




Saturday, December 1, 2012

It's the MOST Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Christmas is the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year!

It always has been and it always will be to me.

I am one of the "crazies" who gets up at the crack of dawn the day after Thanksgiving, not to shop on Black Friday, but to wake up my family by blasting the Christmas music and making a traditional Mack Daddy breakfast---coffee, OJ, bacon, eggs, and my famous french toast!  I stay in my jammies all day and just go to town decorating.  It is serious bliss!!!  (At least it is MY serious bliss--my husband?  Yeah, not so much!)

My home is a true reflection of my love of the holiday season.  Every room is touched in some small or BIG way with sparkly or glittery or twinkly holiday MAGIC.

My larger than life Santa greets you at my front door...


My foyer also blasts holiday cheer with garland and its' paper "Peace" birds, a reindeer decoupaged in Christmas music sits proudly on one of my most prized possessions...my best friend's Grandma Campbell's baby grande piano, a giant silver heart ornament hangs in my window, and my leather wing back chair with a tiny handmade candy cane pillow waits for Santa to take a seat!


My front living room proudly houses our Christmas tree...adorned with all of my favorite ornaments in the front and the not so favorite ones in the back!


All of the ornaments have a story behind them...a lot of them are from my childhood...which my kids love!


My dining room is sprinkled with decorations from memories past.  I showcase my Gaga's family silver and her prized red goblets proudly. They are beautiful in their simplicity. It was my Gaga who gave me my love for decorating.





Last year I zshuzshed up the inside of my dining room windows with these glittered ball wreaths and hung them with a simple burlap ribbon embellished with red buttons.  I added these dangly stars for the last bit of sparkly holiday punch!  Love them.
I

Again, I zshuzshed these star mirrors by adding these simple vintage looking paper dove "Peace" birds.  These birds are sprinkled though out this room...and my entire house.


My great room and kitchen is where we spend most of our time, so I want it to feel like Christmas although we do not have a tree in it.  So...I add flowers, lighted wreaths on the inside of the windows, pillows, a basket of Christmas books, cranberry garland, handmade stockings and garland above each doorway with ribbons streaming down each side to hang our holiday cards.

My Santa collection...I add one new one every year.


I added the paper birds, the lights and the bow to these wreaths...


Giant peppermint sticks, plate and mug for Santa, and fresh cranberries add to the holiday spirit...


My friend, Noelle, made me this sweet pillow last year.  Again, it has a story...

Next up?

The outside of my house...

Happy Holidays!













Monday, November 26, 2012

The Woodland Tree -- at Seven Gray

Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!  Now onward to Christmas!!!

Here is the Woodland Tree that I gave you a sneak peak of in my last post...this photo does not even do this gigantic tree justice!  It is just gorgeous...come on in...you have to see it for yourself!


These owls make a bold statement on this tree...and they are soooo IN this year!


Cuteness chenille and yarn owl...so soft!


Another owl...this time made out of shiny mercury glass!


A burlap and wood bird house...


A sparkly tailed squirrel and feathered bird...


One of the many Cardinal birds...


A glittered, snowy mercury glass acorn (Hello Mighty Oakes!!!)...


Another furry tailed friend...


A burlap bird...


Another Cardinal...this time with a crocheted hat!


More Woodland inspired goodies...a burlap Christmas tree ornament with bells, glittery garland,
more birds, rolls of moss, and snowy/glittery bungalows to hang from your tree...


Let Seven Gray help you kick off the Holiday Season this year!

Next up?

The Red and Green Christmas Tree...it's so darn cute!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Giving Thanks!!! -- at Seven Gray


GIVING THANKS is the focus of today's sneak peek at Seven Gray!


Berry balls, clocks, beaded artichokes, a moss runner, and this oak leaf tree centerpiece embellished with a trio of darling acorn ornaments...any of these could help spruce up your Thanksgiving table!!!



Decorative turkey, giant berry ball, and fall floral picks galore!



Give Thanks garland, cornucopia wreath, wheat sheath, glittered white birds, and feathered mini wreaths/napkin rings!!!



Giant clock, nesting leather suitcases, moss birds, giant oval clock, and twig/moss nests with gold eggs, and tons of travel candle tins in 12 different scents!!!



And, finally, a sneak peek of my next post -- The Woodland Tree!