REALLY looking forward to this Thanksgiving vacation, relaxing with Mr. F&F and the kids. Fast gear describes the last ten months and only by getting away can I actually slow down. In order to clear the calendar for travel, yesterday we loaded in at a client’s house we’ve helped the last couple months. Bad boy and I finished the load-in and I drove the 37 miles back to the store to unload my van that was filled from an auction…. Read More
Vintage Christmas Decorations
Business has been brisk for vintage Christmas decorations. I love merchandising this time of year with color themed areas, lots of ornaments and entertaining goods for the home. The season has begun and Mr. F&F and I began this past weekend with a wine tasting, the kick-off for our season. We head to the mountains tomorrow for a fun-filled six days with our whole brood (yes, college boy, you’ll have to endure us for that long). Hoping to catch a movie…perhaps… Read More
Christmas Balls
This was the year of Moneyball, Jingle Balls, soon-to-be New Year’s Eve ball drops…or in the case of Alec Baldwin, very “Schweddy Balls” on a recent flight….I’d like to call this the year of Christmas Balls. I got balls. Bowls of balls, balls on shells, balls on trays, birds and balls (borrowed from BHG? Real Simple?), balls in hand…let the pictures speaketh for themselves. Have a ball and Merry Christmas “Eve” y’all….
Merry Christmas To Me
Having these three all home (after college boy arrives December 18th) is all I want for Christmas… So, Merry Christmas to me.
Holiday Decor, Part 2
Christmas at Form & Function West…and some Holiday Decor Part 2 at Oddfellows in Asheville, NC.
Holiday Decor
Christmas and holiday decor at Hunt & Gather, Form & Function style…lots of balls-in-a-bowl…my favorite way to display vintage ornaments… Some vintage toys, puzzles, cradle and primitive highchair mixed in… Candy land in vintage pitcher and bowl set… And other vignettes…
Tablescapes
The tablescapes competition at the Southern Ideal Homeshow where F&F collected two prizes-Best in Show and Most Inspiring-from Dina Manzo, HGTV host and former reality star on Housewives of New Jersey. Here’s a few shots of my tablescape, reflecting the muted fall theme with natural and eco-friendly elements. I was travelling so look who collected tablescapes prize on behalf of F&F. I don’t think he minded.
Thoughts for Autumn
I don’t care that it was hotter ‘n hell out there today, I am thinking fall decor anyway…seriously…it was like New Orleans in July this morning! When will this oppressive heat and humidity end? Nevertheless, it’s post-Labor Day so time to gear up for autumn…put away white shoes and break out leaves, pumpkins and such. Perhaps, I’m willling it. Click your ruby red heels and repeat after me: “There’s no time like fall, there’s no time like fall, there’s no time like fall.”… Read More
Happy Valentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day, from my home to yours!
Hearts Afire
So many expectations surround Valentine’s Day. Couples need reservations for a special dinner and single folks feel bad. There are hearts everywhere. I like staying home and sharing the love with my family. My romantic dinner is often a “party of five” and that is okay with me and my valentine. We opt to do dinner the following week or a week ahead or whenever. Like New Year’s Eve, there’s too much pressure for one night and what’s one night… Read More
Winter Wonderland: Snow in the Mountains
Snowed-in in the mountains. Enjoying the snow covered trees, the icicles on my neighbors’ houses, and lots of hot cocoa! Snow, snow, snow, snow!!
My Favorite Start to the Season: Historic Oakwood Home Tour
The Christmas season doesn’t start for me until I take the annual home tour in the historic Oakwood district of Raleigh. I have done the Oakwood home tour every year, all twenty-three of them, living in my adopted hometown. This year the weather looked pretty grim, and I was considering a “no-show” when my husband called on his way home with college boy. Perhaps in a crazed, euphoric vision of home-cooked meals and a good mattress, college boy begged to join me on the… Read More
Christmas Decor…for Free
I love to amass collections – bowls of balls (so to speak), Santas – everything looks better as a collection when decorating for the holidays. Nature provides a lot of Christmas decor…and I’m lucky to have a magnolia tree, holly trees and some nandina bushes in my yard. That combined with gift wrap embellishments and other fun elements = free decorating. The fake grapes and large ornament on the tray were attached to gifts I received…more natural below… The fruit garland in… Read More
Fall Inspiration: NC State Fair
Can you guess where I’ve been? …a “bonsai” tutorial and garden sculptures from reused material…can you guess yet? …lots of cute kids around… …animal, vegetable, miracle… …some food and some rides…you’re getting warm… …and the midway, of course… …gotta love the State Fair.
Fall Halloween Decorations
Okay…confession…before I went on this “crap-free” diet, I had amassed holiday trimmings…so here’s some of my autumnal crap…for better or worse…
Finally Fall
Fall is in the air, especially now that it’s not ninety degrees every darn day. Went apple picking and to an art fair…both inspire my fall decor… …our wagon is full of Cameos, Goldens and Pink Ladies… …time to explore the orchard store and indulge in hot, apple cider donuts…yum… ….then into town and an art festival… …loved this artist’s whimsical pottery, a nice alternative to the imported usual Hallowe’en crap… …and some wonderful “reuse” artists…first, an artist who incorporates… Read More
Sunday Salutation
My mermaids wish you and yours a very… …Happy Memorial Day!
Post-Soiree Sunday
Went to a lovely event benefiting this organization. I was in charge of silent auction decor so, inspired by my daughter’s craft from summer camp, we fashioned these paper flowers glued to painted sticks from my backyard… The colors were captured from the invite… The containers are spray-painted florist vases I had kicking around the house. Would love to get more, painting a “collection” of different-shaped vases in all white or all turquoise, perhaps? A nice addition to a sideboard… Read More
