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
Raleigh is Mayberry: A Trip to the Flea Market
The Raleigh flea market always rates high on national lists of markets. There’s great “pickin” from furniture to dishes to collectibles and antiques. The prices are generally good, but if not, always negotiable. Owls are hot… …and so are “hands”… …and I’m ready to get my Christmas on…in a very vintage way… …but what most delighted my eleven year old was a visit from Barney and Gomer… …yes, Virginia, Raleigh is Mayberry. And you never know what you’ll find at the… 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
Wednesday Wishday
I’m dreaming about these for summer… …all available here and here…for lots ‘o money. So instead I shall search my local second-hand shops and other haunts for similar items.
