Songbird

I found two of these Christmas ornaments at our local thrift store before Christmas for only 50¢. I knew I was planning on a fun winter themed mantel, so here is your tease...

Christmas ornament

My Favorite Projects of 2011

I really can't believe how many projects that I completed in 2011, mostly because of this blog. I feel the need to continually show you something new and different that I have made or transformed. Later, you can check out my Before & Afters tab at the top of my blog page.

I decided to look back at what I have done, and pick my 12 favorite ones and tell you why...in no particular order.

Here we go...

1. This vintage dress form is a favorite because I have wanted one for so long. I found it unexpectedly for $2.50 at a garage sale. I then couldn't leave well enough alone and decoupaged it in book pages. It's a joy for me to look at and lives in my master bedroom. 

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

Randi's Vignettes

Another friend of mine has allowed me to photograph her holiday decor. There are some very pretty and unique vignettes here since Randi has a talent for setting these up.

Enjoy the eye candy!

And More Christmas at Gails

Part 3, pictures of my friend, Gail's Christmas decor. You can see the 1st part HERE. And the 2nd part HERE.

More Christmas At Gails

Part 2, pictures of my friend, Gail's Christmas decor. You can see the 1st part HERE.

 

Christmas At Gails House

My friend Gail has a very large attic to be able to store a bunch of stuff. Each year she picks a different theme and this year it is vintage for her living room...

Christmas Trees Around The House!

Indian Jace!

I realize that it's late to show you this but I think this little guy is the cutest thing and he is my little sweetheart! I have loved him from day 1!

I am friends with this little guy's Mother. She was saying in passing right before Thanksgiving that he needed to have a simple costume of an Indian for school.  So resourceful Terry went into action and made him this little costume in about 30 minutes. Mind you she did not ask me...I just did!!!

I took wide brown ribbon and painted the red and white lines on it to mimic beading on an Indian Braves chest gear. I then found some scrap elastic and trim and made him this headband. Simple and easy, but very cute. The only thing I had her buy was the feathers for me to use. If she knew I was going to put these on my blog, she probably would have taken better pictures too. Right Lindsay?

Early Christmas Bar Stools

Christmas 2011 Livingroom

Scene's around the living room...

Christmas 2011 In The DiningRoom

Fun decorating vignettes in the dining room...

Trying to give it a MacKenzie Childs flair!

My MacKenzie Childs Inspiration Christmas Tree 2011

I was lucky enough to find a pre-lit 5 foot Christmas Tree in a big red pot after Christmas last year while shopping at Marshall's. Don't you just love that place?

It was $50 and the only flaw was a small chip on the bottom edge of the pot. No worries, an opportunity for creativity right?

I am a huge fan of MacKenzie Childs and their Courtly Check design, I decided to paint the base of the red pot in that design. Combined with the upper red part, I think it looks fantastic and covered the flaw.

MacKenzie Childs Inspiration Ornament Tutorial

I have decided to have some fun with Christmas decorating this year and switch things up a bit.  I adore MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check designs and try to replicate what they do. So this year, I have made my version of a MacKenzie Childs Christmas Tree complete with ornaments in Courtly Check design.

Here is a hint on what I did with my tree.

Christmas Kitchen 2011

Views around my kitchen this Christmas season...

Christmas 2011 Outside

We are short! I am just under 5 foot tall and hubby is 5'4". What can I say?

We were talking in line when God was giving out height?  

So, this year, we didn't use a ladder and decorated low.  However, our house sits up on a slight hill and when you view it from the street, it doesn't look all low. Were we successful?

My new spiral tree

Christmas 2011 Shade Tree!

I have been dying to show you my Christmas Shade Tree.

Yep, it's made from lampshades and It is just so fun. My hubby just  tolerates it though. I guess it's not his cup of tea, but he is kind enough and has learned to allow my creativity even though sometimes he just doesn't get it.


If you recall, earlier this summer during one of my Diamonds In The Rough! posts, I shared with you my find of several vintage lamp shades, vintage glass ornaments and a floor lamp. I promised to show you what I was planning to do with them...Here is a look back.

This post also shows you what you can do with very little money and a lot of creativity.

Christmas 2011 Mantel

I adore the whimsical look of my frames on the fireplace mantel. Our fireplace is very large and...

Christmas Open House Shopping!

In Quincy, IL, there is a primitives and craft shop called Ohio Street Originals located at 10th and Ohio. And each December during the first weekend, they have a wonderful open house. It is filled with cookies and hot cider to sample, the smells of cinnamon and cloves and great Christmas crafts and decor all hand made at unbelievable prices. I am acquainted with the owner and asked if I could take you shopping with me. She said, you are welcomed.  So let's go to the wonderland of snowmen and santa's, twigs and dried flowers, primitive decor and awesomeness!

I just adored this framed art.  Maybe I will make me one.

Swag no more!

I purchased 5 custom made and unused swags at a garage sale for only $5 total! I knew that I could do something fun with them. This is one of the swags. See the pretty tassel trim? And the deep red fabric is very nice too.

I realized that they would make awesome pillows. It took a bit more than one swags worth of tassel trim to make an 18 inch square pillow. Which means that I was able to make four pillows out of the 5 swags with material left over for additional projects.

2011 Ornaments

Each year, I make ornaments for my family and this year I have taken on a MacKenzie Childs look. I hope they like them.

I purchased these wooden stockings unfinished at Hobby Lobby last year...after Christmas. Then I painted them this year. Do you think I captured the essence of MacKenzie Childs?

I also made the black and white check balls too and will share with you a tutorial on that soon.

I always put the name or initial of the person it is going to, the date on front or back and my name on back.

Wine What!

While on a shopping trip, I purchased this wine rack.

Bye, Bye Valance!

I made a pretty valance, for the bay window in my dining room, a year or so ago.

I decided to take the Christmas holiday as my opportunity to put up what I really wanted, a white wooden rod with rings.

Let The Dance Begin

Goodbye Fall...

Ready to go to the basement for another year!

Hello Christmas...

Client's Great Room ~ Coming Along!

My current client's

Great Room


is coming along nicely so I thought I would share what I have done so far.

Upon my first visit, there was only one thing in the room...a new leather sectional. Oh, and a ton of baby gear.  This is all I had to go on...

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Bunch of Before & Afters V

I decided to keep better track of my projects with combining each in a simple collage of Before and After. Here is a sample of past projects.

All That Glitters Wreath Tutorial

Don't you really love the long, wide mesh product that has been out on the market for the past couple of years? It is very glittery and it makes a beautiful garland for trees and other uses. And it's softer than it looks to the touch. I also think it's fun to work with and thought you would enjoy this quick tutorial on making a mesh wreath.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

Holly Jolly Tutorial

I finally did IT! I made a stencil with freezer paper. I had seen this on blogland and wanted to try it. My excuse...Hubby was out of town and I wanted to do a fast, fun and easy project.

Here are the steps to making a stencil.

Blogversary Today and Winner!

Today is a very special day for me. A year ago, I decided to share not only my voice, but my creations with you and started my blog. Today, my stats are:

904 Followers
432,930 Pageviews
250 Posts

That's more than one new post every other day!!!  I didn't know I had that much to share:)

I decided to give, to one lucky follower, this hand-painted tray, table scarf, teacup and various teas/coffees...

And the winner is: By using the Random Number Generator, it selected Gail as the winner! Gail has a blog called Gail's Decorative Touch and this is what she said,

Congrats on your one year anniversary Terry. What a lovely giveaway.

Thanks so much for following my blog and making this year so inspiring, you are all winners to me!

Dragonflies and Butterflies Anyone?

I have been working with a client on decorating her huge home. This post will only show parts of the formal dining room that I added decor to. There is much more to be done in this room.

The chairs are large and very nice but looked a bit masculine to me. So I made 8 lumbar pillows (12 x 18) with reddish fabric featuring dragonflies on the material. The background of the material coordinates with the one red feature wall in this room. The two end chairs are leather covered. I was hoping to soften the look with these pillows.

Blogversary GiveAway!

On November 14th, I will celebrate ONE YEAR of my Forever Decorating! blog website. I went from one follower to 897, over 430,953 page-views and 249 posts. I am so amazed at those numbers. And, it has been the sweetest year of gaining personal friendships with YOU.

To celebrate, I am giving away this tray that I handpainted with the word EAT, a rose teacup and an assortment of teas and coffees. Also a lovely vintage dresser scarf.

Buyer's Remorse To Buyer's Rejoice!

Have you ever bought something and had buyer's remorse when you had time to think more clearly? This happened to me about a month ago.

This and That at a Clients Home

I found this dark brown vinyl Laundry room art on Etsy. Then, I found the cute tan vinyl clothes pins from a different seller.  I ordered the two and combined them for wall art in my clients laundry room.

Anniversary GiveAway!

I would like to send each of YOU, my followers, a personal hand-written Thank You note and explain what you mean to me for this past year. I have had so much wonderful feedback from you on all my projects from little to large. It really feels good to know that others appreciate what I do and maybe I have even inspired YOU to do the same.

On November 14th, I will celebrate ONE YEAR of my Forever Decorating! blog website. I went from one follower to 877, over 424,500 page-views and 245 posts. I am so amazed at those numbers. And, it has been the sweetest year of gaining personal friendships with YOU.

Lucky Day!

I wanted to share a really lucky day that I had last Tuesday AND why it could be YOUR lucky day soon!

I went to my clients home to decorate but had to be at my local spa by 3pm for a discount party, since I was treating myself to a massage the very next day, I wanted it at a discount if I could...and I did.

Anyway, I was getting ready to leave after I paid for my purchases (make-up, massage and facial), when they told me to hang around for 5 more minutes because they would announce a give-away. Reluctantly, I stayed even though I was tired from my earlier day of decorating.  They called out a number and guess what? It was MINE! I had won $125 in products!!!  That was certainly worth the extra 5 minutes.

A Bunch of Before & Afters IV

I decided to keep better track of my projects with combining each in a simple collage of Before and After. Here is a sample of past projects.

Cherry Blossom Table

It's different




It's petite




It's oak




It's old

Think Pink ~ A sweet doll cradle

I am participating in the Go P.I.N.K., Oct. 30th...Are You Aware? Many of us Bloggers are helping spread awareness and standing to fight for this cause.. Breast Cancer! With blog posts that are dedicated to pink, you can view my post then go on over to the party and see what other pinks are out there.

A few years ago I was asked to paint a child's doll cradle. The only requirements were to also paint the words of The Fruit Of The Spirit;
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control found in Galations 5:22.