CUCINA TREE..

Every Thanksgiving weekend... I pull out my 20+ tubs of Christmas decor.  I try to do a different theme every year.  But one thing I  always do is to create a new Christmas decor piece and also to use family pieces throughout the house.

This year I used my Nonna's eucalyptus tree and then went into my box of her father's old baking tools.  They had a bakery back in the 1930's in Brooklyn New York.   I decided to use the cookie press discs again as ornaments, I also added some of his vintage icing tips and then to top off the tree.  An awesome piece with a RED handle.  Red/Pink mini cupcake liners just for a little holiday pop of color.

Here are the supplies for my baking themed family tree.   Cupcake liners, Vintage Tips, Vintage Cookie Discs, Italian linen towels (cut in strips)

Che bella!    I love this tree like this and think this will be a permanent tree in the collection.

How is your holiday decorating coming along??

-MJ

BURLAP ON THE TABLE

I had a wedding project that was due the week of Thanksgiving...so with 20+ yards of burlap for the project and some extra for me.   I decided to add 1 more to my order......for MYSELF!

I love Burlap, but not my favorite fabric to work with...so messy!

My runners for the wedding project were 12 ft long with tasseled edges.  Here is how I did the edges. 

Here is a finished runner on my Thanksgiving day table...I went with a casual rustic theme with vintage pieces on the table.

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!!

-MJ

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Quickly sharing some pics from our Thanksgiving today.   My husband is on duty, and my daughter is working overnight at the bakery.  So we didn't have any company, just us and we also broke tradition and made pork instead of the Thanksgiving Turkey.   We aren't big turkey eaters....so why not pig!


By the way this is the new house, the dining room table had to be turned to accommodate the Christmas tree.   So strange to find a spot in this new house.

This is a view from the kitchen area.   Simple rustic setting with vintage pieces.

I used my favorite wheat pattern china, blue ball glass jars, amber glasses (for toast), and gold family flatware.  Pine cones are sprinkled along with brass candlesticks along a handmade tasseled burlap runner.

Here is some of our dinner....Pernil, Green Beans, Salad, Cranberry Jelly (ugh) we then had 4 huge trays of mashed potatoes, baked mac & cheese, stuffing, candied yams over on the baking station.

Im happy with the way it all turned out and now the wheels are turning for Christmas dinner.   Time to turn it up a notch!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HAPPY HANUKKAH FRIENDS!! 

Stay tuned for lots of makeovers in the new house, with a ton of projects to share.

-MJ

IT'S OFFICIAL......................................

Well I can finally share the news.......the PA barn shoot done in August is published up on APPLE BRIDES today.


This shoot was so much fun, such a great group of people.   I must first thank Dawn of DAWN JOSEPH PHOTOGRAPHY for choosing me for props and styling.  She gave me such freedom with the vignettes and shoot.

Also shout out to Daniel of Little Pig Catering who the shoot was inspired by and who made the most delicious food (which we all got to eat).    Outstanding guy, both he and his wife were awesome on site and enjoyed meeting them both.  He even took the time out to talk with my 19 yr old daughter (an aspiring baker) about culinary schools and the business.

Florals for the shoot were provided by Shannon of The Botanical Box, sweet girl with a love of rustic which I loved.

Must also mention my sweet creative daughter Gabriella of SKULLS N SWEETS who provided the favors for the shoot.  She created espresso flavored old fashioned donuts in individual containers for the wedding table.


CLICK HERE to see full published feature of the shoot.

Photo: Dawn Joseph Photography

By the way, over the weekend I moved the entire contents of my last home of 3 years, 5 children, my husband and my entire company inventory.  So Im not back 100% but this is sure motivation to get ready for upcoming styling events.

-MJ