HOLIDAY GIFT EXCHANGE......I GOT ME A COOL CHICK

So the crafty Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous was hosting a fabulous Holiday Exchange this year.   So I wanted to sign up because I love meeting new people and learning where they are from and what they love to create.   I'm a huge fan of her and all the amazing projects and ideas shared at CA.

 

We were all randomly matched up and my partner's name is Alexis.   Alexis was a cool chick from the get go, she emailed me Howdy Partner!   Our 1st -2nd email we knew of each other's likes and our home decor and were excited to see what we would come up with for each other.

Now Alexis lives out in Utah (funny I have met a few people from Utah since bloggin......who knew).  She mentioned how she couldn't till the Springtime so she could paint her front door Yellow!   I thought......that's it, I will make her something for her fabulous new Yellow Door.    So this is what I made my cool partner:

The perfect Springtime wreath...with touches of Yellow,Teal, Coral

I hope it will look great on her Yellow Door and Welcome all her family and friends.

Closeup of flower embellishments with resin buttercream rose

Now I didn't want her to think I was a Scrooge and not acknowledge that this was a Holiday Exchange, so I decided to send her one of my Old World Style Burlap Stockings too.

Personalized for her family

Also a set of jute napkin rings for her table

So this is what I packed up and sent off to Utah a few days ago

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Now here is what my fabulous partner Alexis sent to me:

How awesomely crafty is she....

Each side of the blocks have different patterns

All of the patterns are gorgeous and match my kitchen perfectly!

Only 17 more days to Christmas!!!!!!

Thanks to Alexis I have the coolest craftiest reminder of how much time left till Santa arrives (and the 5 kiddos in the house can take turns changing the blocks everyday!

Big thank you to Linda for hosting such a great event, so happy I signed up!

Huge thank you to Alexis for the wonderful gift she sent me, I will treasure it for years to come and here is to a new long distance friendship!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

-MJ

HOLIDAY COPYCAT

Thrifty Decor ChickMy Holiday copycat story goes like this.....


I had an idea while working on my jewelry line that I wanted to do a Peacock themed Christmas tree.  Let me explain....I was making peacock earrings. lol  

So I wanted to look around and see what had been done before and so I did a Google image search.   I saw some trees, some tacky, some nice and one in particular that drew me in.

The tree was gorgeous and when I clicked it brought me to the page of a fellow blogger who I adore...Artie of Color Outside The Lines.   It then didn't surprise me why the tree was so beautiful, he has such and eye for detail and such eclectic taste.

I of course reached out to him and told him the story and how now Im even more inspired by his 2009 tree to create a wonderful peacock tree of my own this year.

This tree is beyond gorgeous with all of the details

Those are lanterns wired into the tree

Love the gold w/ the blue

Well the story gets better, I received a box in the mail from Artie with tons of treasures.  He said in his card that he hoped it could be a small step in the Peacock Tree of my dreams...

SERIOUSLY.....it was a Christmas tree kit!   LOL   It brought tears to my eyes (yes, I literally cried while unwrapping every ornament and bauble.  I took every jewel and gem in that box and sprinkled it all over my living room and pulled out what I had in my Christmas Collection Stash to compliment it.

This has been a tough time for my family, but Artie made my week so this post is a tribute to him and my Copycat tree of his masterpiece.

Here is the Peacock Tree of my dreams...with all of the precious gifts on it.

Top half...

I didn't have any lanterns so here is what I did...I set a Violet Velvet box inside one of the branches and perched an Emerald green bird filled with gold balls.    

Bottom half

Even the card he sent me was beautiful..the words on the inside too!

THANK YOU ARTIE...

You all can check out his fabulous blog HERE

AND

he was featured in the newspaper which is just the same as magazine to me, you can see it HERE

-MJ

Let the parties begin.....

  

Thrifty Decor Chick

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE.............. AT COWGIRL IN THE SAND

Well I let you all know that yesterday I was off to a Holiday Open House at none other than Cowgirl In The Sand.  We are both New Jersey residents and I wanted to go and meet her and show my support.  I of course also had an item that I just had to have so, I invited a friend of mine to shop along.

This is how you are greeted upon entering....Im in love with that table.

Cozy rocker and shopping bags

What a beautiful tree and mantle display

Sorry for the dark photo...the sun was beaming in brightly

These Old Gringo boots were beyond gorgeous and so were her leather chairs.

These cards and tags were so pretty

Love this sign...might need one for my studio soon.

Beautiful necklaces on display

This was not for sale but I love nativities and this one is amazing...I had to photograph it.

This is the dining room where all the goodies were for snacking.

I love slim trees...such pretty ornaments too.

What a cute merchandising idea...pins display in baking tins.

This is such a great idea for bar items

The yummiest sauces were here...I bought Salvation Sauce & Garlic Serrano Hot Sauce.

Big Daddy used it that same night with his chicken and said it was great!

This wreath was so beautiful I would love this in my dining room over my mirror.  Vintage ornaments......Stunning!

Such a sweet touch on the dining chairs...bells tied with ribbon. (I might have to borrow this idea...I love it so much)

Okay....these wooden hutches are seriously to die for....I just kept touching them and admiring the wood...notice all of the nativity sets she has.....I thought I was the only one who had more than 3...apparently not.   Her collection is amazing!

Some fabulous jewelry displayed for sale

I loved her fireplace decor

Another shot of the fabulous tree

Love the crosses and well dressed bookcase

This was the cutest thing ever...It says "Dear Santa Leave Presents Take Brother"...lol so cute she has 4 boys so I thought it was extra funny.

Here is my friend "Chacha" checking out

Such beautiful packaging

Here we are Elise is the owner/creative mind behind Cowgirl In The Sand...isn't she stunning even with her injured finger (notice that the turquoise bandage is her trademark business color too)lol

And here is my fabulous find from Elise.....My gorgeous Peacock Ring surrounded by stones on a massive silver base.

Go on over to her shop and visit her on facebook HERE

Thank you Elise .....you are a sweet lady and I was so happy to meet you in person!  You home is gorgeous and I can't wait to have you come to mine.

I HOPE YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES & HANDMADE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

BLOGGING JERSEY GIRLS....THE FACE TO FACE

Today is gonna be a cool day.....I'm heading over to finally meet Elise from Cowgirl In The Sand.   

We both live in New Jersey and have never met yet!    We talk and comment each other on facebook but have never had the opportunity to get together.

Today she is hosting her Holiday Open House and I am making a point to go and meet her and I have a special item that I am hoping to come home with ( I will share with you later along with fabulous photos)

If you haven't already found her, then check out her Facebook page HERE


Have a Great Saturday Everyone.........get those Christmas lights and decorations up and those gifts wrapped.

-MJ