THRIFTY THURSDAY....Ricordando il mio Nonni

Well...Thanksgiving is next Thursday!!!  Can you believe it, well I guess you can.   From working in retail for years Im so use to being a season ahead, however my family & friends find it funny that I already have my tree up with lights on (no ornaments yet tho...that happens the weekend of Thanksgiving!

I thought I would share with you a thrifty idea for Christmas.    Last night I was photographing holiday items for the shop and this is a little vignette.

This tree is from my Nonna's house and it smells of eucalyptus...It actually goes in the kitchen.   Her father, my great grandfather Nonno Nicola was a pastry chef and owner a bakery in Brooklyn back in the 1930's.    I love my family heritage and tradition so this year again in honor of him..... I took some vintage cookie press discs and tied them onto Italian Linen clothes all cut up.

Perfect little culinary display for the holidays

You could use colored ribbon or twine too.

I think it's a thrifty little idea with a lot of meaning!

BUON NATALE......Ricordando il mio Nonni

Stay tuned for sneak peeks of items that will be at my Holiday Boutique, December 9th at Lucky 7 Design studio.

-MJ

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY....

   Yea......you all know better than me being wordless!

This is what a picture looks like when 2 families with 5 kids each meet up on vacation in South Carolina!

Add into the mix 2 extra kids I brought and 2 on their side......and yes this is what it turns out to be!

              FAMILY & FRIENDS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!!!

-MJ

TABLETOP TUESDAY...Honor,Gratitude,Tribute

In honor of Veteran's Day I thought I would share this little section of our home.  It is a downstairs area right outside our the football 'Cowboys Cave' room.

I created it for my husband as a tribute to his service, the United States Marine Corps. and to all the servicemen and women in our military.

A photo of his on deployment day with our then 18 month old daughter.   Also a photo of him with the 100+ U.S. Marines deployed in Iraq.  His promotion certifications along with a handmade USMC Angels sign sent to me from one of the Marines who was an artist.

I founded a non-profit called USMC Angels and sent tons of boxes overseas to the Marines and I also sent him some artist supplies, he in return sent me a great letter and a sign both written on cardboard that was cut from their food boxes.

PLEASE DO NOT LET IT BE ONLY ONCE A YEAR.....that you only recognize the U.S. Military and their families for the sacrifices that they make.  My husband is home, but I make sure that I take the time to thank veteran's when I see them no matter what day it is.

GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

-MJ

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SATURDAY STYLE......

My little rockstar

FRIDAY FINDS....VETERAN STATUS!

By now you all know that Im head over the heels about my Peacock Christmas Tree this year, Ive been scouring shops, online and in town.  

Earlier this week, while at JoAnns I spotted this feather wreath....I fell in love!  Until I saw the price $39.99...really maybe it was just lust!   But it was then 60% off...still a little high so I didnt grab it.

I went back today for some more supplies and I brought this guy with me.   We just had lunch next store for Veteran's Day.    Guess what????

This handsome Marine got me an additional 20% off today!   

 JoAnn's offered 20% to all veteran's today...a very nice gesture I think.   

So yes....Mama got her feather wreath for the living room to match the tree and other items.

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!!!!!

God Bless our U.S. Military serving stateside and all over the world, and to those who have served and those you sacrificed!

THRIFTING THURSDAY.....SHOP CLOSING

My sweet crafty mother has been telling me about this little shop by her house in South Jersey and how the lady is now going out of business.   Everything is now 50% off, so while visiting my mother on Wednesday I decided I would stop in and see what this shop had to offer.

It was a quaint shop filled with little vignettes and treasures.  Some good antique finds and some new hand-mades.   A true great mix of a good stuff in a shop, sad that it is closing but great deals to be found.

I started browsing with my mom, we talked a little bit with the shop owner about Etsy and I told her she could probably have a thriving online business on Etsy with whatever she has left over after the closing.

So here is what I came home with yesterday, and needless to say that Im thrilled with all of my finds, truly good stuff!

This is my take home stash

They are clay Halloween ornaments....so sweet.

I adore these canisters and they are so heavy.  

This lovely collection is for my peacock tree, how amazing that I found these colors in a rubbermaid tub of Christmas ornaments that were red,green,white,gold.

The owner truly listened when I told her I was doing a peacock tree this year and she came out of her flower shop section with this box of feathered friends!   IM IN LOVE..

These are snow men clay ornaments and they are so sweet.  I might list some in my shop for the holidays!  

Another Ball jar for my collection.  I now have 2 blue & 2 clear in tall / short sizes. 

That is my installment of Friday Finds and I'd say I found some good stuff.  I already have a list of things that I saw but didn't get....they will probably be in next weeks post!

- MJ

MAMA'S NEW SPACE....

Earlier this year....I turned my master bedroom into my daughter's nursery.  It was also my 4 yr old's napping room.  Well it's years end, and the napping doesn't happen much anymore, and this mama is in need of a truly creative space to work.    My dining room table isn't working for me anymore, it's still where I blog so that's enough.

Here is the post where you can see the original transformation....when I guest posted over at A Crafty Southern Chick

And now here is where I am right now....I am by no means done!  I have to go and pick up my work table from a man on Craigslist this week.   I also need to get some shelving for the far wall to keep all of my hand-made's, and things that are listed in my shop.

I kept the theme and colors the same, because it is soothing to me.  The birds to me represent me spreading my creative wings and flying into success.

This is where the antique toddler bed was originally, it's now just an area where I may blog.  After I reupholster the seat base and paint the chair and mod podge the top of that table. LOL

The is the side of the room where the crib is...(left).  That cabinet houses all of my Mama J Jewels supplies and finished jewelry pieces.  

This is the closet door, but will also kind of be my inspiration focus wall since it will be what Im looking at while working at the new table.

This was one of my vintage finds...its a great piece that I have already removed the hardware from and will be painted over in Olde White Chalk Paint.   

This is my little mini  Lucky 7 Design shop.  It houses some things listed in my shop and some new creations. I think it inspiring to be surrounded by your work.

This birdcage is from JoAnn's and it is like my mini clothesline...I think I will be making the birds blue birds...lol

I used another one of my vintage painter's ladder to hold my fabric pieces and some pillows waiting to be stuffed!  

My way of displaying my handmade napkin ring sets....theyre on my hand-painted vintage wood hangers.

This wall will be fit with some wooden shelving units to be merchandised with Lucky 7 Design hand-mades and vintage finds from the shop.

The vintage metal medicine cart holds tv/dvd/printer....this is primarily for my toddler.

I will be posting more once the room evolves....I hope you all like it and would love to hear your thoughts!.

-MJ

SATURDAY INSPIRATION...

I have been brainstorming for my holiday decor all week.  I think as soon as November 1st comes I'm in holiday decorating mode.

I had an idea a few months back, while not an original idea by any means but one that came to me none the less. Then I Googled it..........................HA!    Tons of ideas and images showed up and I was happy and sad.  Happy that my idea wasn't completely insane, sad because it had been done before!

Your wondering what my idea is right? Well ..a Peacock Christmas Tree & Holiday Decor!

For those of you who follow my blog you know I have a somewhat exotic styled living room with animal prints and greenery and an eclectic collection of accessories.   So when making my jewelry one day and using peacock  feathers I thought it would be a fabulous idea.

I'm going to share with you my favorite tree that came up in all the hundreds of images on Google.

It is beyond gorgeous!

If it looks familiar to some of you, it's because it's the tree of Artie from Color Outside the Lines blog.  He is so talented and I've been a follower of his blog since I started blogging myself.

I'm very excited to try my peacock theme out and hope I can make it as fabulous as Artie's masterpiece.

Stay tuned...but for now here is a little sneak peek of my inspiration basket that Ive started....I'm sure I will have to trade out the basket into a crate of Rubbermaid tub in the next couple of days!

Just a few things I have put together and will soon make it to the tree along with some additional beauties.

STAY TUNED!

-MJ

MERCHANDISING YOUR HOME

I thought I would run around the house today and take some photo's of little vignettes that I have set up throughout.   I have fun merchandising my house and I change them out at the moment of inspiration (even if it's 1 a.m.) LOL

Hope you enjoy a look around the house today.....thankfully you wont see me Im in my leopard fleece lounge pants.   That's the fun part of having a creative career that you can work at home and enjoy your family too.

My bedroom nightstand

Next to my dresser

Outside the bedroom door in the hallway (ha do you spy that candy wrapper in the table opening...haha someone was sneaking some Halloween candy)

In my daughter's nursery/ mama's studio area (ummm yea that gesso drawing is me as a child)hehe

Above dining room liquor credenza

Living room coffee table (I think my toddler stole the handle to my magnifying glass) :)

Dining Room buffet area (it has been stripped of Halloween and getting ready for Thanksgiving)

Vintage bar cart is stocked in dining room

Living room shelves

more living room shelves

Living room fall mantle

living room fall mantle

Hope you all had fun, now take a few minutes and set up some interesting little displays in your home!

-MJ

CHANGE IS GONNA COME!

Last year during the holidays I decided to paint the whole main floor (consisting of 2 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room) I didnt touch the living room.  But....................................

A year later and I think change is needed...I love the style of my living room, it has a tropical island exotic vibe and I dont want to change that because I love it and designed it that way for my husband and his roots to his island.

However this year I think we are going to infuse some bold color just in time for the holidays and then it will remain there until Im inspired again (it happens quite often...lol)

So yesterday I re arranged the furniture and took out any signs of Halloween (there weren't many in the living room) I left the fall/harvest things up for Thanksgiving.   Im hosting it again this year and my parents will be coming up to visit.

So I wanted to share my corner shot of my Christmas tree placement.    I'm going all out with change and moving the placement of the tree to the other side of the living room close to the window.

This is where the tree was last year...

 I didn't have this vintage chair though and I feel like the tree takes over the space and away from the fireplace and the whole wall itself. 

This is where the tree is going this year....

It's directly diagonal from last years placement...but I think it will work.  I will lose the one black chair and there will be big changes in color and decor.

I'm think of making this into a linky party......WHERE DOES YOUR TREE STAND? 

Im not a linky expert so if anyone can give me some advice on how to set one up I would greatly appreciate it!

- MJ