WHAT'S THAT ON YOUR TREE - DAY 7 Holiday Decor

Well the tree branches have settled nicely.  Last night while everyone was asleep, with a pounding migraine I strung clear lights (my pet peeve) on the tree.   Today I was still struggling with exactly how far I wanted to take my theme this year.

In that thought process I came up with some fun additions that will be going onto the tree this year.  Quick and easy and you most likely already have these items in your house right now.

Twine & Candy Canes ($2) and that's for about 2 dozen candy canes with the twine

Add a drop of hot glue to one end...and wrap away...and another drop to seal

C'mon doesn't get easier than that....great project for kids to do (use low temp glue gun)

Again, don't forget to check back to see what the final REAL tree will look like.

-MJ

HANDMADE TREE DECOR - Day 6 Holiday Decor

While Im not always the Queen of DIY, I do like to find less expensive ways of doing things.   This year in the new house...I wanted to decorate the tree with what we already had.  

I save my ornaments every year and had built quite a collection, unfortunately due to the move, many were broken and damaged.   But that's not going to stop me of course.

There are a few trees in the house this year.   As of right now the count is 5...not all large but I will be sharing the final trees the week of Christmas.

Im a huge fan of burlap as anyone who follows this blog or my IG and FB pages knows..lol    I wanted to incorporate some burlap in my tree this year....which I have never done before.   However spools of burlap ribbon are kinda pricey, not in my holiday budget this year.  

Sooooooooooooooooooo what do I do............  Break out the burlap scraps from the closet.

I just completed a wedding project of 12 ft burlap runners ( I ordered extra burlap for my own runners)

Nice sharp scissor needed for cutting

I cut approx 4 in strips (my runners were 12 in wide)

I then pulled a center piece of burlap thread and scrunched it down, then knotted at both ends.

Easy and simple....you can buy a yard of burlap at Jo-Ann's for approximately $3.99 and don't forget your coupons people (40% off single cut is big savings)

Check back to see how this looks up on the tree and what else I have planned this year.

- MJ

JUNK VIGNETTE - Day 5 Holiday

For some reason that I was not able to publish this post last night....so Better late than never!.  

This is a little holiday vignette I put together in the Family Room.   I love the red metal cart, so that was the inspiration and base holiday color.   I then added my awesome vintage typewriter in it's case.  Our faithful mistletoe ball sits atop the keys.   Also I have to have a nutcracker in a holiday vignette, a vintage camera and a metal candleholder.   The zinc box underneath is still holding pounds of Halloween candy...lol

Do you have a special area in your home where you create your Holiday Vignettes???

-MJ

JOY TO THE WORLD - Day 3 Christmas Decor

Here is another little project I worked on this week in our Family Room.  I still havent done a reveal of the new house, so this is a sneak peek too.   The decor in this room expresses by love of junk and vintage.   It's like my indoor prop room and shop all in one.  Mama's junk spot!

I dug into my stash and pulled out some simple pieces for an entry Holiday Display.

Gas Station Letters

Some Made in USA clipboards (yes I left that sticker on proudly)

Bam....here is my JOY

The Joy of collecting junk

Joy to the World

-MJ

CHANGE OF THE GUARD - Day 2

I don't have an "official foyer" however the way my sectional is set up in the family room it sort of creates an entry way hallway.

I had the table set in place the 1st week we moved.   This week I pulled out my collection of nutcrackers and mixed them in with some snowflake pails and my vintage radio.  I also had some map covered books and a turquoise clock.

this was for Thanksgiving Day

My husband and I have been searching for the right artwork to go over this table.   Since the entire room is vintage, junk theme we were thinking of going extreme opposite of that with a NYC photo with bright lights.

This is a contender from IKEA

  We have yet to agree on one that we like equally.So here is my solution for now....I took one of my props out of the garage!   I use this one for table seating charts or menu's.     However it was the perfect scale so this is how it looks today.   Tomorrow it will probably change, and many more times until Christmas arrives...or the new artwork.

-MJ

OTTOMAN MAKEOVER - Day 1 Christmas Countdown

We moved to the new house....I had this ottoman that was extra seating and storage in the other house.  The top had been torn apart by my then 2 year old.   So I decided to recover it and use it in the family room in the new house.

I purchased some denim fabric from Jo-Ann's and just simply stapled in underneath.  I already has a black liner on it so Im going to leave it as is....Oh by the way it's a flip open ottoman.

I used a light denim because the feel of this room if junky vintage collectibles.  So this to me was like a worn pair of jeans.

This is how the top turned out..not bad.   The bottom is still in fair condition and matches the section we purchased last November. 

Here is some tabletop adornment for the holidays.

I will be posting a Christmas decor/craft everyday from Dec 1 - Dec 23

-MJ

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