and the winner is ...

I had a very productive week and it's too bad that I didn't know the winner of the Giveaway because I had plenty of time to make the table runner.

I tackled the pile of fabric in my sewing cabinet and finally made things I had been planning to make for ages.

4 pillow covers made from dish towels now adorn the guest room bed.

6 stockings made from scraps are all ready for November 27 when I begin decorating the house for Christmas.

These embroidered hearts are quick to make when I am sitting by the fire watching a movie.

Scraps from Steve's canvas stretching were given stripes and sewn into stars - the plan is to make a bunch of different sizes and hang them on the garden ladder.

My sewing basket is packed with projects and ready to grab whenever I have some spare time.

Today I will be busy making the table runner for Lucky 13 who is the winner of my table runner Giveaway.

Lucky 13 happens to be Diane of Lavender Dreams.

Diane gave me creative license to use whatever words I want and I must say, I love all the ideas people suggested.

I'll be branching out in what I stencil on future projects.

Thanks to all who left comments on the Giveaway - it's amazing what a few kind words can do!

One thing led to another . . .

I only had 2 things I needed to do today - set a pretty Christmas table and swim (way too many Christmas goodies are being consumed).

I will swim after dinner because one thing led to another and I ended up, as Steve calls it, "playing house" all day.

When I was getting my red plates off the top shelf of the cupboards the other day I came across my grandmother's silver cake plate and decided I need to use it at Christmas.

I love the detail on both sides of the cake plate and thought it would work in a centerpiece if I flipped it over to use as a candle holder, so I used a lot of elbow grease to make it shine.

But, as you will see, the cake plate didn't end up on the table.

For today's table, I chose large red plates, linen napkins and green handled flatware.

While looking for jute to tie the berries onto the napkins, I spotted a basket full of word cubes and I knew exactly what I wanted to do for today's centerpiece.

A little greenery, some red candles and word cubes - simple enough, but this table setting actually garnered a "great job" from my son - usually my kids just tease me about my table settings.

We are big on games in our family, but this word game didn't prove to be a favorite.

It has been in a cupboard for a couple of years so I dusted off the cubes and set out words that meant something about our family.

The table was all set by 9:00 so I had time to get creative and finally make a folded book page Christmas tree.

I followed a link to An Extraordinary Day which was shared by Sarah at Down By The Sea.

The little Christmas tree ended up on a dining room shelf alongside my grandmother's cake plate.

The stars from Tuesday's centerpiece ended up on a little table in the dining room.

While I was taking photos, Steve announced that we were having cioppino for dinner so some green bowls were added and we are ready for dinner.

One thing led to another today and I made a lot of "little" changes.

And now, I need to focus on bigger things - like shopping, baking and most important, enjoying the season.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season too.

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Join me at these fun parties

Common Ground - Be Inspired

Imparting Grace - Grace At Home

From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday

No Minimalist Here - Open House

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup

Thrifty Decor  Chick - Christmas Party

Dining With Stars

I bought this star a couple of weeks ago at one of my favorite shops, Palermo, on Main Street Ventura.

The 8"star is sitting on a shelf in the dining room and I have been thinking that it will be the focus of the New Year's mantel.

So, I was pretty excited when Steve and I were in Palermo last week ( I was showing him things I would like for Christmas and he was taking pictures ) and I spotted the stars in a 5" size.

I bought the 5" star - on the right - on Sunday and decided the stars would be the focus for my Christmas table today.

The Willows Home & Garden

While I ate breakfast, I came across a new website, The Willows Home & Garden, and knew immediately what I would do for the napkins today.

A set of beads my sister bought me at French General several years ago and a coil of wire were my toys this morning as I played at making stars.

I found a little glitter star in my supplies and wrapped the wire around it with no plans and no idea of what I was doing.

I ended up with 4 wire stars and decided to embellish the glitter heart as well.

My funky handmade stars were tied onto the napkins and also added to the centerpiece.

The 8" star was too tall, so I just used the 5" star, placing it in a vintage style soap dish to allow it to stand up.

Out came these wonderful dishes I found at TJ Maxx a few months ago.

Tonight was the inauguration of napkins I made a few months ago - white & blue floral fabric with crocheted edges.

A few star candles I have had for ever were added along with the left over ribbon from tying up the napkins.

It was a simple meal of a salad and a bowl of pasta, but the Christmas table setting made dinner seem special.

I am having a lot of fun setting a different table each night, but I think we might need to go out to dinner tomorrow so I have time to come up with a new idea.

Heart Handmade UK

This photo I saw on the post, A Nordic Christmas from Etsy on the blog Heart Handmade UK is what will be running through my head as I sleep tonight,

along with a plate Leslie of Gwen Moss made for Father's Day last June.

I love getting ideas from others!

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Join me at

Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday

Rose Chintz Cottage - Home for the Holidays

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays  

Elizabeth & Co - Be Inspired

Ivy and Elephants - What's It Wednesday

Fluster Buster - Creative Muster

Ginger Snap Crafts - Wow Me Wednesday

Inspiration

. . .  mental stimulation . . . visual stimulation . . . 

Beautiful blogs lead to "flashes of inspiration" and a gloomy day provided time to change things up for summer and show my American spirit.

>>ON THE PORCH<<

an old wooden flag from my "Americana" days was painted white

wooden flags were retrieved from the attic

pinwheels were tucked into flowers

Scrabble tiles spell out AMERICA

>>AT THE DOOR<<

a little table copied from Maddiebella Home sits guarding the door

an old cloth flag rests against the house

a bucket full of flowers welcomes guests

>>IN THE DINING ROOM<<

red, white and blue (and yellow) on display

stripes of blue and yellow stand out on the shelves

stars decorate dishes 

a little patriotic block puzzle begs to be solved

All the inspiration is making me want to make more changes.

So much inspiration . . . so little time.

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 I am joining the fun at these parties

Rain on a Tin Roof - Give Me the Goods Monday

Little Red House - Mosaic Monday

A Cultivated Nest - The Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop

Town and Country Living - Summer Inspiration Decor Party