Reindeer Joys

... Dreaming of a Sparkling Christmas ...

Putz Houses ~ Shop Windows

These were in a Christmas shop

I'll take the one below if I can only choose one.

That pink poodle makes me smile.

Sigh, none are at my house.

But they want to be, I just know it.

These next two photos are of shop windows

that caught my eye as I walked by.

Gasp!  That gown!!!

I'm wondering if this one

is what inspired my white, silver, and aqua tree.

My dogs haven't gotten much exercise the past few days

Rain   Rain   Rain

This weather is making us all rather sleepy.

{I wish they were trained in wrapping gifts}

How many days til Christmas?!?!

don't panic don't panic don't panic

White Christmas Kitchen

Christmas in our Kitchen

In White, Silver and a Touch of Red

~ A little vignette next to the stove ~

The sliding doors allow so much natural light

{even on a wet gray day like today}

The winter vignette on the counter

On the wall, my ice skate print

embellished with glitter and a jewel

And a touch of red and snowlady whimsy

next to the window over the sink

~ A candles glow to warm the spirit ~

Thanks for stopping by as I share this room

as part of my Christmas Home Tour!

{scroll down for previous posts}

This morning I am wishing it looked as clean

as it does in these photos...  my island is covered

with newspapers and things I pulled out of my purse,

the dining room table is filled with gifts

waiting to be wrapped,

you know of course how it goes!

Last night we went to a Christmas party

in a spacious gorgeous magnificent home,

and when I walked in our door afterwards, suddenly our house looked,

well, rather small and dull and not as good as I left it!

My conversation with my husband this morning:

"We need to change the paint color on some walls!"

"We've got to do something with our boring entry way!"

"I've got to get some art on the walls!"

and

"See, I don't have too much Christmas decor!"

te-heeee!

{He doesn't really think it's too much, he tells me often how much he likes it!}

Have a blessed week, full of Christmas wonder!

~ Violet ~

I realize all of this is very trivial after the tragic event that took place

in the Connecticut school on Friday.  It is very much on my heart,

as well as prayers for all who are suffering from the tragedy.

Please visit my friend Anita's blog

Castles Crowns and Cottages

to see a beautiful tribute.

White in the Great Room and...

She thinks she is the color inspiration for this room

{this could be true although I hadn't realized it until now}

Welcome To Our Home!

Thank you for stopping by, may I offer you a cookie

and a cup of tea?

The altered wreath worked out nice above the mantle

~ The mantle before I added the angels ~

We designed and built our home this year

(the fireplace between the rooms was my idea :  )

It totally rocks!

(yes, a bad pun)

This is the first Christmas I've had two mantles to decorate.

The dining room side is done in reds

{photos of that to come}

I've never done Christmas in white and aqua before.

The 'snow' on the tree, and the white and aqua on the wreath ~ is scrunched up tissue paper.

The entire main floor is stained concrete.

This is the view from our morning room table.

That's what we call it although it's not really a room,

just an area off the kitchen, but it's where we

enjoy the morning light

I love this old book with pencil illustrations by Tasha Tudor

These are Christmas watercolors I painted

of our daughter several years ago

(the rocking horse she holds is on the dining room mantle)

~ impossible to get photos through glass without some glare ~

The dining room.

I still need to get some photos of the mantle

I found this buffet on Craigslist this summer

Although it's currently popular to paint them white or gray,

I love the warm wood color and we found a table that is similar.

The centerpiece,

Glittered ornaments and a reindeer in a crown

Below, more from the great room,

 ice skates on the urn

This was in my studio

but is perfect here by the fireplace for Christmas

On an end table sits the nativity scene

The amazing GRACE of Christmas wonder

On the other end table, a sculpture

of the young couple's flight into Egypt

I want to paint this!

..These children I painted (same nativity scene) are now in college...

Oh how time flies!

As you can see, this house tour has left her quite sleepy.

In a day or two I'll share some photos of the kitchen and more.

I love decorating for Christmas

but have hardly done any shopping or baking.

Everything will get done by Christmas day,

{right?}

The past few days I've been painting...

a frame in gray around a mirror to hang above a table in our entry way,

and some chalkboards.

(with a quart of paint it's impossible to paint just one!)

I'm making a long narrow one for our daughter,

using masonite and a frame from a broken mirror,

it was so fast and easy I searched the house

for other things I could paint.

I'm trying canvas boards, and even a piece of foam core.

Perhaps these will become Christmas gifts!

How's your Christmas list coming along?

I am participating in this lovely party:

Just click on the image below to find many more homes on the tour!

Also linking up with 

Cozy Little House's 

"Tweak it Tuesday"

and at TimeWashed for

"Blissful Whites Wednesday"

Merry Merry!

~ Violet ~

To view my previous Christmas decor post (plus the dogs had to join in)

click here.

I also have a few other Christmas posts if you are interested,
just go to the main blog address {here} and scroll down

Please stop back by to see more photos on my tour,

including the kitchen

~ coming soon ~

The Wreath, The Dogs, The Tree. AQUA

Tissue Paper scrunched up on my altered wreath

If I showed you the 'before' wreath you'd maybe like it better.

... But this will go nicely with my mantle display ...

Ribbons and Bows and 'where's my treat?'

I know you said we'd get a treat if we went along with this.

(her) "I'm getting really bored."

 (him) " No! we mustn't lose our concentration,

we must keep staring until she gives us a cookie!"

~ See, I can take a photo of the tree without the hounds in front ~

{the 'snow' on the tree?  scrunched up tissue paper}

But the hounds do add a lot don't you think?

{keep scrolling down, there's more decor after the dogs!}

Oh no not this hair bow again, I thought she was done with it.

(keep staring, maybe we'll get two cookies!)

Finally, my solo shot.  What do I get for this great pose?!?

I hope you can't see my pajama-clad reflection

S p a r k l e   J o y

The tree at night.

Do you see the sleeping hound?

Reindeer ( lights ) and Glitter, oh yes!

Close ups of the reindeer's sign,

and below, Christmas carols on the wreath.

May you have a sparkling holiday!

~ Violet ~