It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas! Guest Post re Inexpensive Holiday Decorating...

Today I'm very pleased to welcome Chris Long with a fab article about decorating for the holiday season.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers and bloggy friends a simply wonderful Christmas. I'll be taking a nice vacation to enjoy my holidays!

The Holiday Home: Inexpensive Outdoor Decorating

With Christmas just a week or so away, the tree is decorated, the lights aglow, and the stockings hung by the fire, ready for a visit from friends and family. But for many, there is one last element to welcoming the holidays, and it isn't a grumpy uncle or a bunch of wild nieces. It's the entrance through which we welcome these loved ones to our home.

No matter how close it is to Christmas, it is never too late to address the outside of the home, and additional decorating doesn't have to dip into the money that has been carefully saved for gifts. The spirit of Christmas can make its mark on the outside as much as the inside with a few key ingredients: greenery, decorations, and bows.

Following are simple, inexpensive, and tasteful ways to welcome Santa Claus before he even sees the Christmas tree:

• Repurposed Ornaments: Anyone who celebrates the holidays with a Christmas tree likely has more ornaments than even the most agile evergreen can hold. And a box is no place for a decoration to spend the holidays. Whether adorning the limbs of the front-porch potted plants or hanging out with class and style from the cedars that guard the front door, the spirit of a Christmas tree can easily tie together the interior and exterior of the home. For larger trees that populate the front yard, seek out oversized ornaments from your local holiday store and use them to make a strong statement. Christmas is an oversized holiday, and it doesn't take too much to bring the larger-than-life vibe to the front yard.

• Christmas Greenery: Artificial or natural greenery? The choice is yours. The truth is that holiday greenery will suck the air out of any inflatable lawn decoration with its dignified appearance. The perfect balance of greenery will not only add character to the front door, but it will have the columns, porch railings, and lampposts celebrating.

Artificial greenery is available from most any store with a holiday section, but those looking for something more natural and aromatic can simply check with the local Christmas tree farm to purchase natural garland or a classic wreath. Take a string of twinkling lights – whether white or multi-colored - and wrap it around the greenery to add sparkle to the natural beauty.
Assuming that the Christmas tree has already been purchased, outdoor greenery may be only a chop away. Snip off some of the evergreen branches from the base of the tree, tie them together with an understated bow, and a tasteful welcome awaits the next reveler to knock on the front door.

• Decorative Bows: The aforementioned bow isn't simply an accent for the greenery that adorns the front door or the porch. A festive bow can stand on its own, bringing beauty to the entryway of the house, and even the grand oak that stretches its noble branches across the front yard. Most holiday stores can provide a pre-made, vibrant red bow to meet any decorating needs, but to truly add a unique and personal touch, head to the craft store and find the material that is right for your own home. By choosing the perfect material, the right length, and a welcoming color, the only limitations for this holiday bow are the imagination.

There was a time when holiday decorating meant a well-lit and decorated Christmas tree situated near a window to allow passers-by to view it. These days, the tree is just one component of the celebration, and the outside of the home – from the front door to the lawn – is a winter canvas ready to be adorned. With a classic mix of holiday decorations, from greenery to bows, any home can sing with the Christmas spirit without breaking the bank.

Chris Long is a Home Depot store associate in the Chicago area, where he has been helping customers since 2000. Chris also contributes to Home Depot's Home Decorators.com website. His home-décor interests range from home furniture to patio furniture.

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Thanks for the timely article Chris, and Merry Christmas everyone!

Linda. xox

A Marvellous New Shop To Visit!

WOW! Time flies by when you're super busy and drawn away from the computer! It's been ages, and I've been super slack blog wise.

I may be absent again for a while.... it's finally looking like Summer over here in Aus, my work ends for the year this Friday, and I'm off to a lovely beach holiday over the Christmas/New Year period (I'm super lucky to have a brother who lives in a glorious beach-side town - yay for cheap accommodation!)

So, I'll probably take some time off on an extended blog break to enjoy the great outdoors and life in general.

But, I did want to stop in a couple of times before Christmas.

I just had to make sure I introduced you to a lovely new shop in case you still have some Christmas shopping to do.

My wonderful friend Bobbi, who blogs over at The Lazy Designer, has recently started up her very own Etsy shop.

Bobbi runs the most marvellous boutique store in real life in a beautiful part of Italy. She makes and sews the most amazing objects, clothes and jewellery. I keep telling her she should sell her photography too as it's just divine!

Meet Molly. She's a cat, but she is also a throw pillow. She's cute and soft you'll love to cuddle her. Her front body, cheeks and tummy are made with a wool fabric, her eyes and nose with a black cotton jersey and her back body is in black cotton. Her features such as her eyes, nose, tummy and paws are hand stitched with black cotton.

Don't you just love her!?

You can also find lovely jewellery.... can you guess Bobbi's favourite colour by looking around?                                           

Check out Bobbi's fabulous store here. Anything you buy helps support her large furry family who live with her in a little cottage. The more cats Bobbi can help, the happier she is!

I can't believe how talented some people are.

Linda. xox

Guest Post - Autumn Decorating....

Today I'm very pleased to welcome a guest post by Jessica Phan about decorating during Autumn. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and whilst it's getting close to Summer over here in Australia, it's Autumn for half the world - you lucky things!

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Beyond Blooms: Decorating with Natural Accessories

Autumn is officially here and many people are inspired to decorate their home with the shades of nature. When the leaves start to turn colors, turn to the elements of the season to transform your home into a warm, inviting haven. Here are a few simple ideas to help you customize your décor this fall.

Decorate with Bark:

Create interesting picture frames to hold your favorite family memories with the help of bark. The outer layer of the tree's bark features varying textures and colors that add an interesting touch to old picture frames.

Head to a nearby woodshop or lumber yard and purchase a few sheets of bark. Cut these into squares or rectangles, big enough to be inserted into the frame. Next, trim your picture so that it's smaller than the sheets. Stick the picture in the middle and you have a unique nature-inspired border.

If you want to add color, you can paint a thin layer over the sheet. Pick autumn colors like red, yellow, and orange to emphasize the texture of the bark.

Wooden Tables:

Store-bought wooden tables can be expensive, especially if they're professionally carved and varnished. Instead of buying a new one, keep a look out for tree stumps that you can customize to fit your home. When you find one, paint a layer of varnish over it to keep it looking fresh and termite-free.

You can also use tree stumps as side tables to prop up other design elements in your home.

For something more unique, use several pieces of large driftwood as a base for your table. Glue and nail them together, ensuring both the top and bottom are aligned. If there are odd pieces sticking out, cut and file them out, as you want a sturdy base for the table top glass. Once the glass is in place, you now have a homemade table perfect for the living room or the entertainment area.

Autumn Tree-branch Arrangement:

Since autumn is known for bare branches and the crunch of fallen leaves, bring those elements into your home using materials culled from your own backyard. If you don't have access to a garden, the park is a great place to look for these materials.

Collect dried branches and leaves in varying shades and lengths. Some trees have multi-colored leaves that are perfect for adding life to decor. You can also look for pebbles or rocks to serve as a base for the branches.

Once you have everything, get a tall, clear vase and fill it with pebbles or rocks. Stick the branches in any order and finish it off with a sprinkle of autumn leaves. This vase arrangement is a great way to bring the scenery of autumn into your home.

Wall Decor:

Who says you can only hang art work on your wall?

Wood weavings, wood chips, and old birds' nests that have been flattened and dried make for great wall décor.

Juxtapose the beauty of the outdoors with the home's interiors by framing them or sticking them right on the walls.

Wood chips, for example, add texture to painted walls and create great conversation starters when you have guests over.

Decorate old birds' nests with pine cones and other knick-knacks and hang these as wall décor over the mantel or on doors.

Incorporating nature into your home décor is easy. Just remember to keep yourself inspired by enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Take a stroll around the local park or your own backyard to look for new elements that can turn any home into a warm, inviting place for friends and families to gather.

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Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com, a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

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Thanks Jessica!

Linda. :)

Happy Weekend - A Lovely Living Room In Spain

Happy weekend lovelies!

I've been super busy with the Tiny Tidy Challenge, so I must apologise for my lack of posting over here.

Hopefully I'll be more organised next week!

Image from Elmueble

I love the lightness of this living and dining room. It belongs to a gorgeous home in Spain.... I really do think the light has a special quality over there. I'm determined to get over there and check it out one day!

I hope the weather is good for you wherever you are this weekend. We're finally going to get a nice day here, although I think it's back to dreary weather next week. Already nearly a month of Spring gone and I feel like I'm still in Winter.

The blossom on the trees is starting to come out though, so that's good!

Linda. xox

Monday Mojo - And Let The Tiny Tidy Challenge Begin!

Linda. xox