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Oh Tannenbaum, Oh TannenbaumĀ 

12/13/2012

3 Comments

 
Oh Tannenbaum @ Stilettos In The Mud
Perhaps you can picture a little girl, with blond hair and blue eyes. The wonder of Christmas morning evident on her face. Racing her siblings down the stairs, to the tree, to see what gifts were waiting. Knowing full well, in her home, a BIG breakfast always came first! Seems rather torturous, but a tradition, none the less.  Every year, the magic of Christmas comes alive when the tree goes up. It is a time of reflection, a time of hope, a time of giving, and a time to receive. I love getting gifts as much as I love receiving them. Presents are not a huge part of Christmas morning. Perhaps as much out of necessity as a belief that it is important to take the focus off materialism and put it right back where it belongs and that is in the sharing of love and laughter within the four walls in which we reside. 

Balsam Sachet Ornament @ Stilettos In The Mud
One of our family traditions is a new ornament on the tree for each person. Have to have a cowboy for my Cowboy. 
Christmas @ Stilettos In The Mud
Positive Affirmation Ornaments @ Stilettos In The Mud
Positive Affirmation Ornaments
Mini Lavender Bouquet Ornament @ Stilettos In The Mud
Heart Sachet Ornaments @ Stilettos In The Mud
Oh Tannebaum Ornament @ Stilettos In The Mud
Balsam Ornaments @ Stilettos In The Mud
The primary focus this year, was handmade ornaments. I spent a lot of time creating them, but in the end I am pleased with the results!
White Muslin Bows @ Stilettos In The Mud
White Muslin bows
Ornaments @ Stilettos In The Mud
Angel @ Stilettos In The Mud
All our favorite ornaments we have collected through the years have been added. A simple burlap garland adorns the branches. 
Burlap and Muslin Skirt @ Stilettos In The Mud
This year I wanted to create a basic tree skirt which I could add to or change up in years to come. I do not see the point of changing it out and buying or making a new one yearly. I haven't had a new skirt in over ten years, so it was time. There are so many You Tube and online tutorials on how to create your own skirt, if you are interested. I don't use a pattern, so I am not sure me trying to explain how to accomplish this task would be easy! I just love the white muslin and burlap!
Christmas Tree with burlap skirt @ Stilettos In The Mud
Though I had a "theme" (and I use this term very loosely) this year, there are still some family favorites such as the bright yellow wooden star which stands out! Each of us has favorites, which invoke all the feelings of the season. 
Christmas Tree with Burlap Skirt @ Stilettos In The Mud
As I was finishing up this post tonight, I received a call from my oldest son. I am blessed to discover he has proposed to his sweetheart, and we have the added gift of a beautiful young woman who will be joining our family. My cup runneth over... again.
3 Comments

Froggy Went a Courtin' Vignette

12/5/2012

2 Comments

 
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Pierre was so nervous! He and Juliette had been writing back and forth for the last year. They had met during his year abroad while he was attending school as a foreign exchange student at her American University. Pierre had landed a job as a teacher's aide for French 101 and had planned to be thoroughly bored to tears. Juliette had saved him from death by boredom. Never had he met anyone as vivacious and focused as she, nor as lovely! Never had he seen anyone struggle as she had with learning another language. No matter how many hours of tutelage and extra help she was given, she passed the class with a C. Juliette had won his heart, and they spent the year exploring, her sharing her life and love of her beautiful country with him. After a year apart he was ready to make the important phone call. 

Balsam Ornaments @ Stilettos In The Mud
Pierre was an old fashioned kind of gentlemen. He loved the lost art of letter writing, and wrote to Juliette every few days. Juliette was quirky and wrote him back via email... every time! Finally, she had agreed to join him in Paris, for Christmas. (You can purchase these lovely Balsam Ornaments HERE )
Froggy Ornaments @ Stilettos In The Mud
Pierre's heart was racing wildly, hoping Juliette would say yes. Little did he know, she had a gift of her own. The key to her heart! 
Bedside Vignette
Bedside Vignette
Neither could believe how one little phone call from Paris, could change their lives forever...and they never would forget Christmas in Paris!
Bedside Vignette @ Stilettos In The Mud
I hope you have enjoyed my silly little story! I had to find some way to use those ridiculous little kissing frogs this year!
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Burlap Christmas @ Stilettos In The Mud
Our bedside Christmas In Paris Vignette made the Cowboy smile...and that has been worth all the silliness! Happy Holidays Everyone!
2 Comments

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like ....

11/27/2012

4 Comments

 
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My favorite time of year... I get giddy with excitement! I love the carols, cider, cold, snow, and good will toward all men. I love that we many of us dedicate this time as a time of giving and only wish our hearts were of this frame of mind year around!

This year, I am all about using what you have on hand! I don't want to purchase ANYTHING new to decorate our home this Holiday season (or at least a bare minimum)! The star was printed off using pic monkey for the lettering. I used a roll of brown paper cut to the size of copy paper. I then pasted it to a piece of cardboard and hung it with Jute twine! 
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Burlap is something I have in abundance as I have been using it for ornaments on my online Etsy Shop "Cowgirls Chic Boutique"  and in local boutiques. I took an old frame, cut different lengths and widths strips of burlap and then tied them to the frame! I decided this is something I could change seasonally by hanging something from it! 
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Severeal years ago I came across a bag of the greenery at a yard sale! I use it every year! This year, I looped white lights on it and tied pinecones I collected with Jute twine.
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 Last years brown ornaments have been updated. I just clipped the gold thread I had used previously and tied them up with Jute. A roll at our local hardware store is under $3! I keep it on hand here for all my projects!  I am going with what I have this year! Wait until you see my tree with the other ornaments I have made! 
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Anyone who knows me ... knows walking into my home is like walking onto the set of a musical! There is always music playing... and this time of year my home is filled with the wonderful sounds of laughter, carols, and a grumble or two from the cowboy (every story must have a scrooge and we love ours!) So, this year I used some scraps of musical instrument fabric I am using for my daughter's stocking and I made these adorable balsam filled ornaments! If you do not have balsam... you can use dried lavender or even cotton stuffing! 
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Not everything I do turns out perfectly! I spent quite a bit of time hot gluing that coffee filter tree together... and I have the burns to prove it! It leans and according to my children looks more like a pine cone... but we are going with it anyways!
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In keeping with the colors I am already using in my living room, I added buttons and burlap to another frame. 
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Every year, in our home sweet home, getting out the Nativity Scene marks the beginning of the Holiday Season. Please check back in over the next few weeks... We have sooo much more planned! 
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