Monday, October 31, 2011

Twinkling Holiday Window

Trying to come up with interesting displays at our store, can sometimes be a challenge.  But sometimes we can actually create something quite unique to catch the customer's eye.  As you can imagine, being I love flea markets so well, that I would be very intrigued by old windows.  My neighbor, Big Jim, always had a fresh supply of great salvaged windows from old homes in the area.  So of course when I ran across this beauty, I had to make it mine!  So what to do with it????? 


So I decided that it needed some color!


I found some gorgeous fabric that seemed to be the right look for what I was trying to achieve.  Then stapled it to the back of the window frame.  Watch out, I'm dangerous with a staple gun!


Wanted something a little less traditional for the color....just a hint of holiday for the background....



Now for the real holiday stuff.......ribbon, lights...............action.....


And more lights......!!!!



Almost there.......just needs some more decorations on it...........



And here's the finished display...........ready for the customers now!!

Still decorating, and busy getting ready for our holiday open house.

If you live in the Atlanta area, I hope that you will stop by the 2nd weekend in November for it!

Everyone is welcome at House and Garden Boutique!  We're on Main St. in Woodstock, GA.

This week I'm joining the following blog parties:

Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses
A Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tutorials and Tips Link Party at Home Stories A2Z
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Frog Blog Love Linky Party at Kissed By a Frog
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Colors of Fall Flowers

Even though I am not wanting the sunny warm days to end, I do enjoy all the Fall flowers and the colors and especially the cool days.  We have actually been able to enjoy our porch and yard this past month, which is the best part of Fall.  So I have been planting and converting all the flowers over to the winter hardy kind.

 I've changed over my leaky ex-fountain to a planter, and transformed it to Fallish florals to add some color for the winter season at our home.


So love pansies!

Even the mums are enjoying these beautiful cool days......they are gorgeous this year.  Tucked in the bottom of the planter on my back porch are my Mom's chicken and hens from her perennial garden.  They are having babies already.

Our lantana had a wonderful summer and flourished along side our driveway.  The butterflies just love the yellow flowers.  The hotter it got, the more it bloomed......it's very low maintenance.  We'll be able to enjoy it for a few more weeks.  It's fun to watch the butterfies all flittering away!

The last of our Nearly Wild Rose is blossoming for the season.  The deer will be sad to see them go.  They love to come up on the driveway and nibble on the flowers.  I sprayed all the other roses with Deer-Off in the yard except this one, thinking they wouldn't come that close to the house.  But noooooo, they found it!  Snack-time! <grin>



Still nothing like the color of a blooming Fall pansy!  They just seem like they want to tell us a tale!

What is your favorite thing about Fall?

Thanks for stopping by!

This week I am participating in the following blog parties:

Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses
A Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
It's Bloomin' Tuesday! at MsGreen "thumb" Jean
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Toot Your Horn Tuesday!! at A Silly Little Sparrow
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Frog Blog Love Linky Party at Kissed By a Frog
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Monday, October 17, 2011

Pumpkins and Cats and Nightlights

As you can tell by now, I love to collect things.....and this week I'm sharing my nightlight collection.  They are all throughout the house in every room, hallway and bathroom.  Here's just a few of my favorites......of course I had to get the seasonal ones out and show you for Halloween........<grin>

This is for my Tulip, which is my black siamese cat....just couldn't resist this one!

Mr. Pumpkin is smiling in the kitchen....... 

The bird artist makes it's home in our family room, just inside a window that overlooks our patio, where all the birds like to come and sit and sing in the morning.

This little beauty graces our guest bath off our family room area.  I bought it when I first moved to Atlanta.  It just seemed to ooze southern beauty.

Being raised in horse country in KY, I definately needed a nightlight to represent my love of horses.

Ms. Teacup is in my living room, right next to the chair from my Mom's house.  Mom always enjoyed a good cup of tea everyday.


My leopard one is happily perched in my laundry room....it just makes me smile every time I do laundry.


And my maroon one, is in my dining room.....it just needed to be in a classy room.

So.......this is just a partial glimpse at the nightlights in my home.  I just can't resist them!   Now tell me, what do you collect?

This week I'm joining the following blog parties:

Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses
A Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Monday, October 10, 2011

Favorite Fall Comforts

Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin candles, mums, lighted jack-o-lanterns........are just a few of my favorite Fall things.......oh, and I almost forgot.......candy corn too.......yumo............!


  I get that cozy and warm feeling when I see the first hints of Fall....


Love the mums.....purple, yellow, rust, white........all of them......the pansies too.......


And my all-time favorite candle.....Pumpkin Spice......burning in the kitchen, always adds to the enjoyment of the cooler weather......just makes you want to nest a little, doesn't it?????


Now my Mr. Pumpkin sits proudly on top of my fridge......blinking and winking at me while I cook dinner......<grin>.  I bring him out each year for some Halloween fun..... 


Even my favorite wine is getting into the Fall spirit.....no pun intended!!



It's a rainy day in Georgia today......and I'm loving it......the candle is a burning, the coffee is on and it's definately FALL!

What is your favorite thing to enjoy in the Fall???

Thanks for stopping by......this week I'm joining the following blog parties:

Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses
A Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Versatile Blogger

Friday was an especially wonderful day!.....Because Sharon from the From Rags to Riches blog awarded me The Versatile Blogger award!


Thank you so much Sharon! 

It was a very welcomed surprise and I am so excited that you selected my blog!  I will proudly display the badge on my blog!

Be sure and check out her beautiful and fun blog too......Sharon loves painting walls, furniture, any item that can be painted.  And loves all things crafty!

So, as a recipient of The Versatile Blogger Award, there are 3 rules to follow...

1.)  Thank the person who awarded you.
2.)  Tell 7 things about yourself that your readers may not know.
3.)  Award 7 other bloggers with this award.

So first things first.....Many thanks again to Sharon for selecting my blog!  You absolutely made my day!

Now for 7 things to share about me.......

1.)  Graduate of University of Kentucky.....Go Big BLUE!
2.) Mother of 2 grown sons (29yrs & 33yrs old)
3.) Owner of a gift and home decor store in the Atlanta suburbs & certified Redesigner
(House and Garden Boutique on Main St in Woodstock)
4.) Very addicted to blogging <grin>
5.) Cannot keep away from Facebook!
6.) Loves the History Channel Shows......Pawn Stars, American Pickers
7.) Really enjoys a great book to read....always has one in progress 
(Currently reading "Comfort Food" by Kate Jacobs...part of the The Friday Night Knitting Club series)

With that said........I will now share my 7 picks for The Versatile Blog Award......each and every one is very fun and inspiring to read each week!

Sherry at Back 2 Vintage
Patti and Paula at Ivy and Elephants
Ms. Daisy at The Daisy Chain

   Please stop by and visit these fabulous blogs......they all have the best posts each week!  I know you will enjoy them as much as I do!

Have a great weekend........<smile>

Monday, October 3, 2011

Frenchy Blogging Desk

One dreamy, sunny afternoon I was strolling thru the Lakewood 400 Market in Atlanta a few years ago and I stumbled upon this gorgeous desk.  I had been wanting a desk to sit at to do my email and blogging at, for some time.  But when I saw this one, it stopped me right in my tracks.....I just had to get it.....


Just love all the embellishments and finish......it was exactly the look I wanted in a desk.... 


It has lots of great storage too......got to have a spot to hide that clutter......


Nice deep drawers.......to fill up.....with lots of junk!....


And a great chair to go with it......
 

Love the stenciling on the burlap...........



Even the back view is lovely.......


Really enjoy the Frenchy look.......somehow it inspires me to blog better.....and that's my story and I'm sticking with it! <grin>

Where do you blog from?

This week I'm joining these blog parties.....

Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses
A Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Twice Owned Tuesday at Creating a House of Grace
Turning the Daunting into the Do-Able Link Party at The Project Queen
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense