Vintage, Junky Christmas in my Gazebo

As promised, it's now time to show my completed rustic, vintage, junky Christmas/winter gazebo decorations! I'm absolutely in love with how it all turned out! 

Now pull yourself up a chair and grab a cup of hot chocolate, because there's lots of pictures to come.

Saturday was just about the perfect day. The morning started out a little cold, but I was able to finish up Tanisha's burlap and lace wedding order, made a couple of new Christmas wreaths, started some laundry and did some indoor work. Later, the sun warmed the day and I enjoyed some time outdoors.

As I went to open the gate for the mail lady to stop and pick up my outgoing orders, I walked down the road to gather some of my Christmas tree decorations. I love seeing all the wild grasses as I travel the back roads and this particular white fuzzy grass has been telling me it needed to be on my shabby chic tree. 

After the mail came, the girls and I went down in the woods on a nature walk to gather pine cones, holly, cedar, and pine.

Then the fun really began! I showed a sneak peek of my junk wreath last week. We'll here it is up close. Bed springs, a saw blade, washer, and medallion are my "ornaments" suspended by twine on the window frame. A swag of cedar and pine accents the window.

I filled my old crock with more greenery and pine ones. 

The base around the crock was a silk Christmas wreath that I added a few fresh clipings into.

I was kinda sad, trying to figure out what I would put in my tired looking flower buckets. Then it hit me, I poked the greenery into the dirt and instant makeover. I left the kale and begonias in the bucket and just added the greenery around them to make the bucket much fuller and hung them back up on their spring hooks. 

Some of you might know the story, but our gazebo was literally pulled from a trash ditch a few years ago! It really was someone else's junk. Everything was either pulled from someone else's trash- gazebo, buckets, crock, bike, springs, metal water cooler,  gym basket, tin on the roof or found at a garage sale - burlap, Christmas tree, 3 strands of C7 lights and quilts or made by me. Nothing store bought here! I prefer to keep my Christmas decorations that way- natural and rustic. We are not ones  to get into the commercialism of the holidays and no Santas will find a place among my decor this year.

Now here's my fuzzy grass from the side of the road! 

Anybody know what it's called? 

I simply tied in the grass stems with the branches on the tree. Since our house is itsy, bitsy, teeny, weenie, and we are so overcrowded (hey, we're junk collectors😉), I don't think I am going to put up an indoor tree. No one ever comes to our house during the holidays, so I think we are going to enjoy our tree outdoors this year instead. 

A few more clippings, a rusty Texas license plate, pine cones, and a burlap bow fill the gym locker basket on the front of the bicycle. 

As the daylight faded away, we grabbed a couple of vintage and tattered quilts, a cup of hot chocolate and enjoyed some time under the twinkly lights. 

I have a feeling most of the decorations and lights will stay up long after Christmas and we will enjoy sitting out in the gazebo in the evenings. 

Thanks for hanging around till the end! Hope you are having a fun, stress free weekend.

 Merry Christmas! 

New Christmas Wreaths Hot off the Press

Hot off the press today! New rustic Burlap Christmas Wreaths! Hop over to the shop, to grab these up before they're gone. Because, there's no more like em. 

I am loving the red striped jute webbing! I'm all about rustic and natural when I decorate and create new wreaths. 

To me the natural elements like pine cones, Christmas greenery and the burlap lend an old fashion, vintage kind of feel to the holidays.

Peacock feathers add a touch of turquoise to this grapevine wreath. I do love my turquoise too! Of course, we've all got those turquoise accent pieces in our homes and the feathers will help tie everything together.

Don't forget, if ordering before Cyber Monday, use the coupon code HANDMADEHOLIDAYS  for 15% off! 

Etsy Coupon Code

Now through Cyber Monday, use coupon code HANDMADEHOLIDAYS to save 15% off purchases from my etsy shop. This apples to all ready to ship items such as wreaths, caps, and some burlap and lace wedding items. (Coupon does not apply to custom wedding orders.) Please join me in giving handmade items as Christmas gifts this holiday season. 

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Happy Thanksgiving

Everyday I am blown away by the support of my online friends and customers. Today, I am so thankful for all of you. I appreciate your support of my business and creative endeavors. Wishing you all a very Happy  Thanksgiving! 

Christmas Sneak Peek!

It's totally unlike me to start decorating for Christmas this early! But yesterday was pretty, I was off work, the inspiration hit as I was cleaning up the frost bit plants in my yard, the forecast says cold weather returns this weekend, yada, yada, yada...

So here is the beginnings of my vintage junky Christmas gazebo decorations.  I have a few more ideas I want to incorporate in the next week or so and I promise to share all the junky details ASAP. 

Garage Sale Finds

I got up this morning and something just said I must go garage saling. I've only happened upon a random sale or two in recent months, but saw several ads in the newspaper for sales on my side of town. 

The mister wasn't ready nor shared my urgency to hit the sales this morning. 

So, I put on my favorite thrifted, vintage sweater and turquoise scarf, loaded up my sweet dog and we headed out. 

We enjoyed the fall beauty on the back roads and then we started texting back our list of finds and a few pictures along the way. 

This is the reason I must drive ol' trucks with a long bed! ;) I rescued a desk, chair, coffee table/bench, frames, wooden tote, counter top, a lace pillow, vintage cheese grader, scored a few shirts, a vest, and  Christmas garland. 

So now I have several projects to work on and fix up. Now to figure out what color to paint the desk and chair! What's your favorite color of furniture? 

Katie and Marc's Burlap and Lace Wedding Pictures

Katie and Marc

I started working with Katie earlier in the year and she was one of the nicest customers I have worked with through etsy. I'll say again, it has been a blessing working with the wonderful brides through my shop.

Katie carried a turquoise and white burlap and lace bouquet. Her bouquet had whispy white feathers as well. She added a charm with a picture of her cousin to the bouquet. 

The bridesmaids carried medium bouquets of turquoise, tan, and white burlap roses and lace. 

Marc and the groomsmen wore turquoise rose boutonnières. 

Katie tossed a small bouquet to all the single ladies at the wedding reception. 

I enjoyed working with Katie and send my congratulations to the beautiful bride and groom! Wishing you many years of happiness together. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day and sharing your pictures with me. 

*All photographs were provided by Katie and taken by her photographer, Ryan Krankowski. 

A few Christmas Items in my Shop

 I listed a few new items in my etsy shop today. I added a few Burlap Christmas Wreaths and some Burlap and Lace Hats.  

I know it's a bit early for Christmas decorating and couldn't help but laugh when I saw this funny on Facebook. While I'm not sprucing up my house for the holidays yet, I added these items in hopes that if anyone wants to order now, they can receive them in plenty of time to decorate after the turkey has his turn! 

A few new trucker caps are all dolled up with burlap and lace flowers. 

I made a couple rustic burlap wreaths with tan and red burlap. This one has nearly 40 brown ornaments nestled among the burlap, and gold glitter sprays and Merry Christmas sign. 

The other wreath has Christmas greenery, holly, gold balls, and snowflakes. 

More caps with a burlap cross, lace flower and vintage jewels. Perfect for the shabby chic gals on your shopping list. 

Now, back to that turkey and fall decorating- I put this burlap sunflower wreath on sale this weekend. It's now $10.00 off and the turkey said he approves for it to be on the door at Thanksgiving! 

All of these items are ready to ship! Items will go out in the mail next business day after ordering. Hop on over to my etsy store to snag them before they are gone. Thank you to all for supporting Hand Made in America items this holiday season!

The Hunt is Over - Camo Wedding Pics

In honor of the opening weekend of deer season, I thought I would share a few pictures from a recent camo, deer hunting, woodsy wedding. 

To all you deer hunters out there, I hope you get your deer soon and the hunt will be over for you! This deer head was a focal point in the reception and a fun place to take pictures. 

The bride carried a bouquet of camouflage, orange, tan, and brown burlap roses and ivory lace. Family heirloom brooches, jewelry, and handkerchiefs were arranged among the roses. 

Here's Teri with her bouquet by the deer. 

Lots of antlers, cedar, pine and woodsy accents created a very rustic outdoorsy style wedding, even though the wedding was held indoors. 

The bridesmaids carried small versions of the bridal bouquets while the guys wore boutonnières made with a shotgun shell. 

Thank you to Teri and Daniel and for letting me be a part of your special day!