Our Christmas Home Tour 2009

Welcome to our Christmas Home Tour. We live in southern Ontario, Canada and with the recent arrival of snow and cold cold weather, Christmas is definitely in the air, both inside and out. If you've stopped by from some of my favourite bloggy linky parties, I hope you enjoy the tour! There are lots of pictures.

 Quoting one of my favourite bloggers, Melissa from The Inspired Room,

 "And no perfection allowed, as you will see. Real life. At my house, we are decorating for ourselves, not to show the world how perfect our home is (because it isn’t) or how magazine cover worthy every corner is (because CLEARLY it isn’t)." Melissa, The Inspired Room

We went with a simpler theme outdoors this year, white lights, white muslin bows and greenery.

A newly quilted flannel wall hanging above our fireplace in the family room.

Santa's on the t.v. cabinet in the family room too.

Also in the family room is our main family tree, with all our collected, school made, and handcrafted ornaments. This is the tree we use for presents.

Ten years later we still do not have a fireplace mantel  in our family room. The fireplace was installed off centre and I am stuggling with an affordable design. I quickly put up these hooks to hold our stockings that I stitched. Hopefully, our fireplace wall will be a project in 2010.

On the back of each stocking:

Lots of cross-stitched ornaments and home made bows.

My guys love HOCKEY! We have lots of ornaments to celebrate this, including some favourites like...Vancouver Canucks (from Funky Junk Interiors Donna's province on the west coast.)

Closer to home, Toronto Maple Leafs.

Some special ornaments from our trip to Disney:

Our natural cowboy Christmas tree in the living room, and mantel shelf shown here.

In the kitchen is our advent calendar I sewed from a kit a few years ago.

A mini tree on the breakfast counter with wooden lights and muslin strips for bows.

On to our dining room...

I tied some extra strands of red wood beads on the chairs.

Some mercury glass pieces, crystal, silver balls and lots of white.

On our sideboard/buffet some red wood beads and candycanes.

On to our bedroom where I used a small tree and some garland on the bed, with details posted here.

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you enjoyed your tour as much as I enjoy the Christmas home tours, trees and ideas at these great blog parties:

Funky Junk Interiors by fellow Canadian, Donna

The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes

Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Home for the Holidays

 

The Inspired Room's Holiday Linky Friday

Edited to add:Thanks for all the kind comments! I'm trying to get around to everyone but I've received several questions about the white rag garland. Nester, Nester people. She is the genius from whom I borrowed the raggamuffin garland idea. Nester even has a tutorial with tons of photos on her blog. Check it out. And when you stop laughing at her humourous ways of delivering the instructions, get ripping and tie, tie, tie. I cheated and wanted mine done in two hours so I used a rotary cutter and mat from my quilting supplies to cut a lot of the fabric, saved time but not quite the same as Nester's. Mine has a few stray edges, but is missing some of that torn loveliness. Ribbon and trim too, add ribbon girls. I may still try and go back and squeeze some ribbon and trim in.

Christmas Tour of Our Bedroom

I've finished the Christmas decorating in our bedroom (I still have pictures to hang over the bed and drapes too!) I recently painted our master bedroom Benjamin Moore Norwester Tan. I added garland, white sheer ribbon, silver balls and snowball LED lights, to our king headboard. It looks so pretty at night!

I made a raggamuffin garland ala Nester one night this week, and I'm trying it out here. 

The small tree is placed in a bowl and held in place with large river rocks. 

Collected and handmade ornaments in clear glass, whites and silver. Lots of white lights but my night photos didn't work. The blue, white and aqua ornaments in the window bring in the beachy blues and whites of our ensuite bath.

Thrift store silver platter. I have since added some silver balls to the tray.

Our romantic white tree for our bedroom. If I can find an inexpensive larger tree, I may add some black and white photos of hubby and I, or some glass balls in shades of blue.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the tour.

I'm linking up with Donna at Funky Junk Interiors' Christmas Trees Unite. I might link up more than once if that is okay! (I'm having trouble getting the image, I'll try again tonight.)

I'm also linking up to Hooked on Houses Christmas Tour.

Joining in once again at The Inspired Room's Holiday Linky Friday.

Living Room Christmas Tour

I finally found some burlap ribbon! Our Cowboy Christmas tree from last year and a peek at this year's tree, that I changed quite a bit, were on the previous post here. I decided on going with less red and more natural elements, more in keeping with the style I'm striving for in our living room. A bit rustic and a bit cottage. The burlap ribbon was suggested in the comments of that post, and when I found it yesterday, I took everything off the tree and started again.

The muslin garland was made by sewing several long strips together, sewing down the long edge and turning and turning and turning inside out. I could have saved time and fabric and ripped strips as Donna from Funky Junk Interiors did here, but since I sew I tried it this way. The muslin has some nice texture and flecks that match the pillows I made.

Is it strange to have a shelf over your couch?

I quickly put some garland, berries and pinecones on the shelf for the picture (I should have secured the phone cord though.) The paint colour in here needs to change too. We used a temporary light cream to cover up the dark brown colour that made it look like a cave in here. I brought the slipcovered ottoman from our bedroom in here and put the very large dark ottoman in the family room to make more room for the tree. Now I'm liking it. One chair has the slipcover almost finished and one to go.

We haven't put the cowboy boots and lariats around the base of the tree yet but I sewed a quick drop cloth tree skirt to match the garland. The tree skirt may still get a ruffled edge.

The rusty metal stars and bells are totally my style. I found some darker and smaller bells for interest. Most of the ornaments, the burlap and the raffia were on deep discount at Michael's, or bought very reasonably at a craft show. I made the mini lariats out of twine.

I love the wavy glass on these lanterns I picked up in September at Lowe's. They were discounted to about $5 each.

A bit of red in the sleigh and bells.

I added lots of white lights, I usually use tons, but they aren't showing up too well with my camera, and some may be hidden behind the muslin. I'll have to work on that.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed our Christmas living room tour! I love comments and if you have any suggestions that would be great too.

The first link up is to Shabby Chic Cottage's Transformation Thursdays.

And Fireflies and Jellybeans' Show off Your Stuff Party!

Always with some great ideas, Funky Junk's SNS.

I'm also joining in The Inspired Room's Holiday Linky Friday. Thanks Melissa!

Natural and Rustic Wreath and a peek at our Cowboy Christmas Tree

Bringing the rustic and natural colours from our living room at the front of the house, out onto our front porch/entry, has been my goal this week. These are the colours I used on our tree in the living room visible from the front porch window (to the left of the door and not seen in this photo.) The tree is almost finished, but I'm having trouble finding the burlap ribbon that some of you suggested in the comments here. In case I don't find it, I made garland ribbon out of drop cloth fabric, 4 " wide simple cut with no hems, and seamed together to make one continuous piece.

I sewed a bow out of the drop cloth fabric for the wreath on our front door. I wanted to go for a more simple look, and yet have the bow large enough to make a statement. Do ya think it's too big or droopy? I've gotten used to the wired sheer ribbons that take shape so easily and this is a big change from that. I may add one or two of the rusty stars from the tree, still thinking on that one.

I still have more front of the house decorating to do, including changing out the ribbon in the three sap bucket holders on the porch light and garage lights to drop cloth. I may just tear strips for those bows 'cause the pair on the garage lights may not hold up in the rain and snow. I will walk the woods and add some natural elements too. 

It's tough to get a good photo of the nubbiness and flecks of colour of the drop cloth. I've got a lousy camera and we have had fog even into the afternoons for the past five days and not a peek of sun all week. Dark and dreary.

Before, snowmen and snowflakes. This is how I did our door last year, but I was looking for a change this year. 

Below is a peek at our Cowboy Christmas tree in the living room this year. Much less red and with the torn drop cloth ribbon. Rusty stars and large bells, some smaller copper coloured bells and raffia, along with a few cowboy ornaments. And white lights. I love white lights. I also sewed a drop cloth tree skirt, simple but sweet, and a new table runner for the front hall cabinet. And the best part, it was very reasonable to make the changes as my friend gave me several metres of fabric and I had all the decorations except one package of the smallest sleigh bells and 10 more rusty stars at $1.29 each.

Not perfect, but perfectly us.

I'll be linking to Shabby Chic Cottage's Transformation Thursday party. Thank's Gina, for hosting yet another great party!

Also linking up to Fireflies and Jellybeans Show off Your Stuff party. Thanks Fawnda and Jeannine.

I'm loving all these parties! Melissa at The Inspired Room's Holiday Linky Friday Party is one I'm joining for sure.

And of course, Funky Junk Interior's Saturday Nite Special party. Thanks Donna!

Confetti Squares Recipe

This is a favourite recipe of our family that I make for almost all holidays and get togethers. They are always in demand and usually the first dessert item to go. They look great on platters with Christmas cookies and squares, and are super easy to make for a cookie/square exchange (as long as peanut-free is not a concern.)

I'm linking to The Recipe Party at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Confetti Squares

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup smooth peanutbutter

1 package butterscotch chips

3 cups coloured miniature marshmallows

Place butter, peanutbutter and butterscotch chips in a pan on medium-low heat. Stir CONSTANTLY until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool 20 minutes. After cooling, stir in miniature marshmallows. Pour into a butter greased 8 inch square pan, plastic, or glass container. Chill in fridge until firm (a few hours.) Cut into squares (not too big as they are quite sweet) and serve. They freeze quite well.

I always make a double batch by doubling all ingredients and chilling in a 9x13 glass baking dish.

The photo is not mine, I found it on the internet. photographer unknown, as I keep forgetting to take photos when I make them and they are eaten so quickly. 

Lest We Forget

To the brave men and women who gave so much, and for those who continue to serve our nation.

Thank you.

Looking for more Cowboy/Farm ornament ideas

We've been sick this week and I didn't get around to taking window treatment photos for

 Funky Junk Interior's Saturday Nite Special theme this week.

 Since Donna said we could still join in, I thought I would share this post as I'm doing a bit of Christmas decorating pre-planning and hoping that I can get some ideas to add to our cowboy/farm inspired Christmas tree. These photos are from last Christmas (I didn't blog then.)

Cowboys, farms and most things western and rustic are very special to my family and myself, even though we live in a suburb. My husband grew up on a farm, his parents and relatives still farm, and our oldest is very active in our local 4H dairy and beef clubs. This past Christmas I was inspired by mysweetsavannah's Cowboy Christmas tree she did for her son's room. I quickly pulled together some ornaments for the tree in our living room. The boys and our guests loved it, but I it feels a little bare to me. (The rifle is a toy our youngest brought back from Disney World.)

I thought to use the lariats wrapped around the tree, but my boys actually practice with them so I left them in the old tool box at the base of the tree. This year I plan to add more ranch/farm decorations, as my boys spend hours planning for their 'one day' farm. They also have tons of collectible cows, horses and small tractors and I may just try to convince them to let me use the animals and tractors on the tree this year. Any more ideas? I would love to get some suggestions. Something to use as filler or in place of traditonal bows? I'll look for unique decorations when we go to the 87th annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto this week. I have two of these cowboy on his horse. 

I made the mini lariats/lasso at the last minute and should probably make some more this year.

I pulled this teepee out of the toy box. I used white lights, my favourite.

I Loooove stars, especially barn stars.

An outgrown leather kids belt and some rusty ornaments.

 I thought of using an inexpensive saddle blanket as a tree skirt, but I do sew if you have any other ideas. I would love to hear them! Thanks to Donna for hosting!

Pillow Love~Drop Cloth, Ticking and a little ruffle

I'm loving the crinkled and laid back look of these pillows I sewed for our living room.

I made two from the leftover fabric from the drop cloth drapes I recently made for our family room windows and patio door in the kitchen.

I added a box-type pleat for a bit of detail.

The smaller ruffled pillow, below, is a blue ticking like stripe pair I made (blurry photo!, it is so hard to get good lighting in our livingroom.) Here I added a gathered ruffle. I love making my own pillows and reusing the pillow inserts.

 

I will be linking this post to Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special #5 Anything Goes party.

Easy Denim ottoman slipcover

 

For Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special, week 3 Anything Goes, I thought I would show this ottoman that I made a  denim slipcover for. We've been pretty busy here with all the trick-or-treaters (we get over 150 kiddos) so I'm reusing some photos  from earlier in the summer. I have since made pillows for this little bench at the end of our bed, but I need to upload the photos.

 White denim was the fabric I decided on and I'm very happy with it. So easy to wash when the kids spill the food or drinks they are not supposed to bring into our room.

This was the ottoman/bench that my friend from work gave me. The velvet fabric was in great shape but I was wanting something a little more neutral.

It was really quite easy to sew, just a simple gathered piece sewn onto a semi-fitted top. For those of you with access to a sewing machine and afraid to sew, this is by no means a pro job. Everything was fitted by eye, no pattern and all sewing involved straight lines. Pin, pin, pin and sew. You can see photos of the pinning here.

 Be sure to stop by Funky Junk Interiors hosted by the fabulous Donna to see the rest of this weeks Saturday Nite Specials. And if H1N1 is in your area, take care and be well!

Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special~~Vignettes

I'm joining Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special featuring vignettes hosted by the super creative and humorous Donna. Donna not only has a fantastic home and blog, but she has given some incredibly helpful tips on improving your blog that I have been so happy to take advantage of. Her Passion Series is very inspiring also. This weeks Saturday Nite Special is all about vignettes around our homes.

While I have always loved accessories, it has only been since I started blogging that I have felt a tiny bit more comfortable creating vignettes. Before, it was put some nice things here and there and that's it. Now, I am trying to use my favourite bloggers' tips to use height, repeated shapes and colours etc.

I love this area on our countertop~with some of my favourite elements, white, black, blue, wood, metal...

A work in progress are these display and storage shelves in the eat-in area of our kitchen. I'm thinking now that the shelves are spaced too far apart. The white brackets are from IKEA and I am deciding between painting the shelves white and staining them to keep a rustic pine look. The wall behind will soon be BM Stone House. Another glass canister, this time to hold cookie cutters and cake decorating tips. The large charger is a match to the one on top of the fridge. I'm keeping my eyes open for a larger round silver-plate tray to layer behind the charger, some layerin' lovin' courtesy of Donna.

The rustic finish on this tray made by my friend Julie makes me very happy! One of my favourite pieces is this bread box she gifted me with when I made a multilayer bedskirt for her.

I was inspired by Kim from Twice Remembered and her What's on top of my fridge post to create this vignette on top of our fridge. We have a love of agriculture in our home, especially horses, cows and anything dairy farm, hence the milk bottle from a local dairy and one of my cows. There is still tweaking to do. I hope to soon make a rustic pine box to lift the vase in the back left corner and to bring some of the wood elements to that corner. I have been searching for some vintage boxes like Donna/Funky Junk's here, but have not had any luck.

These great glass canisters keep my baking ingredients close at hand for an after school triple batch of cookies (the largest canister holds whole wheat flour that we go through quite quickly.) Now all I need is to replace my B&D hand mixer with the KitchenAid Professional mixer that is on my wish list;)

I also collect 'Cream Lace' by Skye McGhie and recently added the blue 'Cottage Rose' also by Skye McGhie to this pie safe I painted for our kitchen. The yellow (BM Concord Ivory) walls are on their way out. Most of our main floor is now repainted Benjamin Moore Stone House that you might get a peek of in the back corner of the above picture. The last two kitchen walls and backsplash still need to be completed.

This vignette is on a small cabinet in our dining room. I picked up the lamp for $4 and spray painted it. I'm looking for a more interesting lampshade and just borrowed this one from another room. Maybe a drum shade? I saw one at HomeSense, covered in burlap. What do you think? I also think I need a taller mirror or framed piece to rest behind the other photo. For some reason, I just realized now, the cabinet is pulled over too far to the right. It usually does not sit in front of the wall opening, but centers nicely. I'll have to fix that.

And below, a little tray vignette I pulled together to photograph the coffee table I just painted. My parents gave me a pile of green, burgundy and my fav, blue, leather Reader's Digest Select Editions. I'm learning from Donna and I too will be on the lookout for more trays to layer. The black tray on the black coffee table could use some layerin' lovin'.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to see more Saturday Nite Special vignettes hosted by Donna at Funky Junk Interiors, one of my favourite places in blogland. And please feel free to leave comments or make suggestions. My hubby and boys are off to the arena to watch our local Ontario Juniors Hockey League team and since I was at the arena this morning with our boys at 6 a.m. and again today at 1p.m., I'm making myself a nice pot of tea and checking out the rest of the Saturday Nite Special participants.