A WHITE CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas . . . . . 

and here's my vintage "WHITE CHRISTMAS" gift to you!

A white tree adorned with vintage lace, jewelry, ribbons, pearls and buttons 
and a vintage glass ball on top

An adorable white porcelain creamer made in France with spouts and handles on each side

Two yards of hand stamped Merry Christmas muslin on a vintage wood clothes pin
and a white German glass glittered JOY banner

A pretty vintage cotton doily made into a lavender sachet and closed with a 
vintage rhinestone snowflake brooch pin

{the sachet is removable so the bag can also be used for jewelry or any other small treasures}

Vintage sheet music cone with tinsel, ribbon and a vintage white lace bow

 

A 1932 sheet music ornament (or gift bow) with vintage tinsel in the center

Three sheet music clothes pins on a Noel gift tag

 and a cute little sheet music glittered bird ornament

HOW TO ENTER:

1) Add a comment to this post

2) Blog about it or add this picture to your side bar for a second chance

(leave a separate comment and let me know)

Winner will be selected by a random generator

SO EASY

You do not have to have a blog to enter; just leave your email address on your comment.

Giveaway ends at midnight December 1st and winner will be announced December 2.

GOOD LUCK!

I wish you and your families a very happy, safe and blessed Christmas!

Thank you for all of your inspiring blogs and taking time to comment on this newer blog.

I just started blogging in May and had no idea what blogging even was lol.

I hope we can become better friends in the new year.

MERRY WHITE CHRISTMAS!

~ Julie

Check out more beautiful whites at:
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/2010/11/white-wednesday-75.html 
vintage inspiration at:
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-inspiration-friday-13-whats.html
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2010/11/feathered-nest-friday-no-10-happy.html 

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2010/11/show-and-tell-with-eco-natural-soap.html

Giving Thanks

Last week I read this devotional on Crosswalk.com, The Attitude of Gratitude 
By Skip Heitzig, and thought I would share it with you today. 

When our pilgrim forefathers came to this country, what they were up against was far worse than anything we face now. The first year, over half of their band of 110 died. Our pilgrim fathers dug seven times more graves for the dead than they built huts for the living. And yet during that same period is when they decided to carve out a day where they could say, "Thank you, Lord, for all of your benefits." One of their leaders, Edward Winslow, wrote of that first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621: "And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving in 1863, in the middle of a terrible civil war. He said the country's blessings were due to the "ever watchful providence of Almighty God... No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy." And he asked for the "Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it."

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul gives a series of short little commands like "rejoice always," and "pray without ceasing." In verse 18 he says, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

I am thankful for much, especially our family and friends, an amazing husband, two wonderful daughters, two great "sons" and a precious baby granddaughter!

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving day with your family and friends.

~ Julie

 

Remember to come back Wednesday and sign up for a wonderful "White Christmas Giveaway"

P.S. It's been snowing here, so we may have a white Thanksgiving! I love snow!

Christmas inspiration

Last week I received the new Holiday with Matthew Mead and Victoria magazines. 
Have you got yours?

Here are a few highlights for inspiration . . .

A Victorian tree. I love it! It's my tree plan this year . . . .

a Victorian tree covered with vintage ornaments, ribbons, pearls, and beads.

From Holiday with Matthew Mead . . . 

I just had to make some of these! Aren't they beautiful! 

They make great tree ornaments or gift bows.

I made mine from 1934 sheet music and a 1921 French grammar book 
with vintage tinsel garland in the center.

 Aren't these paper trees fabulous?

And this metal wire tree. 
I'm hoping I can do something similar out of some old rusty fencing we have.

Here's a peek at some things I've been making.

Some of these items will be in my "White Christmas Giveaway" that I will be announcing at next week's White Wednesday.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving season as you're getting ready for Christmas.

~ Julie

Today I'm linking with:

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2010/11/feathered-nest-friday-no-9-holiday.html
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-inspiration-friday-12-jewelry.html 

Master Bathroom Makeover

A few weeks ago I shared our sideboard turned sink vanity
that we put in our master bathroom. 

Today I'm sharing the whole room.

Here are the BEFORE pics . . . . [WARNING: It is 80's pink/mauve]

Sorry . . . I forgot how bad it looked.

But, here's the new bathroom AFTER . . . and we love it now!

Same tub with a new surround ~ removed the step, added raised panel

moulding to sides and travertine tile to the top

Kohler vintage style toilet

Vintage crystal chandelier above the tub

Replaced the fiberglas shower with travertine tile, added a customized
Waverly fabric shower curtain with velvet ties and gold tassels.
Purchased the fabric shower curtain and added the stripe fabric to the
bottom to make it longer.

A family antique stool reupholstered with Waverly rose fabric

Vintage brass and crystal wall sconces

We removed the carpet, all the oak, and the ugly bar lights.

After doing some research on vintage paint colors, 

we picked a Benjamin Moore sage green for the walls.

Floor: We used larger travertine tiles on the floor and placed them on the diagonal 

to make the room look larger (and it looks better), added radiant floor heat and 

put in new, taller wood baseboards.

Vanity: Removed the old oak cabinet and installed an antique sideboard that we
turned into a double sink vanity. It took a while to find one long enough
for two sinks, but we finally found this one on craigslist. It has 3 doors
on the front which works well for the sinks and has lots of storage. 

We switched out the large unframed wall mirror over the sinks for
two oval mirrors, and added new Kohler sinks.

Tub: Removed the step, added white raised panel moulding to the sides and
travertine tiles on top. We kept our old jacuzzi tub (even through it is gray) 

because there really was no need to replace it (I just don't use it enough). 

We added a timer button to the inside of the tub so it's not on the wall
next to the sink (what a great idea :).

Lighting: We put in a vintage mini brass and crystal chandelier over the tub 

(an ebay purchase that we had rewired with old style cloth cording ~ just love
the way it looks) and crystal wall sconces over the sinks.

Shower: Replaced the fiberglas shower with travertine tiles, added a corner bench
and a wall shelf. We opted not to put in the big clear glass doors for now, 

plus the dealer told us the doors leak and are not designed to be water tight. 

They look pretty, but may not be too functional. 

I found the extra long clear shower curtain on ebay. 

I purchased the Waverly regular length fabric shower curtain and 

added the stripe fabric to the bottom to make it the right length and a gold tassle tie-back. 

I also added red velvet ribbon to attach the curtain to old-style chrome shower rings.

Even though we have brass chandeliers and sconces, we stayed with chrome
for the faucets and other accessories. We didn't want to put in anything trendy,
and chrome has been around forever, so hopefully, it will still look good ten years from now.  

We were lucky to find the Baldwin chrome tissue and towel bars on Overstock.com 

(I'm still undecided if I want to hang the towel bar).

The antique stool was inherited from my husband's family. 

I recovered it with a Waverly rose fabric I was able to purchase on ebay.

No more bathroom rugs; just a beautiful wool 8' runner I found at T.J. Maxx. 

It really makes the room. The colors and design are perfect for the space. 

(So now I really only have to heat the floor when it's really cold :).

We hired a tile installer, and used a plumber and electrician.

We still plan to add white crown ceiling moulding to finish it off.

Thanks for looking at our master bathroom. We love it.

I'd love to see your room makeovers.

Thank you for all of your lovely comments. I read them all.

~ Julie

See more inspiring projects at:

Transformation Thursdays @ http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2010/11/boo-still-no-bathroom.html

My Romantic Home @  http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2010/11/show-and-tell-friday_18.html

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2010/11/sat-nite-special-57-brings-you-white.html

Met Monday @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/11/pottery-barn-ornament-pine-garland-hack.html 

More of New England . . . Chester, Vermont

After driving through Vermont from New Hampshire, we arrived at Chester, Vermont, a little more city-like than some of the towns we've visited.

We checked in to the gorgeous Inn at Victoria Bed and Breakfast.

Greeted with tea

 Our room

Hope you enjoyed the visit to Chester, Vermont.  We ate dinner at a Scottish pub, which came highly recommended by the owners and some of the guests. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent.

The Inn at Victoria was fabulous. Very nice innskeepers and excellent food. They are also host teas. {And, still a new idea to us, no need to lock your room doors at night.}

Thanks for visiting. Our next New England post will be historical Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Have a great weekend!
Thanks for your kind comments; I read them all.

~ Julie