THE CHRISTMAS FINALE

 

Tis the season...for baking and gift wrapping.....
This will be my last post for the season as
my attention is now focused on preparing for
our Christmas Eve gathering....the weather
turned cold today but a warm up is coming
for Christmas day.....

I love the layered look on my grandparent's Windsor chair...

This is my thrifted vintage little choir boy set....
my inspiration for the piano this year...

And the new blue nativity...perfect for the color story....

And leave it to Walmart for bringing us lovely candles this year

This one wins first prize....it's marvelous

Beautiful design and such a lovely scent....

The Twelve Days of Christmas Folk Art wreath....

I love the tree at five o'clock n the morning...



Our Nativity ornament

Martha was first on the tree....

Today, I am decorating the gust bedrooms...and making
my shopping list for the grocery...

I tried a QUESO dip that I saw on Instagram....

It was good but did not make the cut for Christmas Eve....

I also made a new recipe for Buttermilk pie.....

And sugar cookies from the Pillsbury dough

I am serving all new appetizers this year and am really
looking forward to this....now I must prepare
all the serving dishes to go with the recipes....
it's going to be a busy week ahead....

Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS....

CHRISTMAS COOKIE JARS

 So far, it's been a rather quiet holiday season....
our focus has been on dressing our home with favorite
Christmas decor items...and I find that I continue to add
special touches everyday....it brings a specific comfort....

Time to select a new calendar....
we have certainly enjoyed this one!



I added one of my favorite Santa's on the hearth....

And another by the little cypress tree.....

Let's talk cookie jars for just a minute....
there was a house we toured at Christmas in Jefferson

that displayed the owners cookie jar collection iu her kitchen
and it literally took my breath away!
She had collected hundreds of beautiful ceramics over the years
and had many of them showcased on custom built shelving....
it was just marvelous and so interesting....
I have my favorites in my collection and they
are the star of the show during the holidays...

I have decided to keep the same decor items that are green and just
decorate around a few pieces in the kitchen window...it seems to work great...

I wanted to add a touch of gingerbread and purchased
these darling little salt and pepper shakers from the
Martha Stewart line....

It's hard to say which one is a favorite...I just love them all.....

Who doesn't love a Santa mug with candy canes?

I think I need to add a little Santa to this cake stand....
note to self......

I chose to top this beautiful toile mug with a vintage
candle topper...absolutely love this!

Walmart has a fabulous selection of holiday candles

This is the newest in my collection...just adore him!

I am planning the Christmas Eve menu and plan
on making Daddy's Fruitcake Cookies along with
our favorite Chocolate Chip cookies...

A little hot cocoa center....

The dining table is set in winter whites....

Favorite vintage artwork is displayed on the stairway...

And I have planned my outfit for Christmas Day...
        Let's make it a special day to remember, shall we?  

CHRISTMAS ON THE MANTEL

 Good MORNING Kindred SPIRITS.....
How is your decorating going?
It all sometimes is one big blur isn't it,,,
It seems we begin decorating for fall at the end of Summer.
then transition into Halloween,,,,become even busier
as we prepare for the Thanksgiving gathering and
are immediately driven to make holiday magic with
our Christmas decor....and we manage to make it happen...
My favorite corner to decorate is the fireplace mantel....
let's take a look.....

I love it when a vision comes together....
the first piece that became my inspiration was the Santa artwork....

Green and Ivory became the color story

Green coats for the Victorian santas.....

A sweet, yet noble wooden nutcracker

AND, then....the stockings were hung.....

Our days have been cold and sometimes rainy.....
good winter days to bake bread and drink tea by the fire..
 I hope all is well in your world.....

CHRISTMAS ON THE BAR CART, VINTAGE BOOKS AND OUTDOOR LANTERNS

We have said goodbye to the autumn season and 
welcomed in December and the Christmas holidays.
I know many of you have fully decorated for Christmas,
but here at Estelle's, we are recovering from hosting two Thanksgivings!
I am taking my time and need to enjoy the process of decorating,
rather than be in a frenzy to get it all done.
The first cozy corner to be adorned for the season,
is the dining room bar cart......

I am in love with the Spode goblets...found these on sale
back during the summer....

And, Spode cocktail napkins to compliment the goblets....

I also added this vintage cocktail recipe and storybook.....

I so enjoy decorating this bar cart for each season....

The star of this vignette is this stunning needlepoint stocking...
he's quite the handsome fellow....

I am in the process of preparing the lanterns for the front door urns....
I had planned on using candles I had, but then found out
they were too large for the lanterns.....
the new ones should arrive today...

I think these will look so festive and pretty with the outdoor lights.....

I am using Mother's little jello molds for a riser to elevate the candle...

I found these gorgeous paper placemats to use as a layering piece

I keep seasonal books on top of the leather ottoman and they add
such interest as you explore the various books...

This book is a real gem to read....

I am currently working on the kitchen vignettes and am loving it so far...
cookie jars will be on display as will santa and snowman mugs.....
I think I will always and forever miss my parents and going home
for Christmas....memories I hold within my heart.....
The house was toasty warm and cozy on cold December nights...
Mother had dinner cooking away in the kitchen...the smell
of Spiced Tea was warming on the stove amd Daddy was
working in his train and hobby room....I was laying under
the Christmas tree in the living room gazing up at the
colored lights..people seemed happier and more joyful....
all seemed peaceful in the world at that moment....