'The Night Before Christmas' Giveaway Contest

It's Christmas giveaway time!

I have a beautiful hardback 1997 reprint of this (c)1949 edition of

The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Leonard Weisgard.

 

In my vast collection of Night Before Christmas books, I already own a

Leonard Weisgard version, so when I spotted one just like mine I picked it up,

knowing that one of you might enjoy it as well!

(I absolutely LOVE this story and have quite a collection by a variety of different artists)

 

 

As you can see, Baby really likes this story!

 

This copy is filled with bright, colorful illustrations!

A tole tray on the mantel, stockings hung by the chimney with care, and pine boughs in a creamy white pitcher - my kid of decorating! And who doesn't love a house where the kitty is curled up by the fire and the family dog is allowed to get comfy on the furniture (in this case an awesome red wing chair!).

Doesn't the kitty from the book look just like our sweet Tiger?

I wouldn't mind having the wallpaper from the children's room in my own house,

and those carved beds look like they could have come straight out of a fairytale!

 

And while the children were nestled all snug in their beds, just look who landed on their roof!

If you'd like a chance to win this book, just leave a comment on this post before midnight on Monday, 12/10/12. On Tuesday, I'll personally notify the winner as well as announce who won here on my blog. If you don't have a blog, please leave your email address so I can contact you!

 

I'm joining Claudia's Favorite Thing Saturday this week over at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Be sure to visit her lovely blog to see what everyone is sharing this week!

See you on Tuesday! Good luck and have a great weekend, everyone!

 

Donna

Eclectic Mirror Gallery Wall

Split entries are not known for spacious entryways, so rather than focus on my lack of floor space I've turned my attention to the entryway wall (which has been a work-in-progress for many, many years).

That's actually pretty sad, because I know many of you could have put this wall together in less than an hour rather than over the course of years. Although I've never searched for anything specific to hang on this wall, once I've spotted that 'something,' I know it's coming home with me. And I have to say, I'm beginning to really like how that method is shaping up.

For years our entryway looked like the photo on the left, with just the large white mirror and the rustic wood mirror above the coat hooks. The original painting, done by my mother-in-law, is the star of the entryway, hanging over the double doors. Last year I spotted a couple of rustic wood-framed mirrors at the swap shed of our local dump one Saturday morning, and I knew just where to put them. The photo on the right was taken after they were hung.

And little by little, as you can see, some other things have caught my eye!

This gorgeous "God Bless Our Home" vintage cross stitch is my most recent find.

The frame is pretty beat up, so it blends in nicely with the VERY rustic mirrors from the dump!

I needed something narrow for between these two mirrors. This crucifix, borrowed from our bedroom, was the perfect size. I think it ties in nicely with the cross stitch.

I've had this heart wall pocket and quilt-look print hanging in the entryway for a l-o-n-g time. I thought the saying was perfect for an entryway. However, the white frame and dove plaque above the quilt print are too stark white, so I plan to age them a bit. I'll share the "after" pix in a future post.

I couldn't resist this very inexpensive piece (99 cents) that I found at Salvation Army last week. It truly looks like someone just put a magazine page in a very inexpensive woodtone frame, but it spoke to me :)

Also, it ties in nicely with plastic dove plaque above the quilt print and the bird hooks for our coats.

At one time this was the only mirror in the entryway. I've had it since the girls (now in their 20's) were little. We call it the "monkey mirror" because of the carved top section. It looks like two little monkey ears, and the distressed wood almost looks like a face (if you have an over-active imagination and really squint!).

I honestly didn't think I'd ever add so much to this wall as I truly was trying to embrace minimalism.
I guess minimalism just didn't embrace me :)

The bookcases are still along the hallway wall, just waiting for me to get in gear and start moving my office studio into the larger of the two spare bedrooms. Now that the weather is getting cooler, we'll be doing more 'inside' projects, so hopefully that's in the not-too-distant future.

But today was GORGEOUS with no chilly weather in sight; just a balmy breeze and temps in the 70's. All the windows and doors were open. Here in New England, we know we won't have many more days like this!

So that's what I've been 'tweaking' lately!

I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for "Tweak It Tuesday,"
Cindy at My Romantic Home for "Show & Tell Friday" ,
and Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for "Favorite Thing Saturday" this week.

Be sure to stop over and share a favorite thing or something you've tweaked!!!

Donna

Mother's Day...

 Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

 (click any photos to enlarge)

 Just a little rambling post today... 

This is one of a small collection of Mother Mottos/Samplers I've purchased over the years since losing my mom in 1996 (I think I have a total of about eight).

Every once in a while I'm drawn to something that reminds me of my mom, so I have a small collection of Mother Mottos and books. I purchased this particular little book about 12 years ago on eBay. It was a very well read copy of "Mother" by Edgar Guest  (I already had a small collection of his poetry books, but this one appealed to me because it was all Mother poems).

This book has a place of honor on one of the shelves in our family room bookcase.

It's hardly a pristine version, but I've come to realize how that makes it all the more special. And perhaps because of this book I am all the more drawn to aged, well used, worn, vintage pieces.

I'm so ashamed of myself, though, when I think of my original reaction to this book. Although I knew when I purchased it that it was old and used, when I actually received it, I was so disappointed. The condition of the book was much shabbier than I had expected. 

I contacted the eBay seller, letting her know of my disappointment. She sent me the loveliest email, telling me the history of this lovely little book and a bit about the life of her amazing grandmother who had owned and loved this book. After reading the entire email (much longer than what I have shown above), I came to realize what a treasure I was holding in my hands. This was a prized possession of a very special lady, and I feel very connected to this book. The seller ended by offering me my money back if I was unhappy with my purchase. Needless to say, I kept this little gem and left her glowing feedback. 

I also printed her email and tucked it into the front of the book so I will always be reminded, in all situations, to never judge a book by its cover.

(copyright 1925, the year before my mother was born)

When I came into my office this morning, this card was laying on top of my keyboard from my Amanda. I absolutely LOVE it, both the image and the quotation!. Amanda, who is both an avid writer and reader, tells me it is because I read to she and her sister every night when they were growing up. I have to admit, it was my absolute favorite time of each day. (A bit later today we will be getting together with Courtney. I can't wait!)

 This card will be tacked to the bulletin board next to my desk which contains (in addition to work items) mostly sentimental materials (photos, the girls' artwork, cards, etc.) As a matter of fact, the b&w card in the center is another card Amanda gave me a few years back of a mother reading to her two little girls! An old Mother's motto that hangs beneath my mom's painting (painted by Amanda in college) reads:

FOR  MOTHER

This is my loving Wish for you...

A flower-lined path Your whole Life through.

Isn't that the sweetest sentiment and painting?

So, my dear sweet Mom, Happy Mother's Day to you! You will always be our beloved Mom, Nana, and always our beautiful Galway Girl... 

We all love you so very much!

Love, Donna

Swan Song...

The vintage swan Paint-by-Number that hangs in our dining room is now
 framed within a frame.

 It wasn't always. Although the decorations in the bay window and the table &
hutch vignettes are always changing...

... the swan painting remains a constant.

(Same photo using PicMonkey!)

I'm not sure if I'll leave it like this forever, but for now I'm liking the extra chippy detailing.

My photo software's (contrast) Levels AutoFix really emphasizes the dimension and crackling.

Lots of worn wood underneath the chippy paint...

... and an amazing scrolly medallion on top.

Joining Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!!

Donna

Vintage Religious Needlework

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

One day while thrifting for our ETSY shop, my daughter and I came across the most amazing vintage stitchery of The Lord's Prayer.

The prayer, doves, flower basket and border are stitched on a pink satin/silk material that's oh-so-slightly faded and stained around the edges.

The old gold frame is quite chippy, adding to the charm of this piece.

I was so taken with this piece that my daughter bought it for me on the spot and told me it was for my birthday!!

It definitely shows signs of its age which again, in my eyes, adds to the beauty of this piece.

The piece is not signed or dated, so there's no way to know for certain when it was stitched or by whom. I don't know if it was a young girl or an older woman who lovingly stitched this prayer, but it was certainly a labor of love as this is quite a large piece, about 16" x 20."

And since I work from home either transcribing, painting, or managing my ETSY shops, I'm able to enjoy it every single day as it hangs in my office/studio.

I'm linking up to How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. Have a lovely weekend!

Donna

Mirror, mirror, on the wall....

 Who's the fairest of them all?

 

Baby is going to be very disappointed to find out that this blog post isn't about her...

...no matter how cute she looks staring at her reflection!

No, this blog post truly is about mirrors on the wall. We've had this large mirror on the wall of our entryway for quite some time now, but it always looked a bit lonely to me.

So when I found these two smaller mirrors at the dump a while ago, I couldn't resist taking them home. This past week, we finally got around to hanging them.

Another view, before the new mirrors were hung, looking down into the entryway or our little split level.

And here it is after the mirrors were added. I think I still need to fill in some spots here and there, either with some small mirrors or whatnot, but all in good time.

 The mirrors are quite rustic and distressed, which pleases me much more than it pleases hubby.

The reflections in this mirror are very wavy and distorted due to the old glass. I absolutely LOVE it! It's kind of like have our own fun house mirror!

The other old mirror to the left has been hanging above our coat rack forever. It was a purchase from eBay many, many moons ago.

Just look at this rustic, chippy, distressed finish! It makes me swoon!

 The second mirror we found at the dump is equally gorgeous (in my eyes).

The bottom of the mirror is extremely distressed, and hubby probably would have preferred we not hang it.

But what can I say? I find perfection in the imperfect! One of my daughters says I should paint them white to match the large white mirror, but I think I like the contrast and I'd hate to cover up all this chippy perfection.

So for zero dollars (except the cost of the the heavy duty hangers), we added a bit more oomph to the front entryway.

Be sure to pop over to Show & Tell Friday At My Romantic Home!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Donna