Monday, November 14, 2011

It Continues



That's me 
decorating and resting


The mantle with lights added now
and I can see I need to bend the right side lol
I am adding some burlap letters (JOY) to the pitchers
as soon as they are made (in my spare time)




The family room with lights



Kitchen tree (I see now it's blurry)
but no time to retake


Make me laugh


Sprigs of greenery plunked here and there


All that matters


A little touch on my nightstand


My bedroom tree
 Love the reflections on the walls
All the birds landed here regardless of style
just like they do on a telephone wire





Simple touches on the shelves next to my bed
These candles are on remote control that
I turn off and on from bed.
They were at my Costco
Yesterday they were out of them



Rest of pics coming soon.
*******

To answer a few interested inquiries all in one swoop...
No, I normally do not decorate this early.
I have a photographer coming this week for a shoot
that is still under wraps...so...I had to do now.
I adore fall and Thanksgiving but as many of you know
 my entire very small family is over 2,000 miles away,
so Turkey Day is a solitary affair for me,
which I don't mind, but I tend to skip over 
the gobblers in the house.

I have so many trees because I used to do shows
 and needed several different sizes.
They are easy to store from the rack I made
 and suspended from the garage ceiling.
I have no attic or basement.

No, I do not have a huge $$$ home.
Very modest by Vegas standards
and I have lived in it 19 years.
Unfortunately, it is also worth about
 60% less than it used to be. 
I only decorate for this holiday and 
I only hang a wreath on my front door.
No grandiose exteriors, not even twinkle lights.

Most of the decorations I have had for at least 
15 years and most were bought at after holiday sales,
so no, I did not spend a fortune;
many also are handmade.

I have my holiday decor well organized, 
so it is very easy to do one tree at a time 
without hauling everything down and inside.

Our family spends very little on gifts.
We celebrate being together
by eating well, talking A LOT, playing games and seeing films.
I make most of my gifts for friends.
So I spend far less than many I imagine.

Next year I plan to return to a more
modest display.
I love the look this year
but the "taking down", even when organized, 
is a royal pain in the keister.
AS my SIL is known to say
"It's Valentines Day, time to take down the tree"

I hope however small or large your Holidays are,
that you and yours will spend them in 
good health, and peace and happiness.
30 days until my Holiday happiness (2) fly home.
z


29 comments:

Jane said...

Your home looks amazing!! There is not one thing that I didn't love. Your collection of pitchers and creamers makes such a wonderful mantel display! Love it all!!
Sorry I've been a bit absent lately....my MIL visiting for two weeks kept me from doing the things I love to do!
Jane

the old white house said...

it all looks so sweet and peaceful and beautiful Z... every inch of it! I am going to borrow your beans in the tray idea for the show this weekend if you don't mind :) I just love it all! t.xoxoxoxo

Allie said...

Gorgeous displays! Love the old world feel of your decor style. You really spent a lot of time getting everything to look just right. Nicely done :)

Candylei said...

You have done so much and with your artistic touch it looks amazing! Can't wait to see the photographers pics too!

c. Joy said...

Thanks for all the peaceful inspiration. The white beans are clever. Two years ago I tried coffee beans on an old white platter with a few big, white candles - less than 72 hours later I had to throw out the beans - I'd gotten 'flavored' coffee and the smell (not aroma) was overpowering. All the decorating is fun - takes us out of the ordinary - but it's the ones we love that make home home. Enjoy these days.

Amy Kinser said...

Everything is just beautiful. I love the simple touches you have here and there that make such a statement.

Faded Charm said...

Wow!!! Girl, you are crazy:-) Another magazine shoot, too. Well after all your hard work at least others will enjoy it as well as your family.

Everything looks so wonderful, Z. My favorite has to be your mantel with all the pitchers. Add in greenery surrounded by architectural elements...perfect!

xoxo
Kathleen

Romeo said...

*sigh* is this not the most beautiful and peaceful evening here with you?!?!! "She" pinned the mantle with those glowing lights on "her" pinterst board or whatever the heck that thing is called. Meanwhile, I chose the pillow on the left side of your bed so that I could better glance at the glowing candlelights and admire the birds in the tree on your nightstand....I'll be here for a bit.....dreaming of.....ah, nevermind....in this peaceful surrounding, I'll be snoring in 10 minutes or less.....

Purrs...followed by snores....

Romeo

Unknown said...

When I (quickly) glanced at your thumbnail on my sidebar, I dashed over to read this post as I thought that first picture really was YOU sitting on your couch...okay, time for an eye test, I know!

Your home looks adorable. I too, this year it appears, am going to be blessed with all my kids being with us for Christmas, so I am hauling all the Christmas stuff out and trying to sort through my thinking. Your post is inspiring me.

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Oh my gosh your decorating is absolutely gorgeous!! I love love it!!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Well, I am absolutely smitten! Really smitten!
Brenda

Low Tide High Style said...

With all of your beautiful decor it will be a very successful shoot!

Kat :)

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

I always love stopping by your blog because your home is one of my favorites. It is so much fun to see how you decorate for the holidays. Another photo shoot? How awesome is that!!!! I still can not find the 'Where Women Create" I have checked 4 stores. I am going to order one, then when we meet someday I will have you autograph it for me:). Thanks for sharing, can't wait to see more!!!
~Debra xxx
capers of the vintage vixens

Cindy said...

AWESOME!

Anonymous said...

It's so festive and pretty, z! I found myself smiling as I scrolled down to look at your photos. See? :)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Beautiful. Very magical! I am excited for the photo shoot and hope to hear more about that. I understand the skipping thanksgiving when all the family is far away. I've had those holiday's myself. This year I'm going to be lucky and see my children a bit before and a bit after the Turkey day itself. hugs to you,
Linda

TheCrankyCrow said...

Positively magical and mesmerizing Z....I don't believe I've ever seen such amazing decorating unfold before my eyes. That mantle - oh that mantle....amazes me. I surely hope you will be sharing with us where we can find the photos from the newest shoot....you know, more of a good thing is just better. Thanks for my Z fix for the day....I'm really going to go through withdrawals when you tell us you are done....Happy Tuesday! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Carole said...

It's like coming home when I see your ornaments and decorations. Though your house is much cleaner!

I'll forgive your blurry shots because all the rest are magical.

x
C

Kathy said...

Your home looks so elegant! I love the soothing colors. And you have me very curious about this mysterious photo shoot!

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Just magical!!
Love how low your countdown is getting...they'll be home before you know it!!

Claudia said...

Simply gorgeous. I can imagine sitting down and feasting my eyes on everything and never wanting to leave.

May I just say that I am in love with your mantel?? Not only the way it's decorated, but the mantel itself.

xo
Claudia

marcela cavaglieri said...

I just came to tell you that I added the translator, translated my post and I can bot stop laughing!!! Talking about :lost in translation" LOL!!!!!

The pict of the pitchers on the mantle just killed meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeee itttttttttttttttttt!!! We don't need to translate that, do we??? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Becky Voth said...

just gorgeous! i wish I had a tenth of your holiday stash to spread around my modest house! Can't wait to hear about the shoot! :D Becky

Kit said...

Oooo, I am so loving this Christmas tour of your home. I bet you do get asked alot of questions and I love your answers to them at the end. My fav? Those pitchers on the mantel. Great idea and look. Kit

Lana said...

Love your home,Suzan! (Does everyone refer to you as "Z"?...may I?) Your mantle area is so inviting..and I LOVE the little bird tree, "birds on the wire",I think you said. Peaceful and quiet...Thank you again for the note. I am from the Ozarks of Missouri and one of your wall displays reminds me so much of our little Methodist Church attendance calendars back in the 1950's..Your home is CHARM and character. Love it!

erin's art and gardens said...

i see you have been busy! i love it all!! i fear i will never catch up with all the blog posts i have missed...but i came right over to visit you, my friend....and i have found christmas bliss.
ee

Debbie said...

Are you kidding me, I just saw the other pics and had no idea that you had all of this to go with them.
I am so impressed it's a magical christmas land!!

Debbie
xoxo

Lori from Notforgotten Farm said...

I have pored over my new WWC magazine and am thrilled to have found you here in blogland ~ your decorating talent is wonderful...so comfy & cozy, like a hug from an old friend!! Your studio is just perfect...mine is somewhat-small too, and I am always trying to incorporate primitives with my love of white/vintage things,...YOU have nailed it!!!!
Thank you SO much for sharing with us all...I enjoyed my visit with you & will be back for more!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you & Blessed be,
Lori from Notforgotten Farm
not4got@aol.com

jeanne@juNxtaposition said...

wow !! i wasnt going to decorate this year, (because i'm in the middle of a reno at another house and expected to be there by now..so had moved all my decor there) but...now i WANT TO !!! i LOVE LOVE LOVE Your home..you must just love coming home every day....i am stealing a bunch of your ideas for my 'new' cottage....love it all..blessings to you this holiday season !