I confess I stress over the Christmas tree.  Stupid I realize but given how much I cringe over cheesey and how enticing breakable ornaments are to both our pets and our children it is usually a dilemma each year this time.My goal this year is to toss anything no longer in decent shape and replace with natural decorations. The floral section of Walmart/Target/Michaels etc has a variety of ‘vase fillers’ that would make perfect ornaments with the addition of a eye screw as holder. They are much less expensive than the ornaments available. A bin of vase filler feather balls came out to less than a dollar each for instance.

In keeping with our goal of using our hands and hearts to fill the house, we are stringing popcorn and berry garland and picking up some burlap for the tree skirt. There is dough chilling for the faux gingerbread ornaments we hope to roll out tomorrow night. In the coming weeks we will pick up some oranges and cloves to make pomanders. Planning to dry some orange and apple slices to hang on the tree as well. Here are a couple resources:

Natural Christmas: A Madderlake book

Natural Christmas

Colonial Williamsburg
Natural Christmas 2
Country Christmas

Apartment Therapy’s Fall Colors Contest is today’s destination.  Why? I don’t see an apartment in my future lol but I love the happy bold colors and kid friendly surfaces featured in many of the interiors.
Not a big fan of ‘predictable’.  And you’ve gotta love the trike in the bottom right. : ) It’s really wonderful seeing pictures of rooms that clearly house children.

I came across a new book and site that looks very promising for stitching with/for the kids. The New Crewel has projects that are relatively quick to do up and bright contemporary color schemes. They are drawn up for crewel embroidery which is done with wool.  I am thinking you could get the same effect with three (at least) strands of DMC floss. 

I am excited about this! Crewel embroidery patterns are HARD to track down on the net. If you have given it any effort you know this. They are split between historic tapestry and 70s gold and avocado jobs.  This really is something new.

I am on a mission to review some new wave stitching books in the coming weeks.  If you have any suggestions please send them my way! 

Now there’s a snappy title.  It belongs to this stylish blogger who has lots to share.

there may be a quiz later ; ) 
Dh is not feelin’ the retro love as much as I am.  He says he likes my ‘layers’ of farmgirl chic.  He is all aout warmth. So with that in mind let me introduce you to Homestead in TX.  This was my first exposure to shabby chic- the western edition.  These images are not from the original store in the Hill Country but fun nevertheless. 

I am finishing the crochet wrap I started when Brendan was a baby.  (I got a little bored, what can I say) I think this is my next project.  Love the colors and pattern.  Actually I need to get working on the slipcovers too.