O Tannenbaum

I have a love for christmas trees.

There was nothing more magical to me

at Christmas than when my mama drug

out her 7 1/2 foot tree and

boxes upon boxes of ornaments.

My mama never did a hodge podge tree.

Each year her christmas tree was decked out

in wonderful color combinations

with coordinating ornaments and lights.

My sister and I would sit and watch her decorate with much ferver.

I will never forget the christmas when she said my sis and I could help decorate.

I will also never forget how mad she was when I broke one of her

really nice and pricey ornaments that she had.

(to see my mama mad.......is not pretty.......at all.)

My sister and I would stand in front of the tree

in all of its christmas splendor and sing to it.

 "Oh Christmas Treeee, Oh Christmas Treeee,

Oh Christmas Treeeee, Oh Christmas Treeeee....."

We could belt out every single note of that song...with the only three words we knew.

My love for gorgeous trees has not subsided...not even a little bit.

This year will not be any different.

I've donned my tree in its Christmas finest.

With succulent golds, warm browns, and gorgeous silver.

I've also incorporated some of my junky goodness as well.

These door knob plates once guarded the doors

to my great grandmother's home.

They remind me of so many memories and christmases (is that a word?) that have past.

I can't imagine a single Christmas without the

rememberance of angels who sang the first carol.

The natural beauty of the earth

to remind me that the Lord

had no wear to lay his head but in

a lowly manger.

I'm french ya know....couldn't let

my heritage go without being remembered.

This antique shaving brush

reminds me so much of my great-uncle Eugene.

My sister and I were simply fascinated

by watching him work up his own shaving cream

and shaving with a straight blade.

(I just kneeeeeew he was going to cut himself...he never did.)

This photo is so precious.

I reminds my spirit to keep toiling...one day there will be rest.

Some clothespins that I antiqued.

They will soon hold old photos as

soon as the Divine Mr. M gets them out for me.

(Right Honey???)

My son's old teddy bear sits in an old baby walker

that was once my fathers

reminding me to always keep my inner child alive.

An old and broken pocketwatch

that reminds me that time is precious....enjoy it.

I have incorporated more items into my tree that

I didn't get pics of yet

like my tarnished silver sugar bowls

and mercury glass ornaments.

I have way more decorating and more trees to put up.

(surely you didn't think I would only do one tree?)

Keep checking back for more junky christmas ideas.

It's Giveaway time!!!!!!!

Keelie at

Red Writing

is hosting a Twelve Weeks of Christmas Giveaway!!!!

Keelie was kind enough to ask me to do a giveaway!!!

I am giving away a special christmas door decor

like the one I posted about here .

So PLEEEEEEZE stop by her blog and give her a visit!!!!
This lady is amazing and has a blog to match.
There are some talented bloggers
donating their various talents for a different giveaway each week.

O Holy Night

Meet the singing sisters.....

Mary Francis to the left

and Mary Agnes on the right.

These ladies are 40 years old and looking good!!!

I found them on an antique hunt one day

still in their box in pristine condition.

They were just tooo cute!!!!

They have lovingly sat in my storage house until the other night.

I was talking with Adrienne of The Flying Bee

when I noticed there was a slew of paper in my yard.

"What the....?"

I walked over to the paper and IMMEDIATELY recognized it

as the divine box that held the sisters.

That could only mean one thing.....

DISASTER!!!!!

Unfortunately,

the sisters were originally a trio

and now they must sing acapella because....

Sister Mary Catherine was beheaded by

a forty pound boxer by the name of Tank.

Apparently, the box fell into the yard

when Mr. M was bringing in some vintage

christmas items.

Such a travesty.....

Sister Mary Francis suffered minimal damage

with a few scrapes and a tooth mark....

and Sister Mary Agnes

just continues to praise the Lord

with much ferver despite her scars.....

God Bless Her!!!!

These ladies have suffered enough

and are looking to take their show

on the road via my etsy shop next week.

I hope someone can find it in their hearts to open

up their home to some bewildered sisters

who are just too cute for words.....

P.S. ....Is there a special place in hell for dogs who eat nuns????

It's beginning to look a lot like.......

I'm getting the Six Mansion ready for Christmas.

I'm working on incorporating some new christmas ornaments

with some awesome junky finds.

I will be focusing on

using found items around the house

for your christmas and winter decor.

 I can't wait to show ya'll my home and my creations.

I hope you ladies will like my

ideas and inspiration.

P.S..........see that chair?

The chair in the pic above?

I would love to have that under my tree......

So, Santa if you read my blog......

I've been AWESOME this year.

Oh yeah, one more thing before I go.

I found this great blog

The Brocantess

and she is having a giveaway!!!!!

A very french giveaway to boot!!!

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

                    ....Langston Hughes.

That's how I feel today......

So far,

I have to put my show on hold until January

because the lady with the booth didn't call me until yesterday....

and wanted me ready in less than a week (not gonna happen.)

My etsy shop is up

but not running.

I'm waiting on my banner and get most

 (notice I didn't say all)

of the kinks out in regards to policies and shipping

before I list my items.

I have always been one to set goals for myself.

ALWAYYSSS...ask my sis.

I hate....H-A-T-E when I don't accomplish it by then.

I have finally gotten halloween all packed away.

(by the way, spanish moss is my arch nemesis.)

I am currently decorating for Christmas

and will have new pics up later this week.

I just feel a little behind the eight ball

and it's getting me down in the dumps.

So......

I'm gonna sit right down and have one of these...

while hugging these....

and throw my self a good, old fashioned pity party.

I haven't done it in a veryyyyyy loooooong time.

You're all welcome to come.

Just put on your best sweats,

grab some tissue

and join in!!!

Okay,

I gotta go find a chick flick now....

and wash my glass.

(wine and dust don't do well together...trust me.)

Houston, We Have A Market....

Here I am at the Houston Urban Market.

I truly love coming back to Houston.

It's where I've made my home most of my adult life.

So when I heard about an antique show

that's like a mini Warrenton

in my old stomping grounds,

I got a new 'do

slipped on my heels

and got to shopping!!!

I have to say that I love

the marketing....

"Near the Heights" is what the flyer read.

Acres Homes is where it really was.

(It's a bad neighborhood in Houston for those not from the area.)

I was DYING laughing when I pulled up to see

Mercedes, BMW's and Lexus all parked

right in front of the projects!!!!

(What people don't mind doing for great junk!!!)

As soon as I parked on the grounds...

(I'm from the hood..there is NOOO way I was parking on the street...none...nada)

I was VERY impressed with the quality of wares that were being peddled.

This stuff was REALLY high end.

No hot messes here ladies.....uh uh.

I saw a huge basket filled with little galvanized buckets.

Had to have some.

They belonged to

Ann and Ray Veazey from San Antonio.

BTW,they  don't say "cheese" for the camera.

These neat folks say "queso!"

Their booth had a great eclectic feel with some spanish influence.

I fell in L-O-V-E with these wooden doll heads.

The colors were vivid and the detail was superb.

They were out of my price range....sniff, sniff.

Mr. M had to pull me away.

I walked off serenading these lovely ladies to

"Somedayyyyy, we'll be togeeeeether...."

(Diana Ross and The Supremes for all you yungins out there.)

Even the chandies that were there were all opulent and beautiful.

(I dunno who this lady was. Everytime I tried to take a pic, she walked into my shot...every single time.)

I was on a mission and did not stop until I came here....

The Seed Box Antiques

by Brian and Melony Russell.

Their booth was my absolute favorite at Warrenton

and they did not disappoint me in Houston either.

Brian told me that Meloney is the real genuis

of their operation and I believe it.

Her designs and eye for style leave me speechless.

Just look at this christmas tree.

If you would have told me

"I think paintbrushes would look good as ornaments"

I would think you'd been hitting the sauce a little hard

but Meloney makes it stunning.

Another Christmas tree with ornaments by Meloney,

I couldn't leave without bringing a few of these beauties home.

There was sooo much that I wanted to bring home

like these antique spools, but I couldn't buy it all.

It would be rude to take EVERYTHING.

I saw women carrying bittersweets and gorgeous hand tied wreaths

all over the market.

I finally asked where they were purchasing such lovely

arrangements and I was quickly directed to

Scherry's.

She is a florist with amazing talent

and some of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen.

She had hand tied garlands with pumpkins, hydrangeas,

wreaths, sugar cones (which came home with me)

and bittersweets.

(they were all gone when I got there....sniff, sniff....I'm not bitter about it...)

Just an example of the gorgeous wreaths that she was taking orders for.

I was strolling along, when I spotted this little guy.

(Probably a girl...or a guy dressed in drag...in Houston, anything's possible.)

I was mesmerized by all of the eye candy

and that's when I realized I was

at the booth of

Willow Nest!!!!

If you don't know who Willow Nest is....

then you should go...no...RUUUUNNN to their website!!!

They have the best stuff ever!!!!

EYE CANDY GALORE!!!!

YOU WILL GET CAVITIES!!!!

I was dizzy and drooling on myself because I have oogled over their site forever!!!

Linda and Ludmill of Willow Nest.

So very sweet to stop and post for a pic.

I came away with some french wooden spools

and some desperately needed german glass glitter.

I was skipping along when I saw this beauty.

I picked her up and looked her over and decided

to ease on down the road.

But, the further I walked away

the more I thought about her.

(kinda like leaving a puppy in the window at the pet store.)

She started to take over my thoughts.....

Would she have a good home?

Would her new owner love her and take good care of her?

I turned around and bought her.

(I'll show you her transformation next week.)

My new baby was at the booth of Joy Jenkins.
Joy had some fabulous finds and amazing works of her art.

She makes amazing oyster shell mirrors and other pieces of art
like this curio cabinet.

(Is it not beautiful???)

I came across a gorgeous booth by the name

French Vanilla.

Two of my favorite things....french and vanilla (bluebell of course.)

I got to meet Peg, the owner of all of that creamy goodness.

I only wish that I had taken more pics as

her booth was dreamy...swoon.

As we were leaving, I spotted something

that caught my eye.

But I thought it was a bit tooo much to pay.

The Divine Mr. M. asked

"Do you like it?"

I said yes but told him it was too much.

Mr. M kissed me on the cheek and said

"Happy Birthday!"

(My birthday is next month....)

Not only did he get this gorgeous birdcage for me,

(I have a thing for birds...)

He tied to the top of our Trailblazer and hauled it almost two hours

home.

I LLLOOOOOVVVVEEEE that man!!!!!

I can't wait until next year to see what Houston has to offer!!!!

On a personal note,

I will be taking a bloggy break for at least a week.

(I know that I will be suffering withdrawals...)

but I need to take some time to tend to home

and get ready to blog about the holidays.

I promise that I will come back refreshed and renewed with

more awesome junk....errrr antiques....to show ya'll.