ADVENT WREATH 2016

 

While attending the first Vintage Market show here in North Alabama, I spied this unique silver plated footed bowl--had to have it.  By the way, it polished up beautifully.






Last year, I used my wire vegetable stand to set up my Advent wreath.  I did love that idea, but wanted to change it up this year.

 

 

 

As I'm sure I told you before, when I first lived on my own, my Dad made this wooden base for my Advent candles.  It was just a wooden circle with 4 holes drilled out to insert the 4 candles of Advent.

 

It must be at least 30 years old by now.  Originally, using my staple gun I  attached fake greenery. 

Now, I'm ready to change up the Advent base.  Here is the before picture.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to use live greens or cut apart one of my faux garlands.

 

The first step was to remove the staples and fake greenery.

 

 

 I did not want to attach the live greenery until after Thanksgiving so I am sharing this blog with you today because it is the first day of Advent.  I will finish the wreath tomorrow and update it with the Christmas greens.

Well, I went to Home Depot this afternoon and picked up some nice greens.

 

 

Using my glue gun, I began gluing the longer branches fanning them out from the middle.

 

Once I glued around the complete circle, I took the shorter branches and did the same to cover the first layer branches.

 

When inserting the candles, this time I glue gunned them into place.  If they look a bit off, it's because of that.

 

Now, we can light the first candle tonight.  Let us prepare. 

 

TRANSPLANTING HENS AND CHICKS

A good friend of mine gifted me with a bunch of hens and chickens from her garden back in August.  I was thrilled because I wanted to put them in my perennial garden out back.

I knew that it would not be wise to plant them now with the winter season coming, so I had to figure out what type of vessel to put them in to keep them inside until next spring.  I pulled out two tray like pieces.  I really wanted to use the silver plated tray, but then realized that it would be difficult to keep it polished until then.  I turned toward the cut glass vegetable tray and decided that this would be better.  This is one of those pieces that I picked up at an estate sale for next to nothing ages ago.

I have learned something about watering succulents since I have received them.  I saw on Pinterest that it is wiser to spritz them every day rather than watering them and drowning them.  It seems to be working.

I don't know how fast they will grow and expand so I will just keep on eye and them and see what happens before next spring.

They do add a bit of greenery in the house in the cold winters.  Stay tuned for next spring to see how the plants do.

GRANDPA'S TOOL BOX-FALL 2016

I was looking through magazines a few days ago and spotted a tool box.  I mentioned to Mr. Thrifty that this might be a nice project to build for me. 

Two days later as I was in the garage, I found this.  Here was a hand made tool box made by my grocer Grandfather.  It was perfect.  The best part of it was that you could tell that he made it from an old crate from the store.  Mr. Thrifty was off the hook.

Even though it is made rather crudely, I love it!  I always get a charge out of these sentimental moments.  I hauled it to the back porch and gave it a good scrubbing, being careful not to disturb the apple label itself.

Notice the back side has a huge gash in it.  No problem.  This piece would work perfectly for my centerpiece.




I twisted a leaf garland around the steel pipe handle.



I then crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the box.  All that was needed was to add faux pumpkins into the box.



The tool box will sit on the dining room table during the Thanksgiving holidays.

 

Thanks Grandpa for the inspiration.



USING VINTAGE CRYSTAL NECKLACES IN CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING

I have collected vintage crystal necklaces for some time.  One day, I realized that they could be used in my tree decorating.  I love having a tree filled with bling.  Why not use old jewelry?

So, this year, I am going to add these sparkly pieces as garland to the tree.  Don't you think the necklaces will add interest?

Once the tree is up, I will post some photos of the crystal jewelry.



A BIT OF AUTUMN IN THE PARLOR BATH 2016

I wanted to bring some autumn into the newer grey parlor bath.  I pulled my mums, feathers, sticks and bittersweet stems into one of my discounted tea pots that I had purchased years ago in Little Rock.  The silver plate goes well with the other décor in the bath.

I love how the  orange hues pop against the grey paint.

 

It is amazing what 5 short minutes of changing things up do for the surroundings.