Christmas in July ~ Mary Engelbreit Style

MARY ENGELBREIT'S CHRISTMAS COMPANION

~ THE MARY ENGELBREIT LOOK AND HOW TO GET IT ~

Written by Charlotte Lyons  

Photography by Barbara Elliott Martin

Available here on Amazon.

Sharing this book review with 

Cowgirl Up

 A Texas Christmas in July 

Filled with gorgeous photos of both Mary Engelbreit's art work and her beautiful home decked for the Christmas season, this book has been a favorite since it was first published in 1995.  All of the editions of the M. E. Home Companion series are part of my M. E. library, but I think this one is my favorite.  

Each of the eight chapters features stunning photographs of the homes of Mary and some of her friends and ends with a do-it-yourself project complete with an addendum of project patterns.

Bringing in the Season ~ shares ideas for decorating with fresh greens both inside and out.  A handmade kitchen wreath is the project.  My fresh wreath above was a gift from Liz @ Rose Vignettes.  I was the lucky one to win her Fresh Cut Friday giveaway, and this huge wreath of fresh greens arrived at my doorstep in early December that December.

I eventually changed out the red details for white and silver and hung it in the windows of our dining room. The fragrance of fresh greens was a welcomed joy the entire holiday season and on into the new year.

Down the Chimney ~ focuses on the different ways to adorn one's mantel or "Santa's doorway".  There are many beautiful examples photographed for the book, but I'm sharing our mantel at Christmas and those of several of my friends. There is inspiration to be found in all.

The elegance of candles and angels . . .

Nutcrackers . . . 

Garland of Radko ornaments . . .

Frosty snowmen . . .

Magnolia leaves and Bing and Grondahl

plates featuring Christmas Around the World . . .

Texas longhorn decked out in holiday greens.

Photo credit ~ Barbara Elliott Martin,

MARY ENGELBREIT CHRISTMAS COMPANION

The above mantel is one of my favorites from the book.  It is featured on page 31 ~ a mantel honoring a collection of roosters among evergreens atop black and white checks.  

Project directions for a handmade felt stocking is this chapter's bonus.  The treasured felt stocking from my childhood was just such a handmade gift from a loving aunt.

O Christmas Trees ~ is an abundance of decorated trees ~ large and small ~ floor to ceiling ~ tabletop ~ traditional ~ themed ~ swags of popcorn ~ swags of silk ~ beautiful one and all.

With a nod to both Mary Engelbreit and MacKenzie-Childs, 

 our tree here at HFTS features . . .

An abundance of hearts . . .

Whimsical animals . . .

Santa figures . . .

And of course black and white check silk ribbon.

Merriment ~ is all about beautiful holiday tablescapes . . .

Set with seasonal details.

Tabletop Trees ~ features those special little mini trees that can easily accent various rooms around the house.  Many are theme trees ~ spaceships and robots, tiny chairs, things for the garden.  The tabletop tree at HFTS happens to feature folk art ornaments and an abundance of roosters.  Imagine that!

One of my friends has a small tree just for the silver ornaments she has collected through the years.

Another friend uses a small tree with twinkle lights to anchor a little snow village . . .

While this friend groups a collection of mini glass ornaments on a small tree that she places among a group of special Limoges Christmas boxes.

All Through the House ~ is full of photos of various vignettes of collections and holiday decor.

Vignettes atop dressers . . .

Bowls of Christmas balls . . .

Vanity vignettes with lighted accents . . .

There are snowmen . . .

Of all shapes and sizes . . .

And Santa collections are abundant on tabletops . . .

And elsewhere.

The chapter ends with directions 

for making your own paper-maché Santa.

Traditions ~ offers a variety of traditions that the author, Mary, and others have shared with family through the years.  One of my childhood Christmas traditions was making cutout cookies for the holidays.

My siblings and I would spend hours sitting around the kitchen table decorating each cookie with bright icings, silver balls, and sprinkles.

Some were so detailed they were almost too pretty to eat!

In the Wink of an Eye ~ the final chapter is about making what I call "heart and hand" gifts ~ those gifts that are full of heart because we make them with our own hands.  The Cherry Chick and I exchanged "heart and hand" gifts one Christmas.

I created a box covered with fabric of cherries and checks and filled it with cherry themed gifts specifically for Vicki.

Vicki in turn created a box of Christmas charm. 

~ Santa, Hearts, and Checks ~

Inside were some Mary Engelbreit gifts and this beautiful pair of cherry earrings created by the Cherry Chick, herself! 


I just have to share the big news.  The Cherry Chick was asked to create a Limited Edition Collection of Cherry Chick Jewelry for Mary Engelbreit's Shop.  Click here to see this charming collection.

If you like to see how others create holiday magic in their homes, you'll want a copy of this delightful treasury of ideas and inspiration.  

What better Christmas in July gift could one ask for?

To view a review of some holiday tablescapes click here.

Party List

Christmas in July @ Mix It Up Monday

Cowgirl Up @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World


Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style


Bunny Hop Party @ Bunny Jean's


Home and Garden Party Thursday @ Delightsome Life


Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here


Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage


Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home


Potpourri Friday @ 2805


Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home


Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper


Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life


Christmas in July Blog Hop @ Stone Gable

AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY by Christina Meldrum

AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY

By Christina Meldrum

Available here on Amazon

A book review for 

Food for Thought, 

a delicious blog for readers with 

an appetite for the written word.

Amaryllis symbolizes 

success that comes from struggle.  

The beauty of an amaryllis comes 

from deep within the bloom and

 thus represents beauty from within.

"The word "amaryllis" 

comes from the Greek word "amaryssein," 

which means to sparkle,"  referring to the bloom.  

Today, the amaryllis symbolizes 

pride, determination and radiant beauty 

- the kind that emanates from 

an inner source and flowers outward."

"In Greek mythology, Amaryllis was a shepherdess who loved Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules' strength and apollo's beauty.  However, Alteo only loved flowers.  He'd often said that he would only love a girl who brought him a new flower.  So, Amaryllis dressed in maiden's white and appeared at Alto's door for 30 nights, each time piercing her heart with a golden arrow.  When Alteo finally opened his door, he found a crimson flower, sprung from the blood of Amaryllis's heart."

Meaning and information above quoted from ehow.com 

Set in the mid 1970s, this is the story of a dysfunctional family, "a head-in-the-fog family" that lives with a life of deception. The father is obsessed with his catholic faith, and the mother is obsessed with the world of Greek Mythology.  Their three oldest daughters are named for the Virgin Mary, and the youngest named, Amaryllis, after the shepherdess who loved Alteo.   

~ Love ~ betrayal ~ faith ~ disbelief ~ redemption ~ 

fill the pages of this book.  

The Slepy Family

~ Dick ~

 the father, a physician, a devout catholic 

~ Senna ~

 the selfish mother, steeped in a world of Greek Mythology

~ Mary Grace ~

eldest daughter, both beautiful and ambitious

~ Mary Catherine ~

overtly pios, insecure, vain

~ Mary Tessa ~

headstrong, rebellious, eager to live for the moment

~ Amaryllis ~

youngest child who was born in a blueberry patch

a synesthete 

"who sees what can't be seen, 

smells what can't be smelled,

 and knows what can't be known"

"In a West African village, Seena Slepy stands trial for the murder of her husband, Dick, a doctor who brought his family from their home in the United States to do humanitarian work.  How Seena got to the crossroads, with her fate hanging in the balance, is told in a series of flashbacks.  Richly atmospheric, Amaryllis in Blueberry is a stirring, soulful novel about the intricacies of human relationships and the haunting nature of secrecy."    Christiana Meldrum

I read this book over a two day period, at times having difficulty sticking with it while at the same time mesmerized by Meldrum's dynamic writing style and the complex emotional drama that each new page offered.   Christiana Meldrum is a talented author.  If you are looking for a book that will stir your emotions, pick up a copy of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY.

You can find more reviews of this book below:

Jain @ Food for Thought

Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is


Yvette @ Yvette's Twistedvines