Tuesday, July 24, 2012

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





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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Let's Dish ~ Nantucket, an Island Destination




Let's Dish 

about my favorite island destination,

~ Nantucket ~




Nantucket is a wind swept island 

30 miles out to sea off the coast of Cape Cod.  

Only fourteen miles long and three and a half miles wide, 

the island is full of beauty, charm, and history.  

It long ago stole my heart and imagination.


Atlantic Cafe 

is one of my favorite island haunts.





So with thoughts of my beloved Nantucket, 

I've set a lunch table for you today.  

Please come in and join me for a bowl of 

New England clam chowder.


 I filled some of my Nantucket Lightship Baskets with 

 cut flowers and gathered them together with scrimshaw 

 boxes onto a large Courtly Check tray from MacKenzie-Childs.




The tureen is Nantucket Basket by Wedgwood.

The details on this piece replicate the details 

found on many of the Nantucket Lightship Baskets.




The distinctive shape and simplicity of 

Nantucket Lightship Baskets make them unique.

You can read more about the fascinating history of this craft  here.




The oak or cane staves of these baskets are 

formed over a wooden mold and then woven with fine cane.



A Nantucket Lightship Basket 

holds fresh rolls right out of the oven.


This young man holds a little salt and pepper

should you desire more seasoning in your chowder.

He's French and must have come ashore from 

one of the many sailing vessels moored in the harbor.


Our lunch table is set with the theme 

of sailing ships and Nantucket Lightship Baskets.


The chowder bowl features another 

jaunty sailor who sailed into port from France.

Notice the French flag on his ship?

This bowl is a limited edition issue of a design in the 

Musée des Faiences de Quimper's archives.


The concentric rings of yellow and blue of the 

Quimper bowl contrast with the woven pattern of the

Nantucket Basket dinner plate.  Both sit atop a 

square red plate by Waechtersbach, Germany, 

all on a simple woven placemat.


The organic shape and feel of the 

Treble Clef flatware reminds me of seaweed.


The whaling industry was an 

important part of the history of Nantucket.



Scrimshaw, the American version of ivory carvings,

is the folk art of carving on whale teeth or bones

and was an important part of the daily life aboard whaling ships.

While antique scrimshaw pieces are highly collectable and 

 expensive, the above collage is of three inexpensive pieces 

purchased as souvenirs while visiting Nantucket.  

The "woven" piece top right is made from bone, 

but the other two pieces are made of synthetic ivory.  


The detail is carved into the bone and then later inked in.




It's said that mermaids 

live off the coast of Nantucket. 




I spied this unusual Mermaid teapot 

for sale at Anthropologie a few years ago.

 Sadly she never did swim home with me.


Now this beauty is no longer available.  

Glad I snapped these photos when I first saw her.

My tip for Stone Gable's Weekly Meme:

Buy it when you see it!


Speaking of beauties .   .   .
~ Perfect Patty ~

 for the girl that always has style

 with a little understated touch.

 
This gorgeous seashell cuff was created by

Kelley of Teacups and Ponies.  

I was the lucky recipient when Kelley

hosted a giveaway of one of her original designs.




Thank you, Kelley. 

 I hope you'll stop by to visit  Teacups and Ponies.  

Tell Kelley I sent you!




~ Nantucket ~

My Favorite Island Destination

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