Got Me to Think'n

Remember the old Decorating shows on HGTV? You know the ones that got us all fired up! Taking our old things, rethinking their purpose and REPAINTING THEM!! Wow what a concept!! Adding a Fringe!! or (wait for the Heavens to Part) ADDING GLITTER!! Bringing the Outside In! Actually validating the love we always secretly had for old weathered window frames, rusty garden shovels, and actually using TWIGS!! yipes! and Painted no less. Oh yeah, Decorating Cents, Christopher Lowell, Carol Duval, and Design on a Dime, Winners All!! That is how I discovered my love for Mosaics, Painting and loving Trash to Treasure! Oh we were right on the fringe of this new movement, not quite hoarding, but now there was no excuses for not shopping the roadside trash piles! "Honey pull over"!!
Well while watching Christopher Lowell, he had a guest on that was showing Faux Painting, she had wadded up Saran Wrap into a loose ball, dipped into paint then blotted on a paper towel before she started pouncing it all over an old Grandmothers dresser, I was totally Hip-mo-tized! I think I actually held my breath as she pounced away, creating this NEW VISION!! First the Sanctity of desecrating anything of antiquity, and Secondly...pouncing!!! Oh this was so exciting! I jumped up and started looking around the house, what could I desecrate...then I spotted my Dad old Dresser that I had already sawed the legs off of. I was using it in my entryway as a foyer table. Well I knew I wanted to make it look just like her's (the pouncer),, kind of an antique gold look, discovered I had no Saran Wrap, but I did have a stash of plastic gloves (thank you Clairol) snicker...they would have to do. Then I only had spray paint, nothing in a can that I could dip into...hmm..then I thought, well I'll  just put the glove on and spray the paint on my hand and pounce away!!
So that is just what I did...and I instantly LOVED IT!! pat pat pat pat, Done!
Now the cute part of this story is that once I stepped away from the dresser, I discovered that my finger prints were all over the dresser, no I mean my whole finger prints!! Well it was too late, I already Loved it, and what a fitting Tribute to Dad, to actually have my touch all over it. So that was at least 20 years ago, and I still use that wonderful Chest of Drawers in my Entryway, Touched only by Love, pat pat pat pat

Do you see my Fingers!!! LOL

Well Everythings Almost Over But the Shout'n! Christmas 2014!

You know December kinda came in like a Lamb, but it is going out like a Lion! Trying to fit so much into the last half of the month, Visiting friends on St Simon Island Georgia, Decorating the home for Christmas and then Hosting a Christmas Party Too! But after a few days of running around like a Chicken with its head cut off, TaDa! Done Done and Done!! But here it is the Saturday before Christmas and I haven't shopped the stores, got a few things on line, but I need to venture outside! I'm one of the few people that just loves all the hustle and bustle of the last few days left before the "Big Rip Tear"!!
I just love all my Decorations that I've accumulated over the years, but even though they still look brand new, I've  been doing the same thing every year, just tweaking it a slight bit, but for the life of me I just can't see my way to changing it. Everyone just raves on it, but outside of a windfall, I just couldn't imagine what it would cost to redo it all! So if the pictures look familiar, don't say I didn't warn ya!
Changed the Mantel somewhat from last year, added back in the Gold Deers, Green and Red Mesh, Large Red and Gold Ornaments, Red Berries, Red, Green and Gold Beaded Garlands , Red Mercury Glass Candle holders with Red and Green Twist Candles, and of course my Moms Christmas Moss Angel, she never leaves my Mantel. I get all my "Free" Greenery at Home Depot and Lowe's (Christmas Tree Cuttings right out of the Trash Bin)!

Decorating a Mantel is one of my Favorite Things! You can visit my "Mantel Fetish" Board on Pinterest, I'm on there under the name Rena Designs. Nutt'n but Fun!


Years ago I made this Christmas Pillow, it was a preprinted  design that I added gold and burgundy roping along with red sequins to and finished with a matching fringe trim. It sits on the floor next to my little Bombay Chest with this huge key in the bottom drawer, Oh and don't cha just love the Antique Gold Santa Ornament!

 For years I always put up the "Big Tree" in the Living Room, totally Loaded down with every Ornament that I have collected since the age of 22! Don't know why this picture looks so pink, the little pillow on the bench is one I made out of Christmas Red Silk (not pink) and the big ornaments are Red too! Hmmm

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BUT now I just put up a smaller one in the Family Room, Although I did look in the Bins that hold all my Treasures from the past, so beautiful. Now the smaller tree will have to do, just couldn't see doing all that work just two weeks  before Christmas! The tree has matching Red and Gold mesh , and ornaments from within the last 3 years, given by friends.

I just love the reflection of the Mantel in the Mirror, another Christmas pillow I embellished.~

The Entryway view , and the Decor on the entryway Chest of Drawers (that was my Dad's that I hand painted)

 My Living Room and Dining Room have white furniture, Gold and Sage accents.

Dining Room Window all done in Sage, Gold and White. Della Robbia Pillows are on the floor.
Large Gold Mirror in Living Room decorated with Ornaments, Glitter peacock, Brocade Ribbons, and a mask we got in Venice, you can see my white couch in the reflection.

Even our Master Bedroom is in White and Sage, so calming. Added a little Christmas to the Mirror and Dresser.

We hosted a Christmas party and I thought I would share a picture of Me and My Daughter Tiffany.

Well nothing left to do but SHOP!!  I'm Wishing You All a Very Merry Christmas, and I hope it is shared with Family and Friends 2015 Is On Its Way!

The Holidays Have Arrived...well not quite!

Hi all, The days are going by so fast, and the only thing I've managed to do here at the house, is a deep cleaning, something I like to do every year before I put up all the Christmas Decor. So far all I have up is the Poinsettia Garlands in the Main Bath, pitiful..But we are having the carpets in the whole house cleaned, so it will be the middle of the month before I get started, really cutting it close.

In the mean time this is the second year I have helped with the Nutcracker Tea, this is a charitable event that is associated with the Make a Wish Foundation. This event is hosted every year by Claire Duffy, and has grown in size and has become more lavish. I help put together the centerpieces for about 40 tables.

My first attempt at decorating Gingerbread Houses too! Such a fun event!
The Tea has about 400 guest and they not only have a fun lunch, but they are given an abbreviated performance of the Ballet "The Nutcracker", Clair's Mom, Felicia is the Grand Dame of the whole event and it is her dancers that perform.

Last week I decorated Dr. Duffy's Office for Christmas. I do this about every three months, the change of every season, It's always fun coming up with different designs every year!

I always love the topper to the main display cabinet in the lobby, this year it is in Red, White, Silver and Green, painted twigs from my garden white and added them to finish it off. I also rearrange the shelving in the cabinets and add Christmas touches throughout the offices.
Now all that is left is for me to do is to get my home decorated, and get some outside lights put up before we are labeled the neighborhood Grinches!!