Christmas Home Touring.

I've longed to be part of an art group, for years!  Recently, after a lovely bloggers luncheon, and getting to know others who live close enough to make it work, I've seen my dream come true!  

We've worked on a couple of projects, and it's been so fun. As we talked about our various plans for Christmas decor this holiday home tour was born!! 

We started at my home, the farthest south of all. 

I got to use my cute West Elm salad plates for the first time, as I was serving a salad course. Polka dot mania! 

Here we all are, Me, Joyce, Jann, Ann Cathy and Joanne. 

Here is my piano with its white display!! 

Then we were off to Joanne's.   I did a Christmas house tour of her house last year, here on Pollyanne-reinvents, it was amazing, and I loved this year's offerings even more!!

Both she and I had birdcages in our trees!  What is they say about great minds? 

But as amazing as her house is, her play house is the best!!  It was windy that night, and she's straightening some of her lamp shades in the courtyard of her charming playhouse. I'm saving the playhouse pictures for a post of their own. Let me warn you, it is breath taking! 

She served and artesian cheese and bread course. 

Then we were off to see Joyce's house. 

Oh my!  What a charming nest she has. So many lovely displays tucked here and there!

I gasped at the loveliness of her bed!  Since I'm doing our Garret bedroom in this color scheme, I was absolutely smitten! 

This curtain treatment is made up of charming and sentimental bits of table clothes, her honeymoon night gown, an heirloom silk bed jacket and a sweet lacy child's slip!  Oh my!  I LOVED it.  She said she got the idea from Joanne's playhouse. 

Next it was off to Cathy,'s. She's a quilter and we loved seeing several beauties. 

She's also very sentimental and has many keepsakes, including this adorable hand made set of doll furniture... 

And this sweet hooked rug that was made for her when she was a child! How charming is that? 

Cathie had the soup course, and her pumpkin stew was delicious! 

Next it was Jann's, I love this chair and the door behind it! 

Jann's having fun with plaids this Christmas! 

What a stunning place setting.   She served meaty h'ordeuvres ... 

She has a red and white bedroom too, but just for the holidays!  Awesome! I adore her scalloped bench! 

Last of all it was ice cream pie at Ann's 

Loved her chalk art! 

And her mantel too! 

It was a wonderful evening! What amazing and talented women.  Merry Christmas all!  

Amazing Christmas Ornament Wreaths

Just a little post with some gorgeous ornament wreaths that my friends and I have made over the years. 

This one is LaVern's. I love the traditional colors. 

The red one is Wendy's, it has snatches of other vintage Christmas items, like a grouping of jingle bells, and old Christmas light reflectors! 

How stunning is this second wreath of Wendy's with pastel colors? 

This one hangs on Joanne's front door. It seems to be made of sterner stuff!  Don't you love the beaded garland draped on this one? 

Last of all is my pink ornament wreath. I made it 6 years ago, and loved it so much that I left it up in my dining room all year that first year. 

I still love ornament wreaths. Maybe I'll make a pink and red one for Valentines.  ... Oops gotta go, I think I saw some heart shaped ornies out there .... Somewhere ...

Jo Packham's Amazing Remodeling Sale!

So, have you ever had the thought, 'if I don't do this I'll regret it?  

Well that is what I felt when I saw this on IG posted by wherewomencreate last week. Jo Packham, who is the editor of the Somerset magazine that bears her IG account name, lives in a town 90 minutes north of me.

I've been addicted to a few of the Somerset  Magazines for a long, long time, after being introduced by my friend Stacy of Stacysshabbyshoppe fame 

Timing couldn't have been worse. My calendar for the week was overflowing... The day of the sale  I was scheduled to work and had the opening slot for a progressive Christmas home decor event that evening. 

Nevertheless I heeded that voice ...

Here I am with Jo and Joanne, whom I enlisted in the insane plan!  Meeting Jo was great. Such a kind and generous person!!

So much fun eye candy ... Is this the sweetest tree ever?  At $500 it was a budget buster for me!  But still ...

... I adored it... After all I do have Elphaba on my license plate!  

There were goodies too

This shard tiled washstand was a huge temptation too!

And for my cubby, multi-drawer loving self, this one was hard to leave behind. 

And, as always, architectural salvage is hard to resist.

So many wishes, and this German glass glittered wish, left behind because it was unreachable, typifies our feelings as we left this charming space with arms full of treasures!! 

I thought you might enjoy seeing my bounty!

Repro locker baskets!! 

A charming cupboard made from reclaimed wood and part of an old teller's cage!! 

A sweet set of fancy sewing machine drawers.

And best of all, is this drawer set, which was actually made by Jo...

On which she decoupaged the art work prints of friends!  What an heirloom. It will take a major shakeup in my craft room to fit it in, but then my craft room definitely needs a shake up What a great project for January!

Thanks for joining me for part of my perfect day, and no, I don't regret loosing a day working!  So glad Joanne is such a good sport!!  Thanks to Joanne and Jo!