playing it forward

i got this card today, so i'm playing it forward & wising u all a merry christmas:



Santa says:
I will be making
a conscious effort to wish everyone a Merry Christmas this year ...
My way of saying that I am celebrating
the birth Of Jesus Christ.

So I am asking my email buddies,if you agree with me,to please do the same.

And if you'll pass this on to
your email buddies, and so on...maybe we can prevent one more
American tradition from being lost in the sea of"Political Correctness".

Christmas Inspiration Picture- Can You Help Me Find The Source?

How wonderful is this picture? This was sent to me by my friend over at Beach Brights wondering if I could help with the source (we both want to see the rest of the house). It looks familiar but I can't place it at this moment, if you have any idea please let me know!

Thanks!

Carol Of The Bells

I post this picture last year here, but I had to repeat it. It is second favorite Holiday picture, after this one.Image House Beautiful

If The Door Fits

This door instantly drew me in, I knew I had to see the rest of the house.
Doesn't this look like a place you would want to spend the Holidays?
So simple, so welcoming.
I love a wreath on every window.
To see the rest of this house visit Country Living.

A "Little" Holiday Inspiration

I am not sure if I put this picture on here for the decorations or the wood detailing of the room. Either way love them both.From the same house. I don't think there is any need to explain why I love this picture...
For the rest of Mary McDonald's house go to Veranda

Wreaths To Love

The entry above is perfection to me. A moss Christmas wreath?!! All that white!!!The urns!! Ok & the lantern & the garland. I just love it all. (Martha) If I had this type of house I would SO go there!! This year, I've been pretty slack wreath-wise (our entry, below)... There's a plain Home Depot wreath on our front door and at one point I had intentions of doing something special to it... and not that I've ever really not been slack actually... because the most I've ever done is added a ribbon to a wreath, but I always have better intentions for my wreaths.


It's not happening this year, but maybe for NEXT year! I was just browsing around online & looking at wreaths and found so many pretty ones & wanted to share. They all seem rather doable if you actually set aside the time to make them & one day when there are less renovation projects, I will. This perfectly simple & natural wreath featured in Country Living is by Minna Mercke Schmidt who has a BEAUTIFUL blog here. (She got everythign for the wreath from her own yard... ok honestly, I MIGHT add some things to my wreath now... this is just too pretty.)


And now here are a bunch of wreaths from Martha Stewart. Below is a perfectly traditional silver fir and holly wreath with a big red bow. It's just so classic & I could see it with white or burlap too.

Below, using 3 wreaths on a ribbon makes such a statement! So easy to do and it really is a show-stopper! (All I'd need to add is more ribbon & pick up 2 more HD wreaths!! EXCEPT I don't have the extra wide ribbon or the wreaths at home... which means it's probably not happening this year... )

Ok and I love this sweet gum one below. (I didn't know that's what the "prickly things" were called until today.) They're everywhere & I'd even love it unpainted. But you could spray them any color & this would be awesome... It would be fun to collect the prickly things with the kids too.

And below is a simple & ruggedly elegant pinecone wreath. The snow sprinkled on it is so pretty too. This would be easy to make, again if you only set aside the time to do it. (I think we will have to start Christmas prep in the summer next year??!!)

Oh and I just LOVE this mistletoe wreath below!! It's misshapen & looks so homey to me...

This is a beauty with golden cedar laced in the center... Again it would be really easy to grab a cheapie wreath from a place like Home Depot & embellish it with things from your own yard...

Below is a gorgeous eucalyptus & fir wreath. (Imagine the smell!! :) It looks like it might be over my head but who knows? It really is just stunning.

I could SO handle this one below. The cranberry string would be so easy to wrap around a standard wreath... THIS i can do.

Ok, and this wreath chandy below is just amazing. I love it over the drink station. This would be AWESOME for a party.

This one seems pretty out of my league too but just had to show it. A carnation wreath! And picture a poinsettia one! Definitely for an occasion & you'd have to be okay with them not lasting long... (I don't know if it would be worth it to me.)

And finally the wreath that launched a thousand blog posts! Eddie Ross's vintage Christmas Ball wreath!!Did you see his ornament wreath challenge? So beautiful & so much fun & MAYBE next year will be my year...

...At this point, if NEXT year really is "the year" I will be swimming in wreaths!! haha But aim high, and even if I only do one that would be an improvement on this year, right??

Merry Christmas!!!

xoxo,

lauren

My Favorite Holiday Inspiration Picture

This picture from the Cottage Living is my favorite Christmas picture I have found.
What do I like about it: the striped rug, the wing chair, the basket the tree is in, the wallpaper, the slate fireplace surround, the tree, I could go on and on. This picture, styled by Ann Turner Carroll, is labeled "Vintage Casual", which to me sounds perfect.
I put both images on here because the first shows all the elements but the cover is clearer.

Image Cottage Living Nov/Dec 2008

Green Thumb

Love the green against the white...Via Southern Living

Natural Decorations

I love holiday decorations made from things found in nature, especially berries...
Images Midwest Living

Simple Magic

Image Coastal Living

Delicate Mantel

Via HERE

Afternoon Snack

In an attempt to stay in the mood I am going to post a little holiday inspiration every afternoon until December. Hope you enjoy!Via HERE.

christmas in canada

get the look:

source list (clockwise, from top left):
1. David Stark holiday collection from West Elm
2. Antiqued glass collection from Wisteria
3. Peppermint Vanilla bundle from Method
4. Mosaic tree from Target
5. Snow Globes from West Elm
6. Marimekko Lumimarja tea cup & saucer and dinner plate from Velocity Art & Design
7. Bengal Bazaar Christmas stocking from PlumCushion
8. Winter tree candleholder from Inglenook Decor
9. Belvedere Bowl from ZGallerie
10. Turquoise mercury glass ornaments from ZGallerie
11. Dove ornament from Jonathan Adler

from Canadian House & Home, November 2009 issue.

Knitting 101

This year for Christmas presents I am knitting a few scarves for special gift giving. My Grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5 and I have continued to knit on and off over the years. I love going into yarn shops and feasting my eyes on all the colors and textures available. On my last trip to the yarn shop I was captivated by this most exquisite shade of teal blue. It is a blend of wool mohair and silk, and knits up as soft and light as a spider's web. I love working with bamboo needles. This scarf is super easy. Cast on as many stitches as you need to make the scarf the width you want and then just knit every row until it is long enough. For this season extra long and very narrow scarves seem to be all the trend.

Happy Knitting If you have any knitting projects on the go please leave a comment [here].
PS I am going on a plane trip...does any one know if knitting needles are allowed through security??

Helpful Videos:
Knitting 101 Casting on Stitches
Knitting 101 The Knit Stitch
Knitting 101 Casting off Stitches
Knitting 101 Knitting Tips

Patricia Gray is an award winning Interior Designer in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada who blogs about
"WHAT'S HOT" in the world of Interior Design: New and Emerging Trends, Contemporary Design, Modern Architecture and Travel,
as well as how your surroundings can enhance the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog™ 2009