Tree Cutting Sunday!

Today we went a tree cutting to my favorite, completely non-commercial tree farm in Easton, CT. Everett's is the name and it is like going back in time. Friendly family members sitting around the pot belly stove to stay warm offer you the saw to cut your own tree along with their smiles. No crowds, no parking lot attendants and fresh air you can enjoy in solitude, almost! A few other families, that's it!

We always look for a Blue Spruce and we found a lovely one this year! The farm is a quintessential, Norman Rockwell-ish Christmas experience! Do I sound overly enthusiastic? Go there, you will see!

We found the tree quite quickly this year but I must say, the outfit Pappa D wore to cut the tree may have been a factor. The day was sunny and about 40 degrees. For me, that warrants a few layers, a hat, a scarf and some gloves.

To others, namely my husband, the day was just like any other beach Sunday...with shorts & flip flops!

My job is the lights....and then the rest of the family gets involved.

 
A beachy bouquet of greens from the tree and some backyard shrubs add an extra touch of greenery!

And the Snowmen watercolors I did many years ago come out of hiding.

Minimal holiday decor but all very meaningful....just the way I like it.

Seashore Frames

Way, way back summerwise time, I had an idea. A trip to a flea market, a walk on the beach....a home made craft. It was worth the try and it has been an ongoing project!

 

 So these two images are the start.....broken wind fences, old canning labels that came from my trip to Brimfield.

The basic plastic miter box was my friend as I cut the frame pieces. It was something I had used before,  so no learning process here!

But, trying to figure out how to put a piece of glass in place was a different story! I decided to make a frame back from small pieces of trim cut as you can see here.

So I glued the back framework and went to the "framer" to get glass cut.

They were not very nice. 

 My frames were called rudimentary and other things. Sorry, I was trying to do something fun. They did cut the glass and I had a matte cut coordinating to each color scheme....more than I wanted to pay, especially when they totally "dissed" my hand made frames.

But I love these frames and the old canning labels!!!! The project is half done...two more frames to make to complete the group. Do I go back to the old framer???? Maybe, as long as they do not put their noses up at my homemade frames. Not sure what to do.

Stay Inside Sunday

Due to a slight cold, I decided to finish up a few projects and stay indoors this Sunday. Decorating for the holidays is something I keep to a minimum. I am not the Christmas Tree Shopper. But I like to try new things, with old objects or found objects and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't!

I had already started a centerpiece for the dining room table. Old green bottles, old candles stubs of many colors and a mirror base.....now what?

After searching for a basic tablecloth and finding none, I decided to make one. Here, a painter's drop cloth washed and softened becomes the correct size. Don't miss the old Singer sewing machine I have had since the 1960's!!!! Pom-poms, also quite retro will complete this simple square cloth that I can use for any holiday.

The completed tablecloth arranged diagonally on the drop leaf table, the green bottles, starfish for a seaside effect...Next project, the wreath.

 Inside, looking out.

I made a bow this year with wired ribbon. Lime green seems to following me or vice versa! Added some faux green berries to catch the light and brighten the other greens. If you hadn't noticed, our front door is pink and has adorned our humble abode for all 32 years we have lived here. Can't believe Papa D actually let me paint it that color so many years ago. He knew I was a little crazy way back then!!!

Horseshoe Hideaway

I had a lucky day quite a ways back. Three good things happened and one was finding a perfect little Horseshoe Crab washed up on the beach. I vowed to make it a home.

Finding a shadow box was harder than expected! Now onto creating a dark background to offset the precious specimen.

Prime, paint black and then due to brush strokes, add an acid free piece of cover stock. This will not fade in sunlight and the matte finish is what I was looking for.

The little horseshoe crab was the perfect fit!

One with the crab....photographing under glass is tricky. Here I am truly reflected and I love it.

Glued in with a sprinkle of sand from the crab itself in the bottom of the box!

And the final resting place for my little crab. 

A place of honor in the sunporch with another shadow box of shells.