OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS CARD -

MERRY CHRISTMAS DEAR FRIENDS,

Keith and I are so honored to have you as friends and welcome you to our home this holiday season...



We just moved back into our master suite after its remodel - still a few details to finish up - but we are so happy with the results and we are feeling more settled now that we are back in our own room.

James arrived home yesterday for Christmas and his cousin, Matt, will join us this weekend. James has a new job and is doing very well in San Francisco.

He's active in sports and loves to explore nature, hike and bike.  He has become an avid and very talented photographer. (Instagram: @jamezillasaurus).

Keith has enjoyed a full year of retirement and is of the opinion that it is 'awesome'.  He takes care of the garden and the dogs, my honey-do list, spends time with his friends and works out.

Bailey is turning 9 this month and is sweet, and big, as ever.

We added a new fur child this year when our neighbors' allergies grew too much to bear and they asked us to take their golden retriever.

Ziggy came to our house to stay and settled right in with Bailey. I had visions of me dragging him home from the neighbors each day... but he seems to know he belongs with us and always comes home.

  I am still designing and enjoying it. This year has been very very busy and I have worked on many exciting new projects including Holiday decorating for several clients (see my prior post).

Once the decorating was done at our house, I hosted a party with some of my besties.  Shawna Henrie was there and took some pictures (because that's what she does so very well (aka Bleudog Fotography) - she makes my home look good!)  So, I'm happy to take you on a little tour of our Holiday Cheer, courtesy of Bleudog Fotography..

Barnett Christmas Tour...

I was smitten with plaid ribbon this year...

lots of plaid and lots and lots of RED...

As you enter our home, there is a big fat urn with a big fat poinsettia - and if you look up after you enter you will meet Oscar...

decked out in greens and plaid ribbon..

and below him, little Oscar...

A little red berry wreath makes a world of difference at the bottom of the stairs

It was all about the plaid ribbon this year for me - I wove it all through the fresh tree in the living room...

decorated with mostly glass and metallic ornaments

and added more plaid with pillows

 and more red...

Elsewhere, I created some little vignettes of holiday cheer... 

 We brought out a few of The Hubs vintage toy truck collection

and decked them out in Christmas trees this year...

and added luscious velvet ribbon to the wreath on the mirror.

 In the dining area a vintage style Santa and a faux succulent arrangement top a small chest

 while the buffet overflows with the rest of the Santa collection...

 my Santa collection makes me smile - its one of my favorite things and one that The Hubs likes adding to every now and then...

There are not a lot of places to decorate in the kitchen... just the little ledge on the hood...

 the island...

and a small spot next to the sink...

The family room has a new tree this year

 My first artificial full-sized tree from Birch Lane.  

 We live in this room, and the main tree has always been in the Living Room - which we can't see from here...

so I love having a tree here !

This one is full of odd little ornaments I have picked up here and there over the years.

Paper and felt and wood and glass.  Some from travels, some handcrafted, some whimsical... 

they are my favorites!

This tree makes me so happy! 

Time for a little peek at the master suite....

  but only a peek...

 You can see from the blue tape...we are not quite done yet...

but soon!....

I hope you have enjoyed the tour and that the Holidays will bring you joy and an abundance of quality time with family and friends...

Merry Christmas!

Halloween and Fall decor tour 2017

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

With my Halloween party behind me, and the littles coming tonight for trick or treat, I decided to post the pictures my friend and photographer of Bleudog Fotography, Shawna Henrie took of the decorations.  This year it was all about the projects....  I was successful in completing a few on my list and it was so fun to take a little time to create...

Although I try to change things up a little each year, these little pumpkin lights are one of my favorite decorations and I do them the same every year.  Each year these happy little jack-o-lanterns light up the front of the house on the climbing roses.

While I may change their look and their position from time to time, 

the skeletons are also out front to greet guests each year...

 Wire lights are great to bring out the details.
One skeleton at the entrance to the front walkway...

while the second skeleton perches on a big cast iron urn near my front door.

The haunted clock in the center of this rose hip wreath was one of the projects I was able to complete ....

and I managed to pull together a few florals that should carry nicely into Fall and Thanksgiving

(with the removal of the black and white ribbons)

Once you are inside the front door, things get a little crazy....

 My favorite thing to decorate each year!

This was another project - and so fun and easy. 

I created three of these witch hats for the buffet area.  

I found this easy tutorial by Made in a Day, that you can try too...

Kitchens are always hard to decorate seasonally - all hard surfaces and work areas.

I have this spot to line up the little jack o lanterns ....

and the back of the stove top

and then the island....

and the rest is counters and appliances...
(but I did find a spot for Clive...)

Another project ....  one for each side of the fireplace...

The biggest project this year ...

I kept the mantle simple with black painted ivy and felted skulls...

The party was so fun...

Until next year....

Bailey says BOO.