2010: Before and After

I can’t believe it’s almost 2011.  This past year has been mighty productive around the Horvath House.  Here’s a look back at what we accomplished this year.
We finally got around to painting and decorating the guest room.  It was a long process, but the results were worth the wait!
 
We introduced our DIY ottoman coffee table in the living room and banished the Queen Anne style one to the den.  We also got a new console table (not pictured).


We built new stairs leading into our English garden, too, and fancied up the space with a new bench.  We also had several gum trees around the property cut down and a few other trees trimmed, which lead to fewer leaves and gum balls this fall.


I also finally got around to refinishing the vanity and painting the guest bathroom.  I am so pleased with how this project turned out, and will be doing a similar treatment to the master bath, soon!


2010 was a busy year for my paint brush!  The den got new colors from top to bottom.  We also finished the den’s two upholstered wingchairs! (The second chair is not pictured… I would go take an updated picture for you, but the den is currently wearing Christmas attire.)
 
We re-carpeted the second set of stairs, so now all the stairs have the same carpet.


I spread the painting joy upstairs, too and tackled the dining room.  This room also got updated with new chair cushions!
 
Our last major accomplishment this year was power washing the exterior of the house and deck.  What a difference that made!


There were a lot of things we didn’t get accomplished this past year, and those things will go on our to-do list for 2011.  Here is our wish list for the upcoming year:

• Redecorate master bathroom with new lighting, faucet, paint, refinish vanity, and frame mirror.  Woot!
• Repaint office, kitchen, and bedroom, possibly even the living room, hallway, and foyer?
• Build fancy new shared desk for office.
• Replace grungy carpet in den with laminate floors FINALLY! Please say 2011 is the magic year!
• Curtains for den windows (botched attempt #1 in 2010).
• Install shelving in garage for storage
• Convince Michael to let me paint the kitchen cabinets!
• Landscape mailbox bed, mulch backyard beds.
• Rebuild deck…  another year passes and I still have to write this on the list….
• Make plans to clear out back line of property for a sunny vegetable garden!

Hope you, too, are making bright plans for the upcoming year.  See you all in 2011.

 

A Sweet Christmas Table

We interrupt this blog silence to bring you… THE CUTEST THING EVER!  I wasn’t planning on posting anything this week (while I recoup from general Christmas mayhem) let alone post something Christmas related…. But, when these cuties hopped into my basket today at 50% off, I had to share them with you.

I give you, A Sweet Christmas Table:

I’ve been on the lookout for peppermint themed tableware for my Christmas kitchen tablesetting.  Today I stumbled upon these fancies at Pier 1.  And it just so happened that I already had a cute, coordinating candle arrangement on the table!

I even brought out the little embroidered fabric cocktail napkins I have been hanging onto for a while.  They look so darling with this simple setting.  The cupcakes are actually candles that I found on clearance at Kohl’s.  (The icing part of the cupcake lifts up to reveal a candle in the bottom part.)  They were so cute, and matched the theme, so I thought they would be precious sitting on top of the little candy plate… I love it! 

And there you have it… the cutest thing ever.

I’ll be back to share the rest of our Christmas bounty, which will be showing up in lots of projects around the house… that’s because this year instead of asking for sweaters I asked for housewares! :)  And Santa delivered…

Happy New Year to you!

We wish you the merriest!

 

  Happy Holidays Friends! 

Have a wonderful Christmas and we’ll see you all in the New Year! 

Don’t forget to hang up your sock!

‘Cause just exactly at twelve o’clock, he’ll be coming down the chimney, down!

With only four days until Christmas, finishing our new stockings was high on my holiday to-do list!  Granted, I still have gift for others to finish, but I have to think of myself, too! :) 

I used cream wool for the stockings and faux fur for the top, plus an assortment of sparkly and shiny embellishments to personalize them.  I finally got around to stitching on the cuffs this morning and now I can check those off the list!  Here’s a play by play:

Step 1.  Choose your stocking shape and fabric.  Cut out a front and back for each sock.  I cut a lining for mine, too.

Step 2.  Choose your embellishments and design.

Step 3.  Embroider your design or add trims to the front.  Michael’s got embroidered silver snowflakes, while mine got a gathered wool ruffle and pleated satin ribbon topped with a velvet trim.

   

Step 4.  Pin your front to the back with right sides together.  Sew and turn.

   

Step 4.  Insert hanging ribbon in top seam, and add fur cuff to the top.  Embellish with tassels, ornaments, crystals, buttons, and fringe!

Step 5.  Hang up your sock for Santa! :) 

 

While I was over here, I decided to add some more sparkle to the mantel, too… in the form of glittery snowflakes!

I also added a sparkly sentiment in the center.  I made the NOEL from wooden letters spray painted silver and gold and dusted with Martha Stewart glitter in smoky quartz. 

   

 

Now that my stockings are all set for Santa, I suppose I should get back to finishing the last few gifts for my family! :) 

Happy Last-Minute Christmas rush to you!

A Very Guthrie Christmas

Since you’ve seen almost all my decorations already, I thought I’d give you a look at some of the creative Christmas displays around Fort Guthrie.  A few of these are styled by me and some are styled by my Mama.  I went to visit this her weekend and had to take some pictures around the house.  I think she enjoyed it when I said, “Mama, this is so pretty I have to put it on my blog!”

We start in the living room with the coffee table centerpiece.  My mother put this together and I love it! :)

     

I set up the Christmas village on top of the bookcase this year.  It is so cute!

 

Santa is arriving via hot air balloon in Dickensville! :)

The dining table is set for dinner with red linens and Spode Christmas Tree china.

  

Glittery poinsettia napkin rings,  silver flatware, and holly stemware complete the place settings.

Over on the buffet, garland and pinecones reflect in the mirror, and on top I am displaying the NOEL letters that I made over the weekend.  See them on my mantel in a future blog post soon!

   

Abby’s little Christmas tree in the parlor is decorated with purple, pink, red and blue! 

And lastly, we’ll head outside to Papa’s garage, which we are now calling “Santa’s workshop”. 

 

Only 5 more days til Christmas!  Guess that means I should get off the blog and get back to the sewing room! :)

I’ll be back soon with more Christmas fun!