New year, new bedding

 I don't know why, but when January (okay February!) rolls around I always feel like switching things up.  Probably because everything Christmas gets put away and I'm left with a blank slate.  I've been considering updating our master bedroom for the last little bit.  I debated repainting in a darker blue shade, but I just couldn't decide.  Typically paint should be the last thing you update because it needs to coordinate with your bedding and art, etc.  Well I've updated the art, but not the bedding.  We have a lovely west elm comforter in slate blue for winter and an ivory pottery barn quilt for summer.  My dog Riley sleeps on our bed all day, and she sheds. A lot!  So, I keep the pretty comforter covered with an assortment of old sheets.  Not very appealing.  My collection of old sheets just keeps getting older and shabbier, thanks to the many washings and Riley-abuse.  I've been on the hunt for a more attractive flat sheet to use instead of white, like a printed sheet of some kind.  Unfortunately it's hard to buy just a flat sheet, much less with a large print.  I finally hit on an idea!  Why not take apart a reversible duvet cover into two flat pieces and use those?  After a search on Amazon, I came across this blue floral duvet cover (they also sell matching sheets) which reverses to the same print on the opposite side.  Perfect!

Amazon shipped it to me in one day (Thanks Amazon!) and after washing it, I set to work taking it apart.  I just cut the seams off the edges and removed the zipper at the bottom.  I bought a king size so I would be sure to have enough fabric after taking it apart.  Then I simply hemmed all the edges on the sewing machine and pressed it out.  It came with matching shams which I resized (they were king) and put on the bed to match. Then I added some throw pillows that had been languishing in the closet. I am loving the new look. And now when the top sheet gets dirty or too fuzzy, I can throw it in the washer and put the second sheet on the bed.  :)  Georgia has never seen my bed made up with fancy pillows, since I kind of gave up on all that years ago. She thought this was great and immediately jumped into the pile of pillows. :)  Riley also thinks it's swell.  And of course, now that I have acquired new "bedding" I can turn my attention to paint colors! :)

Happy February!

Christmas is here again!

 Greetings friends and followers!  This has apparently become a Christmas-only blog because I haven't been around since last Christmas!  I know my father is very disappointed in my lack of blogging because he gets all the accolades for his hard work and projects on the blog. ;)  So I am back with some Christmas decor for you!  I will try to come again soon and update you on a few other recent projects from Pandemic Year 2020 in which we painted the den, Georgia's room, redecorated the playroom and who can remember what else?!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, now on to the decorations!

Come on in, it's nice and cozy in here!  I had fun adding lots of glittery sprigs and pinecones to the stairway garland.  It's fancier than ever!

Junebug agrees it is nice garland this year.  To chew on.  

We got a beautiful, fresh-cut tree from the mountains this year.  I've even managed to only forget to water it one day so far!  I decorated with my usual red, gold and navy scheme.  And we got a second tree for the den, so I was able to concentrate all my most special ornaments up here and save the shatterproof and crafted ones for the second tree.  I got a new topper this year, too.  Its a bronze colored metal star.  And it's huge!

Santa is driving the little red sleigh again this year. Georgia loves to add some plush friends to ride with him. :)

We got a couple new houses (one is a barn!) for the village this year. Georgia and I play musical trees as she likes to rearrange them when I am not paying attention! ;)

The dining room is festive with red and plaid accents, as well as our gingerbread house on the side table.

My little baker had so much fun adding all the candies to our "Reindeer Barn" gingerbread creation.

The playroom is extra fancy this year with lots of tinsel, garland, lights and Christmas themed bedding.  

The nutcrackers are all up on the shelf, even the Sugar plum fairy ballerina.  ;)

Georgia's room has a little tree with all of her ornaments and crafts.

She loves the little red barn my mom got her last year.  She uses it all year as a nightlight. :)

In the den, we rearranged the couches for the tree.  Georgia did most of the ornaments on this tree, I only helped a little. :)  She had a great time arranging everything herself.

I did a new thing on the mantel this year and I absolutely LOVE it.  I am such a fan of symmetry, it's really hard for me to do anything asymmetrical, but I did!  I put all the stockings on one end (what a concept) and I think it looks great.  The paper scroll is from a few years back and I usually hang it in the dining room.  The snowy garland is my favorite, I just added an extra swag piece on the left side.  

I found this mercury glass tree at Target, and the top lifts off to reveal a candle inside!!  So cute!  And the picture frame has a dimensional die cut design in front.  It's from Michael's and I just couldn't resist!

I love our little downstairs tree. :)

Junebug loves all the cozy blankets everywhere!

Georgia is oh so excited for Christmas.  The gifts for her keep piling up under the tree and she is extremely anxious to open them!! :)  Hopefully Santa got her letter since we didn't get to visit him this year.  She has wishes for "a green dragon, red horse, hibiscus plant, Belle doll, and a red pedal bike."  I don't know how Santa is going to fit all of those things down the chimney this year, but as she tells me all the time, "He's Magic!" ;)  

Merry Christmas season to you all!  

Christmas Tidings

Greetings friends!!  It's almost Christmas and we are ready for some festivities here at the Horvath house.  We're hosting Christmas dinner for Michael's family this year so of course I have decked the halls, as usual, with everything red, gold and plaid!  I also added a touch of navy blue this year to tie into the plaid ribbon and blankets that I love!  Hope you enjoy a look around our Christmas house.

The tree is trimmed with red ribbon and red and gold and blue balls.  Georgia's tiny rocking horse is nestled at the bottom.  She found him at a thrift store and had to bring it home! :)

My sister had a length of pine garland leftover from her porch, so I took it and made a swag on the dining room doorway.  I love it so much.  I twisted through some plaid ribbon and pinecone garland.  And I'm adding my Christmas cards with tiny clothespins.

The railing got a new piece of greenery this year, too.  Thanks Mama!  

We finally found a Santa for our little sleigh that my dad built!  He's perfect and oh so jolly!

My mom gave us a few pieces to make a Christmas village this year since I knew Georgia would enjoy it.  Sure enough, she found some horses to live in the town. :)  It's my favorite tradition from my childhood.  I still put out my mom's collection for her at her house every year.

It doesn't quite rival my mom's village, but it's coming along.  Here is what half of hers looks like in her kitchen window.  She has a whole other one beside her tree, but I haven't taken a picture yet this year. :)

Meanwhile, back at my house...

My dad made me another sign, so I painted it with this adorable gingerbread theme!  Then I had to create a gingerbread display below on the flatware cabinet. :)  Georgia helped me decorate the gingerbread house.  It's missing a few gumdrops and most of its icicles because a little mousey keeps snatching them and eating them!!

I found this beautiful gold hurricane at Walmart before Thanksgiving.  I think it's the perfect touch.  Georgia loves to turn on the battery candle every evening. :)

My vintage sled is hanging out in the den. Isn't it cute?

I even did a little decorating in the bedroom. I still love this old cardboard garland that I made years ago!

Georgia is loving having a tree in her room.  She keeps stealing ornaments from mine to add to hers.  It's practically overflowing now!  My mom got her the little animated carousel, because HORSES!  :)

Georgia is ready for Santa.  She has been pretty good this year, so hopefully he'll find a way to deliver a "big, big, big, big, BIG bouncy horse, that's REAL!" ;)

Hope you all get what your wishing for. ;)  Merry Christmas from the Horvaths!