Well, it’s nearly here…  I’m tired of the count down and really, really ready for Christmas morning.  I have a feeling that it’s going to be a good one… the boys are anxious for Santa’s arrival, I pulled some favors & scored some surprises, plus there is rumor of a WHITE CHRISTMAS here in Weston MO. 

So now to the GIFT WRAPPING… let me tell you that I am not a good wrapper, I stick with newspaper & tags and leave the fancy-schmancy stuff for the experts.  But those experts have some realllly good ideas that even I could pull off ~~ check ‘em out.  Holler if you have any ideas of your own!! 

A great way to Re-LOVE your Vintage Pins
from Real Simple

Maps as GIFT WRAP from Design*Sponge

All you need here is some white butcher paper, a little burlap & a glitter ornament or decoration.  So easy and sooo pretty… this link from StyleMePretty.com also offers a tutorial for some other gift wrapping ideas.

Just one of Martha Stewart’s 45 WRAPPING IDEAS.  Use cloth ~ a bandana, scarf, rice bag, fabric scraps… you name it.  Just a few safety pins, a nifty tie & a pretty bow can make your gift all tied up, pretty as can be.

These images from Calla Magazine are ideas for using Kraft paper which I have used in the past.  They suggest krinkling it up, then ironing it back out with your hands for a textured look.  I LOVE IT!! 

Wallpaper as Gift Wrap from Bugs and Fishes.  Another good reason to linger in the clearance aisles at your local hardware store.

 
Thrift stores and antique malls are always full of old music.  Use some for making your gift one of a kind!!  This is just one of Country Living’s 13 Wrapping Ideas!!

Great year-round, all-occasion
gift wrapping ideas ~ and materials ~ from Furochic.

“Frosty’s Hat” from HollyDoodleDesigns.com… too cute and an idea that you could definitlely add your own style ~ imagine the top hat with a big turquoise silk ribbon and peacock feathers??

MAKE THE GIFT WRAPPING THE FUN & CREATIVE PART OF YOUR DAY!!  Merry Christmas Eve Eve… love,fancy

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We are LOVING this new Antler Christmas Tree from Blair & Lora Pryor at Rockin’ B Antler Designs!! 

You can order it with {or without} permanent lights, and any size you can dream of!!  This one is 4′ x 4′ but let your imagination run wild… buck wild.

Available from Rockin’ B Antler, you can contact them HERE, or from any of the fine retailers that carry the Rockin’ B Antler products.

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Rustic * Western * Vintage MERCHANDISE

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God and Family are at the forefront of everything that Andy & Aaron Sanchez do in their business of creating furniture and art for homes around the world.  Their furniture IS art, as each piece is one of a kind, the designs based on how the wood and the stones that they use speak to them. 

Over the last few years Andy & Aaron Sanchez {a father & son partnership} have been creating smaller pieces of art for people who are just beginning their collections and are not yet ready to make a major investment in a large piece of furniture. 

The newest pieces being introduced this fall are Nativity Sets… just in time for the Christmas Season.

In their BLOG Andy & Aaron wrote this about the Nativity Sets… Even in a Christian home that reason can seem to get lost in all the excitement. In the shop this year we’ve stopped to reflect and work on something a little closer to our heart than conference tables and chess sets.  What is it? Perhaps one of the most famous scenes in history, commonly known as The Nativity.  To us this is one of the most touching moments in all history, as our Lord looked down and decided to come to this earth in the form of his creation that He loved. Knowing the pain and suffering that He would go through He still came. This was the love that He had for us.

** Click HERE for more about Andy & Aaron Sanchez **

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Rustic * Western * Vintage FURNITURE

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I probably should have posted this six weeks ago versus today since many of us will be doing the Christmas decorating deal this weekend… but, just in case you want to stretch out the fall theme a few more days, here are some ideas you can re-create in your own way… or you can just file it away for next year.

 
{Pic from Country Living, October 2008}
One of my all time favorites.

{Pic from MarthaStewart.com}
so simple & sweet.

{source unknown}

{Pic from Better Homes & Gardens}

{Midwest Living, October 2009}

{Pic from Better Homes & Gardens, October 2009}  (more…)

Dia de los Muertos ~ Day of the Dead ~ October 31 to November 2

A holiday that focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Due to occurring shortly after Halloween, the Day of the Dead is sometimes thought to be a similar holiday, although the two actually have little in common. The Day of the Dead is a time of celebration, where partying and eating is common.
{per Wikipedia}

I have always loved the notion of Day of the Dead celebrations.  In my family death has always been an open subject… not a matter brought up easily, but still not something to fear.  It will happen so let’s get all the cards on the table sort of thing. 

My Dad passed away on Halloween day three years ago which means that Day of the Dead celebrations are even more intriguing to me now.  I love the notion of celebrating his life on the day of his death.  Sometimes easier said than done.

Because it is that season I posted some Day of the Dead goodies on this week’s WISH LIST.  Seems strange to us Gringos to buy party supplies for dead people, but imagine going to all that effort to celebrate the lives of people that, even though they’ve passed away, have made us who we are.  What’s more, imagine that someday someone will celebrate YOUR LIFE with that much enthusiasm.

** Click HERE for our WISH LIST **

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Happy New Year to all!!  I know that it’s a fresh new year and time to move on from holiday decor but I just came across this wreath and I just had to share…  You could do this so many ways, different colors, all seasons & holidays.

{image from Pickles via A Cup of Jo}

Hope you’re enjoying your new year… Have a great weekend!! 
peace & love, fancy

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It’s going to be a realllly busy weekend here on the home-front, getting the house ready for next week’s house guests, finishing up last minute gifts, and tying on our yuletide.  Need a little more INSPIRATION for getting the last bit of decorating completed??  Here a few images I’ve uncovered… I’ll be adding more so bookmark & check back.  Hope you all have a weekend full of BIG fun and BIG blessings… xo,fancy

Nell Hill’s Christmas At Home by Mary Carol Garrity

Rustic, reclaimed Scandinavian Christmas
from Country Living Magazine

Lodge Christmas Decorations from Horchow
Most of these items are sold out but the image was just too pretty not to share.

 
Cowboy Christmas Decorations from HGTV

Hacienda Holiday from Mountain Living Magazine
Simple but perfect.

One more thing… our friend Anna Mayberry, co-owner of H-M Valley Ranch, wrote a great little article about decorating WESTERN for Christmas… check it out right HERE!!  Great job, Anna… thanks for the mention!!

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It’s hard to walk through an antique mall or flea market these days without coming across a vintage Horn Ash Tray. In fact many specimens from the age of smoking tobacco are showing up in sales and stores. Uncommonly called tobacciana {this was a new term for me}, these items once used for cigarettes, cigars & pipes are suddenly becoming popular as they remind us of a time gone by…

Tobacciana can include vintage ashtrays which make great, kitschy catchalls for jewelry & change {or peanuts & candy}, cool old pipes, and also match collections which are not only fun to dig through {we have a huge bowl of them at the Cactus Creek Store}, they also make clever additions to scrapbooks, collages and found art projects.

So let’s get back to the Horn Ashtrays… what to do with them nowadays that most of us have snuffed our butts?? Last week I was at my friend Anna’s house for a Christmas decorating bonanza and we used her collection of Horn Ashtrays for adding greenery and holiday cheer to the top of a dresser in her living room. A creative way to turn something “old” into something FUN & HIP.

Recycle * Repurpose * RE~LOVE

This idea will be featured on the Junk in my Trunk Radio Show {JIMT} which airs every Monday, Thursday & Saturday from 10am till 11am on Kansas City’s 1140am KCXL & 1160am KCTO. You can also LISTEN LIVE on the Internet… visit JunkMafia.com and click on the Little Red Radio at the bottom of the page.

** Click HERE for more JIMT ideas!! **

Sooo, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass to show off the rest of Anna’s killer Kansas City house ~ all decked out for Christmas. Below are a few pics of all we did that day. You can see more pics of Anna’s house, from last year’s Christmas Decorating, right HERE.

Y’all enjoy… smooches, fancy

(more…)

I once had a local reporter call to ask me for a Kansas City house that was full of COLOR.  Without hesitation I gave her the phone number of one of my favorite friends and clients, Anna.

Like most colorful souls, Anna has no idea how spot-on her style and taste really is… I always love my trips to her house so that she can share all of her new treasures with me.  There is always some little vintage knick-knack ~ an old pair of spurs, a Mexican rug, or a quirky new pair of earrings.  It is my JOY to style these treasures and contribute to Anna’s COLORFUL Family Home.

All of these pictures are from a couple of weeks ago when we had our annual Holiday Decorating session…

 When you walk into Anna’s home the first thing you see is the “wall of crosses” in their amber-colored hallway.  I love it so much that I have made my own “wall of crosses” in our basement.  This is a wonderful collection…  I can add to it whenever we go on a vacation, or to commemorate a big event, and it also offers up an extra dose of FAITH which we all need.

 A couple of years ago Anna and her Hubby added this family room to the back of their home.  The stone fireplace adds some funky, rustic personality to the space.  And, of course, the turquoise wall color is yet another testament to Anna’s willingness to play with a bright palette.  The chair is one she ordered from Cactus Creek, and the canvas poster is Double D Ranchwear, from Ann’s Turquoise.

This is a heavy iron frame that Anna found at a sale and supplied with a mirror.  For Christmas decor we added a vintage lariat bedecked with red bells.

In the family room there are glass doors that lead to the sun room.  The vintage rug above the doors was a find in an Arizona market.  For the Holidays Anna displays the terra cotta ornaments that her sister made for Christmas one year.  What a great craft idea for next year’s gifts!!

The leather bench is from Will Wyatt’s Cowboy Couture.  The bell-shaped rawhide lamp shade, and the iron lamp, are also from Cactus Creek.

 
Moving on to the formal dining room ~ turned music room.  It is here that Anna’s son practices guitar and also where they made space for a grand piano {a family piece that her parents restored 45 years ago}.  The unconventional coral walls add energy to the space, while the vintage rugs and textiles carry on the eclectic vibe that makes Anna’s house so much fun.

The wall hanging is a vintage saddle bag textile that Anna found in Arizona.  The angel was purchased at the fabulous KC retailer, Curious Sofa.

The dining area {painted the same striking amber color as the entryway} boasts paintings of Anna’s kiddos.  The talented artist is Anna’s friend Mike Savage.  On the table is a rustic collection of Mother Nature’s finest, including the massive California pine cones purchased from Vintiques {Anna’s favorite new shop located in Kansas City’s River Market}.

Also in the dining area is a Chinese Sideboard featuring a collection of tin Mexican candelabras from the antique malls & flea markets that Anna frequents.  

In the center of these is a “Mini Shrine”.  This is one of my favorite pieces in Anna’s house ~ on the back it says “Tin – Santurio de Chimayo 1922 Holy Dirt Room” ~ the artist simply signed it “G”.  The tin came from the roof they had to replace on the Holy Dirt Room.  {The Holy Dirt Room is located in the back of the chapel, the Dirt floor is said to deliver miraculous cures ~ Read more about Santurio de Chimayo HERE.}
 
On the wall hangs two Reverse Glass Paintings, one found at an estate sale, the other at a Santa Fe Flea Market. 

On the coffee table in the front room is a collection of red & green, plus elements inspired by nature, that was arranged for the Holiday Season.  The iron cross is Jan Barboglio, and the red drum is from an antique store in Atlanta.  The perfect composition… 
Thanks Anna!!  xoxo, Fancy

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Before we pack up all of the HOLIDAY DECOR, I have a couple of OPEN HOUSE installments today…

This FABULOUS front porch is from our first OPEN HOUSE, Lane & Nancy’s Log Home.  Nancy sent me this pic last week…
“I finally finished the container pots on the front porch and we hung the swags from the lanterns. The pots are real juniper and pine and winterberry branches.”

It’s simple, festive, and PERFECT for their Rustic Log Home…
to see the rest of their OPEN HOUSE, click HERE. Thanks, Nancy!!

Another OPEN HOUSE is on its way this afternoon…

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