Putting My Heart into the Valentine's Tree

As 2010 made its grand entrance with a wintry blast and a shiver, I found that while I was well-ready to say goodbye to the tinsel and Santas and angels and stockings for another year, there was one holiday guest I wasn't quite ready to bid adieu... The livingroom Christmas tree.

The truth is, I'd grown quite fond of the warm light it produced in the evenings. It was like a smoke-free fireplace in a way, helping chase away the blues of Seasonal Affective Disorder better than any candles I'd ever had.

So it occurred to me that this welcome holiday visitor didn't need to go quite so soon... if it had a little makeover. And that's how the Valentine's tree was born...
Green ornaments were traded for pink ones. Gold, for fuschia. Peacock feathers were replaced by small pink feathery birds. And Valentine's Day ribbon, which I'd gotten last year after the holiday for virtually nothing, worked its way in place of more Christmassy strands...

The red medieval-styled tree skirt has been exchanged for the pink, rose-printed Shabby Chic one I normally use in my guest room...
And some of the birds from that tree perched down here as well...
I already had some heart-shaped ornaments, which I use on the Christmas tree every year. They stayed...
And I added some with pink roses embedded in them, for a little extra Victorian flair...
The bow up top, printed in hearts, also was something I'd put away from last year. The angel that was there has been relieved of duty until next Christmas season...
In between putting the rest of the decor away, I've also been noodling around with my blue sitting room, transitioning it from Christmas to everyday. I'm still working on it, but it seems like it might be a good place for some fairy figures I have...

A little floral garland hides the lamp cords, while the "Joy" and a "Believe" are left from Christmas and seem to apply equally well to the fairy theme...
The white and blue Christmas tree has been replaced by a salvage yard cherub lamp and thrifted fringed shade. It still looks like it isn't quite right, but I imagine I'll figure out what it's missing in a few days...
Wishing you all a wonderful 2010 filled with warmth, happiness and inspiration!

Crafty Projects for Now and Later

On the threshold of spring, but with Old Man Winter still tugging at our hands, I'm finding myself looking back, and ahead at the same time, with decorating projects.

For instance, Pat Catan's craft store yesterday yielded Valentine's items for a crazy 75% off. Meaning everything there was basically $1...


I snapped up sparkling hearts to plop into center piece bowls, shining ribbons to bedeck the halls, a string of red lights to trim the mantle, and some pre-made bows because I am personally bow-forming-deficient...


It was one of those moments where I went in basketless and realized my arms were so unexpectedly brimming with goodies, I probably needed to fetch one.

But then I needed to focus on a new craft project, for the more immediate time... And I'm going to let you all in on the secret!

My friend Kitty is about to have her first child-- a girl to be named Chloe. And so I thought it would be nice to do a little something for Chloe's nursery. I know what bedding theme Kitty has chosen, so I'm going to follow that, and woodburn and paint a sign for the door reading, "Chloe's Room."

Here are some of the supplies for that...


And this is the bedding Kitty had chosen...

(Yes, you probably guessed, the reason my friend has been dubbed "Kitty" for this purpose of this blog is because of an unusual Hello Kitty fixation.)

Hello Kitty, in the pattern, seems most often dressed as a bumblebee, so I'm hoping to follow that for the sign...



I did a similar thing for an online friend in a cottage gift swap, creating a sign for her door using a Wizard of Oz theme. You can see that here.

So wish me luck with this new project. I hope to be able to show it to you, complete, next weekend.

And that's really all I have for you today. I'd better get workin'!!

• If you missed last Sunday's post, on how some thrift stores have stopped selling toys to comply with new governmental lead testing regulations, click here.

Otherwise, I hope you have a chance to do the sort of projects you love-- or the pleasure and peace of doing nothing at all.