Merry Christmas

In the holiday spirit, I transformed the Green Valley wreath one more time with vintage postcards, small clothespins, book pages and letterpress letters. I have a new appreciation for old Christmas postcards especially ones with wintry landscape scenes. They look so quaint and nostalgic! You can also easily personalize your wreath with family photographs or holiday cards to enjoy during the new year.

This time of year can be difficult, but I hope you take a moment and embrace the little joys this holiday season. One of my joys is a new tradition my family started which includes lighting a candle in honor of my Mom while we exchange gifts. The candle symbolizes her eternal love and presence during the holiday season and throughout the year. This comforting gesture means the world to me and is one of several new traditions I plan on carrying out for years to come. I would love to hear the holiday joys you are experiencing.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas filled with traditions, love and special joys!

Vintage Collection Wreath + Giveaway

Did you know you can order a holiday tree and wreath online and have it delivered to your house? Crazy, right?! Green Valley Christmas Trees provides premium Christmas trees right to your door with guaranteed beauty and freshness. I do about 90% of my holiday shopping online, so I gladly accepted Green Valley's challenge to decorate one of their beautiful wreaths in vintage style.

During the process I realized I don't really have vintage Christmas decorations, so I decided to use the wreath to display existing vintage collections like old skeleton keys and keyhole plates. These items can also be found at your local fleamarket, antique shop or on eBay. I covered the beat up pieces with white gold glitter, inlaid red glitter on the back of the preserved pieces and topped them all off with red ribbon.

For the holidays, Green Valley Christmas Trees is offering Please Sir readers a special 10% discount on all orders. Simply use promo code PLEASE10 - valid until December 17th. I would also love to give away THREE handmade ornaments from the wreath. To enter, please visit Green Valley's site and leave a comment below with your name and e-mail. Feel free to also share an idea or personal collection you would like to display on a wreath. The winners be chosen at random on Friday, December 17th.

Link - Green Valley Christmas Trees

Thanksgiving Inspiration

Natural Thanksgiving Setting from Southern Living

Vintage Thanksgiving Postcards for tables, invites or thank you notes.

Inspiring Leaf Art by Jessica Baker via JunkCulture

Brass Leaf Candleholders from Hindsvik

Gorgeous photo shoot from AdoreVintage

Thanksgiving Table Settings from Martha Stewart

I'm excited for Thanksgiving this week because there will be plenty of family, food, drinking and time off from work. All things I love! Plus, Dave and I are staying in a bed & breakfast for the holiday and it will be my first B&B experience. I can't wait! To curve my turkey cravings, I'm finding Thanksgiving inspiration from images filled with pops of orange, falling leaves and vintage hints. I also love the addition of teal colored pieces to your Fall table setting and wardrobe to break up the traditional orange and yellow color scheme.

How are you getting ready for the holiday? And yes, having a cocktail does count!

Air Plants

My new plant obsession is tillandsias, also known as air plants. They are affordable, easy to maintain and lovely by themselves or paired with other plants. Flora Grubb Gardens provides stunning photographs to get you air plant inspired including beautiful wedding arrangements and a web shop. By the way, the wedding decor is amazing and you can see even more fantastic photographs at Feather Love Photography. If you want to start small (like me!) then check out Tortoise Loves Donkey, an Etsy shop filled with a variety of air plants and terrariums. I can't wait to start experimenting with these little plant joys...the possibilities seem endless!

Do you like air plants? Have any ideas or tips on air plant care?

Link - Flora Grubb Gardens

ShelterPop Tuesday: Vintage Handkerchiefs

Inspired by the framed handkerchiefs in the film Julie & Julia, ShelterPop discovered Lin's Antiques & Collectibles as the source to start your own vintage hankie collection. Snag a couple of state handkerchiefs, apply frames and ta-da...easy, conversational wall decor! I'm going crazy over the beautiful colors and fonts. For more vintage handkerchief tips check out ShelterPop.

Link - ShelterPop Julie & Julia's Framed Handkerchiefs

A New Kitchen with Fond Memories

Built in 1953 this charming yellow kitchen is full of old memories. In over a year a young couple, Merethe Bright and Tore Dahle, remodeled the cottage with modern updates like new paint and hardware. Originally owned by Merethe's grandmother and grandfather, the house is still furnished with sweet memories of her childhood. Like the vintage radio, which played her grandparent's favorite songs, and the blue stools she used to sit on during lunch with her grandparents. I love this kitchen because it's filled with sunshine yellow, modern elements, vintage appeal and an adorable history.

Add your own character and these pieces to get the look:

1. Louise Campbell Fiducia Magnetic Vases & Candlestick Holder ($225.00), 2. Eames Inspired Sliver Chair with Wire Base ($290.00), 3. Ice Blue Hi-Light Task Lamp ($79.00), 4. IKEA PS SÅGA Chair ($69.99), 5. Ark Lighting Black Hanging Dome Reflector Light ($78.75), 6. Black Lace Oilcloth Yardage ($7.75), 7. Tolomeo Mini Table Lamp ($260.00), 8. Calendar Wall Flip Clock ($99.00), 9. HAY-Hee Dining Chair

For paint try Benjamin Moore's Good Morning Sunshine.

Link - BOLIG Magazine

Chalkboard Piano

Sorry for the light posting this week, but I've been swamped with real work duties. Not fun, but necessary to pay the bills. Do you know what is fun?! This chalkboard painted piano created by Heather from The Modern Hive. I discovered the neat idea from My Happy Little Life where Kelly recommended using the chalkboard area to write song assignments and keep track of practice times. Functional and fun...now all I need is a piano!

Link - The Modern Hive

Inspired by Kris's Color Stripes

Get inspired by the handmade projects and color trends available at Kris's Color Stripes. As a longtime reader I am constantly amazed by her creative pursuits like the mushroom wreath, handmade butterflies and framed candy packaging. Her post on the importance of packaging is also a great read and don't forget to check out her stunning 2010 wall calendar available on Etsy.

On a side note, the snow is coming! In my area any drop of snow = freak out. Milk, bread and water sell out, people hide and you don't even think about driving your car. Looks like I will be spending the weekend indoors...after I get milk and bread of course.

Link - Kris's Color Stripes

Woolly Pockets

Just because winter is arriving doesn't mean you can't enjoy lush, green plants. Check out Woolly Pockets - flexible, breathable and modular gardening containers. Handmade in the USA from recycled plastic bottles, these soft-sided pockets can be used indoors and out. Plus, they look great on the wall, on their own and in groups. They also have built-in moisture barriers to help protect furniture and can be folded flat for easy moving and storage. So, no more plants peeing on the carpet or lugging around bulky pots! Can we say vertical garden in the kitchen?!

Vintage Collections

Vintage collections are a great way to add interest, texture and fun to any room. Design company Lost Found Art specializes in sculptural installations and assemblages using antique and vintage pieces. Above is a glimpse into their unique collections including pinball games, vintage carpenter paint brushes, space ray guns (my fav!), antique hand mirrors and metal children's beach pails. Besides selling these special pieces Lost Found Art also presents interesting display ideas for showcasing an unusual collection of items.

Who would ever think tricycle seats and antique bunsen burners could look so good? Luckily Lost Found Art did!

{found via new favorite site - Junkculture}

Cafeteria Tray Decor

Lately I've been a little obsessed with cafeteria trays. They are fun, graphic and can be used in a variety of ways. Like the cafeteria tray decor in Lemonade, a hot lunch spot in Beverly Hills, California featured on the green living blog Daily Danny. Besides the colorful tray arrangement, Lemonade also uses Dixie cups as ceiling decoration. Ok, so I know mounted cafeteria trays and Dixie cups may be a little much for the average kitchen, but it's fun to think outside of the box. Repetition of simple designs can make a big statement in your home or business. Don't be afraid to play with materials and allow yourself to have fun. I'm continually reminding myself of this especially when stumped with a design dilemma. Great ideas come from playing and utilizing your childhood imagination!

Wild at Heart

It's hard to resist the beauty and smell of a beautiful arrangement of flowers. Based in London, Wild at Heart has an inspiring online gallery of floral bouquets, arrangements and interiors. Can't you just smell the floral goodness?

One day...yes one day...I will learn the art of arranging flowers! Right now I'm a stick-them-in-a-vase-kind of gal. If only I lived in London and could learn from the designers at Wild at Heart. For now I obsess and dream over their gallery. Oh and by the way - doesn't that vintage table look familiar?

Guerilla Love Kit

Become a sneaky cupid and spread a little love with the guerilla love kit by Cori Kindred. For your undercover love operation this kit comes complete with:

- 6 pieces of chalk for impromptu artwork or messages of encouragement.
- 10 love fortunes typed on a vintage typewriter to hide where they’ll be found by someone who needs to hear them like in a payphone change dispenser, bike basket or tip jar.
- 6 gorgeous heart stickers.
- 3 “you are loved” cards to stick in a library book, drop in someone’s bag or leave in a mailbox.
- 1 heart punch for surprise hearts in uncommon places like on a leaf during a morning walk.

All these goodies also come wrapped in a handmade pouch. So clever...isn't this kit adorable?!

Purchase this kit and more inspiring items at Cori Kindred's online shop!