Chain link carpet

Finally I scored high and found not only an incredibly affordable, but also stylish carpet solution for my living room.
Looking through eBay I discovered a new PB navy wool chain carpet. For- get this - $299!
It ended my search and all I needed was to order it and put it in place...after convincing my better half that NOW was the perfect time to buy a carpet!!! As you can see, he was ready too.


I love the graphic element it brings to the room, counterbalances all the red from the leather sofa and chairs.
It is super soft and warm.
Please click on images to enlarge.




We were expecting delivery not before Dec 1, but got it a day before Thanksgiving...and I am so happy with it!
It adds so much to the room and right before the holidays it is an early gift!

To see my post at House & Living about it go here.

xx
Victoria

Just Paint It!

Grey on grey from the gorgeous Bed Of Flowers in Holland

A simple blue chair makes this entry hall.

It's hard to go past white painted furniture on white floors and walls.

Love this modern update on shabby chic at Bed Of Flowers in Holland

Even Ralph Lauren is getting into it....

I have to admit I still feel a twinge of guilt when applying a first coat of paint on a perfectly nice piece of wooden furniture. On my recent travels shooting house stories for the glossies, I saw some particularly good examples which I can't show yet as they have not been published!

In the meantime, here are some favourites from my files.

I am making a long list of pieces I need to do myself, both for home and the beach cottages...

First up, I have to paint some old cane furniture for my verandah and I am wondering if I should paint them all white or add some colour?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Before the Advent weekends, which are celebrated in our family according to German tradition we begin to decorate the house for Christmas. Advent are the 4 Sundays (each representing Hope, Peace, Joy and Love) leading up to Christmas Eve. (This is also the evening when we give and receive gifts, at around 6:00 PM, not in the morning of Dec. 25)


Usually we have a wreath with evergreens and four candles, every Advent Sunday we add a light.

image

I love the tradition and I have a small red four armed candle holder, which every year gets wrapped in green and sits then on our family dining table...
In Germany people usually do not have their trees set up before Christmas Eve, but we tweaked this in the American direction and enjoy our tree from mid December.
It is nice to have these four Sundays to not just go out and shop, but have time to sit together, sing or make music, have traditional Stollen and cookies and make plans for the new year. And although two of our four children are thoroughly American kids, they have embraced the traditions with pleasure and I hope they will one day continue this in their own families.


This year I attempt to read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in installments, I think the children will now have the patience to sit through it...


And we will watch the movie, which came out 2009 and see it together.


Of course since they were little, they have had also each a Advent calendar, with 24 small windows to open every day in December till the 24. Pictures or tiny sweets mark every day till Christmas. They have become now also more common here in the States.

It could be like this (see here)
Or like this:


Found here.

We have a collection of small wooden Rauchermannchen-smoking man, little guys which burn small incense cones, yummy!



You may have noticed I have not gotten any greenery yet, I will go tomorrow to our nursery, a lovely place - coincidentally the owners are German and they make beautiful Advent decorations, wreaths, flowers, evergreens, trees. We have bought with them for the last 10 years and I look forward every year to Christmas time at their place. They serve coffee and Stollen every Sunday until Christmas and I feel quite at home there!
I love all our holiday traditions. Will you tell me a little about yours?


xx
Victoria



Images as labeled, book and movie via google image, all others by V.Zlotkowski

Thanksgiving 2010

May this Thanksgiving be filled with the blessings of the harvest season and our hearts grateful for all what we have received!
Wishing you a joyous day with your families and friends!

xx

Victoria





Picture by V. Zlotkowski

Frosty's Friend

To create this card I used Stamps: Stampendous Snowman.  Great Impressions Snow Flurry.  Card stock: White hammered, purple, green.  Papers: DP Smirk Noel.  Blue, pink, purple.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Tim Holtz Distress.  Colouring: Copic markers.  Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large.  Punches: Martha Stewart Scallop Dot.  Woodware Snowflake.  X-Cut Snowflake.  Embellishments: Papermania adhesive gems, tinsel ribbon.  Buttons own stash.  Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal. 

Hints and Tips

To add more dimension to the scarf I used a shaping tool on a foam mat to make it more curvy then I attached it using foam pads.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Fab 'N' Funky Challenge: Challenge #50 Going with the Flow.

Crafty Creations Challenge: Challenge #95 Christmas is Coming.

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Cut it Out.

Beach Vintage in the Weekly

Simone looked beautiful on the day in her Lazybones dress.

Here is the opening page of the article.

Its a shame Simone's sewing room didn't make it - its interesting to see where she works!

The whole house is so light and open - perfect for such a warm climate.

Love the rustic, shabby chic look at the beach.

Just out today is the Christmas issue of the Australian Womens Weekly with a story we did on Simone at Beach Vintage. What a dynamo and terrific girl is that Simone!

Simone's beautiful waterfront home is in a part of Queensland I had never been before called the Redland Shire between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Like many of you I have been a follower of Beach Vintage since I discovered blogging and walking around her house, everything seemed so familiar. Meeting the people who own these inspiring places is always such a pleasure.

As usual, as there is never enough room to publish all the photos we like, so here are some more.

The Weekly have done a lovely job with the story and its a thrill for me too to be contributing to such an Australian icon.

Frosty the Snowman

This card was created using Stamps: Papermania Christmas Stamps 2009.  Great Impressions Snowman.  Card stock: White hammered, green.  Papers: DP K&Co Seasonal.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Tim Holtz Distress.  Colouring: Copic markers.  Dies: Spellbinders Labels Four.  Marianne Creatables LR0125 Snowflake.  Punches: Woodware Snowflake.  Embellishments: Flower Soft Polar White.  Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal.  Papermania Adhesive Gems, brad.

Hints and Tips

To create a snowy background with distress inks, apply the ink to the card then spray with water using a fine mister then dab off with kitchen roll. 

This card was entered into the following challenges:

A Spoonfull of Sugar: Challenge 131 Anything Goes.

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge: Christmas With No Red or Green!

The One Stop Craft Challenge: Challenge #107 Snow People.

Joyous Hymn

To create this card I used Stamps: Penny Black Joyous Hymn.  Card stock: White hammered, green.  Papers: DP Dovecraft HoHoHo.  Green.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Tim Holtz Distress.  Colouring: Copic markers.  Sakura gel pen Glaze.  Dies: Spellbinders Labels One.  Punches: X-Cut Embossing Silhouette Holly.  Embellishments: Papermania Adhesive Gems. 

Hints and Tips

The embossing stands out more if you emboss on pearlized paper.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge: Week 128 A Sketch.

Penny Black at Allsorts: November Challenge It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club: Challenge #44 Christmas Anything Goes.

Victoria's holiday bazaar

May I invite you to a holiday bazaar, filled with culinary and other inspirations? The holidays approaching fast and I guess I am somewhat late with this, but perhaps not all of you have completed their shopping's - some might just starting to look....


This is a very special charmer....from kimarijewelry
.
How about this blue black jade bracelet at lylaaccessories.

Flights of feather fancy! Clutch purse from mermaidsdream.


Get the mint swirl copper lampwork earrings at dkjewels.


Do you know an art lover who will appreciate The Maiden Voyage from janethillstudio?


One of these sweet cuties for a cuddly toddler from minu?


Telling time could be 'felt' here....at evgie!


Or perhaps a doll for a little boy? Get him one at the hazeldoll shop!


This oil lamp will brighten the darkest night.... from StudioKahn!


And I adore those monogrammed pillows from organicblankees.


And while we are still at home accessories, how about these charming bookends via nextdoortoheaven?


And I am sure someone can find a lovely spot for this stylish bench from ljindustries.


And what about this sparkler from bambina?


Any guy will like this cool duffel bag from RAGGEDedgeGear.


And I love this pad for a man's desk. From doneleather.


And speaking of guys, how about that? From kaylim.


And I know at least one girl who would love to wear these glasses...from Estemporary!


Or maybe this cool dress from here.


Baby, it's cold out there. Warm up and get this poncho at sandmaiden.


And this lovely clutch is on my Santa list... from opellecreative!


And last but not least my German heritage gets the better of me: For the holidays do try Dresden Christmas Stollen! You can
get one here!
It's a wonderful tradition, eaten with coffee in the afternoon or a slice warmed for breakfast!


Of course sugar cookies and Nuernberger Oblaten belong to that tradition as well! You could get them at the German Deli.


And these cookies were made by Twosoutherngirls. Or you could bake some yourself....


And if you need to send some lovely cards out - Soulflower has great stuff. Tea towels too and more!

A long walk through this bazaar? Well, yes, but I hope you found something for everyone on your list!!!


xx
Victoria


PS: As with many items on Etsy, many are one of a kind and might be gone fast...


Top image via google image, all others as noted.