The Painted Ladies of Grimsby

How cute is this circle of houses on the beach of Grimsby?

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source:   flickriver


source:  flickriver



 Pretty. Don't you just want to go? Or would you rather have a taste of their gingerbread details?

 signed, the willow

The Holidays 1

How were the holidays?  

We took some time to make a gingerbread house. Since "some" time equates to very little time, we bought a kit.  See above.

 This is how ours turned out.  Not sure that the icing is real icing as the instructions read "knead the frosting until it is the consistency of toothpaste."

It was an afternoon of giggles as we gave the gingerbread man and his snowman that lived in this humble abode some bulging eyes!


signed, the willow

We put the tree up

Unfortunately, we copped out of the sea creature theme this year.  And I'm starting to wonder what everyone puts on their tree to "tie it all together". In the 70s we used garlands. In the 80s, we pulled out the ribbons.  In the 90s, feather boas got tossed on our trees.  Somewhere the beads came out again.

We're a full dozen Christmas trees into the 21st century and I still have ribbons on my tree.  Help!

Here's what the internet consensus says.


Reclaimed wood:

Source: flickr.com via Molly on Pinterest

Au naturel:

Source: thatkindofwoman.tumblr.com via Brancoprata on Pinterest

post its:

Source: decorology.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

What about this?

source:  Etsy * The Doll City Rocker


Outdoorsy:

source: Design Sponge

Love this one!

Source: twoheartstogether.com via Bethany on Pinterest

tulle and burlap?

Source: doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com via Beth on Pinterest

Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com 

So, I'm thinking of starting this now for next year.  Maybe I'll do my baking now for 2012 as well.  Yack.

signed, the willow

Warm and Cozy

For us, the weather is just beginning to get chilly.  Warm and cozy here I come!



I think I might be able to swing this blankie.  How great would that look on my bed?  With a dog sleeping on top of it, of course.

Source: eismandesign.com via Val on Pinterest

No animal deserves to die and be mounted on a wall.  Instead, knit a deer friend for your wall!

Source: azcentral.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

I don't knit, but if I did I think I'd like to make this large knit throw.  I'd probably be able to whip it up in about a day....or not?

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Tanya on Pinterest

Love this hat.

Source: krentu.blogspot.com via Joyce on Pinterest

I'm imagining these to be cruelty free boots.  There's no reason why not.  They'd surely fit over my calf muscles with those laces.

Source: google.com via Joyce on Pinterest

signed, the willow

A Tree under the Sea

This year I've decided to do an Under the Sea Christmas Tree theme.

*Mila* said she'd make the Dolphin topper.  I'm making some blue whale ornaments from papier mache.  We're thinking of some other things to add to the tree, like:

some coral?

Source: zgallerie.com via Pinner on Pinterest

Instead of Gingerbread men and ladies, starfish sugar cookies

Source: cutestfood.com via The Sugar Tree on Pinterest

Source:  starfish garland  via brassbinnacle

perhaps a paper mache kraken?

Source: anthropologie.com via Teri on Pinterest

how can we take this from a necklace and turn it into a seaweed garland?

Source:  Vynn's Ravelings on etsy

I had trouble choosing on Petit Pan to pick which lamps to hang on the tree (seahorse? whale? sea tortoise? fishies?)

Source:  Seahorse lamp via Petit Pan

Et toi?  What are your theme ideas for your tree this year?  Or are you opting for the traditional choice?

signed, the willow

Post-Halloween / Pre-Christmas Decorating

November.  She's that in-between month.  There is no snow on the ground and I come from the land where snow lands on Thanksgiving.  Canadian Thanksgiving.  That's in early October.  But now I live in the land where snow might fall by Grey Cup (American Thanksgiving) or maybe by Christmas and it's the wet, non-pretty variety.  So, how to decorate?  Is there any point in putting up a Christmas tree yet? Nope. So, what's a girl to do?


Hideaways?  Me thinks me love.

Perhaps more tropical than we can hope for in November, but why not reach for the stars?

Source: frommoontomoon.blogspot.com via Charity on Pinterest

Cute little mini-cottage. This reminds me of the playhouse my dad and grampa built me with its dutch doors. How cute with books piled up to the rafters.

Source: imgfave.com via Laura on Pinterest

A great spot to stash a bed and create an instant hideaway.

Source: d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net via sarah nicole on Pinterest

What girl wouldn't love this spot?  Just guessing, or fantasizing here - but, do you think you can hide things in those stairs?

Source: myidealhome.tumblr.com via Candice on Pinterest

Every attic hideaway deserves a chandelier!

Source: justbesplendid.tumblr.com via Lina on Pinterest

I'm a little torn with this one.  Part of me is oddly creeped out that a kid would want to go in there and play.  While the other half of me says, what kid wouldn't want a secret hideout to go in and play in?  I just don't see a door handle on the inside of those rather large closet doors.  Sorry, I think this might be an epic fail.

Source: boingboing.net via Brittney on Pinterest

This is my favourite.  So easy.  So doable.  Seems to me I've seen this done in my own kitchen!

Source: countryliving.com via Rachel on Pinterest

signed, the willow

Wing Ding

I have this penchant for angel wings.  Not the small variety on a necklace.  The real big a** ones that hang on a wall!  No angels were harmed, and hopefully no birds were hurt either.

Source: desiretoinspire.net via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: None via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Ines on Pinterest

signed, the willow

Lighting

I have this (not so secret) fantasy to design light fixtures.  If I find one I like, I quickly figure out how I'd make one inside my head.  There it sits.  Sometimes the light fixtures come to me.  There they sit.

Here are some inspiring and interesting lighting fixtures:

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Krissy on Pinterest

so much to love here...

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: willowofthewood.blogspot.com via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: sweetpaulmag-digital.com via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: sweetpaulmag-digital.com via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: sweetpaulmag-digital.com via Krissy on Pinterest

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Krissy on Pinterest

And then I was inspired to put this together for *Mila's* room.

Isn't it organic?

signed, the willow

Closet Space

This would be a great post on my anniversary, not my husband's birthday.

...happy birthday *Steve*....


I've dreamed of a dreamy closet for the longest time.  Haven't you?  Somewhere to put everything?  Somewhere to hide out?



This one is all too elegant.  Maybe too elegant to share with a man.  Oh well, perhaps I'll keep it to myself?

Source: None via Patti on Pinterest

O, this one he'll share.  Sophisticated closet.  What's that?  A library off the closet?  Yowza!

Source: srgambrel.com via Helena on Pinterest

This would be my ideal dream.  However, I don't have a monotone wardrobe and I'm far too messy for this beautiful closet.

Source: google.com.br via Helena on Pinterest

I think it's the space that I love the most here and perhaps the image in my head that this could actually be my real closet.

Source: stylizimo.com via Helena on Pinterest

Perhaps a bit too masculine for me.  I love the window in here with a view!

Source: closet-shelf.com via Helena on Pinterest

The sexiest of all closets by far.  

Source: home-designing.com via Helena on Pinterest

They had me at the framed bags and the tutu.  Perhaps this is a NYC apartment closet?  

Source: dirtylittlestylewhoree.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

Organized and pretty.

Source: bhg.com via MissBRath on Pinterest

Do I have all these items to wear?  Yes, I probably do.  I certainly don't have all those shoes and boots.  I love my boots.  I also love the coloured rainbows of folded sweaters.  

Source: closetcouture.com via Smiley on Pinterest

Which one is your fave?

signed, the willow