Good to be back online!

Golly! I can't believe I have posted in almost 2 months...that's a new record for even a slacker blogger like me! I have a multitude of reasons why...first & foremost, I've been w/out my puter. *sniff sniff* I've had trojan after trojan...that my virus ware couldn't get rid of. It turned out to be a trojan that got past my virus ware, then disabled the virus ware & left me wide open for any other trojans that wanted to come in. I finally got my puter back but I'm still having issues w/ it...it might be time to buy a new one. :(

I was too busy to post most of my Christmas decor so I'm determined to share my winter decor w/ y'all...even though it's all down & packed away & Valentine's has taken it's place.

My winter wish for all of you is that you stay safe, warm & happy! Hang on! Spring is right around the corner!

I LOVE the all white Christmas decor that is so popular right now but I've been collecting vintage Christmas "stuff" for many years & it's almost all in the traditional red & green. I know that as soon as I get rid of it, I'll tire of the all white & wish I had it all back. I also have a large collection of snow peeps & when I tried to fit it in w/ all my Christmas stuff it was wayyyyy, wayyyyy too much stuff. Drove me nuts trying to display it all & have it look good too! The solution to both problems is to decorate separately for Christmas & winter...I've been doing it for several years now. So as soon as Jan 2nd rolls around, I put up most of the Christmas stuff (pine sprigs, etc stay out for both seasons) & replace it w/ my winter white lovelies.

Not sure I'm as happy w/ my decor this year as I was w/ last year's. (you can see last year's here) I've been able to take pictures but had no puter to upload them to & pictures always enable me to fine-tune my work. I have the ability to see things as I envision them, not as they are. A big aid in being happy w/ what you got but a huge hindrance for decorating. ;) Pictures force me to take off those rose-colored glasses & see things as they are. I almost always take pics, load them view them; rearrange & fine tune & take pictures again to blog.

This is my faux mantel.

One of the tags I made last year. LOVE it's quote, "Kindness is like snow...it beautifies everything it covers".

My blinged out wire snow princess (made her a couple years ago).

Another tag I made last year.

The china cabinet in my living room. (I don't usually do seasonal decor in any rooms but the big main room downstairs...used to but with as much as I do, it takes FOREVER)

Thsi was a project from Beth & Karla's Romantic White Christmas tut. I didn't make any of them for Christmas (no time!) but did convert several into winter projects. This one was meant to be for winter anyway, wasn't it?

Beth shows how to make these rolled "roses" in the tut.

I covered my "mitten" w/ lace from a tattered tablecloth instead of using cardstock or decorative paper & I used a sweet, wintry image instead of the Christmas one Beth used.

This was my coffee table arrangement.

Remember this snow peep doll I made last year? You can see my post about it here.

The top hats I made last year made a reappearance. (I don't know what those purplish spots are)

And this hutch was my Christmas present....2 years in a row! LOL We bought it off craigslist right before Thanksgiving, year before last. But it was dark mahogany w/ scratches all over it (got a deal on it!). I really, really, really wanted it painted before Christmas but of course, didn't. When Christmas rolled around again & it was still in the garage, I decided "nuh-uh! I WILL get it painted before this Christmas. And I did...just in the nick of time. ;) Spent all day on Dec 22nd & 23rd painting & all Christmas Eve, putting it in place & decorating it but I got 'er done before Christmas. Now I just need to paint the table & chairs.

This is another project from teh Romantic Christmas tut...a sweet tag made from an old picture frame border.

Beth & Karla give lots of tips...like shadowing the image w/ a marker (or brown map pencil, like I used)

The winter cottage I made last year.

I filled this tiered wire basket w/ lace, brush trees, snowbabies, old baby shoes & tiaras. Say "Hi!" to Sonny! ;)

This feather wreath is yet another project from the Romantic Christmas tut. I've replaced the wintry image w/ a Valentine one & it's still hanging up. (The wreath is hung on an iron piece that I use as a room divider over my sofa.)

I'm really not at all happy w/ the centerpiece on my table. I still ADORE the snow peeps I made last year but I think the arrangement itself needs some fouf'ing. The candy jar was full of silver-wrapped chocolates but those didn't last too long & I smartly decided not to refill it. LOL

LOVE my snowmans on a stick! Still can't believe I made them myself! You can see the post about them here.

Inevitably, I'm asked for an image when I share projects I make so I'll share the images I used now. The picture frame border that I used on the tag was from Karla & Beth's tut though so I can't share it w/ you. You'll have to sign up for the tut yourself to get it but I promise you won't be sorry!

I don't remember where I got any of the images but would like to give credit where credit is due, so if it was your's or you know whose it was, let me know & I'll be happy to give credit!

I'll share my Valentine's decor this week. I know most of y'all will be taking it down by then but I leave mine up all during the month of February. Have a happy Valentine's day everybody!