My true love gave to me…
a pair of Meissen porcelain doves circa 1740.
If you have missed any of the 12 Days of Christmas, click here.
My true love gave to me….
A partridge tureen. He (she?) may not be sitting in a pear tree, but this antique partridge tureen circa 1758-1762 is sure to please you!
I thought I’d have a little fun this year and share my version of the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas! Stay tuned as every day up through Christmas I will have a post!
Some days there will be multiple posts – the regular content and then the 12 Day of Christmas!
If you have missed any of the 12 Days of Christmas, click here.
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
Welcome to Thursday Favorite Things! A weekly link party for all! This week we have some exciting news!
We have a new co-hostess! Please welcome Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home! She is fantastic and we are so happy to have her join us! I encourage you to check out her wonderful blog – she has a love for vintage and antique decor, DIY, tutorials, gardening and more!!
This week’s featured commenter is Pam at Everyday Living who shared her beautiful Christmas Tablescape.
Thank you to all who share with us every week.
Please follow all of your lovely hostesses, they are amazing women. Their blogs are the first on the list
or click the images below.
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
For this week’s weekly design inspiration, I am inspired by Charles Faudree’s Christmas cabin. I really love his style and wish he were still around.
Photos Jennifer Jordan, Captions Kristine Kennedy, by Traditional Home.
Designer Charles Faudree replaced a stone fireplace with a Louis XVI mantelpiece and matching side cupboards. The focus of the mantel’s winter scene is an 18th-century, hand-carved wooden horse and carriage. 
Only a rafters-high Christmas tree could compete with the “big room’s” 18th-century Belgian Verdure tapestry. Nicholas, a cavalier King Charles spaniel, and the cabin’s top dog, remains unimpressed. 
The 19th-century French country chaise longue in a casual ticking stripe offers fine views of Spring Creek. 
A 19th-century Swedish secretary from the Gustavian period displays a French tureen and fits easily into the cabin’s country spirit. 
Charles created his own old-world kitchen with walls of open shelving for his many collections, including Staffordshire chickens and a mixture of blue-and-white porcelain made in China, England, and Spain. The 19th-century Napoleon III tole tray features a charming winter scene. 
Wallpaper that mimics barn siding is a rustic backdrop for framed tiles and pewter pieces. Staffordshire chicken lamps, on a 19th-century pine buffet, flank a still life from the 1800s. Louis XVI chairs are covered in a small-scale country print.
Above the mantel, a garland of greens, fresh eucalyptus, berries, and miniature apples and pears surrounds a child’s portrait from the Louis XV period.
Nicholas enjoys a snooze on the grand circa-1800 Edwardian bed. Charles added the iron tester so canopy panels could hide the original log cabin’s front door, behind the headboard. Swedish checks and stripes from the rest of the house are carried into the room, but the blues are darker in deference to the log walls. 
The master bedroom is an appropriate setting for a vintage portrait of a British soldier. To the right of the original stone fireplace is a toile-covered wing chair from Charles’s custom furniture line. The horn chair at left is an English antique. 
The guest bathroom’s zinc tub is 18th-century French. Tulsa artist Janet Davie painted the vanity—an antique chest—in the Swedish style. The painted motifs she created echo the curves within the blue squirrel-print wallpaper.
Read the entire article here. Really a lovely article with even more pictures!
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
Welcome to my Christmas kitchen! In the kitchen, I have placed most of my traditional German Christmas decorations.
Below is a Christmas pyramid spinning like mad! I purchased it from Kathe Wohlfahrt on our most recent trip to Germany.
A band of angels surrounds the pyramid. I love these little figurines!
Below is my chef tree filled mainly with handmade German wooden chef ornaments.
These ornaments are made by Steinbach and Christian Ulbricht – found at local stores and on the internet. I love the chef tree! It sits in the corner of the kitchen!
Now just behind the kitchen sits the Steiff animal tree. Steiff is a German teddy bear maker, if you have never heard of them before. My mom and I collect these little ornaments – again, all handmade. Most of these are made from mohair. She put her collection the tree too – I forget which ones are mine and which are hers!
Some are ornaments, some are little miniature animals that we just tucked into the tree. We have been collecting them for years as well and purchase them on our travels to Europe – and also on the internet! My favorite is the kitten in the mitten bottom left. Here is the Steiff tree last year.
Here is the main part of the kitchen decorated for Christmas. I added the Juliska cookie jar in the center.
Small smokers sit next to the jar. Smokers are a great alternative to nutcrackers as they are quite a bit smaller so you can tuck them pretty much anywhere!
I love the vintage style wreaths that I placed around the candles. The spice topiaries are handmade from Salzburg, I wrote about them here.
The German Christmas nutcrackers sit on top of the fridge. Hmm, I kind of like them there!
Below, some more smokers sit on a cookbook shelf.
The dairy barn sits in the kitchen too. I love this little scene – had it since my childhood!
This part of the fireplace faces the kitchen.
Pomander garland adorns this more rustic mantel. This garland was also over the hood in the kitchen!
That concludes my tour in the kitchen! If you missed the rest of my Christmas home tours, check them out here: Part 1 and Part 2!
Shop the post (affiliate links):
I absolutely love using fresh cedar garland in my Christmas decor.
It smells so lovely and I love pretty green it brings into any space.
These garlands are not made just from any cedar tree – they are made from clippings from the incense cedar. Yes, one of the most fragrant cedar species!
You can dress it up or keep it simple. Looks great no matter what!
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
Daniela at My Little Old World shared a fascinating post about a Day in the Life of Marie Antoinette.
It’s Party Time
Thank you to all who share with us every week.
Please follow all of your lovely hostesses, they are amazing women. Their blogs are the first on the list. 
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
Classic Christmas decor with Mary Mcdonald. This article appeared in Veranda some years ago but her decorating is timeless so I thought I would bring it back from the archives. Photos are by Miguel Flores-Vianna and captions by Victoria Amory.
Louis XVI-inspired chairs with silver handles, designed by McDonald. Garlands and gilded grapes on 19th century French chandelier. Royal Crown Derby dinnerware and vintage English fine bone china. 
Custom velvet drapes. Repro Italian lamps. Swedish empire day beds. French scones. Spanish 18th century oil, Robert Scott chairs, bolsters in Clarence House velvet.
Anglo-Indian regency style inlaid chairs with cushion in Ralph Lauren linen, pillows in velvet. Custom velvet drapes. Peacock feathers, fans and faux birds from India, pinecones, velvet ribbon, and dried, real and faux fruits embellish the holiday greenery.
In dining room, spruce bay leaf and eucalyptus cuttings from the homes gardens in stone urn. Pedestal by Mary McDonald.
Federal sideboard. French 19th century mirrors. Sconces and shield shades, 1940s. Pagoda lantern. Pineboughs with antique chrome Christmas balls and silver and glass grape ornaments. 
Queen Anne settee in needlepoint. Pillos in Clarence house leopard velvet and Ralph Lauren velvet. Repro French stool in velvet and Scalamandre damask. Anglo-Indian chair in fabric by Manueal Canovas. Ikat on table. Ralph Lauren hurricanes. Tony Duquette Candlesticks. French Empire mirror.Regency marble top gilded console. French 18th c portent in gilt wood frame from Paris. French 19th c dose bronze candlesticks.
For more pictures and to read more the article, please go here at Veranda.
I meant to post this on Monday but lost track of the days!
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
I love decorating Christmas trees and over the years I have learned some tricks that help your tree look its best and it will look like a professional decorated it!
Now, let me start, there is no “wrong” way to decorate your tree, but this post is about some tricks that the stores and pros use!
Think of a theme or color scheme for your tree
First I think it is helpful to think of your theme for your tree. It can be just as simple as choosing a color scheme for the tree. Not all of your ornaments need to follow the theme, but it is nice to have an overall cohesive look.
On this flocked tree, I like how red ornaments pop against the white flocked tree, so my color scheme is built around some red ornaments. Now, not all of my ornaments on this tree are red – many are not, but your eye will catch the red ones.
Lots of Lights
If you do not have a prelit faux tree and have a real tree, be sure to add lots of lights. One strand of lights for every foot of tree at a minimum. Wind your lights back and forth, tracing the branches to create the best look.
Fluff the Branches
If you have a faux tree, make sure you fluff every branch on the tree. They do get smashed in the box. I recommend also decorating the tree with its lights on!
Use Ornaments to Hide the Tree Trunk
With the ornaments that serve as the base for your color scheme, place them deeper into the tree to obscure the tree trunk. They are great for those places where there isn’t a nice branch to hide the ugly trunk. Make sure you place them deep in the tree – because we are going to be hanging more ornaments! These are your filler ornaments – several dozen will do!
Add Florals and Picks
If desired, add in additional florals and picks. For my main tree I did not add additional florals, but for my woodland tree I did. No need to wire them in unless they are heavy – just simply add it to the tree on top of the branches. Use a maximum of three different types. Below there are two types of pinecone branches and beaded fruit.
Layer Your Ornaments
Next, take your larger ornaments and start putting them in some of the larger “holes” in the tree. I would put them mid-way onto the branch, not so deep in the tree as the red balls as above. It helps to separate your ornaments by size before putting them on your tree so you know what you have!
I work my way to the branch tips, hanging the ornaments biggest to smallest. You want your smaller ornaments at the tips of the branches because one, they are lightweight, and two, you want to be able to see them!
Add Large Objects
I recommend also adding a few items in that aren’t ornaments that are larger. This creates more visual interest. For instance, I added some nests below and also the white owl. If you notice, this is a trick that many pros use – adding non-ornaments to their trees! Take a note when you are looking in the stores and magazines and you will start to notice this trick of theirs!
Hanging your Ornaments
Ornaments look their best when they aren’t hanging for miles from the branch. You want to secure them as close to the branch as possible. In my example below, you can see the top picture that the teacher ornament looks better secured closer to the branch than in the bottom picture.
If you secure your ornaments closer to the branches it does several things – one, it allows you to position the ornament better for a more desirable look (like in the bottom picture, he kept twisting and looking the wrong way and I fiddled with him for several minutes!). Two, it is more secure this way and less likely to break or get damaged. Three, often the strings that come with the ornaments are ugly and this hides them better.
When securing your ornaments with hooks, be sure to twist the hook all the way around the branch. If you have animals or small children, this will help them stay more secure!
Use Garland or Ribbon
Garland is the final crowning touch to any tree. I actually have three types of garland on this tree, can you spot it? This will help also with your overall tree theme and bring together the entire look. Some recommend putting garland on first and then the ornaments – I put most of my ornaments on, then *very carefully* hang the garland, and then add a few smaller ornaments at the end. Ribbon achieves a similar look.
https://www.petitehaus.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=972&action=edit#edit_timestamp
Now, time to sit back and admire your work.
Below is my traditional red tree. I need to add more to it – it is my first year with this tree. This one also contains my sentimental ornaments!
Below is my woodland tree – this is my favorite tree! This tree is the more perfectly themed tree and I think that is why it is everyone else’s favorite tree as well.
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
The French country Christmas tour continues today. If you missed part 1, you can start here. The rest of the house has more traditional colored decor.
Below, my front doors are decorated for the season.
In the entryway, my little French market basket is full of poinsettias.
I put a fresh cedar garland a top of my Christmas mantel. It smelled so delightful! I had not yet found my stockings from the move when I took this picture!
I tucked these little berries into the garland. I love the pops of red they add!
I love these little natural nutcrackers – these are years old but sometimes I see similar ones show up at Homegoods.
In the family room sits the big tree. This tree is a 10′ flocked tree. It is just so beautiful. I have tried to stick with more traditional and vintage appearing glass and wooden ornaments on this tree.
A closer look at some of the ornaments. A lot of these ornaments have red on them – I love how they pop against the flocked tree. Many of them have sentimental value – the little wooden snowman is from a trip to Germany. The red and gold crown is from a trip to Sweden. The red rose is from a trip to Southern California when we went to Disneyland – reminds me of Belle (although not a Disney ornament!). Ornaments are great little souvenirs to take home from your travels!
I love this little glass snowman!
A few baubles and boxes are part of the decorations in this room.
This season I tucked the dough bowl under the tv and filled it with mercury glass ornaments.
Not all of my Christmas decor is French country! Here are some of my Christmas village pieces that sit under the tv. I love the whimsy of the shoe house! They are Department 56 but I picked them off of eBay for a fraction of the price, so look there for some bargains!
Let’s take a look in the dining room. I draped garland on the table – I will do a Christmas tablescape but haven’t decided what to do yet… so this simple centerpiece is perfect for now!
I set out a few cookies for the photoshoot – also perfect for a hungry photographer (that would be me!).
I love pomanders! These ones are actually fake, well, kind of. The orange is fake but the cloves are real! I was surprised when I opened them from their box and a clove scent filled the air. I have a tutorial on how to make pomanders here.
I placed some faux greenery and some of my German snowmen in the cabinet.
This tree was courtesy of Tree Classics last year. This year I added garland and kept the colors to gold and silver. The bejeweled snowflake topper is new! I hung a garland that states “greetings” in this tree.
I love this little paper flower ornament that clips on the branches.
Well, one last look at the dining room…
Up next, I’ll be touring my kitchen which has traditional German Christmas decorations and I’ll also be posting my Christmas tablescape! If you missed part 1 of the tour, go here.
Shop the post (affiliate links – thanks for supporting the site!)
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
Paperwhites are one my favorite things for the Christmas season. I love how their fragrance fills the room!
Paperwhites are a type of Narcissus, “Ziva” to be exact. They can be forced to bloom inside between October through February!
It takes 4-6 weeks after planting to get them to bloom, so they say…
But my first bloom appeared on the 19th day! WHAT?! So, they were already starting to bloom for Thanksgiving…. uh, how can this be? Literally everything grows better in California, so it seems! I posted a similar picture earlier on my instagram and had many questions as to where I found these faux bois planters. I got them at a local floral supply market, but I see that Anthropologie carries very similar ones here: Faux Bois Planter – 3 sizes. AND they have three different sizes, which is great!
As you may have noticed, they do like to fall over. I just tied some baker’s twine around mine to keep them standing.
I stuck one in a chipped antique cup that I found – thought it would be perfect for Christmas. I noticed this one is not growing as fast as the others are!
They are really easy to plant. I got some rocks, placed a few on the bottom of the pot. Then I placed my bulb. Then I put more rocks on top. Done. Keep the roots wet but don’t let the whole bulb sit in water – it will rot!
Anyway, it’s not too late to plant your bulbs – they may not bloom on Christmas Day but they will be ready around the New Year! Perfect to take you through the Winter blues!
Judith at Botanic Bleu has a lot of tips on how to grow paper whites. In fact, it was this post that reminded me to order them!
You can place them in any container… I’ll share a few favorites from the internet.
Oh, I found this great calendar on when to plant your bulbs from Empress of Dirt! She also has more calendars for Amaryllis and other bulbs!
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
Happy Thursday Favorite Things day! If you’re new to this party, let me explain: a link party for all and those who wish to grow your blog! If you want to be featured, leave me a comment, how simple is that?
If you missed it, earlier this week I shared part 1 of my Christmas home tour. I am also participating in a Christmas Home Tour Blog Hop with 20 other bloggers so be sure to check it out!!
Amber at Follow the Yellow Brick Home shared this beautiful DIY fresh cranberry, sage and bay leaf garland. Yes, I know it was for Thanksgiving but these colors are just so perfect for Christmas!
It’s Party Time
Thank you to all who share with us every week.
Please follow all of your lovely hostesses, they are amazing women. Their blogs are the first on the list. 
Tell your friends and share your wonderful blog posts with us. Sorry I am late posting today.
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
I am decking the halls with 19 other bloggers and thrilled to be kicking off It’s a Wonderful House Christmas Hop! A big thank you to Olivia at Reinvented Collection for arranging this hop!
This is a French country Christmas tour… We’re starting in my most French room of all. A little French desk sits on the left.
I love the pastel bottle brush trees below! The colors of the little trees match my Staffordshire figurine. The hydrangea candlesticks were originally black but I had painted them some years ago. I love this little Christmas vignette.
In the center of the room sits the woodland tree.
The woodland tree is actually my favorite of my various trees. Wait, I thought this was a French country tour, you say? Well, we are on the “country” part!
I love the little deer sitting under the tree. Sometimes my cat joins them!
An “icicle” on my nature tree – part of an antique chandelier!
Many acorns – glass and glittered – decorate the nature tree!
Adding some ornaments in a bowl is an easy way to create a Christmas vignette in any room. I filled my American brilliant cut glass footed bowl with vintage style mercury glass ornaments. I bought some of these this year, but I had discovered in unpacking that I already purchased the pink ones last year!! Ha ha! I suppose I really like them!
The footed bowl sits on a gilded French table with a bergere chair next to it.
In another room is my romantic pastel tree – this tree is more French country Christmas than my woodland tree. Although I confess my woodland tree is my favorite one!
It is a pencil flocked tree that can go anywhere. I put it in my mudroom this year. I love the pastel baubles on this tree.
I was so excited to find this beaded glass garland this year.
I love this tree topper. It is actually an ornament but I think it is a perfect tree topper for this tree!
I love miniature ornaments – such as this little clip-on tree and the little crown!
We are nearing the end of today’s tour.
Below is a sneak peek of Part Two of the tour, which you can get to by clicking here! Or you can skip ahead and go to my Christmas Kitchen with traditional German Christmas decor. If you missed last year’s tour, here is part 1 and part 2 of 2016.
Shop the post (affiliate links):
Thank you for joining me on my French country Christmas home tour! Now, grab your eggnog latte and head on over to visit Brett and Kelly’s North Country Nest!
A beautiful French Christmas mantel is covered in garland and olive branches. The mantel is a period piece. The antique Song dynasty jars sit atop the mantel.
Interiors – Pam Pierce
Photo – Peter Vitale
Source – milieu mag.
This post comes to you a day early – tomorrow I have my own Christmas home tour to share! I’m participating in a hop with many other bloggers so lots of exciting things coming your way!
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
I love wearing cashmere sweaters in the Winter. They are just so comfy and classic!
I have noticed that recently the it-girls are wearing cashmere sweaters that are looser fitting! Great, perfect to hide the holiday weight gain! It seems turtlenecks are the style of choice.
Love how big ad roomy this sweater is!
This grey turtleneck below isn’t as loose fitting as some of the others but I’d say instead “the perfect fit!”
Another loose fitting cashmere turtle neck. I love how she styled it!
Shop the post (affiliate links)
I may earn a small commission if you purchase with these links
