Using Milk Glass With Christmas Decor

Milk glass, oh how I love you!

I only have a few pieces, mostly given to me by my mother.

They're so pretty.

A bit nostalgic.

Crisp white.

I like to decorate with milk glass all year round,
 and I also like to use my milk glass pieces.

Here are few ways that I am using milk glass this holiday season.

Vibrant red bulbs nestled in the crisp white milk glass makes the living room feel so festive...
Like it's ready for a party!

Fresh cedar branches tucked in a milk glass vase can be used all winter long.

The girl's bathroom is getting a bit of a makeover (post coming soon).

Blue Christmas bulbs adds a little cheer to the space as they are getting ready for their day.

Homemade pimento cheese served in milk glass makes a Christmas party feel a little more fancy, compared to a plain bowl.  Click HERE for the easy recipe.

Pine cones and dried oranges tucked in a milk glass dish makes a simple yet stunning statement.
And can be used all winter long.  Click HERE to see how to dry oranges in the oven.

So dust off your milk glass and let them shine this Christmas and winter season!

Tucking Fall Into Our Lives

Fall is my absolute favorite season!
Tucking a little fall into our lives makes my heart sing.

I love to feel the crisp air that blows through the house when the windows are open.

Feed Sacks From Grandma

My Mom gave me some feed sacks.

What?

Yes, feed sacks!

There are some very pretty patterns.

But the best part?  They have a story that goes with them...

Fall Home Tour 2015

Welcome to my Fall home tour!

I am so excited to be sharing my home with you during my favorite season.

Simple Summer Mantel

For our summer mantel, I have taken the simple approach.

Other than the mantel clock, it includes white milk glass and an old church hymnal.

That's it!
Sometimes less really is more.

The milk glass pieces have been given to me by my Mom over the years.

The old church hymnal adds a bit of height.
I like having the pages face out.  I think it adds texture.  

The mantel has a very calming look.

With the busyness that is going on around our little homestead, I crave the simple, calm look.

On the hearth I have added two old jugs, one on each side.

Just imagine...

people used to keep their drinks cool in these...

Back when things were more simple...
like our simple summer mantel decor.

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An Authentic Farm House Sign With Tutorial

I created this GATHER sign from a board taken from my Great Grandparent's falling down farm house.

If you missed the post about their house, you can read it here.

The board is full of character - nail holes, grooves, gouges, and dents. 

This is my way of preserving a piece of my heritage...

through the wood board
and
through the word that I chose to put on it.

I chose the word GATHER because it is a powerful word...

GATHER 'round the table

GATHER with family

GATHER the harvest

The word GATHER

has been and always will be a powerful word!

past - present - future

How I made it:

First, Handy Hubby cut the board down using a miter saw.

Using Microsoft Word, I played around with font styles and sizes until I found one I like and fit on the board.  I ended up using the font Amienne with a 500 font size.

I printed the letters on regular 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper.
I spaced between each letter.  The lower case letters printed two per page.

I then cut around each letter and spaced them out on the board, using a tape measure for appropriate placement.  I taped them on top, leaving room for the transfer paper to slide under each letter.

Using transfer paper and a pencil, I traced the outside of the letters onto the board.

Using white craft paint and a small paint brush, I carefully painted in the letters.
I did two coats of paint.

Because the board is old and worn with beautiful grooves and dents, the tracing and painting are not perfect, and that's okay.  It adds to the character.  Farmhouse style is not perfect, right?

I gently placed a hanger on the back of the board. 

The sign is proudly displayed in our eating nook.

A place where we GATHER daily.

A piece of my Great Grandparent's house

I made a sign for our eating nook using a board taken from my Great Grandparent's house.

This is what the house looks like today.

But, in its day...

It housed a husband, a wife, and 7 children.

My Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) was one of those children.

Years later, my Mom lived down the holler in another little house...

with her Mom, Dad, and 9 siblings.

She tells stories of spending time at her Grandparent's house.

(She has the BEST memory of anyone I know!)

What it looks like today is what I always remember it looking like.

I have my own childhood memory of storing hay in it.

My children will always have the memory of stopping at it when we are riding our 4-wheelers on the land. 

They also hear stories from me, their Grandma, and their Great Aunts. 

This house (and the stories) are part of our heritage!

Something I want to preserve.

A board taken from the house and made into a sign is my way of doing so.

Click HERE to see how I created the sign, why I chose the word Gather, and where I hung it.

I also took a board from my Grandma and Grandpa's house and Hubby made it into a coat rack.

You can see it HERE.
(It was my very FIRST POST!)

An Heirloom Bench

Heirlooms are lovingly tucked throughout our home.

If you take the time to listen, each one has a story to tell.

Heirlooms are a part of who we are...

Where we came from...

Where we are...

What we believe in.

This post was sparked by YOU!

I received such sweet comments and e-mails about this piece of furniture that I used as a backdrop for my recent post titled Easter Decor, Flowers and Music.

You can see the post HERE.

It sincerely warmed my heart that you were interested in it.  

This is one of the reasons that I started blogging last year...

to meet others that share the same passions and interests that I do.

So to YOU I say thank you!

This bench once belonged to my husband's Great Aunt Pearl.

It now graces our foyer.

This piece is used by family and friends when they visit...

It provides a place to sit and take off or put on shoes.

Sometimes it holds purses, bags and coats for visitors.

This heirloom is also used by us...

It usually holds a small towel to wipe off wet/muddy dog paws.

The seat lifts up, offering storage space.

It currently stores (and hides) board games and card games.

So yes, we lovingly use this heirloom, but we also showcase it's beauty.

Situated in the foyer, it is one of the first and last things you see when visiting our home.

It is a sturdy piece of furniture, that gracefully shows it's dents and dings.

Yet has elegant details on the top. 

The arms are slightly curved, providing comfort.

The sides are simple, yet beautiful.

It has bun feet.

My hope is that our children are learning to appreciate and respect heirlooms also.

Hopefully when they are grown and have homes of their own, they will have some heirlooms tucked in their hearts and throughout their homes.

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Easter Decor, Flowers, and Music

Easter Decor, Flowers, and Music are in the air...

For a clean and simple look on the mantel, I have used some milk glass pieces that my Mom gifted me years ago.

Using an old church hymnal as a base, this piece looks right at home.

Tucked inside is a potted hyacinth, that I will plant outside when it is warmer.

Beside the hyacinth arrangement is two bunnies...

They are pulling a wagon full of decorated eggs.

I have had this for years and always look forward to decorating with it.

The bottom of this miniature egg tree is falling apart (it's that old).  But tucked inside the milk glass, you would never know.

The table is adorned with a simple bouquet of pink tulips.

They are gathered in a blue mason jar and tied with some twine for a bit of country flair.

Even with it's right ear glued in place, this bunny container holds jelly beans year after year.

A simple arrangement of store bought flowers grace the top of an old trunk.

Our church youth will be leading music for the Good Friday service.

Our oldest daughter plays guitar and our youngest daughter sings.

We are looking forward to this with proud, yet humble hearts!

Awake thou wintry earth.

Fling off thy sadness.

Flair vernal flowers, laugh forth your ancient gladness,

Christ is risen!

                                                    - Thomas Blackburn

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