CHRISTMAS IN JULY....IT'S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Featuring

the whimsical creation of 

Patience Brewster’s 

Sugarplum Fairy

"Crimson mingles with gold and russets;

fallen leaves crackle and sweet spices perfume the air;

our memories beckon us home......"

I believe that my memories of Mother's holiday dinners are so much more intense than those of toys and games I received, but that seems true of most people. The exact taste of Daddy's Fruitcake cookies, the sound of beef roasting in its pan, and the smell of evergreen mixed with the scent of cinnamon, cloves and lemon in hot cider, were like the aroma of holy incense burning during the Christmas Eve church service....... so unforgettable. 

It's my favorite time of July...

Yes, it's looking forward to Christmas and anticipating

grand celebrations with the company of family.

Certainly your thoughts are jumping forward to December

as to how you want to adorn your home for the holidays.

Let's put that magical Christmas Whimsy in every corner! 

We all love creating a warm and welcoming home that will

heighten the holiday mood and create happy memories for

those we love that will last them for years to come.

Estelle's hopes to provide you with ideas

that will help you decorate with

things you love and bake seasonal delights

that will soon become your family favorites! 

Of all the ornaments and details that bring charm

and

grace to our holiday home, it's the Christmas tree

that is most enchanting and captivates the young and 

young-at-heart.

Red ribbons...some plain, some in festive tartan plaids

twist around the tabletop tree for a holiday garland..

your vintage Victorian Carolers grace the sideboard....

There is always the allure of candles....
they play a very special role at Christmastime,
both for the symbolism of light banishing the dark days of winter
and
for holiday romance.
What will your imagination hold this year?
Perhaps a dramatic centerpiece of all white candles
in varying heights grouped on your
grandmother's silver serving tray.....
softened with holly boughs and pinecones.

In our home, there is Christmas in every nook and cranny.
Inside, it's amazing how windows, framed mirrors
the fireplace mantel and doorways are outlined in the spirit of the season!
Little ones are too excited to sleep with the anticipation
of Santa arriving on Christmas Eve.

I think it's great to be low-key some years...

I love relying on natural greenery

and using garlands on porch railings,

the holiday wreath on the front door and

evergreens hung on the lanterns.

Don't you adore Christmas Whimsy!!
Little ones love the magic of it all....

So many of our memories are tied to food......

the warm smells filling our homes.

Turkey roasting, nutmeg and ginger as the apple and pumpkin pies bake,

freshly brewed coffee that accompanies dessert....

I love taking a blank space on the wall
and creating something unexpected
which will bring smiles all around.
Perhaps a wall basket filled with candy canes, unlit candles
and
vintage holiday tins and faux greenery.

For the holiday guests....

fold new fluffy white bath towels at the foot of the bed

which have been tied with red-checked ribbon.

Bring a poinsettia or miniature pine tree into the bedroom,

fill a bedside basket with peppermints and little chocolates...

Holiday movies.....
the old classics....
playing without sound on the TV....
softly play Christmas music while the scenes roll across the screen...
Imagine Miracle of 34th Street
or
The Bishop's Wife......
with Judy Garland singing
"I'll Be Home for Christmas......."

The four-legged babies...

have lots of brightly colored holiday tissue paper on hand

and

loosely wrap their treats....

they love to tear into what goodies lie within...

no ribbons please......

The Powder Room....
these rooms deserve a holiday lift always!
I love candles and greenery in
fragrances of pine, eucalyptus and Freesia!
It's also the perfect nook and cranny for
an added touch of Christmas Whimsy!

The fireplace mantel can be the perfect place

to display your heirloom Nativity set or Christmas Village.

Many of us enjoy our seasonal collections of 

Santas,  Snowmen, Snowglobes and Angels.

What's is your theme for this year going to be?

Traditional, Victorian, Holiday Whimsy or perhaps

a Coastal or New Orleans display...?

Traditions......these can be part of the foundation of your family.
Perhaps it's hanging the stockings
or teaching your children about the Nativity...
children love playing with the little figurines of
the Wise Men, the donkey and the camel.....
Do you make it a family affair when decorating the tree....
baking Christmas cookies and serving hot cocoa...

Our holiday traditions are held dear

and

we hope that we provided a deep sense of the true

meaning of Christmas and the joyfulness of the holidays! 

"Santa is just as real as we imagine him to be...

and

in our home....he is very, very real indeed!"

What did I fall in love with this year?

Patience Brewster is an award-winning illustrator, known for such children’s books as

 The Merbaby and Too Many Puppies. 

Patience creates all her lovelies in her studio in the
 Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.  
She sketches the whimsical characters that are later brought to life as 
 ornaments!

The Nicholas Santa Candelabra

could be yours..enter for a chance to win! 

http://www.patiencebrewster.com/blog/why-oh-why-think-christmas-in-july/

http://www.patiencebrewster.com/