Under a Blue Moon

I made a minor change to the blog yesterday – because of the abundance of spam comments lately I turned on that doohickey that makes you put in some random letters before you can post a comment.  Sorry about that.  I think once the spam robots figure out they can't leave comments and move on I can turn if off again.  

I am slowly decorating.  Today I put up some lights behind the sheers in my office.  The effect is quite pretty.  Reminds me of the tent in the little girls' room in The Holiday.  

After this week I'll be on vacation for the rest of the year.  I am so looking forward to it.  I am also behind on my Christmas shopping so next week I need to get down to business.  So the first part of my vacation will not be very relaxing.  Ah well – if it wasn't for the last minute nothing would get done.

I seem to be getting a slower start with my Christmas shopping and wrapping this year.  I need to get on the ball.  

I think I almost have more fun planning the wrapping than I do picking out the gifts. 

I am not a fan of multi-colored, patterned wrapping paper.  I prefer a tone on tone look (hmm – similar to how I approach my wardrobe, now that I think about it).  

Is black too somber for Christmas?  I love the sparkly embellishment (which I could not get a good picture of to save my life).  I bought the sparkly bits from Etsy.  Actually the glittery silver ribbon is from Etsy too.  

Sparkly bits

Sparkly ribbon (the sparkly bits Etsy seller also has the sparkly ribbon but I'm not sure it is exactly the same or not)

I just tied my standard bow and then glued the embellisment onto the bow.   I was going to try to take pictures of how I tie a bow but my camera isn't cooperating.  

I don't tie a bow the way you would tie shoe laces.  I wrap the ribbon around the box and tie it once (not in a bow – just the "tails" of the bow).  Then I take a length of ribbon and kind of accordian fold it until I have as many loops as I want (usually four or six).  Then I lay that on the tied ribbon on the box, centering it, and then I tie the "tails" over it.  Then I fluff up the loops. 

I don't know if that made any sense at all.  

I don't even tie the sparkly ribbon.  I just use double sided tape to affix the ribbon to the box and when assembling the bow.  The ribbon width I like the best for the sparkly ribbon is 5/8".  Also when I ordered the sparkly ribbon I convo'd the seller to ask her if I could get a continuous length of 15 yards (rather than three 5-yard pieces). She was happy to accomodate.

Hello!  Finally a post that isn't a Friday's favorites…  

On Saturday my friend Kath came down the hill for a little R&R.  We dragged her son to an antique mall in Sacramento called Midway Antiques.  If you are in the area it is worth a visit.  It is in the old Ethan Allen building on Madison and the building, with all its "rooms" for showcasing furniture makes it perfect for an antique store.  It is a collection of vendors and in addition to each vendor have booths of their own they also set up vignettes by pulling furniture and other pieces from assorted vendors.

This way they can do a completely cohesive look.  And let me tell you – it is like stepping into a Mad Men episode.  If mid-century antiques are your thing then you will LOVE this place.  They even have an entire kitchen set up with the old refrigerator, stove, counters.  Really fabulous.

I bought a tree skirt.  Some of you may think it looks like a vintage crinoline but I just see a perfect, frothy, white confection that will go with my holiday decorating scheme.  I've been looking since Summer for just the right crinoline for the look I want and I literally had to climb behind racks and racks of vintage coats and frocks to find it.  

Lately my antique shopping mojo has been really good.  You know how you get a picture of something in your mind – and then you can never find that exact thing?  Lately I am finding exactly what I want.  

Except for milk glass plates.  Why are they so hard to find?  I want them with an interesting pierced edge and no design in the center.  If I do find one they almost always have some floral or commemorative design on the plate.  

I did pick up this pretty dish – cake plate?  Not sure what it is exactly.  I'm thinking I'll plop a nice big candle on it for the holidays. 

Can't wait to show you pictures of the tree with its new finery.  Maybe this weekend…