LIFE BEATS DOWN AND CRUSHES THE SOUL AND ART REMINDS YOU THAT YOU HAVE ONE. STELLA ADLER

Thursday, December 31, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. WE WANTED TO THANK ALL THAT HAVE COME BY TO LOOK AT OUR BLOG. WE SPECIALLY WANT TO THANK OUR FOLLOWERS. WE APPRECIATE YOU... WE WILL SEE YOU ALL IN 2010. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE BLOGGING AND MEETING OTHERS. IF YOU DO DROP BY, LEAVE US A COMMENT SO WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE. MICHELE AND MINYELE

Monday, December 28, 2009

MORE OF OUR HOME PHOTOS

Welcome, this is one of a few hornet nests we have been fortunate enough to find in the fall months. It sits up on an old roof ledge on our big screened in porch next to an old apple picking ladder. This is an arrangement in part that was used at my daughters wedding over three years ago. My husband and her husband made the wooden container. It is full of twigs with some red lights and an antique yard stick. This is an area that has two antique chairs, again from our local auction, I think I paid $3.00 for both chairs, great deal hah?? Some silk flowers, antique gas can, tea kettle, acorns and other misc goodies tucked in here. I love these little corners, one never knows what they may find. This is a large rooster my family purchased for me one Christmas, right away the tail got broken, I saved it regardless, I have tucked it in this little corner, noone knows that tail is broken.
This area is inside the house. The antique snowshoe belonged to my father inlaw. My husband turned it into a lamp for the wall. Hanging from the lamp is an antique fishing basket from my Aunt Ida's camp with the famous sign that reads keep away. Also is a wooden plaque with the Anglers Prayer also from Aunt Ida's camp. I love this area!!! As you may notice, I love to make groupings of items. And I also love everything outdoors, antique and adirondak themed.
Thanks for stopping by.
Michele & Minyele

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Family Dogs from Nevada

Here is Shawna wearing her Christmas dog bandana. Isn't she precious??
On far right is Petey, he is so handsome.
Little Bit is here with her little bandana. These are my
Aunt Cindy's dogs.
We have more dog bandanas online in our shop on etsy.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

OUR DOOR WEDNESDAY, WELCOME TO OUR HOME

Thank you; http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ for hosting another OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY. Be sure to take a look at what others are sharing. This is our front door on our screened in porch. Early on I decided to decorate the entrance area with this tree. The tree has a array of decorations from around our home. I love to recycle items for different purposes. The tree has bird nests, baskets, white birch canoe, ice fishing jigs, bears and more. Come on inside to see some other decorations.
These are some deer my family gave to me through out the years, notice it is a doe with her baby fawn. The lights in the back are white lights inside an amber colored antique jug I purchased at our local auction house. This is one of my most favorite areas in the house, the antique table that belonged to my Nana with adirondak trees, the vase of dried flowers are from my Great Aunt Idas funeral from early Novemeber with a snowflake made from antique sheet music.
Here is a vintage little elf, I purchased these several years ago from a yard sale, I love to yard sale. One never knows what they may find. Actually there were two of these, the other one has a green hat. I love them. This little elf is sitting on the back of the couch.
Here's a brown feather tree my daughter gave to me one holiday season. Notice the very vintage tins on the table. They are so cute with fox and other outdoor animals. I have had these cans for several years, again I found at some yard sale.
Here is another snowflake made from sheet music, I found this on http://cherishedvintage.blogspot.com/ I just love these things. I have given them to several of our friends in place of a holiday greeting card. Everyone loved them. Thanks cherishedvintage.
The jar here is one of my favorite items in the house. My best friend and I took a road trip to the southern end of the State (vermont that is). She (stacey) likes to go into old abandoned houses. We found two of these antique jugs in an old barn. This is what I did with mine. It is full of snow with pinecones, birch tree branches, accorns and such with a tiny strands of lights. It is so beautiful at night with the different colors of the lights shining in the snow. It sits on an antique scale, another find from the local auction, I love the auction house!
Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Michele & Minyele

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

Thank you asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com for hosting this "OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY" This is a picture of our wooden snowman greeting all family and friends when they come to the house. It has been snowing here in Isle La Motte for most of the day. It is a beautiful winter wonderland out there today. It will get alot colder tonight though. This is our little man, Willy Wonka Pea Doodle, he will be 15 years young on Friday. He still likes the snow, he doesn't stay out too long these days, his little feet get cold easily.
Thanks for coming by.
Have a great afternoon.
Michele & Minyele

BEAUTIFUL SNOWFLAKE

This is a snowflake I made using antique sheet music.
I found this on a wonderful blog; cherishedvintage.blogspot.com
This snowflake sits in a very special place. I love you Aunt Ida, Merry Christmas!!
Michele & Minyele

Monday, December 14, 2009

THIS IS HAPPY!!

This is a happy elephant.
Every day on my homepage appears an animal smiling. I love this, makes me smile.
I wanted to share with the rest of you. I also posted it to my facebook page.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Vintage Christmas Greeting Card

This is a vintage greeting card that was my dads. When he passed nearly a year ago now, I was given his scrapbook of cards, birthday cards, valentines cards, Christmas cards, etc.
After looking at alot of blogs today (was a snowy, inside day) of vintage items, I decided to blog about something vintage myself.
I will post more very soon for all to enjoy.
Merry Christmas Dad, I miss you!!
Michele Lee

MY OWN WINTER WONDERLAND

This is what we woke up to this morning, isn't it glorious??
We are to get several more inches. I will let you know how it turned out.
I love the winter wonderland feel, nice and cozy!!
Have a great day.
Michele

Friday, December 4, 2009

WELCOME TO THE HOLIDAY BLOG PARTY!!

Thank you Bella-dreams for hosting this holiday blog party!

Welcome to our home. We live on beautiful Lake Champlain on an island called, Isle La Motte, in a small log cabin.

We thought we would share with you some of the ways in which we decorate for the holidays.

This is our porch that we enjoy so much in the summer months. The door behind the tree is the door to the house. This artificial tree was ready for the garage sale pile but I decided to decorate it, one last time. This is for you dad!

We love everything outdoors and anything adirondak with an antique flare. The tree has a bunch of different things from the things we love. It has bee hives, fishing jig poles for ice fishing (which we will be doing soon!)

The tree also had baskets, bird nests, birch twigs, driftwood from the beach, teddy bears and more. On the table is an old watering can, an old tin bucket from my great Aunt. The bucket is full of pinecones and a deer made from twigs and vines. Finished off with beautiful pinecone ribbon I had left over from prior years. I love to use what I have, and try not to purchase anything additional. The washboard is also from Aunt Ida, this belongs to my daughter when she decides to take it home. Next to the watering can is a large piece of driftwood we found on the beach several years ago. I embellished it with more love from the outdoors and holiday items. There is sprigs of green, iced covered springs, berries, trains, birch bark, red cardnials and a wonderful santa head. This was one of the first driftwood pieces I embellished. I love to embellish things!!
I think nature, adirondak and antiques all flow nicely together, don't you??
Like we said, we love nature. This is our tree inside the house. Again, the same theme applies here as well.
We know you can't see in the pics but the lighting on the tree is a little different than what we usually do. This year we decided to put strands of red lights deep inside the tree with amber lights towards the outside of the tree. It is really pretty at night. There are several teddybears tucked in this tree, along with porccupines, red birds, feathers, berries, baskets, lots of pinecones and much more.
There are also wooden candycanes, glass birds, black birds made of felt that we handsew and sell at local craft shows, dried flowers, some ornaments (not many), Johnson Woolen Mills wool of handsewn stockings, mittens and gingerbread men (we also sell these at craft shows).
We have taken an antique riding runner sled and hung a stocking, an old pair of iceskates and some ribbon on it for more decorations. Makes us want to go iceskating, as soon as the lake freezes though.
This is a coffee table centerpiece. The bottom is an antique black rotiron flat griddle with a handle, covered with pinecones, pipberries and a candle of butterscotch, yummy!! Makes the house smell like we have cooked all day!! Oh, and some antique bells with anglehair inside, these were my dad's grandmothers. Great hah??
This is a rusty tin filled with more antique Holiday bulbs, moss, bells, pinecones, a wooden santa and a snowman just for fun.
Here is one of my most favortie items in the house, this large canoe made of white birch bark. My husband purchased this for me for our wedding anniversary. I get to decorate it for each holiday and then some. For this holiday I have filled it with poinsettias, a birds nest, pinecones, dried flowers and a beeskep to boot!! This arrangement sits on the diningroom table. I LOVE THIS!! This is an old wooden barrell decorated with dried flowers, iced springs, a white owl, birds nest and more. This is an everyday item I have in the home, I just add the winter elements to make it holiday. Like I mentioned, I like to use what I have. My pleasure is turning something old/used into a different item than it's intent.
Finally we wanted to share with you some handcrafted gift tags. You can find these tags in our shop on etsy. http://www.nookcrannygifts.etsy.com/
You can also find papermaking items, vintage ephemera, and other great supplies in our supply shop on etsy http://www.aclosetoftreasures.etsy.com/
These are vintage bingo cards embellished with a variety of items. Vintage buttons, beautiful vintage lace, satin ribbon, vintage sheet music, cutouts from holiday books, and more. We think you will find these to be unique.
Each one is a one-of-a-kind gift tag. You can also use them in your scrapbooking, altered art projects and more.
Again we use items and themes to create the adirondak feel and our love of the outdoorsWe thank you for joining us in our home today. We have enjoyed decorating and getting ready for the holidays.
Don't be afraid to bring the outdoors in. If you go out walking and looking around I am sure you can find things in the area you live in to bring into your home and decorate with it.
Decorating doesn't have to cost alot of money. Take a look around your home and in your cupboards for items you can use to do your decorating, you will be surprised at what you actually do have. Get a plate, a bowl, a vase, a box, an old kettle and fill it with something.
Happy decorating and specially HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Michele and Minyele