Pink Holiday

So, if you're a Shabby girl and have a pale pastel color scheme in your home,

how do you escape the abundance of red and green in the store decor aisles?

Get inspired by the elegant pink, white and gold color palette of this display...

and then head to vintage stores to go shopping! 

This GORGEOUS setting was a photo booth,

 set up at the recent Vintage Marketplace Show in Southern California.

[Props provided by 'Touched by Time' Vintage Rentals

Styling by Deborah Watts of 'Blossoms Vintage Chic' & Monique Hemminger]

I don't think too many words are necessary here...

just sit back and enjoy the beauty of vintage, second-hand, found, and heirloom items

combined into a stunningly feminine and glamorous Holiday decor scheme!

 [inserting a word or two here: the photo above is my favorite image from this series!]

The photos below were snapped in show hostess Rita Reade's booth, 'Mammabellarte':

... from big props and large visual effects to tiny details, 

incorporating your favorite hues into your Holiday decor is as simple as

letting your existing decor lead the way!

shared online:

OPC & TBH | The Humble Brag

Bird in a Gilded Cage!

.

Years ago, I had the pleasure of presenting Holiday decorating workshops

at 'Girlfriend's Weekend' events in a gorgeous lodge, located in the wine country near Seattle.

 At each annual event, I created several vignettes...

[okay, I must digress here for a moment...

as I was typing the word 'vignette', I typed 'Viognette'.
If you know wine, you are smiling right now!  

I may have just coined a phrase there....]

back to our story...

vignettes to illustrate inspiring Holiday decor ideas and themes.

This 'Bird in a Gilded Cage' theme was one of them.

Since Gold is once again a hot decor trend, this is a perfect opportunity to share it!

I began with the hydrangeas...

Found in my own yard, they had aged to soft green and tan hues.

When I popped them into a gold metal cachepot that I had on hand, the theme came together:

greens, tans & browns, copper, and gold

with natural elements from the garden

and the nest I had nearby inspired me to incorporate birds...

The tabletop elements above include:

*a ceramic sculpture that looks like wood with two birds - it holds the real nest and twigs.

*a gold damask stripe tablecloth and green embroidered placemats with a leaf motif.

*gold charger plates, paired with a white china plate and a transparent amber glass dessert plate. 

*A vintage bar glass has green and gold embellishment.

*gold flatware

continue reading for more details...

Inspiring Holiday Color Palettes

I'm ready for the Holiday Hullaballoo, how about you?!
Truth be told, though, I'm feeling a bit under the weather... SO,
I thought we'd follow the mission statement of HOMEWARDfound

and just work with what we already have by re-capping a few of last year's color posts: 

 A few inspiring Holiday color palettes for you to consider

Fresh & Green

Aqua & White

Vintage White

Silver, Copper & Brown

MultiColor

 Black & White

Red & White

Tan & White

More Tan & White

 
Tropical Color

I LOVE changing up my color schemes each year, combining ornaments in new ways

and mixing what I have to get a whole new look... How about you?
Do you experiment each year, or do you stick with the 'tried and true' favorites?!
What are your favorite colors for your Christmas Decor?

Vintage Pink & Silver Thanksgiving

 For my final inspiration Thanksgiving tablescape,
I'm really going in a different direction...

a Pink & Silver Thanksgiving Table!

I was inspired by my own PINK Sweet Sweater Pumpkins
and my mom's wedding china from the 1960's...
her china pattern has little pink rosebuds on gray stems with gray leaves.

In order to keep the whole look from going far too 'spring' in theme,
I introduced some deep silver/pewter 'winter' colors...
they serve to pull out the gray leaves in the patterns and highlight the silver plate rim.

The Centerpiece:
 I gathered up the family silver tea set,
three patterns of china, including an antique china pedestal,
along with my wire tomato cage dome and some antique chandelier crystals
to create a sparkling multi-level centerpiece for the table.
Some cuttings of passion vine and rosemary from the garden pair with pink petunias and roses.

Want to make your own wire dome from a two dollar tomato cage?! 
Click here for my tutorial!

 The Linens:
Over a pewter satin tablecloth, I laid a light-weight white crocheted lace tablecloth.
The contrast of the dark color underneath really makes the lace details pop.
Napkins are simple pewter satin.

The Rest:
The china shown here is a classic and feminine mid-century pattern,
with a silver plated rim, gray leaves, and pink rosebuds.
A secondary and complimentary pattern with larger roses and leaves
appears in the espresso cups & saucers,  and several of the serving pieces.

  Floral-motif antique silver flatware and cut crystal glassware brings sparkle to the neutral setting.

The napkin 'rings' are simple strands of vintage chandelier crystals,
wrapped around a rolled satin pewter napkins.
A variation has a small paper doily gathered with a pink vintage ribbon,
and a crystal ornament tied on.

I've placed a mini PINK Sweet Sweater Pumpkin at each place setting as a gift,
in a miniature espresso cup.
  It's an idea easily replicated with a real pumpkin, a chocolate pumpkin, or a candle.
Just a little token of thanks...

Vintage White Thanksgiving

Today I'm offering a very feminine variation on the tablescape from my last post.
 With a simple change of a few elements, we can create a whole new look,
and the previous 'contemporary vintage' look goes completely 'Shabby Chic'
[with a nod to Her Madge of Shabbiness, Queen Rachel Ashwell]

Here's how I pulled together this tablescape:

 The Centerpiece:
I kept the tallest Sweet Sweater Pumpkin sculpture in pale neutral tones and the pale leaves.
I added in cut crystal bowls and ivory & white pumpkins,
along with some vintage fabric carnations.... you could use real ones, of course.
I love white carnations for their spicy scent and low price!

The Linens:
Over the tan linen tablecloth, I laid a light-weight white crocheted lace tablecloth.
The contrast of the tan really makes the lace details pop.
Napkins are vintage white cotton, with lace trim.

The Rest:
White ceramic dinnerware in a classic pattern that truly works with any decor style,
while gold flatware and cut crystal glassware brings sparkle to the neutral setting.
The white floral pattern on the clear candle holders coordinates with the theme, too.

  It's a simple combination that looks old, luxe, and feminine.
[Grandma will LOVE this one! ]

The napkin 'rings' are the same as in the last tablescape, serving as place cards as well.
They are a strip of glossy paper with a sticker, and bleached leaves tucked into the top.
This time the napkins are gathered softly, instead of a crisp fold...

I've placed a mini Sweet Sweater Pumpkin at each placesetting as a gift,
which is an idea easily replicated with a real pumpkin, a chocolate pumpkin, or a candle.
Just a little token of thanks...

Again, this didn't take a lot of time to put together!
A beautiful Holiday table is easy when you use what you have in a fresh, new way...

Black, White & Tan Thanksgiving Table

 I love mixing up the elements I have on hand to create a whole new look.

When it comes to tablescapes, it's kind of fun to do the unexpected...

like mixing the crisp contemporary color scheme of black, white and tan

with some softer, earthy vintage and natural elements.

Here's how I pulled together this look:

 The centerpiece:I used several of my original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins...

two are mounted on pedestals (a terra cotta urn and a black column), 

one is perched inside a black flocked velvet shadowbox frame on the wall,

and two more nestle with real leaves on a ceramic platter - that has leaves in its subtle pattern.

Now, even if you didn't get any of my pumpkins,

you can certainly do this with other elements - 

REAL pumpkins, pine cones, wood rounds, or any material from nature.

The Linens:
The white platter sits on a thick felt leaf cutout,
which tops a linen tablecloth in a light tan color to further the theme and color scheme.
The napkins are a crisp black satin for a sleek touch.

The Rest:
Black and white ceramic dinnerware - the black very contemporary and the white rather classic -
combine perfectly for high-contrast style.
Sleek clear glassware - vintage and new - along with gold flatware are simple ways to add sparkle.

The highball glasses are family heirlooms, the goblets are from a discount store - 

it's not about pedigree or price here, but style. They mix perfectly.

The napkin is bound by a strip of glossy paper with a nametag sticker and a dried leaf tucked in - 

serving as both napkin 'ring' and placecard.

The napkin can be placed in the soup/salad bowl

or beside the plate.

If you prefer a more streamlined, modern look,

replace the frame, pumpkins and leaves with simple white gourds & pumpkins

on more white platters.

This all came together in just an hour.... without pre-planning.
I looked around and saw what I had here in the house, and came up with the color scheme.

Pulling together a delightful table for your guests 
doesn't have to break the bank OR cost you a lot of time.
I hope this will inspire you to dig through your cabinets and see what you have in there!

 My next post will show you a variation on this look, 

with a much more feminine vintage style...

Shabby Chic fans, you're going to love it!