A Black and White Christmas

Three years ago, we adopted two  VERY ACTIVE and very curious kittens.  

This is Cooper

and this is Astro

So I was very nervous putting up my regular ornaments, which range in price from inexpensive to...I can’t believe I paid that much TO ONLY BE SEEN FIVE WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR  but it was pretty....pretty expensive!  

So what was I going to do?  Alas, while rummaging the foyer closet ~insert golden light from above and a choir of angels singing a single note of inspiration~ I found a box of silver 2x3 picture frames AND THOUGHT THEY WOULD MAKE EXCELLENT CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS!  Thank goodness that I had an event earlier in the year that I used the frames as place card holders and food descriptions at the buffet table.

picture frames from a Tiffany themed sweet 16 I organized earlier that year

As the saying goes, necessity is definitely the mother of invention and with glue gun in hand, I got to work affixing ribbon to the back of each frame.

I was so happy with the results that I decided to switch off and do it again.  This time to match a tree skirt I sewed out of burlap and white cotton with a black stencil of a partridge in a pear tree (wreath in this case), which I cut out myself using freezer paper - I learned this trick from reading blogs.

my burlap and white cotton tree skirt

I pleated my own knife pleat trim 

and added loops and buttons to close

My skirt was inspired by this stocking I made which I got the idea from HERE!

Print out black and white images of your favorite photos:  family, friends, WINTER SCENES OR holiday images, like Santa, pictures of you and your family on vacation, day trip to the city and the like.  Hot glue a ribbon on the back and hang on your tree.  If you’re not sure about black and white images, you can use an antique faded look with a hint of color or just use color prints. The choice is yours and with so many photo affect programs out there, you can get really creative.

supplies:  glue gun and glue sticks, photos, frames and ribbon

I intertwined burlap and b/w gingham ribbons as garland aroundI the tree
and will be adding red berries or flowers for a nice pop of color.
(I didn't realize Astro was trying to lay under the skirt in the back of the tree when I took this picture!)

I am going to add pops of red here and there but mostly keep to black, white, silver and burlap.  Maybe sunflowers, hmmm?!?!  I better hurry up, Christmas is in 15 days!

even my presents match!

I am continuing the theme with the presents under the tree which has a black and white photo of the recipient rather than a "to and from" gift tag.  

From my home to yours, Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Where to go!

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I WANT TO MAKE LIMONCELLO, which is an Italian lemon-based liqueur that is served as an aperitif or digestif (liquors that are served prior to a meal to stimulate the appetite or after to aid in digestion).

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The history of limoncello twists through a series of tales and legends primarily on the Amalfi Coastline area (Capri, Sorrento and Amalfi). This citrus spirit is now considered the national drink of Italy and has found popularity here in the states.

Before I begin, I need to purchase a lem

on zester. I’m thinking this tool would be faster and easier then grating 10 to 15 lemons while trying not to get any of the pith. A great place for kitchen utensils such as this is Bowery Kitchen Supply.

So come on…

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Today I am taking you on a field trip to one of my favorite places I frequent here in the city called the Chelsea Market. It can be found on 9th Avenue between 15th and 16th Street on the ground floor of what used to be the old National Biscuit Company building. Hints of the building’s industrial past are sprinkled throughout your walk down the long corridor, like powdered sugar on a modern day confection. THE AESTHETIC RECIPE OF THE CHELSEA MARKET is a visceral feast of neglected ductwork, old signboards, the original train shed, and other historic ingredients melding its flavors along with modern zests, such as a makeshift waterfall and lighted floor. As you walk your way down the arcade of food shops and restaurants building up a strong appetite from the delicious aromas taunting your nose, toward the end, there is where you will find Bowery Kitchen Supply.

I know that this blog entry had nothing to do with décor but I thought I’d share it anyway. Just think, after a shot of limoncello, I bet your home will look prettier to you! If not, call!!! :)

Dennis DelBene's Iphone

LIMONCELLO RECIPE:

Ingredients

• 10 lemon
• 1 liter vodka
• 3 cups white sugar
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Zest the lemons, and place zest into a large glass bottle or jar. Pour in vodka. Cover loosely and let infuse for one week at room temperature.
2. After one week, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. DO NOT STIR. Boil for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
3. Stir vodka mixture into syrup. Strain into glass bottles, and seal each bottle with a cork. Let mixture age for 2 weeks at room temperature.
4. Place bottled liqueur into the freezer. When icy cold, serve in chilled vodka glasses or shot glasses.

When the batch is done, I will add a picture to the blog.

Thanks for stopping by.

Depression Glass

The weather is finally warming up here AND EVERYTHING IS LOOKING bright and cheerful! I just love the SPRINGTIME!!! I can’t help but think of warmer days to come and reminiscently daydream of my Mother serving my brother and I ice cream in these pretty spring green sherbet dishes. Later on, I come to learn that these cheerfully colored glassware are depression glass!

For those that may not know, depression glass was manufactured in the Midwest and Central United States and is a clear or colored translucent glassware that was usually distributed for free (or at low cost) during the great depression (example: movie theaters would hand out the glassware for entering their venue).

There are over 100 patterns made and come in a variety of colors; most common are clear (crystal), pink, pale blue, green, and amber. Less common are yellow (canary), ultra marine, jadeite (opaque pale green), delphite (opaque pale blue), cobalt blue, red (ruby & royal ruby), black, amethyst, monax, and white (milk glass). To learn more about colors and patterns click HERE to read.

One last thing about depression glass, I LOVE IT!!!!

picture source from ebay

Don't you just love panelling?

When someone mentions panelling, you immediately get A KNOT IN YOUR STOMACH AND CRINGE from the image of that horrible 1950s - 1970s stuff!

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Raised panelling and wainscoting can be absolutely beautiful and can add visual interest, texture and warmth to a room! Check out these images below!

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credit for the above 4 photos

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Lemonade, that cool refreshing drink!

While flipping through blogs today, I came across the this beautiful image below over at Our Best Little Bites.

I thought it was a beautiful image with it's vivid yellows and greens and hints of blue and since we have had such a SNOWY winter thus far, I wanted to conjure up some images of SUMMER! While staring at the image my mind started wondering about how could these colors be used in a room? So I searched the web for some mouth watering images - ENJOY!

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