Beach Cottage Decor Finds

Have A Very Merry Christmas

Wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'm off for some mountain time and will "see" you all again after the new year.  Have a peaceful holiday.

 

Beach cottage at Mauna Lani.

Woodland Lodge Christmas Tree

Switching gears, this is my tree at home.  Think rugged California coast, Big Sur, Cambria, Mendocino cabin Christmas tree.  The room that the tree is in is very lodge like. I like to feel like I'm sitting in a cozy room at the Awahnee Hotel.  It has been fun picking up an ornament here and there on my travels and shopping adventures.  It's far from beachy, but I hope you'll enjoy it.

 

   

 

 

Bottle Brush Trees

There have been a lot of blog entries in the last few weeks showing everyone's beautiful bottle brush trees. I must give credit to Karla as this is where I first came across this technique.  She gives credit and a link to the site where she found instructions as well. But I thought I'd share with you all my results. I added a little flocking and glitter to some of mine. I really like the results. They look really cute at Ivy's Porch.

 

I really like mica on the trees as well.

   

My Beach Tree

I can't stop tinkering with my coastal seaside tree.  I was inspired by this old postcard.

 

I loved the ribbon dangling down. Off to Michael's we go... sparkly ribbon, Christmas picks that look like sparkly seaweed, the sand dollars that I glittered weeks ago. Viola!  I really like it.

   

 

   

The wired ribbon from Michael's was wider than I wanted, so I just cut long strips in half. I accordian folded them loosely and then pulled them back out straight again.  I love how they have a tentacle like look to them.  It lends to the ocean theme.

Holiday Gift Show at Center Street Grill in Santa Cruz

I am participating in a gift show at Center Street Grill in Santa Cruz this Sunday 12/7.  If you or a friend are a paper artist or love assemblage, I will be selling vintage photos, papers, vintage wallpaper and many other collage items.

1001 Center St., Santa Cruz, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Wine and champagne bar will be open and complimentary gift wrap provided.

 

 

I have just amassed so much art stuff the last several years. If I sat down and did art everyday, I still would not use all that I have. So, time to let go.  To see some of what I have done with my papers and goodies, see Monica's Art Album.  

Amazing November Day

I know it is soooooooo cliche to talk about how wonderful the weather is in California. But geeez, even we Californians are amazed at how beautiful it was this weekend. We spent yesterday at the beach watching these huge waves that came in.  There were tons of people and tons of surfers. 

My favorite spot to look for seaglass was relatively sheltered from the waves so the boys and I were on the hunt.

 

   

Seaside Christmas Tree

I revamped my tree a bit. It was bothering me before to have both coastal and rustic on the tree together.  Even though it's very Big Sur, it just didn't look right to me.  So I added some garland and ribbon and more white shell ornaments.  I like it now much better.

 

   

Creating Ariel's Beach Christmas Tree

I had painted and glittered these little shells back in October and then they sat around as I wasn't sure quite what to do with them.

 

   

Then I found this white glittery Christmas tree at a discount store. Hmmmm.  Added clear bead garland.

  

On go the shells.  It looks pretty, but it still doesn't look finished. Aha!  Pretty little ribbons. 

 

 

Now it looks like a tree Ariel might have for Christmas.  Under the Sea Christmas.

Still Feelin' Beachy

It's been awhile since my last post. I've been on vacation with the family to Disneyland! We had a wonderful time even with the smoke.  I feel for the people who've lost their homes and for the rest of the people who have been living with the smoke for a week.  It was really hard on the eyes and nose. But alas, it is time to get back to work. Frames are selling well. Here's some of my glitter work for the tree.

Still Recovering

It's been a week since we decorated and set up for the Holiday Open House at Ivy's Porch and I am still recovering.  There are many more small projects to be done and I haven't been able to look at them all week. Here's a pic of how the "sand snowballs" turned out.  There were only two packs left when I got around to taking the picture. As soon as I can, I will share more how to projects here.

 

What I have been doing instead of stuff for the shop is being off having fun with the kids. Here is Justin and I on a "pumpkin ride" at Johnson Farm. It is such a cute place. Farmer Rob really loves what he does and shares his enthusiasm with all the kids.  I loved being up there in the cool crisp air. (For us in California, that is. You know, it was like 65.) 

   

We were on a hay ride to the top of the hill where there's a big pumpkin patch. We all hopped out and picked out a pumpkin and rode back to the farm. Justin had fun feeding the animals, running through the corn and petting the horses.