Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Monday, December 6, 2010

A Gift, a Giveaway, And a Garland Makeover!

Bon Jour Mon Amis!

I am so excited today, as I just received my very first copy of Jeanne d'Arc living magazine!  I know that many of you ladies have been enjoying this gorgeous magazine for quite some time, and I probably am the last blogger on earth to see it!  My sweet and thoughtful friend Debbie at Love of the Sea sent me her very own copy!  Wasn't that the nicest thing of her to do?!  Thank you, Debbie!  You have made my day, I can not wait to look at all of the stunning photos and inspirations within the wonderful pages.  Be sure to visit Debbie, as she just did two postings of arrangements that she made, that were Jeanne d'Arc inspired.  They are simply stunning!

I am also excited to announce that my friend Frenchy is hosting a giveaway for me over at her beautiful blog, Chateau des Fleurs.  I am giving away one of my glittered and embellished Eiffel Tower ornaments to one lucky reader! So visit Frenchy to see how you can enter!!


I also wanted to share with you today a garland that I made over.  I always hang a faux garland in the doorway of our kitchen each year at Christmas, and it had been basically the same design for years.  Not only was I bored to tears with the garland, buy my taste had changed, too.  So, I removed all of the ornaments that were on it, and remade it using things that I already had on hand.

I bought these pretty butterflies last year at Michaels'  Not sure what I had in mind with them at the time, but I'm glad that I saved them!  The snowflake ornaments were from the Dollar Tree last year after Christmas.  Aren't they pretty?  They really don't look "cheap" at all!  It's amazing what you can find at the Dollar Tree these days (I've seen the same snowflakes there this year, too).



I also added some pinecones, and some iridescent ball ornaments that I bought last week at the GoodWill.  Ok, that's the only new thing I purchased for this garland, but since they came from the thrift store, they don't count, do they?  They were just $2 for a dozen, and were brand new!

The green velevet poinsettias also were from the Dollar Tree last year after the holidays.  I had to glitter them, of course!

Another pretty butterfly.  Love!

And here is a look at the entire garland.  You can get a glimpse of one of my very favorite Renoir prints in the doorway!  So I am really pleased with how my garland came out, especially since I had almost all of the materials on hand!
Hope you all have a warm and festive day!!

17 comments:

Kelly said...

Love the garland....you really do like glitter, don't you. :)

Kelly

Musings from Kim K. said...

One can never have enough glitter!! Love the garland. It's divine.

mizdarlin said...

As usual, you did a great job..there is nothing like 2nd hand treasures, kept and mulled over, then suddenly..inspiration! Always makes me smug too, after 'hoarding' them on the off-chance that I will find some creative use for them, too!

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh, what beauty to behold here!!! What a gorgeous garland! And the giveaway is fabulous! AND, how wonderful of Debbie to send you the magazine--she's so awesome! (You must be jumping for joy!)
XO

Tete said...

I'll bet you can see your home from space with all that reflective material you use-AKA GLITTER.
Lovin the garland from a distance. Isn't it amazing what they do have at the Dollar Tree? I also like the Dollar General and have so much from there, too.
You just can't find this little stuff at Walmart anymore.
I usually hang up a garland or 3 here, I use my tree ornaments on them, with angels and shredded wood.
I used to dry my own apple slices and orange slices. Just throw it all on there.
Haven't some acrossed yet, so it probably won't go up this year.
Hugs- Tete

ArtfullyJune said...

Beautiful garland. Glitter does wonders to just about anything!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Your garlands turned out beautifully! I'm inspired to re-do some of my tired garlands! How fun to receive that magazine...I've always wanted to read it, too!

Blondie's Journal said...

I love what you did with the garland...and I love glitter, too. It really fancies things up!!

How sweet of Debbie to send your her magazine. I have heard such great things about it but have yet to order one!

I am loving your blog. How lucky you are to have visited Paris!

XO,
Jane

Erin said...

I've never seen it, heard of it, but never feasted my eyes on it. Love the items that you have, green is very under rated in my opinion!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I've never seen a green velvet poinsettia but it looks gorgeous on your garland! And Debbie is one of my blog buddies, too...and such a sweetheart! I entered the giveaway...have my fingers crossed! Hugs! ♥

Christine said...

It's stunning. Everything is better with glitter. Enough said.

Leo said...

HI there - so glad that you got the magazine!! Hope you get some great ideas out of it!! And now you have really getting me warmed up for Quebec City with those lovely photos on your blog!!! I wished I was going to be there longer!!

Debbie said...

Hello Donna...your garland is so pretty around your pocket door. It's perfect!!!
You are so talented girl.
Debbie is a super gal, isn't she?
Debbie@lakehouse

NanaDiana said...

Hi Donna- Your garland is lovely! You are talented in so many directions. And, just so you don't feel like the Lone Stranger, I just got my first copy of Joan DeArc too. It is something!

And that Debbie chick-Love Of The Sea..? Yeah...I love her like I love Starbucsks...to the moon and back! She's a great gal! xxoo Diana

Anonymous said...

Beautiful garland! Why do I have a feeling that you will be decorating each day till Christmas? Keep it up -- I'm truly enjoying your creations. If you would like someplace to share your goodies, I do have the Boardwalk Bragfest occurring today, and would welcome your attendance!

Biljana said...

Your garland is absolutely beautiful, bravo:))
Hugs, Biljana

Brandy said...

That is a beautiful garland! I saw those snowflakes at Dollar Tree too, you're giving me some ideas!