wallpaper download

today, i am over at:


jennifer at rambling renovators asked me to be part of her series called "great reads", where she highlights some favorite blogs and their most popular posts....as well as some posts that deserve a second look.

be sure and check it out here!

some other participants in todays post:

i know i am not alone in saying...."WHERE did december go?!" it seemed to zip by at light speed, and i am certain that if i hadn't started my christmas shopping right after halloween, i would not even be close to feeling ready. but as i sit here in my pajamas, drinking some spiced cider, and reveling in the fact that i feel pretty darn relaxed, i am pretty confident that i am ready. bring it on, christmas. bring it ON.
this year, since i am SO ready for christmas, i wanted to write a fun post  to highlight my top 5 christmas posts of all time. and, by "all time", i mean the last 4 years i have been blogging. be sure and check these "old" posts out.  thanks to my scanner, and a decade of filing pictures torn from magazines, there is some pretty great stuff in my archives!

1. holiday door



2. holiday house



3. my holiday decor this year



4. holiday mantles part 2



5. diy crystal + nut garland

merry christmas friends!
here is to having a lovely next few days!

i love that felt is easy to find, affordable, and can be used to make very fun and creative gift adornments!
in case you missed my first two posts about felt gift adornments, you can read them here and here.

here are two more ways to dress up gifts with some felt, ribbon, and a handy-dandy glue gun!

felt wreath:

 this wreath is incredibly easy to make and can be used again and again!
i used 2 sheets of felt, a simple form cut from cardboard, a glue gun, some ribbon and letter stamps.
i cut the felt circles with pinking shears, and folded them in quarters and glued them (see directions here) to my simple cardboard frame. i marked dashed lines where i didn't want any glue, to make it easier to lace the ribbon through.


after the wreath was complete, i laced ribbon through it, tied it to the box, and stamped the name directly on the wrapping paper.

circle felt garland:
this is another fun simple gift garland to make.
you will need some felt circles in 3 sizes, ribbon, a glue gun and some batting.


just put the larger circle down, place the ribbon on top, along with a tiny amount of batting. put a thin bead of glue on your smaller circle, and place on top of the batting. you don't have to use the batting, but i think it gives a fun 3D texture to the garland.


these are both so easy and easy, and can be used over again.
my other posts on felt gift adornments are some of my most popular posts!
read them here and here.

happy wrapping!

she wanted the room to feel more cohesive, and welcoming.


the red chair was on it's way out, and she wanted suggestions for a replacement.
she loved red, but wanted to see it in smaller, more sophisticated doses in the room.



what we discussed during our phone call:
* my client had already ordered a pair of chairs from restoration hardware. we discussed placing a small metal table in between them, as well as a gallery wall above.
*adding some simple roman shades to the windows near the chairs to coordinate with the existing linen panels on the opposite wall.
*replacing the table with something with a lightly more rustic feel to add some texture to the room.
*layering a cowhide rug on a patterned natural fiber rug to boost the cozy feel.
*adding two ottomans to the end of the table for additional seating.
*replacing the red chair with a more neutral one, and adding some pillows with slight touches of red.
*adding a more simple lamp.

after:
my favorite element in the newly restyled space is the combination of the two rugs, new table and the pair of ceramic stools. i love how all of the textures work together to add some personality and coziness to the room.

as you can see, the new tables, with the lighter wood and touches of  metal add texture to the room and contrast with the leather sofa.

the new chairs, metal side table and personalized gallery wall help make this area cozy and inviting.


interesting in working together to create a more beautiful and functional space?
you can read more about my services here.
i am currently taking clients for february and beyond!
email me at autumnclemons@yahoo.com to set up a time to talk!