Christmas Wishes and Holiday Cheers...

With all the talk about last minute gifts and what to wear... and when... I have been so busy working on projects that I haven't even had time to do a proper Christmas post!

Fortunately... I have finished all my shopping... but I will be working up to the last minute with deliveries for clients that were lucky enough to get their custom orders in on time...

I want to thank Tish at "A Femme d'un Certain Age" for inviting me to partake in her Christmas festivities... Ooh-la-la!!! She has had so many great contributors this week and it has been delightful to see what has inspired others in the way of gifts. I will certainly revisit all her posts from this week, as well as all the other wonderful posts that I need to catch up on... it will make for good reading when I finally sit down for my Christmas milk and cookies... well, maybe something a little stronger... Cheers!!!!

I wish you all a joyful Christmas and Holiday with family and friends...

Spreading the Word...

Please check out Vicente Wolf's latest post on the need for bone marrow donors. I was not aware of how simple the procedure is to register as a donor... basically, a simple cheek swab.

Bonemarrow for Christmas



and then spread the word...

The Beauty of Branches - Part ll…

“To me, sophistication is a perfect marriage between

intelligence and simplicity.”

~ Rose Tarlow ~

One of the characteristics of country life is being frugal, and I think most people agree that being frugal is intelligent… So, if being frugal is intelligent… and if the dichotomy of nature through all its intelligence and complexity is the ultimate model for simplicity and form… then certainly the combination could be appreciated for its sophistication!

As a follow-up to my previous post on “The Beauty of Branches” and to make good on my threat to get out my loppers…I have composed the following snippets from my gatherings…

It all started here last weekend…with the greatly appreciated help from the generosity of the helping hands and strong backs, during my fall clearing and clean-up on my property…

My lovely daughter on her fiancé’s tractor that he so kindly brought along for

a final grass cutting of the season … plus, the front-end loader on it was a bonus for hauling tree trimmings to the burn pile.

One of several burn piles… where I gathered some of my clippings… and which will soon become a warm gathering spot for a birthday bonfire…

Looking out the window, toward the side of the property near the pond, from where I sit and write my blogs….

A close-up of the moss and lichen from one of the trimmed branches that was in decline…

how amazing are those colors and textures!?

Mistletoe… also found in the declining branches of trees (and which will actually kill your trees) is mixed with clippings from a cedar tree.

More clippings from the cedar tree with its silvery-blue berries.

In the vignettes below... I like how the birds in the paintings seem as though they are sitting

upon the textured branches…

Moss and lichen covered branches in an urn...

Branches with seashells…

I hope you have enjoyed my musings...

The Beauty of Branches…

There is a quiet beauty in branches… often overlooked and under appreciated during the grey days of winter. Against the horizon the branches form lovely patterns of lace. But if you take them at face value what you get is their sculptural quality and the simplicity of their form. In an interior space they create a very distinct statement, requiring little help or explanation. They can fill a large volume of space without completely dominating it by delineating the negative spaces within.

A sculptural arrangement by Chicago Interior Designer Michael del Piero
www.michaeldelpiero.com

http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/2009/11/my-favorite-showhouse.html

Entry of the 2009 Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House via Things That Inspire

Bare wintry branches giving way to spring’s blossoms is a welcome sight, especially early on when the buds are forced.

Southern Accents - photo Tria Giovan

Martha Stewart

For centuries the beauty of branches has been captured in chinoiserie style wall papers giving style and character to the spaces they adorn. The following four interiors have been transformed into extraordinary spaces because of the wall features.

Hand painted DeGourney wall papers

Above three interiors by Style Redux on a beautiful blog she did on Chinoiserie wall papers by De Gourney

http://chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com/2009/11/chinoiserie-wallpaper-series-de-gournay.html

Bathroom images via http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/



Furnishings and fixtures double as art and utilitarian objects...

Branch-Console_467 www.westernartandarchitecture

Bird Nest In Trees Canopy Bed - Shawn Lovell Metalworks

http://www.slmetalworks.com/rail_c.html

Handrail by Shawn Lovell Metalworks

Floor Lamp from The Horchow Collection

Table Lamp from The Horchow Collection

image via Belgian Pearls

A beautiful gilded free-form looking branch chandelier

http://www.carversguild.com/our-mirrors/number/1150

Songbirds Mirror by Carol Canner (hand painted) from Carvers Guild

Hmmm… I think it is time to get the loppers out and head out to my woods.