Red and Rustic

G'day y'all ( tous mes amis )

( I'm pretending I'm an Australian Southerner who speaks French  today - my keyboard won't allow me to type in Chinese or I'd really impress you )

I tend to stick with blues and whites and silvers ( for the last few years or so anyway ) so this year I decided to change things up drastically

( translation - I can't find the boxes with all of my blues and whites and silver - have no idea where we put them - all I could find were Reds - which are soooo 5 years ago in my world ) 

But red suits this little cottage perfectly ...................( I'm really trying to convince myself ) 

A few years ago John came home with his very first ( and only now that I think of it ) dumpster dive item - an antique sled - who would ever throw something as beautiful as this in the garbage? 

2 years ago I simply placed a tray on it and filled it with? ( if you guessed sparkly blue balls you're right ) Why do I always feel a little risque calling ornaments balls?  Is there another word for them?  Help!!!

But this year it rests on the mantel instead 

Now just to let you know I've changed the mantel 3 times - because " the man " made comments about the first 2.

John says - A sled on the mantel?

Suzan says - I'm not changing it again - live with it

John says - Wouldn't the sled be better on the floor with gifts on it?

Suzan says - Yes - it would - but WE DON'T HAVE THE FLOOR SPACE !!!!!!!!!!!

John says - But it looks ridiculous on a mantel - it's not natural

Suzan says - It's not natural how you pick apart every single idea I come up with !

John says - I don't do that at all

John says - You listen to your bloggers more than me anyway 

Suzan says - I DO NOT ( but I do ) 

John says - You probably saw one on someone's mantel

Suzan says - NO I DIDN'T - THIS ONE'S ALL MINE - I INVENTED IT 

If any of you have seen a sled on a mantel just don't tell me about it, 'k?
Anyway this post is about RED - not my mantel !

Ok - Pic Monkey - do your magic

I wish I could Bokaherize the living room actually

I added the " Welcome " sign I bought this summer ( for the garden gate - but it ended up on the back
door )

John says - Why would a sled say " welcome"
John says - Very strange
Suzan says - Well I may put it outside, beside the front door
John says - CAN ANYTHING - ANYTHING AT ALL - STAY IN ONE PLACE FOR MORE THAN A DAY IN THIS HOUSE?

These conversations go on while " Joy to the World " is blasting away in the background - very festive in these here parts !!!

I added some ( ahem ) balls to the branches as well

As much as I love my blue and whites and silver - I love how traditional the red looks
( Translation :  where are those damn boxes ???  )

A kuttke ( that's what happens when your fingers are not aligned on the key board properly - that should be
A LITTLE spray paint took care of these pine cones

My red sequined tree ( that I had completely forgotten about )

Some faux something or other in metal cans ( hey they're red ! )

It tells you something about my character that I'm able to shop in my house for anything I want - in any color.
I don't think I'd have to hit a store for years ( except for Ikea - 2 of these lanterns - 3.99 each !!! )

A Santa's boot peaking under some fresh cedar branches from the backyard -  that a dear friend once brought to one of my parties ( filled with a poinsetta plant ) but now gets filled with candy canes usually

and stocking hangers ( can't find the stockings either so some red berries are entwined in it instead )

And of course there's my wreath on the ladder - which has red and white lights

And all of it - every single last piece of it would STILL be changed if I could find the boxes I really want !!!

You DO know my living room is mostly black and white, right?
Which begs the question

What's Black & White & Red all over?

I'm living one big giant cliche ........................

Have a wonderful day everyone
I'm still working on my DIY faux fireplace

Hugs,
Me

Looking for inspiration?
Join me at these fabulous parties !

Savvy Southern Style                                 French Country Cottage
Too Much Time on my Hands                    My Turn for Us
My Romantic Home                                  Classy Clutter
Uncommon Design                                    Between Naps on the Porch
Coastal Charm                                          My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll Thru Life                                      Stone Gable
Kathe with an E                                        The DIY Dreamer
DIY by Design                                          Beyond the Picket Fence
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson               From My Front Porch To Yours
Funky Junk Interiors

Thank You Tina !

Good Morning everyone !!!

Tina from WHAT WE KEEP kindly agreed to do a guest post for me this morning so that I could tie up the loose strings of my melt down ( yesterday's post )

If you don't know her, you're missing out on one fun lady ( yuck - doesn't that make us sound old ? ) 

Take it away Tina !!!

There is another John in Suzan's life.

 John Denver.

We are those squirrel-y, know every word to every song girls.

She has a sign that she made with the lyrics to Annie's Song.

I have a music box that plays Annie's Song.

A Canadian and a Texan...yes, our world is small-

but in the magical Land of Blog we really do find our people.

Suze asked me to guest post for her while she and her John finish 

killing each other/building the mantel.

What to do...

Of course, JD came to mind immediately.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is his 

"A Baby Just Like You".

I used some lyrics to create this quick and easy pillow.

I used a scrap from a linen curtain, a cottonball dipped in CitraSolve and a spoon. 

I created the wording on PicMonkey.

Always remember to reverse the image before you save it in PicMonkey

I printed it out using a LaserJet printer.

It must be LaserJet.

Lay out your fabric on some paper towel on a hard surface.

Tape your image down with painter's tape. ( Ink side down.)

Pretend that you are simply removing your nail polish and load up your cottonball w/CitraSolve.

You don't want it too wet- too much will smear the image.

This is one of those things you learn as you go- a few blunders in the beginning are to be expected.

Rub firmly but gently over the printed paper, then take a spoon and burnish the image,

again being careful not to smudge by applying too much pressure.

And there you go...

Let your fabric dry- this is really quick since it's a solvent.

Don't light your funny cigarettes around this stuff, ladies.

Grab a pillow that you already have and attach the printed fabric to it.

Since this is so temporary, a few dots of hot glue or some decorative pins does the job.

Pop on some fresh greenery and then stand back and admire your handiwork.

This type of pillow is very trendy right now- and not inexpensive.

You really can create this look for next to nothing and no sewing skills are required.

Five minutes. 

I hope you'll try it!

There are so many simple ways to use this process.

Our SuzyQ will return shortly with tales of her John and their hilarious conversations.

This mantel making process promises to be a doozy! hahahaha

I love those two- like our very own Lucy and Ricky.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A guest post AND a John Denver post ?

Blessings to be held dear.

Thanks so much Tina - LOVE your word art - it's gorgeous ( like everything you do - PLUS you know how to take a photo........................)

Have a wonderful day everyone ♥

Love,

Me