eBay Friday 6

It's Friday again. They seem to be getting closer together.

1. I found this beautiful Japanese screen. I would love to have this for my bedroom, hung over the bed.

2. This vintage Russian samovar is interesting. I think they are beautiful. If I had another house to keep them in, I would like to collect these. I would have them displayed on a loooooong wooden antique hall table.
3. I attended a black tie event last weekend and sat with a fabulous woman who carried a fabulous vintage Judith Leiber minaudiere (purse). She sat it down before her plate and it stared at me all evening. I think it may have spoken a few words, too. How about this foo dog? I would not use the strap.

This elephant is my FAVORITE!!! I love elephants and this one goes with everything.

This one is okay. I would take it if someone gave it to me but I wouldn't be in love with it.

I like this one more.

This one is in honor of my old black kitty cat, Cicero. I loved that cat. Meow.

I like this one as much as the elephant. It is gorgeous.

4. Moving on. Isn't this a beautiful Murano glass lamp? It would really make my office look better.

These would be nice as bedside lamps.

I like these even more. I love the marble base.

5. I love this chandelier.

6. While looking for the samovar, I ran across these antique Russian icons. I hate to see the antique treasure of a country for sale on eBay, but that is just how it is. These are beautiful.

7. I was looking for the beautiful painting that I found last week, but could not find it. I did find this painting from Israel that I like very much.

Shalom!

Oh Christmas Tree!

I collected some great Christmas tree inspiration photos. Most are from County Living, a few are from Cottage Living and some are from Domino. The Country Living website has been very good lately - probably my favorite. They have many do-able decorating ideas.

I like this tree. It looks like there are spraypainted pine cones (white and gold?) sprinkled about the branches. I also like the wrapped gifts underneath. The wire basket is a nice touch.


I love love love this tabletop tree. The robin's egg theme is so cool. I also like the wreath's hanging in the background. Love the Spanish moss beneath the tree with the eggs nestled inside.

This one is neat, too. It looks like they embellished the reproduction (?) Santa pictures with glitter and pipe cleaners. Very cute.

Look how they arranged a little yard around the base of this tree. Even the picket fence is decorated with garlands and wreaths.

Blue must be the it color this year as here is another blue themed tree. Love the large basket that the tree sits in.

I have always wanted a flocked tree like this one. I think they are sooooo pretty.

This tree is perfect for a party presentation. Look at all the layers. The tree is in an urn, sitting on a platter, surrounded by vintage ornaments, all on top of a silver tray. Check out the garland, pearl, and tulle combination that is wrapped around the banister. Pretty.

Another beautiful tree. This one is blue, silver, white, and GOLD.

I love this kitchen tree. It is STUFFED with ornaments. I also like how they put the little trees and the deer in the display shelves behind the tree.

And last, another beautiful tree. The colors used in this one are so beautiful. The wrapping papers is perfect and I like how they used the cake stands for candy and treats.

If you haven't done your decorating yet - get to work!

eBay Friday 5

1. This vintage tin can would fit my collection perfectly.


2. This is a photo of my mom's egg crate. Now check out the next eBay find...




A similar egg crate...I think they are neat and unusual.







3. This is the best thing I have found on eBay in a long while. I really like this painting. The colors are beautiful. The subject is beautiful. If it is still around after Christmas, I am spending my Christmas money on it.

4. In the same vein, I have been eyeing these Moroccan poufs. These are a good deal.

I like these Incan poufs, too. They would go anywhere in my house.

5. I have always wanted one of these horn chairs. They are kind of a combination of grotesque and fabulous...they are grotabulous (I just created a new word). This one is Victorian. I can see this in the office/computer room.

6. I am sure you have seen the new trend using random portraits of strangers in a grouping. I found some neat portraits that would look great together. Wouldn't they be cool in a powder room, or a game room, or even the dining room hung from floor to ceiling?!?

This is my favorite. She looks like she could use a cocktail.

This one is beautiful.

OMG. Check out the eyebrows on this lady...whoa!

This one grouped in with the other ones - looks like he could be thinking, "What am I doing here?"

How about this poodle on velvet? My neighbors have a pair of Standard Poodles. They are too funny. They look so overdressed.

This black dog is nice. I'll take the whole collection.

7. When I was looking for portraits, I ran across this one of a lady wearing a Squash Blossom necklace. The photo was protected, so I could not copy it, but it inspired me to look for my own necklace. These Native American necklaces are classic. The old ones are very valuable. This one is listed for more that $10,000.00.

An example of a simpler design. This one is probably more wearable.

Oh so pretty.

Christmas Decorating Done

I finally finished my Christmas decorating. No, it didn't take two weeks, more like two days, I have just been super busy (like we all are) and haven't made time to sit down at my computer for any length of time to report about my progress.

I have a tree issue. When I ordered my Christmas tree on-line a few years ago, I accidentally ordered a HUMONGOUS tree instead of a normal tree. The tree I ordered should be in a mall or a bank or a town square, not my house. Last year, I ended up putting it out on my back porch because the base of the tree was soooo large that it took up too much space in the living room. The height was fine INSIDE the house, but out on the porch - not so much. It was about two feet too tall. So in a state of panic and depression, I opted to leave off the top tier of the tree, creating a large Christmas bush on my back porch.

This year I had the brilliant idea of leaving off the bottom tier instead. Duhhhh...it only took me a year to figure this one out. Now I have a normal 8 foot tree! Plus, it is way skinnier at the bottom so it doesn't take up alot of space in my living room which was the issue in the first place. Yahoooooo!

I am so happy that I don't even care that half of the lights don't work. It must have something to do with the missing 4 feet on the bottom. Oh well. It's up and it's decorated. Move on.

The tree did not photograph well. In person, it is much prettier.

It is covered in birds of all kinds. I like the tropical birds.

I like the clam shell filled with silver ornaments. I recently found the foo dogs at a local shop. They are old yard ornaments....heavy.

I like how the mantle turned out. The wise men candle holders are hand-me-downs from my mom so they have good Christmas memories.

I put a little tree in my kitchen.

In the laundry room, I put a Christmas card display to enjoy while folding clothes.

I also put my "hot mess" ornament wreath in the laundry room. I like to decorate in here because we use this area so much - might as well be festive!

This wreath is filled with hand-me-down ornaments as well as some of the ornaments that the kids made in preschool, etc. When you put them all together, they look pretty cute!

The dining room creche looks good with the red accents.

What do you do with the beaded garlands that get tangled up in a giant mess? Do this...it saves hours of frustration and looks nice, too.

I love my bust.

This wreath hangs in the entryway over a plate glass window. It is the first thing you see when you walk in. My sister and I made a similar wreath for our mother. It is covered in vintage ornaments. I add more every year.

I put all of my elves and Annalee figures on this little tree in the atrium. I might need a bigger tree next year to accommodate more elves.

There is another tree out on the back porch. This one has all of the crocheted and tatted snowflakes and angels that my great-grandmother made over the years.

Let the wrapping begin...