This sweet little schwibbogen, remember it from last year? Children holding lanterns, trotting toward Christmas. My sister Susie and her boyfriend flew in from South Carolina for Thanksgiving and stayed with us here at Paulson Place all last week, and now we are lucky enough to have Andy's mom coming for almost a whole week again, starting next Thursday. I love it so much when the guest room is in full rotation during the holidays. That was another one of my dreams, come true.
I'm so glad you liked the snow village tutorial! Thank you for the links to other villages, and to make your own houses, etc. I am going to check all of those out today. A couple of people asked about whether it was safe to put lights under fabric. I honestly never really thought about it before. I guess you'll have to use your own judgement about that. My lights are very cool, even after being on for hours, and we don't leave it lit at night or when we're not around. But I'm no expert, so if you worry just leave them out. A few other people also asked about the roses on the fireplace. I described how my mom and I made and attached those here. They are probably a very permanent part of the fireplace now, so be forewarned. I like them, though from across the room they kind of do look, as Andy says, like someone threw blobs of wet toilet paper at the fireplace and then painted over them. [Alicia shrugs: Still cheaper than therapy.] [You know how that goes.]
Does Andy know he is talking about that old craft "paper mache"? I like the roses and if mom helped, or you helped her, I would never take them away. I think new lights are all cool and surely would be no danger of fire, but like you, I would never leave them home alone. Like the little spinning people.
Love the little spinning people, have one myself that my kids love.
Sounds like your holidays are really going well. Isn't it great when you dreams come true? I love your fireplace, it's beautiful.
I love your schwiboggen. Thank you for including the info on your "rose embellished" fireplace. It is truly unique and beautiful! I love it even more now that I know you and your Mom made it together. What a wonderful memory to make...:)So sweet!
I'd wager the lights are safe under fabric, given that they're intended to go on Christmas trees which are slowly drying out as the days progress.
Your mantle is absolutely beautiful and if I didn't have a TV permanently mounted abouve it I'd copy your lovely Christmas scene...
We are a long way from family and friends as well. I love it when I just get the guest room cleaned up from one set of "visitors" and more loved-ones arrive.Makes it almost worth living far away, well, almost.
Hi Alicia! I just popped over to see what you've been up to, and saw many lovely, beautiful things once again. I love all your recipes, snow village, and the schwibbogen. Wonderful! I hope you and Andy are doing well, it looks like you had a nice holiday with your family. We spent our Thanksgiving with Bruce's family in Vegas, they were kind enough to send us a ticket since we are in start-up business mode still and living very frugally. Hope you are having a great day...miss you much, and hope to hear from you soon! x0x0x Raine :)
I love the roses on the fire place! Sounds (and looks) like good therapy to me!
I use LED light strings for my fabric-Christmas light combinations. In addition to staying cool, they have the added bonus of pretty much never burning out!
I know what you mean about therapy and I, too, love having visitors.
Holidays are fun! I'm so happy yours are going well, too!
I love the snow village below, it reminds me of a boston bun- with the thick white icing and coconut. i think I'll make an edible snow village!
I adore those little spinning cuties. I actually did a search for it in November, because now that I have my own little keep, I'm starting to buy Christmas stuff and that was at the top of my list.
total sidebar--have you seen these skirts? http://www.madewithlovebyhannah.com/skirts1.html
They seem so very you to me!
The colors are beautiful, I love to hear other's Holiday tales. Ha! Cheaper than therapy...
Have fun with all of your guests. I'm sure they are having the greatest time being with you in your creative home. Thanks for sharing.
Love your village and love how Andy can throw out a zinger like and and you can toss it off with a shrug. Beautiful demo of trust in action.
Your decorations are so pretty and so inspirational! I managed to get my brother to help me get a tree last week and it's still sitting there with just lights on it. Maybe I'll get to it this weekend!
About 30 years ago when i was at Ohio State, I used to visit German Village at least a couple times a month (in Columbus - it's still there and triving) I bought a little wooden village and a spinning Nativity Scene - I still put them up every Christmas. But the memories of German Village are what i love most about them! Thanks for your tutorial on the snow village Alicia - I have lots of the little putz houses and wish i had a mantle like yours!! Merry Christmas to you and Andy! (and the other cuties that live with you!) sue
oh he is so funny that Andy! I did not even notice the roses, but what a crack up... wet toilet paper thrown up there, he probably needs glasses, like me. sometimes things just don't look right till I find my glasses and think, oh! it's not a lovely vintage wallpaper, but spider webs...
Love the little spinning people, have one myself that my kids love.I adore the roses on the fire place! Sounds like good therapy to me either!
My lights are very cool, even after being on for hours, and we don't leave it lit at night or when we're not around. But I'm no expert, so if you worry just leave them out. A few other people also asked about the roses on the fireplace.