"..not even a mouse."

My fireplace mantle village has a portion full of little mice gift figurines, only one a purchase.

"...not even a mouse."

"Twas the Night Before Christmas" is the inspiration for this little scene on my fireplace mantle, although I didn't set out to create it. See the little mouse stocking on top of the Christmas tree?

The mouse stocking has been part of my family stocking line-up for decades, a whimsical tribute to the mice I have escorted out of the house because my cats over the years couldn't be bothered. Not that I wanted the mice to be injured; I would much rather have had them stay outside than running across my kitchen floor the day after the first hard frost and my having to catch them.

In honor of some of those mouse-catching adventures, friends have given me mouse gifts over the years. I grouped them together one year and they have been sitting together ever since, appropriate to be hanging out on the side of the fireplace mantle away from the cat stocking hangar. 

Such a simple little scene but it makes me smile every time I see it, especially the little girl mouse tucked in bed. I was trying to put my finger on why this charms me and I know why, and so do you. It represents the magic of Christmas.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...."

Charlotte

Green Fabric Christmas Trees

Fabric Christmas trees now on my dining room table, adopted from a local thrift store.

Fabric Christmas Trees

So I just posted about seeing these fabric Christmas trees at a local thrift shop and how I passed them by.

Not so much.

The next day, I headed back to the thrift shop and picked them up, not even asking the price. I had the perfect spot for them and wondered why on earth I passed them up in the first place.

It's not that forests and trees are a decorating theme at my house, although they do hold a special place in my heart. As a custom gift business based on quilts, anything fabric-based gets my attention. If it's repurposed, even better.

Just as the custom projects are all about pulling colors together, my little dining room table was waiting for a little tender loving care. The table runner gift is a forest green and has been solitary for a few years, keeping a glass bowl company. The silver trees were also a gift a couple of years ago, which I decorated this year with the two little red wreaths. 

So happy when it all comes together. Merry Christmas!

Charlotte

Make Your Own Fireplace Mantle Village

Fireplace mantle villages can be made with a collection of mis-matched but complimentary items.

Make Your Own Fireplace Mantle Village

For years, these were very popular holiday decor items. They could be purchased at major department stores, with new homes or business being released every year.

Mom and I collected a number on sale after Christmas and sent them next year to my brothers for their model train layouts. 

I thought about getting a set for myself but never got around to it. 

Then one year, I was given a couple of little gifts - literally - that inspired me to make my own little fireplace mantle village. Since cats are part of our family, the little mice family seemed like a natural addition to hang around the sleeping cat stocking hangar.

Another year, the little snowman gardener joined the snowman stocking hangar. As with most suggestions for decorating, start with a focal point and go from there. Each of these little fireplace mantle scenes have a little cardboard house that anchors them.

A collection of gift snowmen now have their own little corner in my fireplace mantle village.

The little village scene changes from year to year. Christmas cards get added in the back to add dimension and to be a memory marker of friends who have been part of our lives.

You can start by combining what you have and see if you can start your own little vignettes. If not, keep it in mind through the year as you treasure hunt antique malls and yard sales. The best time to buy Christmas decorations and decor is in the summer.

I refurbished this nutcracker by gluing missing parts and adding a bluebird on empty wheels.

Too much trouble? Have something special you already particularly like or holiday traditions you like to follow?

Start with that, or with a stocking holder, and look for things that can create a scene around them. Doesn't have to be complicated, this little Santa nutcraker got repaired and added to a fireplace mantle corner with a rocking horse stocking holder.

There were only wheels left for whatever vehicle Santa had but I took care of that by adding a bluebird. Looks very personal now, doesn't it, as if it was made just for me...

Charlotte

Putting Up a Christmas Tree

One of my cats checking out her first Christmas tree at Bluebird Gardens.

Putting Up a Christmas Tree

If you have pets, you know a Christmas tree is just a big toy to some. Since I grew up with a variety of pets, we had some special things we did to make the holiday safe for everyone.

Christmas trees, for example, were tied up to room posts so that when - it was not an if - cats decided to climb it, the tree would at least be anchored. 

I thought about this as I put up my little artificial tree this year. I used to have several small decorated artificial trees I would scatter around the house but they were stolen earlier this summer so I thought it was time I get a bigger tree.

A quick visit to a local thrift shop and I had a nice 4-foot artificial tree to set up in my living room window. I centered the tree in the window so I could see if from the outside and started to add the garnish.

Didn't take long to realize my placement was less than optimal. I had placed the Christmas tree in the prime bird-watching spot, something my cat Shirley Honey let me know was not acceptable. She tried to settle into her favorite bird-watching spot on a nearby chair. When that didn't make it clear my decor was not working, she moved beside the tree turning back to look at me as if to say this is just not going to work, see why?

After a few minutes, I agreed with her and moved the tree off to the side, next to the fireplace. Now the tree can still be seen from the outside and she can still watch her birds from the comfort of the inside easy chair.

There's absolutely a compromise for any issue, including putting up a Christmas tree with a cat!

Charlotte

Fabric Christmas Tree

I found this fabric Christmas tree a couple of years ago at a summer yard sale.

Fabric Christmas Tree

I have to confess, I found this fabric Christmas tree one summer a couple of years ago and I picked it up for the ornaments.

Yes, my original thought was I could take the ornaments off this fabric tree and place them on one of my tiny artificial trees I used to have. I loved those little trees. Once decorated, I could store them in a tote and pull them out to quickly add a holiday flavor to any room.

They were stolen this summer so I had to re-think my traditional holiday decorations. This fabric tree was in the project section of my business office, waiting to be taken apart and recycled.

On closer inspection, I was reminded of why I picked up the fabric tree in the first place.

Isn't this little dog in a cube ornament adorable? it's one of the reasons why I bought the tree.

The little dog in a cube ornament was the first thing that caught my attention. The dog reminded me of some of the dogs that have kept me company over the years, especially the long ears.

Several drums were also attached as ornaments to the fabric Christmas tree.

Anyone grow up with the song "Little Drummer Boy?" I remember siblings practicing that song for their Christmas shows. I was never invited to sing. Although I love to, I am basically tone deaf but I smile when I see drums. I would be perfectly happy not hearing the song every again.

Also loved this little snowman ornament as if jumping across the fabric Christmas tree.

This little snowman also was a favorite, how many times does one see a snowman trying to jump? It's how I feel when I see the first snow of the season.

Little Santa Claus with bag of gifts ornaments on fabric Christmas tree.

Have you tried to find tiny Christmas ornaments? Some years I find some, other times it seems years apart, part of the reason why I was going to take these ornaments off this fabric Christmas tree.

I didn't notice it at first, the little fabric tree has a green star on top among the ribbons.

I am guessing these were popular in the 1980s just from the fabric selection and all of the red ribbons. 

I saw another one at a local thrift store last week, only this one was not embellished. There was something quite elegant about the simple lines, even without any ornaments. 

Plain fabric Christmas tree available at a local thrift store.

On second thought, I am going to keep the first little fabric Christmas tree intact with all of the ornaments and make it my new tradition to add it to my holiday decor. Seems appropriate for a quilting-based gift business, don't you think?

Charlotte

'Tis the Season Framed Button Tree

This is so simple, it would be very easy to make as long as one could find one's button stash.

'Tis the Season Framed Button Tree

Once again, I picked up this little "Tis the Season" Framed Button Tree thinking it would inspire me to make something similar. I ended up framing it and setting it out on one of my side tables. With all of the richness one associates with holiday decorating, this very simple little button tree is a nice contrast.

When I was growing up, we would call these sparse Christmas trees "Charlie Brown trees" after the little Christmas tree with one ornament made famous in the Charles Schultz cartoons.

We also would say Merry Christmas instead of the more prevalent and supposedly politically-correct  Happy Holidays. One year, before 140-character Twitter, I even abbreviated Christmas to Xmas to get it to fit in a headline and someone took issue with the abbreviation....sometimes I think we get too wound around the wrong thing.

A visiting friend noted she would be tempted to make a similar framed tree with t-shirt paints and specialty buttons, certainly an option. How much simpler, though, to raid one's fabric stash and embroidery basket, pull out a remnant, embroider a little tree frame and add buttons from the button jar.

Even the misspelling adds charm, 'tis is short for "It is."

Well, regardless of what you call it or how you frame it, 'tis the season. Merry Christmas!

Charlotte

Old Quilt Bird Ornaments

This was the second old cutter quilt ornament I found at an antique mall, it started the collection.

Old Quilt Bird Ornaments

I didn't mean to start a collection of old cutter quilt bird ornaments. I picked one up several years ago at an antique mall, thinking I could use it as inspiration to make some to sell once I found old cutter quilts to use. I was still working then, so these projects would pop into my head and take a back seat to life and all of its associated interruptions.

When I spotted a second one that was blue, I picked that one up to represent my custom quilt and gift company, Bluebird Gardens. I thought it could sit as a tree topper in one of my outlet mall booths but it never quite made it there. In the back of my mind, I really didn't want to sell it.

I was excited to find this bluebird old cutter quilt bird ornament to represent Bluebird Gardens.

By the time I added a third old cutter quilt bird ornament to my inspiration box, I had to admit I now had a "collection." Not exactly something to brag about but then it only took three french hens to make it into a traditional Christmas song....

It was now time to give these three old cutter quilt birds their own little tradition, real time in a Christmas tree.

This was the first old cutter quilt bird ornament I found; I picked it up as inspiration to make more.

My one-acre Missouri hillside garden is a certified wildlife habitat, which means I feed wildlife all year as well as provide water and shelter. So apparently does Santa!

Birdhouses and bird feeders are everywhere, well-occupied and attended so having birds on my Christmas tree seemed like an extension of what I watch happening outside my windows every day.

I put up my first Christmas tree in years this year, a little 4-foot artificial tree that I placed in a front window so I could see it from the outside. Had to move it over to get it out of the path of my cats also watching the birds - my cats take their supervisory duties very seriously!

After moving the tree and as I found ornaments to decorate the tree, I remembered having the three old cutter quilt birds. Yes, I actually had four but I only remembered the first three.

This is my other old cutter quilt bird ornament, love the cross stitch, my first embroidery stitch.

My last old cutter quilt bird ornament was made out of an old cross stitch embroidered quilt. I learned to embroider when I was 7 years old doing a cross stitch table cloth so I have a warm spot in my heart for that simple embroidery design. This bird ornament is a little different shape than the others, which only gives it more charm.

These birds are 4 inches high, between 5 and 6 inches long. The pattern looks simple enough to copy so if you want to make some, cut one out and don't be too perfect, part of their charm is that they are all a little different.

If you don't have old cutter quilts, how about checking into your leftover fabric stash? Bet you have enough remnants in there to make some of these bird ornaments.

So pretty in a lit up Christmas tree!

The old cutter quilt bird ornaments added a nice old-fashioned touch to my Christmas tree, don't you think?

Charlotte

Vintage Postcard Holiday Scene

A vintage Christmas postcard joins a small decorated tree and presents in my kitchen.

Vintage Postcard Holiday Scene

This little holiday scene is the first time that greets me when I go into my kitchen. Sitting on the edge of a reclaimed silver tray on my kitchen island, the little holiday scene makes me smile. It's a simple way to add a little holiday cheer to perhaps the most used room in our homes.

The little artificial tree is stored in a tote all decorated so all I have to do is pull it out and place it with the vintage postcard. For fun, this year I looked for little salt and pepper shakers to place under the tiny artificial tree.

I found this little bear porcelain pepper shaker at a local thrift store for 25 cents. Without its mate, I guess they thought the chances of its finding a new home were slim to none. 

The little rabbit on wheels to the right was a Russ toy I picked up at a yard sale a couple of years ago. I think that find was $1.

My other find this year was this charming porcelain doll salt shaker. In my mind, she was a perfect mate for the little bear shaker.

Great way to repurpose those salt and pepper shakers that once were highly collectible. I am finding a set to keep each of my favorite vintage postcards company marking the different seasons. I am still missing a few vintage postcards but those are also on my wish list.

Half the fun is the treasure hunt!

Charlotte

Cutter Quilt Santa Star

This colorful quilt remnant was quickly made into this rustic Santa Claus star.

Cutter Quilt Santa Star

Most US Christmas trees have a star on top. Among the holiday traditions, this tradition of a star on top may be the most common of them all, although over the years my sewing room could have doubled as Santa's workshop. I was thinking about that tradition when I found this Cutter Quilt Santa Star at a local antique mall.

Made out of a much loved quilt, also called a "cutter quilt" because it was made out of the remaining good pieces of the quilt, this rustic Santa in the shape of a star is a nice alternative to the traditional metal, or lighted star.

The back of this Cutter Quilt Santa Star shows the simple design and stitching.

I know it would be tempting to place this on a vintage tree but I also think it would be a nice contrast on a more modern Christmas tree, the contrast would make both pop.

These would also be fun and easy to make as ornaments. The back of the star shows the simple sewing pattern to make it.

Once stitched together, Cutter Quilt Santa Star has some filling to give him dimension. My guess is some leftover quilt filling.

A little burlap face with yarn and black eyes complete Cutter Quilt Santa Star's face.

For the face, someone glued a piece of burlap at one of the star points and added black eyes and some yarn that was cut after stitching for the hair and beard. A bell on top of the head completes Santa's outfit.

I don't have this Cutter Quilt Santa Star on top of my Christmas tree this year. A little gardening angel chasing a bee has that honor but Cutter Quilt Santa Star is not unappreciated. He is sitting on my living room mantle with some of my other Santa figures, a reminder that the loving sentiment of this holiday is as simple as this cutter quilt star.

Charlotte

Vintage Jewelry Christmas Tree

I snapped this picture of a little framed jewelry Christmas tree at one of our local thrift shops.

Vintage Jewelry Christmas Tree

I don't see many of these where I now live so I like to take pictures for inspiration. Do you still have your Mom or grandmother's costume jewelry?

One of my east coast friends several years ago had me shop for some vintage jewelry pieces to fill in her bridal bouquet made out of pins from her relatives. It was stunning when it was finished but weighed a ton. When I couldn't find the extra pieces in her complimentary colors, we decided to downsize the bouquet, keeping the pieces that had sentimental value and saving her arm from falling off before she was officially married.

The tree also reminds me of a custom kids tree quilt we made a few years back. Hard to tell what kind of tree they used as a model because every tree looked different, much like teachers look different to every student that draws them.

These little works of art remind me of all of those old jewelry pieces I found in my travels. I also  inherited a box of jewelry from both mother and grandmother, although I haven't made anything out of them yet.

This little framed vintage jewelry Christmas tree inspires me to think about how I can cut styrofoam into a tree shape and make a three-sided tree out of vintage jewelry. Wouldn't that make good use of those old jewelry pieces and make a sweet little holiday decor memento as well?

Charlotte

Christmas Decorating Holds Memories

The little girl mouse in bed (left) was a $1.99 purchase in Christmas 2015 with a dear friend.

Christmas Decorating Holds Memories

Thanksgiving weekend is Christmas decorating time at my house. With the long weekend, I can pull out the boxes of decorations and enjoy spreading them throughout my house to bring a holiday theme into each room.

Much like gardening, I like my holiday decorating quick, easy and memorable. I had several small, pre-decorated Christmas trees in plastic totes that could easily spring up on my office desk or a coffee table; favorite handmade Santa dolls from cutter quilts, and some German figurines my mother brought back from Germany in 1948, years before I was born. 

As I was looking for the totes, I realized they were gone, part of a stash someone who worked for me stole mid-summer. She pled guilty to the burglary mid-November but I had not missed the totes because they were in a storage area where she had stolen other, more obvious items.

They were only "things" but I felt such a feeling of loss and violation - again. I used to enjoy pulling them out, remembering when I got them and what memories they represented; giving them a little tender loving care if they needed it, and setting them out in my rooms. I don't have a lot of decorations but the ones I did have were attached to wonderful memories. It took me a couple of days to mourn the loss and inventory what I still had.

In the process, I remembered I had one little decoration sitting on a project shelf in a closet. I bought it last year for $1.99 with my cat's name sake, my friend Margaret, in St. Louis at the Shop Around the Corner. It's a little girl mouse tucked into a bed to add to my cat-themed stockings hanging from the mantle. One of the feet on the bed was missing so I had glued a little piece of wood in the missing spot and needed to paint it before it was ready to join my fireplace mantle holiday scene. It was still there so I finished the paint job before going through what was left of my holiday decorations.

 Some of my favorite mantle decorations were stolen but as I re-arranged my little holiday scene with what was left, I realized I still have a wonderful collection of good memories, and there is always room to add a few more.

Charlotte

A Cow A Day Kitchen Dish Towels

A Cow A Day Kitchen Dish Towels

A cow a day? Why not, especially when they are as cute and playful as these are!

A Cow a Day Kitchen Dish Towels includes hand-embroidered in Missouri cows in different settings.

Embroidered dish towels were a staple mid-Century. Little girls would embroider them in a variety of designs, and each day of the week had a different subject. They were usually around one theme, sometimes reflecting a daily chore or just some fun activity.

With these dish towels, it's all fun!

Who doesn't like a cow among bubbles?

This one of a kind white muslin dish towel set features black and white cows in a variety of different poses and sizes.

A little surprise for the week, a little happy calf!

From holding a drink in a swimming pool to being in a fleld of orange flowers. these charming scenes make me smile. You will, too!

This cow is dressed in her "Sunday best" down to her shoes!

The hand-embroidery was made on pre-made white muslin big dish towels 28x30-inch each.

Fun to add to your kitchen and to give as a wedding or housewarming gift.

Charlotte

Yellow and Mint Green Santa Claus Handmade Doll

Yellow and Mint Green Quilt Santa Claus handmade doll has an elegant retro look.

Yellow and Mint Green Santa Claus Handmade Doll

There was something special about this one of a kind yellow and mint green Santa Claus handmade doll. I loved the scallop edging of his coat but it was more than that, the colors reminded me of very modern, or very old-fashioned holiday colors.

This almost 2-feet long fabric doll is made out of muslin - for his hair, beard and jacket ruffle.

Black buttons down the front compliment his black feet and legs. Want to see?

Yellow and Mint Green Handmade Santa Claus doll has black legs and feet attached to his body.

The heavy body make is easy to pose Santa on a mantle, on packages, on a shelf. He also can easily sit on a sofa or chair without worrying about little hands grabbing him.

Yellow and Mint Green Santa Claus face has an attached button nose. 

So what will it be this year, does Yellow and Mint Green Santa Claus think you been naughty or nice?

Charlotte

Tiny Last Flower Bouquet

Tiny Last Flower Bouquet

The weather forecaster promised a hard frost, the first of the season. It was mid November 2016 and we were still enjoying temperatures in the 80s and breaking established records for warm weather. In some ways, I was looking forward to the colder temperatures and a break in the garden work.

I went for my last walk in the garden, looking for whatever might still be blooming. I can usually find wildflowers in a nearby field but not much in my flower beds. I didn't expect to find much this time, either but I was wrong, around every corner I found some little flower still holding on and showing some color.

The New England Asters were the first so I took a little sprig off the side. Pink mums were in another corner, just one little sprig but it doesn't take much to put together a tiny flower bouquet.

A pink Knockout rose was in  a flower bed under a window, and the red geraniums were blooming in a pot inside I passed by on my way in.

The yellow mums were from a friend who shared his stash with me and a sprig was lying on my garage floor.

Together, they made a lovely little flower bouquet I now have on my kitchen island brightening up my kitchen and promising more red from the upcoming holidays.

We like to think flower bouquets have to be big but the small ones may have as much, if not more, beauty all by their little selves.

Charlotte

Custom Pillow Gift Idea

Custom pillow gift I received from a good friend last year.

Custom Pillow Gift Idea

I was talking with a customer earlier today. She wants to make something for a friend but doesn't have time to make a quilt so I suggested she try a pillow. I received a custom pillow as a gift from a good friend last year and love it, so I suggested this may be a pretty sure bet if she makes one. The custom pillow design does not have to be complicated, here the details of my custom pillow gift to give you some inspiration.

At first glance, this is a basic 16x16-inch accent pillow but look closer.

My friend didn't know I collect vintage postcards with cats so I loved the center block. See the little ribbon edging she added?

A center block with a special photo or print of something special easily makes this pillow custom. You can add complimentary fabric border and be done, or you can also add some quilting.

This custom pillow also has quilted leaves around the red and white fabric.

If you like to quilt, even basic stitches, you can add some details by quilting around the center block.

My friend also added a little quilted pattern in each of the pillow corners.

Quilting in each of the custom pillow corners add a nice details.

The lace edging was a nice touch but not necessary if you don't have any handy. You can also make a white edging out of folded fabric, then pulled into a ruffle with a large machine stitch.

Another place you can customize is the back of the pillow.

Custom quilt backing can be of a complimentary fabric.

I have this pillow out on my sofa where I can see it and be reminded of the good friend who made it for me.

Charlotte

Red and White Old Quilt Santa Claus Doll

One of a kind Red and White Old Quilt Santa Claus doll ready to sit on your mantle.

Red and White Old Quilt Santa Doll

Maybe it's because much of our Christmas decorations growing up were delicate and couldn't be played with. Or maybe it's because I have always loved cloth dolls but this one of a kind, made in USA cloth Santa Claus doll is not only charming but practical. They can easily be played with and posed without being worried something will break.

Made out of muslin and polyfill stuffing, the almost 2-feet long handmade Santa Claus doll repurposes an old red and white quilt into Santa's coat. Black buttons down the front embellish the cotton muslin ruffle.

Muslin ruffles also form Santa's beard and frame his muslin face.

Black stockings are his feet with black legs attached to a heavy body for easy posing and hugging.

No two Santa Claus dolls are alike. One of our customers said these were "so much cuter in person."

I suspect she will go on Santa's good girl list, don't you think?

Red and White Old Quilt Santa Claus dolls is made all out of fabric.

To make sure the old quilt doesn't unravel, the sleeves and coat hem have been basted.

Ho Ho Ho!

Charlotte

Last Red Rose of the Season

This red rose is the last one of the season from my garden.

Last Red Rose of the Season

I was surprised to find this red rose in bud at the entrance to my garden. These started as miniature roses, a gift from a friend last year.

I planted the miniature red rose at the entrance to my garden, a reminder of her kindness and a pretty welcome when I come home.

The little rose bush bloomed most of the season, fed with a combination of dried banana peels, coffee grounds, crushed egg shells and a dash of Epsom salt.

As I was tucking my garden in for winter, I was sure I had seen the last of the roses.

Glad I was wrong; this one is gorgeous. I cut it off above a five-leaf and added it to a vase with a couple other flowers still blooming. There is little more I enjoy than having a fresh vase of flowers on my coffee table. Regardless of the weather outside, it's like having a little bit of my garden still blooming.

One of the home decor articles I read earlier said adding fresh flowers was a good way to finish a room. The article also said fresh flowers are the first thing visitors notice in a room. I know I do!

Charlotte

Mum House Witch

This charming house is surrounded by fields of mums and a humorous decoration. See it?

Mum House Witch

I love to see how people decorate for Halloween and to pick up ideas in case I have a wave of energy to do something for next year. By far, my favorite Halloween home decor inspiration is this house where I live in mid-Missouri.

First, the mums are beautiful, what a wonder garden sampler of colors and varieties, and they make quite a first impression as one drives by.  So much fall color on the ground as surrounding trees start to change color, too.

I don't have flower beds where I can do this but I am inspired by the visitor to the mums - see the witch legs sticking up out of the orange mum to the right of the wall with the address number on it?

Look at the orange mum in a metal container to the right of the front door. See the legs?

So clever to add the two legs with telltale witch shoes in an orange mum in a metal container in the back. Those legs look easy to make, too. I'm thinking this same idea could be applied for Christmas decorating, too, only with elf legs.

Maybe on a snowy day this winter I will be inspired. Wouldn't this also make a cute housewarming gift?

Charlotte

Welcome, Halloween!

Creative ways to add Halloween to a welcome sign.

Welcome, Halloween!

Halloween is now the second most popular holiday behind Christmas with millions of dollars spent on house and home decorations.

Although I love Halloween as well, I like to keep my decorating easy, simple and small. Which is why this charming Halloween sign caught my attention when I was visiting a local business. Look closely, each letter has a charming Halloween theme.

Bats are a favorite Halloween theme and this one looks easy to make.

And what is Halloween without pumpkins?

This charming sign inspires me to make my own. I don't have a router to cut out the wood shapes but I can paint similar shapes on a simple rectangular piece of wood.

Here is the Halloween sign with all parts together. Cute, don't you think?

Nothing like adding another project to my to do list but winter is not far off, this would be a perfect winter project on a snowy day!

Charlotte

Boo!

Halloween Cat vintage postcard with a mouse friend gives any room a quick Halloween vibe.

Boo - Very Easy Halloween Decorating

I love to celebrate the different seasons in my home but I don't have a lot of storage space nor do I want to spend a lot of time doing it. You could say I am an appreciative but otherwise unfocused decorator but that doesn't mean I haven't found a very easy way to decorate.

You have probably seen them at antique stores, boxes and boxes of old vintage postcards with charming designs. I have been collecting them over the years. Every season I get to pick one to feature in a picture frame in my kitchen, and I do have a tendency to pick up cat ones, especially for Halloween.

This year, I selected this adorable black cat with an orange witch hat to keep a vintage ceramic mouse salt shaker company.

Charming vintage black cat helps to bring a bit of Halloween into my kitchen.

Did someone say fun and frolic?

This is such a quick and easy way to add a little Halloween decor without taking up a lot of room or requiring a lot of effort.

If you want to add a little extra touch, add a complimentary salt and pepper shaker. I only have one of these mice but it looks like it just stepped out of the vintage postcard.

Vintage made in Japan ceramic mouse salt shaker gives my little Halloween vignette dimension.

Start Collecting Favorite Postcards

You can start your own little postcard collection visiting antique stores and picking up favorites for the traditional seasons: birthday, anniversary, spring, Independence day, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter. 

We all have a little stash of photo frames we don't use any more. If you don't, check your local dollar stores and vintage shops for inexpensive photo frames you can easily change. I double check the back to make sure the piece that holds the picture frame upright is not damaged or missing.

Changing out the photo frame is also a quick way to update the vintage postcard with minimal effort.

Wedding and Housewarming Gift Idea

Several years ago, I collected a series of vintage bird postcards and gave them to a friend as a wedding gift. When I visit, I still find them on display on her fireplace mantel, each one marking the passing of yet another special date. She uses one favorite photo frame and just changes out the post cards. Even simpler than what I do!

One more note: the treasure hunting can be a lot of fun. Start with one vintage postcard theme that sets the tone and go from there!

Charlotte