Maire Claire Paper Runner

 

Happy New Year!! I have one last idea to share from this years Marie Clarie Christmas theme. I was perusing past issues and saw this beautiful linen tablecloth tied with gold ribbons. I loved the idea but I was NOT about to sew a cloth. I had no time for that. So this is my take on the cloth.

 

I used roofing paper (which I LOVE, I mean this stuff is rocken!!!)  and spent an hour while the girls read to me cutting out triangles with rounded corners. I used the runner for Thanksgiving with bronze ribbon to go with the bronze pine-cones I made. But for Christmas I used bright, satin ribbons, hot pink, red and peacock blue. I loved how this paper runner turned out. Plus I was sick (as you know) and it was soo nice to have this done and just roll it out.

 

Also as you know I like to have some kind of ornament or gift for each guest to take home. As soon as I had decided on my theme I knew I had to do something with Bonne Mamman jars. To me they are veryyyyy Marie Claire. I decided snow globes would be fun. BUT I will be honest with you, these were a disaster. As I keep mentioning I was very sick, I had all the stuff out for a week to make the snow globes but they would not come together. Finally I had the girls design their own and I made the rest. They were not what I had in mind. BUT by Christmas dinner the water had turned brown on some of them. Things starting floating around. LOL, my mother noticed her reindeer's head floating around. Really we had a very good laugh, so they served their purpose I guess. But I will NOT make snow globes again! I loved this years theme but wish I had, had lots more time and money. I had a much bigger vision then I was able to create. But that is life xoxo

 

Joyeux Noël

 

I want to wish each of you dear readers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I pray it is full of joy (and yummy things ;-). I know for some, Christmas is a bittersweet time. I hope you can still find joy during this time.

We are having our Christmas early because hubby works on Christmas, so I will be taking the week off. I have not wrapped a thing and have lots of cooking to do.

Remember to look for the magic and little blessing all around you during this time of jubilation. For this is a time of love, giving, celebration xoxo

PS. I know I said my theme this year was not traditional French but I thought it would be fun to at lest have a little something French, so this is my cake plate of Eiffel Tower's. Also I still have more to share but it will have to wait until after Christmas!!

Book Angel

 

I have to say the blessing of being sick was, I was able to sit around and craft (and make up for the past year ;-). I had seen these angel wings somewhere, (pooh, I did not save where) and loved them. But I did not need something to hang on the wall but I need a vignette for my coffee table. I wanted it neutral to go with my no-sew burlap runner. I will be honest, this was a pretty time consuming project but I had lots of time and movies to watch while I worked.

 

I am not sure how Simple Joys made her wings. I rolled and glued a bunch of pages from an old book, I had cut into small squares. I cut a shape of wings I wanted out of cardboard and glued the paper cones one at a time to the cardboard, until I liked the look. Printed up my favorite word and glued gathered, old lace behind it Then I glued the whole thing to the wings. I tore strips of linen and wrapped it around a foam tree. Pinned the wings on and a mother-of-pearl button to the top,waalaa. I am so happy with my little impromptu vignette. You never know when creative opportunities will happen A month ago I was worrying what I would have form my theme this year and now look at me ;-)    xoxox

 

Candy Jar

Well I will be honest, I am NOT happy with my china-cabinet but I am sharing it anyways. I was brainstorming what I had or could use that was cheap to bring on some pink and blue. I thought candy would be a great idea. But after redoing the cabinet a dozen times, I decided to just let go and accept it. Here are few glimpses.

 

(I know this picture is upside down, see the footed bowl on the bottom, well top here)

One thing I am thrilled with is my pedestal candy jar I made. The top is a jar I had and the bottom a pedestal bowl turned upside down. It is held together with the tacky wax (but be supper careful, it is barely held together. I do not touch it. Just admire it from afar!!) I also love the red flocked Target wrapping paper for the background. I need to get some more!! I am off to dip pretzel sticks in dark chocolate and crushed candy canes, as Eloise would say, I absolutely loveeeeeeee Christmas xoxo

 
 

French Christmas Menu

 
 

I thought with my French Marie Claire Idees theme, I should do a classic, elegant French dinner. This was a bit of a challenge because classic French cooking is time consuming and a bit fussy (in a good way  ;-)     but I am responsible for Christmas eve, Christmas morning and Christmas dinner, so I had to simplify. If I do not get better soon, I will have to simplify this menu even more  ;-o     I tried to capture the flavors and textures of classic French cusine. I have my trusty Mastering The French Art Of Cooking cookbooks at my side (although I am not sure if Julia would approve of my menu). C'est la vie, so what are you cooking ??  xoxo

 

Fish Mousse  Chive oil I plan on making this the day before.

Sorbet I will purchase at Mora

I am just making up the sauce as I go, the same w/ the endive.

My mother is making the green beans and cake

Simple salad of greens with fresh oranges and bits of brie w/ orange vinaigrette

Dessert is a simplified version of Julia Child's Los Gato's Gateau. This is am amazing dish, I made it about 26 years ago. I can still taste it but it is a lot of work. I just do not have the time w/ all the other cooking I am doing. So my plan is to layer meringue (bought from Trader Joes) with toasted hazelnuts and almonds, pastry cream and the apricot filling!!! I will let you know how it was!!

Plus on Christmas eve, I am making fish stew with lemon/garlic aioli, pasta, simple salad and bread. I am still planning Christmas breakfast. So that is my plan!!

 

image from graphics fairy

 

Pleated Tree

I was inspired by Tatertots and Jello ruffled tree but I did mine a bit different. I wanted something neutral to go with Pierre and a book angel I made, I will share soon. I have to say I love the fayed edges and the rows of little silver pin heads.  It was very easy to make!!

1. Took plain linen and tore it into long strips about an inch wide.

2. I used a foam tree form. Instead of gathering the strips, I would make three pleats (pinched) in the fabric and used a sliver flat-head pin and pinned the tucks into the foam tree. One strip I pleated the fabric in one direction, then the next strip the other direction. I started with one strip and pinned around the tree, then I kept pinning a strip, going on each side of the center (instead of going one direction all around the tree) until I filled in the tree.

3. Glued (well I actually used tacky wax, so I can take it apart after Christmas) an antique cut-glass candle holder to bottom and inserted (with some glue) a wooden final to the top.

Click on picture below to really see the details.

 
 

 

Big Christmas Flowers

 

Instead of a traditional centerpiece for my dinning table, I decided to hang huge paper flowers over the table. They are a Martha Stewart kit. Again very Marie Claire to me, just simple paper but makes a huge statement. Red and pink, that we painted the edges silver. I think they are fun.I have to hand it to Chloe, she was the only one brave enough to get on the high ladder and tape these flowers to our 10 foot ceiling's. Thank you sweetie, they are rocken. I will be back tomorrow, unless the rains flood us out xoxo

Check out this Marie Claire blog for inspiring ideas!!

 

Marie Claire Wreath

 

So what is my Christmas theme this year?Let me say I picked this theme about 3 days before last Christmas. I dreamed about it, I know I am weird. My theme is Marie Claire Idees, you know the French craft mag. I did not want to do a "French" theme persay but what I think of is hallmark of this magazine. To me what Marie Claire does best, is to take simple things like a twig or a tin can and dress it up, take to the next level BUT knowing when to stop. Not too over the top. So that is my goal this Christmas. My colors are naturals (white, brown, black, silver) with punches of red, hot pink and peacock blue.

 

Two weeks after last Christmas I made this wreath. It is about 350 cup-cake liners (a tip, cooks warehouses are a great place to buy a lot of liners, cheap). I pinned (but gluing would have been easier) them to a wreath form. Add a gorgeous ribbon, a vintage rhinestone pin and you have a classic.

 

I confess I had much more planned but then Wren happened,crafting sort of got set aside. But I have been able to create some of what I envisioned. Each day this week I will share a corner of my home and hope it inspires you xoxo