Holiday Special: Lilah's House

Some know her as Lilah, some as Nee-Nee and others of you have no idea what on earth I'm talking about. My mom. She's the best. She also has great taste and a gorgeous home. I love walking through her rooms and noticing all the little things that make it special. When I was there over Christmas break, I took some pictures to share with you.

Now, the history of my mom's house is steeped in mystery and intrigue. It reads like something out of a soap opera. She's only been there for about a year, but prior to her moving in nobody had inhabited the house in 15 years. (cue spooky music)

But that is a tale for another time. Right now the scene is a Christmas breakfast.

Good lord, could it be more adorable? Everything was delicious. My mom and her dude are both great cooks.


Lilah bought this tree at a sale a few years back. I spray painted it for her. look how adorable it looks housing these precious vintage baubles! Quite a few Santas and blown glass clip-on birds.

Ooh!

This is a print of a piece done by a famous local artist: Ramon Santiago. His work can be found all over Rochester in restaurants, museums and public places.


My mom loves to fill containers with small bits. Usually it's shells. But at Christmas time it's vintage lights, ornaments and mercury glass. (See the pixie pencil? I have one, too. We bought them at the same time.)



These guys are a set that we had growing up. One of the only decorations (besides ornaments) that she has kept. I treasure them. The hats are made from real socks!

Vintage red metal wreath-thing.

My mom and I got all hopped up on making these wreaths one year. Country Living Magazine will do that to you from time to time. This one was too good to give away or sell. A glorious tribute to kitchy Christmas!

An amazing vintage card that has been framed. I'm jealous of this girl's outfit.

I love this little dish. Probably one of these days I'll theif it.

My mom likes little things, just like I do! I made the star shaped fabric Santa ornament on the right. In 7th grade Home Economics class. With the special ed kids. But, again, that is a tale for another time.



Lilah keeps a white tree and decks it out in vintage ornaments. It looks like a candy dream!

She also displays her Christmas pins. Imma steal me that one in the middle.

I hope you've enjoyed your tour of Lilah's House!

In other news, I made this:

Oh, There You Are!

Let me just get my apologies out right away. It's been over a month since I've spoken to you, dear friends, and I want to say here and now that I'm sorry. The time has just slipped away from me. My Etsy shop has been keeping me hopping and while that is a good thing financially, it's a bad thing for my spare (blogging) time.

I can't even believe it's already post Christmas. I have so many things I want to show you!

But, first I'd like to address this winter. Yesterday (December 28th) was the first "real" snowfall we've had all year. And it was about an inch. Usually that stuff starts around Halloween. By Thanksgiving we've usually dug ourselves out of 20 inches or so. I'm aghast and agog and I don't even know what to say about it except that we've clearly broken the planet and we're going to have to pay for it. Probably we'll end up losing California to the sea. That and Coke will have one of the saddest ad campaigns of all time because the polar bears are all dying. Not even a cold Coke can refresh them, poor dears. One of my Facebook friends posted a picture of a dandelion. Growing in her yard. In December. Not good, people. Not good. We had a green Christmas, alright. The kind where you have to put on your shorts and go mow the yard after you open presents. I keep thinking how the mosquitoes probably haven't even died yet. We'll have a bobilliondy of them this summer. I think I'm going to start keeping bats. So just, you know: Beware the wrath of Mother Earth.

Onward. The drunken ballerina was finally able to pull herself together and finish the decorations. I bet you want to see them, right? Or maybe since we haven't spoken in so long you are pretending not to care if I ever show you another blessed felt bauble or glittered angel again. In any case. I'm going to show them. So if you'd rather not see them, just leave now. I'm not going to give you every single thing, like last year. Because most of the stuff is exactly the same. I'm going to break it down into two bits: 1-The New Stuff and 2-A Collection Of Sorts.

The New Stuff

I got it from the Craft Antique Co-op. I'd put a link to their website in there, but it's a hideous and obnoxious site and you can Goog that crap yourself if you feel the need. This thing is gorgeous. Two tones of green. I love me some tone on tone. I'm going to keep it out all the time, not just at Christmas. I'm also going to put it in my dream master suite. You know, when I get one of those, the second of never.

The Bathroom

OK, not new stuff, but I arranged it in a new way and liked it enough to share with you. Be grateful. There aren't a lot of people who decorate their bathrooms for the holidays.

The Little People House

See what I've done, there? Decked it out for Christmas. Also of note is the thick layer of dust. I want you to know that the layer of dust is there on purpose. Not because this is the top of a cabinet that is eight feet in the air and not even my tallest friend can see the top of it so I never bother dusting it....no, no. It's because I think it's artistic. I think the layer of dust subtly imitates a layer of newly fallen snow and contributes to the overall reality of the piece. Obviously.

The White Wreath

This is new. Also gotten at the Craft Antique Co-op. The Martha Stewart stand in our kitchen got a bit full this year so I took some of the other vintage wreaths into the hallway. (another new frontier!!) See below.

The Green Cupboard

Nothing new exactly. But a new set up. Note that Kermit has invited the dead dolly from Halloween over. She gets a lot more lively at Christmas time. The dapper little chick is one of my all time favorite decorations. Top hat dusted with green mica. Yes, please!

Red Shelf

New natural colored tree from HB on the top left. Nothing else new, but a new set up. The angel has migrated from my bedroom and taken roost in the kitchen.

Piggy

I bought this ornament for myself on Etsy. It's vintage. I allow myself to purchase myself one vintage Muppet ornament per year. Myself thanks myself.

Paper Bike Ornaments

This is one of a set given to the husband by HB. It's made from cut paper. He's obviously in love with them.

Picket Fence Gate

This little gate is supposed to be an ornament. But I got rid of the string and stuck it in with my picket fence. Perfection. I'd like to have a real picket fence. I know, how June Cleaver of me. If I get one I promise to always put on pearls before I vacuum.

Bedroom Trees

A lot like Bedroom Eyes, but with more Christmas and less lust. Well, maybe not that much less lust. Because these babies are beautiful! Sorry that my camera is crap and doesn't take great pictures in my dark house, forcing me to use the flash which ends up making everything look washed out and blah. Use your imagination and warm it up a bit, folks.

Check it out! That little house I bought for five cents! Remember?

A Collection of Sorts: A Peppermint Stick For Old Saint Nick