Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

 

It has been a family tradition as far back as I can remember to cut down my Christmas Tree. Over the years we have had to switch tree farms. It seems tree farming is a dyeing breed. The passed five years we have been cutting our tree down at Jarrettsville Nurseries. The kids have so much fun. They love getting dressed up in Snow Gear(what ever it takes to stay warm) fight over whom wears what hat. The drive to the farm they fight who gets to pick the tree. This year the farm had planted many fields close to the parking lot. So we had to go way in the back and up the hill this year and look for a tree. I spotted one in the first two minutes looking. I was told that "it cannot be that easy we need to make this an adventure". Oh it was and adventure alright......a Good one!!! The kids ran like wild animals through the trees playing tackle and hide and seek. While my husband and I strolled in and out of the trees looking for that perfect tree. About a hour into it, I discovered a path that leads you to White Pine Trees(My all time favorite). We always go with the Fraser or Douglas Fur, this time we where going to get a Beautiful, full, and shapely White Pine. I found her this year. She was one of the tallest in the bunch. She was beautiful.....  

 

Once we paid for the tree we sat around the bonfire and had Hot Chocolate and Funnel Cake...Yummm

~Jen

 



Homemade Christmas Tree Craft

Homemade Christmas Tree Craft

I had a few hours to myself yesterday (very rare in my world) so I stopped by Joann Fabrics.  While browsing the isles for the latest trendy craft supplies I got an idea to make my own Christmas Tree Decor for my fireplace mantel.  

I started with the following supplies.  It all cost roughly $35.00.  Not bad for 6 trees.

Here is what you need if you want to make them

~ Styrofoam Cones Small, Medium, & Large

~ Styrofoam Balls

~ Spool of Jute Rope 

~ Raffia  Red & Green

~ Ceramic Mini Flower Pots

~ Red Assortment of Buttons

~ Burlap 24"x24" piece. (I just used my scraps)

~ Paint

~ Styro Glue & Hot Glue Gun

~ 10" x 1/2" Thick Tree Branch

~ Tooth Picks

~ Small Decorative Bows

I painted the flower pots first with black paint.  Next I stuffed a Styrofoam ball in the flower pot.  Then stuck the stick right though the Styrofoam ball and the tree.  Then I glued the Hemp Rope on and then I decorated the trees.  I then cut and glued burlap to the Styrofoam balls. Tied a bow at the bottom with Raffia. I glued a bow to a tooth pick and pushed it down the top to make the star....TaDa!

La Craie Painted Furniture

Some of our latest pieces of Chalk and La Craie Painted furniture.

I scored this awesome buffet last week.  I had to do some cosmetic repairs as well as fill in some holes....  

I distressed her a good bit.

I estimate this piece to be at least 80 years old.  The hardware was in perfect shape. She turned out beautiful.

This bookshelf got a little facelift.  I wrapped molding around the bottom to give it a more finished look.  The she got 2 coats of Wrought Iron La Craie Paint with Dark wax.  In this picture I was getting ready to tack on the molding, then paint it.

Hurry Sandy is coming......

The eve before Hurricane Sandy is about to wreck havoc on the Mid Atlantic.  Here it is 10:30 at night and I have yet gone out for supplies.  Even better we have been told that we will lose power for a few days and we don't have a generator.  Oh NO what are we going to do........  We are going to have a Hurricane party, people.  We are going to hang out with neighbors cook a feast with the Grill, play games, take naps, eat our faces off.  This may sound silly but I am kinda looking forward to the storm.

What are you planning to do to pass the time?  I will post pictures later.

Damage to our deck from Hurricane Sandy.

More of the deck.

0ct 31st..
Boy I could'nt be more wrong.  Everything I stated above didn't go that way.  Husband got sick, lost power, stayed home,  didn't cook. Our beach took a major beating...but to the North of us got it way worst.  Please pray for all the family's in New Jersey and New York.

My Kids Recent Photo Shoot

I just have to share my kids recent photo shoot.  I had my kids photographed last week and they turned out better then I could ever imagine.  Thank you so much Wendy Lake Photography. www.wendylakephotography.com

Vintage inspired fall Photo

Sweetness!

Enjoy,

Jen

Opening of our Vintage Painted Furniture Shop.

Since August Carrie and I have been busy planning, building, opening our vintage painted furniture shop. Our dream is growing so fast we don't have enough time to keep up. Carrie started a few months before me so I had some learning to do. Just this summer I learned what chalk paint was. I had never even heard of it.

We started our business with the main focus to build our brand name first. To do that we had all of our marketing pieces printed up. We coordinated to have 5 local retailers to sell our furniture (we are always looking for new retailers to add to our Rolodex). Then we started finding unique solid wood furniture that needed a second chance at life. And then we began painting...

Doing all that hard work is helping us grow quickly. Two months in and we have doubled maybe tripled the amount of furniture we have at our retailers.

The best part about this is how much fun we are having. We get together paint, gossip, laugh and be creative. How cool is that for a job. Since we have just begun a few months ago I can't wait to look back a year from now and see how much we have grown. I hope to use this blog to share our Journey and help you start yours. Please "join our  blog" so you can follow our post and tutorials.

Happy Painting....

Jen & Carrie

Our Studio

 

Our Studio

@ 

21422 York Road, Freeland Maryland 21053