2013 PROJECT REVIEW

Please ignore the fact that I have neglected the blogging world for over a month.

Decorating for the holidays is well, let's just that I should probably hire out in the future (or be put on medication). I'm obsessed with rearranging ornaments on the tree. I love how it looks when I am done, but it could take days (or weeks). The shopping and wrapping presents, trying to squeeze in

every December tradition into two weeks of Winter break, holiday baking, hosting

Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, keeping up my space at Faded,

entertaining guests, and staying up late and sleeping in

were some of the other reasons I was kept away!

I thoroughly enjoyed them all (minus the tree thing) :)

Before I face the fact that it is January 2014 and in six short months my first born will be graduating high school, let's take a moment to recap some of With A Twist projects in 2013...

This year, this was the one I struggled the most with selling...
I wanted to keep it!

Painted my first gossip chair and telephone table.

One thing's for sure, there were a lot of fun projects.
To sum it up, it was a year that challenged me to balance running my own business, along

with staying connected and involved with my growing-up-ever-so-fast-teenagers.

I am grateful that we managed to build in a family vacation (may have been the last one before

our daughter heads off to college this fall), that we all are healthy, and that I still remain passionate

about doing something that allows me to be a mom, a wife and a business owner.

Thank you for being a part of it.

Good-bye 2013 and cheers to 2014!

~XOXO~

Cheree

BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS

Putting the finishing touches on my spot at Faded today.

The store is in tip top shape for Friday's (November 29th)

big sale!

The store will be open extended hours (10am to 8pm), 

so come support local shops in Snohomish!

In my not-so-humble-opinion, Faded has never looked more

beautiful!

There will be great deals, cookies, and gifts with purchase while supplies last.

 You can also vote for your favorite

space and be entered into a drawing for a $75 gift certificate

to 

Faded Elegance!

I am so grateful to be a part of this group of talented, extremely

hard-working women.

From the owner, Kimberly McIlrath, to the eight different dealers,

we all put our hearts and souls into it.

So, take a trip down and see what we have in store for you this holiday!

Speaking of holiday, 

I am full of gratitude that we will be spending it

with my mom and dad, sister and brother in law and little niece.

We will all share what we are grateful for, enjoy an 

amazing traditional Thanksgiving feast, 

and then awake the next day as a 

HOUSE DIVIDED!

I will try to post pics of us all decked out in our gear

as we watch the Apple Cup from my sister's.

Are you a Dawg or Coug?

Looking forward to the entire week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pom Pom Wreath

The holiday season is just around the corner and it has been a 

week since I changed up my space at Faded Elegance.

I know it seems early, but for those of us in retail we hope 

to spark creativity and inspire with our seasonal displays.

Getting it up early allows more time to plan, 

offering up ideas for you to create beauty in your own home.

Speaking of creating...

This week I thought I would share a pom pom wreath I had fun making.

I saw it on Pinterest awhile back (gotta love Pinterest).

It was super easy to make and would be a fun snowy day project for kids.

I had my favorite movie on in the background and was sipping an 

eggnog latte (I love setting the scene for a cozy and productive afternoon).

It's pretty self explanatory via the pictures, but I did attempt

to write hints under each pic.

I started out with four packages of the fluffiest white yarn I could find,
a package of stick pins and a straw wreath.

First step, wrap yarn around wreath so that the majority of the straw
is covered. Leave plastic on the wreath so that the straw is
contained and won't make a mess. Secure the ends of the yarn with
stick pins.

Next, wrap the yarn about 38 times around your
four fingers or use a piece of cardboard so save
your hand from cramping. It doesn't have to be tight or 
"neat", just loosely wrapped.

 You will carefully slide off the wrapped yarn and place it
on top of a 5-inch piece of yarn that you previously cut.

Take the 5-inch piece of cut yarn and tie it tightly around the 
wrapped bundle of yarn. Tie it tight and secure it.

Slide scissors into the 'loops' and cut. This step creates the pom pom.
It will be messy and uneven, but don't panic. 

Repeat the previous step until all loops are cut. 

Clean up the pom pom by trimming the uneven pieces. Last step is
to use a stick pin to secure pom pom to wreath. Space evenly apart and
have fun! If you don't like the spacing, just remove stick pin and rearrange
pom pom. Keep making them until you have something that looks like the pic
below.

I chose a neutral ribbon that I had on hand and secured 
it to the back of the wreath with stick pins. It makes it easy 
to hang and adds a simple accent. 

That's it!


I hope you find time to come visit Faded Elegance! 

The store is full of delightful ideas to help get you started

on your holiday decorating!

Cheers!

FAVORITE QUOTES & SIGNS = LOVE

Why must my favorite month of the year fly by so quickly?

The cooler foggy mornings give way to glimpses of 

bright oranges, reds and yellows against the grey skies.

Hearty soups and pumpkin spice lattes.

Warm fuzzy sweaters, boots and scarves.

Are you with me?

I've been immersed in the season and have been enjoying every minute.

I hope you are too!

On the business front, I am gathering and creating new items

for the change over of my space at Faded Elegance.

Faded will be closed to the public on Monday, November 4th 

so all dealers can create dazzling displays for the start of the 

holiday shopping season.

Part of my fun this season has been involved in the making

of these reclaimed wood signs shown below.

I selected my favorite quotes that fill me with that

warm and cozy feeling and made them into signs.

My dad helped by framing them with fence wood that I've

been collecting.

I think I have mentioned before my dad is someone

who can make just about anything!

He does an awesome job, don't ya think?

Tomorrow is Sunday and for that I am so thankful!

I am sleeping in!

Cheers!

Cheree

COWBELLS AND FLAPPER GIRLS

Recovering from an amazing party thrown by

Kimberly, of Faded Elegance.

The 20% off Anniversary Sale lasted throughout the weekend, 

and ended Monday.

What a great way to thank her customers!

The food, decor, store, drinks and prizes were flowing!

Jill, Kimberly, Me and Katie
(Photo credit: Faded Elegance)

Whenever we are heading into a big event, I try to bring in 

something new that I have never brought in before.

This time around (thanks to a friend who shares my passion for 'junkin')

I brought in a ton of rusty old goodness.

Can you hear me squeal with delight?

These were found up in an old rickety, dark barn.

I'd have to say that this is a haul I am most excited about...

mostly because I got to hear the wonderful heartfelt stories

about these pieces....their past life.

The milk jugs are from the days when the owner (now well into his 60's) used to

wake up at 4:00 am to milk the cows before school.

The array of cowbells came from a large collection of various 

types of bells. This farm used to raise goats, cows and pigs.

I have to do some research on these little bells here, but there are 

intricate markings on a few that lead me to think they might have

their own story to tell.

I can't help thinking of the Saturday Night Live skit with Will Ferrell.

You know, "I need MORE COWBELL!"

I love the rope that ties three of these cool shaped bells together.

I think I giggled when I saw these at the bottom of an old box.

I have seen these before in stores, but never before with their

original leather. I love that they are slightly tattered.

So, after I cleaned off most of the dirt and cobwebs, I lugged it all in

and set it up for the big anniversary sale.  Here's how that went...

This cute little wind chime was handmade from a little bell and a tiny horseshoe.

The roped bells accented my chippy door perfectly.

The wood crates I brought in really filled up the space, so it was

really all about accessorizing with all the other treasures.

I brought in some more Eastlake side chairs too.

I stenciled each of them with graphics from The Graphics Fairy.

I used the transfer method that works with freezer paper.

The tutorial on the Graphics Fairy website worked 

perfectly. Just remember to follow each step, including the last one, which

is to burnish the image onto the fabric.

I also brought in a few other items...

This hobnail lamp and antique gold frames set off the 

glassware nicely. The frames have a stamp on the back 

that reads, "Made exclusively in Italy for Nordstrom".

How cool is that?

So, that's my venture with cowbells and flapper girls!

I hope to leave you with some Autumnal inspiration!

Cheers!