IN PURSUIT OF PLAID

Alison at The Polohouse  is hosting a Tartan Parade on November 2nd.  I've always been in love with plaid, so didn't want to miss this opportunity to show my plaid addiction.  Check out her blog for more inspiration from other Tartan addicts.

Every little girl growing up in the 1940s had a plaid dress -- I was no exception!

And every teenager in the 1950s had a plaid shirt and a plaid picnic blanket -- then lived in a college dorm with plaid curtains and dreamed in her plaid pajamas of that special boy that was at another college hoping to share a home with him someday.

And, now, sure enough --

a home together (for 57 years) with plaid pillows on every chair and bed!

More pillows ---

And more pillows ---

Plaid on the walls ---

Stacks of tartan throws ---

And, at Christmas -- that is when the plaid really comes out to play.


Maybe I should have forewarned Bob all those years ago about all of the plaid he was going to have to live with.  About 35 years ago, there was a slight, little,  problem -- on a SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, we hung PLAID wallpaper together during the game.  I should have known better than trying that!

In addition to The Polohouse I'm joining the following:
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST ---

Our home is to be on a local charity house tour the first weekend in December.  I know that in November I will be busy with deep cleaning and decorating for Christmas.  So, I'm trying to think ahead now and accomplish some other details.

I've been thinking about how I might want to set the dining room table for the tour.  I know that I don't want to cover the table with a cloth as the top of our table is interesting and has a local history.  Bob made the table about ten years ago from a gym floor he salvaged from an old prison-guard building.

  The table is narrow and long to fit the space -- really just a hallway from the bedrooms to the kitchen.  We love the table as it fits our immediate family of seven perfectly even accommodating the left-handers.  But for the tour, I thought I would just set the table for four, so more of the wood shows.  My solution was to make two red plaid table runners and place them cross-wise on the table.

I pulled out some dishes to get a feel for the look, and will think about a centerpiece later when I get the Christmas stuff out in November.  It will probably involve vintage ornaments and candles.

 

 Found these forgotten lovely monogrammed napkins, a gift from a friend several years ago!

 I made the runners reversible from the red and black plaid -- thought the red and white plaid would be nice to have for the patriotic holidays.

 Found George and a flag -----

 and some red, white, and blue dishes!

Just sewing and playing with dishes this week!!

I'm joining the following:
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

THE YEAR OF THE PLAID!

Did you think I would let the season go by without a post on plaid for Christmas?  For years I've loved plaid, especially at Christmas.  I can't believe how much plaid I have seen on pinterest and the blogs this year --- I'm finally trendy!!!  I know, however, that next year I'll probably be out of style again; but that won't stop me from pulling out the plaid during the month of December 2015.  It's just part of the Christmas season to me.

"Tartan" Christmas quilt I made in 1988 

Here are some pictures of the plaid that has exploded at our house this year ------

Christmas card I made in 2011

I'll always believe in plaid!

I'm joining the following:
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks

MAD FOR PLAID MAT

Somewhere I saw a framed picture of a deer with a plaid mat.

I liked it!

I thought -- I have a deer picture--

I can do this.

First, I gave the fabric a bath in steeped tea to reduce some of the newness and brightness of the fabric. 

Then, I covered the old mat with the fabric using spray adhesive.

Quick, easy --- copy-cat --- project.

Check out the following for a plethora of inspiration:
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Our Home Away From Home for Tuesdays at our Home
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
The Dedicated House for Before and After Wednesday
Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesday
Imparting Grace for Grace at Home Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

IN PURSUIT OF PLAID - LEGO LOVE

In my ongoing pursuit of plaid, I found the following Lego Love!

Blue plaid shirts--

Red plaid shirts --

More red plaid shirts --

Brown and black plaid shirts --

Red plaid vest --

Green plaid pants on one angry dude --

 Purple plaid blouse on a dudette

And my favorite - a plaid kilt, hat, and bagpipes!

Pictures of Lego figurines from Google Images

Three questions come to mind --

Am I looking for love in all the wrong places?
Am I too old to play with Legos?
Do I have too much time on my hands?

Sharing my love of plaid on the following:
Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday
The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday Treasures
Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

CHRISTMAS COTTAGE KITCHEN

Plaid means Christmas to me!  And, what better place to bring it out than in the kitchen where I spend so much time this month.

A Jim Shore Santa in a plaid lunch box.

 Our Hoosier cabinet is front and center in the kitchen.  It gets a lot of use during the season as a buffet table for entertaining.  The sponge-painted porcelain top pulls out for additional space.

 I love adding pine cones into the Christmas decor.  Living in pine-tree country, they are in abundance and free.  See the tiny pine cone in the wheel barrow of the top left collage below -- that's a memory maker -- I picked that up off the ground in Bavaria on a trip to Germany.

 Another Jim Shore Santa makes an appearance in the 'new to me' vintage plaid picnic basket.

It's time to get to the meal planning, entertaining, cookie making, etc.

Please join the following for a plethora of Christmas inspiration:

Fishtail Cottage for A Cottage Christmas on 12/10

From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Common Ground - Be Inspired Friday

Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks

Sunday View for Vintage View Sunday

The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

DREAMING OF A PLAID CHRISTMAS

Alison of The Polohouse has chosen Plaid Tidings as the theme for her December party, Favorites on First.  

I just couldn't make myself do any Christmas decorating until Thanksgiving was over, but I didn't want to miss a plaid party.   Therefore, I'm showing some of the plaid Christmas from 2012.  

Plaid has been a staple here at Christmastime for a few years; so I'm sure all of the above will make a reappearance.  Plus, I have a couple of new plaid containers that are just waiting to be decorated for the season.  It's now time for me to start decorating for Christmas 2013  - bring it on!

In addition to The Polohouse I'm joining the following parties:
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday
Dwellings for Amaze Me Monday
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday

PINE CONES AND PLAID

I'm finished with the decorating for Christmas.  The trees are up and the pine cones and plaid are in place.

We don't have a fireplace; so, alas, no mantel.  This cupboard that hides away our living room TV is a good substitute.  

  On the sofa table, the dough bowl is filled with pine cones, walnuts, chestnuts, dried pomegranates, and some California acorns.  

In the next post, I'll show you my collections of vintage ornaments, tree toppers, and bottle brush trees -- stay tuned.

I will be linking up to the following blogs.  Please go by to check out all of the inspiration.

The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday

Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday

Fishtail Cottage for Natural Christmas Decor on Tues., 12/11

Vintage on a Dime for Welcome Home Wednesday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Everyday Home for Better Late Than Never Blog Hop on Wed., 12/12