winter white...

Our weather now in Los Angeles is nice and sunny,

while a lot of other states are - and have been getting -
loads of cold weather and snow...

Paying homage to those of you stuck in the snow, I've created a "winter white" centrepiece on my kitchen table. I took some faux snow left over from the holidays, and combined it with three winter white candles, placed on a snowflake-embossed charger that I bought several years ago at Target.

I've put these ceramic containers, bowls and old clock face - which were collected at different times and from different places - on a vintage ivory wire table in my bathroom. The containers are great for storing my watches and make-up brushes, and work well together due to their various shades of off-white colour and circular shapes. Also, by grouping them in odd numbers, and varying the heights of the pieces (instead of from smallest to tallest or vice verse), they create a more interesting visual arrangement.

I found these two strands of pearls that I used to wear when I was a little girl (the clasps have "Japan" on them), along with the newer buttons, at my parents' home a few months ago.  I just set them in this small Japanese bowl, and have them all sitting on my counter as a decorative still life.  I often use everyday items in my decorating - they can be an inexpensive, yet memorable touch!

These onions were at a grocery store in Bowling Green, Ohio, when I was visiting my daughter at college back in November.  They looked so naturally pretty - sort of like loose pearls - that I just had to take a photograph of them!  I can only imagine what the other shoppers must have been thinking; but sometimes the best things in life are the simplest things!
  

Winter white roses are also so simple and pretty - I love having them in my home, whether from my yard, or when I decide to treat myself and buy some!

 

I got this fortune a couple of months ago, and decided to put it in a little Japanese ceramic bowl, with a section of pussy willow that had broken off of a larger branch.  I collect meaningful fortunes, and just love what this one says: "You find beauty in ordinary things, do not lose this ability."  I thought that this was so appropriate with my red bicycle philosophy of refurbishing the ordinary into the extraordinary!

I found this wonderful garden chair with a slatted wooden seat and faux bois back and legs (just waiting to be discovered in the trash) one morning while taking a quick walk, which then turned into a quick run back home to get my car to fetch it!  It's perfectly "aged", and I've put it in my upstairs bathroom with a Pottery Barn "vintage-looking" finial, a little pitcher that I spotted at a garage sale in the L.A. Venice Canals and the little Japanese bowl shown in the previous photo.

For warm thoughts year-round, I keep this old weather-worn oar that I found curb-side about ten years ago, next to a grouping of various stars.        
    

I hope that you've gotten some inspiration for your own winter white decorative touches around your home.  If you're in cold weather, try to stay warm and cozy, and...




... come along for the ride!

a bright and happy new year to you...

I hope that you've enjoyed every moment of your holidays! I've had a very busy and wonderful holiday season,

which is why I never got any of my blogs finished - 

but the ideas were definitely there!

So now it's time to look forward to a bright and very 

Happy New Year ahead!

Here's to a wonderful two thousand eleven!

A few of my vintage postcards collected over the years,

with a sparkly gold candle from Target

and some vintage-looking ornaments

on a Japanese small plate, repurposed as a candle holder.

I just love this little frosty tree!

I like to keep my decorations up until New Year's Day,

so now it's time to start putting them away

until next year...

Snowflakes, L.A. style!

Add some sparkle in your New Year, and...

... come along for the ride!