Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mary, did you know...

Hello Friends, I hope you are all well and happy and enjoying this beautiful season.  I was so behind in my decorating I really was feeling a need to keep it simple yet appropriate to the season.  I went out shopping a little before Thanksgiving and just the sheer volume of  "stuff" on the shelves and the tinsel-y shininess and the hustle and bustle made me want to run out of the stores and take a shower to wash off the dirt of the conspicious consumerism.  I don't know if it's my age or what, but it really bothered me this year.  SO, I decided to do a revisit of my last year's mantel and tweek it a bit taking a cue from some favorite things that put the emphasis on the reason for the season.


I had coveted admired the amazing Jeanne d'Arc angel wings, but the $95 price tag was not even remotely in my budget. I happened to be looking at Oriental Trading Company's catalog and came across their angel wings for a whopping $14.99 with shipping. Now, I have to say, they compared in no way to the JDL wings, but with a little help from a bag of white mirabou feathers from Michael's (another $2.99 I think), they are good enough for me. I clipped the elastic things that hold them on your arms because I couldn't see a way to get them out of my way to hang them, then wrapped them in wide double faced satin ribbon that I washed to remove the sizing so the bow would hang nicer (floppier). All in all, I'm happy with the result although if anyone has a giveaway on those spendy JDL wings, let me know cause I'm in! :-)

As I was working on my wings, I had Christmas music on and heard one of my favorite songs, "Mary, Did You Know?".  I was inspired to take some of my favorite lines from that song and put them on simple hang tags.  I added a little glitter around the edges since the tags just needed a little more "somethin, somethin".  Of course, my JDL madonna had to come out to say hello as well.


A relatively simple white poinsettia garland that I had on hand made a nice addition when paired with the fairy light string I made last year out of little coffee dyed tiny muffin baking cups. 




My JDL inspired candles returned this year and couldn't have been a nicer addition given the theme.


Antique mercury glass also back for a repeat performance...looks perfect with the Pottery Barn votives that were very reasonable at I think $3.50.


I recently purchased a couple of gorgeous, very old prayer cards that featured the baby Jesus.  I wanted to feature them on my big pillar candle but couldn't chance ruining the original, so I made a copy of it on a nice cardstock and went over the gilt scrolls with my gold paint pen.  I've done this on other reproductions of old pieces and it gives it that authentic look that I love.  I don't think anyone would be the wiser.  I punched a couple of holes in my card for my jute twine to go through so it would stay relatively flat and tied it up over a layer of old crocheted lace for a nice layered effect.


Lastly, one of my favorite mirrors that usually sits on the mantel was moved to the wall and I added the heart cut from a German book topped with one of my faux zinc crosses and some greenery.  I love the simplicity of it.


There are still some crosses available in my Etsy shop, Elegant Farmhouse.


More fun with copies of pages from the German book...


One of my nativity sets that my husband got me soon after we married.  I love it.  It is a great visual of the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus.


I'll show you more of my decor soon, but for now, I think that's enough photo overload. I'm sharing the goods this week with Kathleen at Faded Charm and her wonderful White Wednesday Party, Kim at her Wow Us Wednesday Party, Debra at Vintage Inspiration Friday, Courtney at Feathered Nest Friday, and Bev at Pink Saturday.  Go over and show the other participants some blogger love, won't ya?

Until next time,
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32 comments:

  1. BEAUTIFUL wings, love them ♥♥♥. Wouldn't mind having a pair too lol. Yes the JDL ones are very expensive, way out of my reach too. Have been looking in our shops but no such luck boohoo. Love the pretty tags too. The white poinsettia's are lovely ♥

    Have a great week

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  2. This is one of my favorite songs to sing during Christmas - love the words and especially thought behind the words- oh I do so wonder what it must have felt like for Mary

    Beautiful pictures and love the phrases on the tags!

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  3. Beautiful decorating. I've bought nothing new this year, too, and half my decorations are still stored away. Simple seems to be a prevailing theme this year. Focusing on the Christ Child is most important.

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  4. Love your focus. The tags are just perfect. Love that song!

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  5. Your Christmas decor is gorgeous Judy! Oh I am in love with your little mirror all adorned so beautifully. Your wings are gorgeous too. They may not be JDL, but they are stunning none the less!
    Oh boy, do I agree with the the store shelves this year...too much for me to take for very long. I love to find my holiday treasures at little florist shops and specialty garden centers myself. Not so in your face.
    sending hugs...

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  6. Oh Judy, that's my favorite Christmas carol. and your mantle is so lovely. The prayer cards on the candles are such a perfect addition. Love how you tied them on. xoxo

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  7. Lovely post--I love the wings. Love the font on your tags. Happy Holidays--enjoy the season, and the reason for the season!

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  8. How beautiful in every way........the mantle is stunning and all the mercury glass makes it feel dreamy.
    Well done!!

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  9. OMG everything is so beautiful beyond words. I love your angel wings, your candles and all of your tags and cards.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  10. Judy, everything looks so beautiful. Love the angle wings too.. Merry Christmas to you and your family ....

    ~~Pattie~~

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  11. I see a common thread among the comments...we all love this song. Mark sure was inspired by God when he wrote it.
    Love your mantle and if you hadn't spilled the beans...I would never have guessed your wings weren't heaven sent.
    Deb

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  12. "Ditto" mon amie and so I too used ONLY what I had here at home in my boxes and boxes of "stuff!" It felt good to repurpose and reuse without spending needlessly. Your decorations are stunningly gorgeous! Can't think of anything you would have needed to buy to make it all look so fabulous! ;)

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  13. Judy, your Christmas decorating has inspired me to finish mine. Awesomely beautiful, so JDL and gorgeous.

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  14. Your mantel is beautiful! The wings are extra special.

    Dee

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  15. Your angel wings are the best I've seen! You did a beautiful job on everything! I stay away from the insanity of shopping this time of year, if I buy anything 'new' it's only simple vintage ornaments.

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  16. Too funny! The new ones I got from Victorian Paper Co. were nothing compared to these beauties and the shape is wonderful also. I was really surprised when I saw them just lying on an old chair....so glad I stopped at this sale:-)

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  17. Those wings are heavenly Judy!!
    Everything looks so pretty!

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  18. Beautiful decoration, I love your tags with the song lyric one of my favorites. Merry Christmas. Linda

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  19. I love your nativity scene!

    Pink at my page, please come and see. Have a wonderful holiday from my family to yours!

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  20. What a beautiful display. I love the wings and the candles were lovely. Happy Pink Saturday. ~Marti

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  21. Everything is lovely, the wings are gorgeous. I love the way you put the words to Mary Did you know on tags. Great idea.

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  22. Judy what pretty Christmas treasures you share! enjoy the weekend and thank you for all these gorgeous ideas! Your nativity is beautiful.

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  23. Oh Judy..thank you for the tour...Everything was so beautiful.
    Happy Pink Saturday..xo Tami

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  24. Love this post! Your wings turned out looking much like the Victoria's Secret wings and they look gorgeous hanging! Beautiful decorations- I really love the look and the creativity.
    Merry Christmas,
    Mary

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  25. Your angel wings are so adorable. I am so glad I found your special place here. Thanks for sharing. I will follow on my way out so as I would love to visit again. I hope you will find the time to come visit my place and do the same. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to engaging and supporting your blog in the New Year. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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  26. WOWZERS what an awesome post. Very nice blog. I just love the nativity.
    Merry Christmas
    Ellen

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  27. Your decorations are beautiful!! I bought some of these same paper mache crosses to embellish and I forgot about them!! How funny is that!! oh well...there is always next year. LOVE yours and all your other pretties!!
    Blessings~

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  28. liebe Judy,
    wunderschön deine Dekoration,
    die Weihnachtskrippe.......
    einen schönen Advent, liebe Grüße von Jasmin

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  29. Still feels like spring here in NE way behind decorating...
    Thank you for sharing this season of joy and pink!HPS!

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  30. Your wings turned out wonderful as did all your other vintage Christmas decor. It's just beautiful!

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  31. This is a truly beautiful post...so soft and so rich. thanks so much for sharing it.

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