UPCYCLED DETAILS

Decorating with pops of metal is a big trend right now... and so are garden stools!

I combined the two and brought a big dose of chic to my living room.

This was such an easy project... here's the BEFORE...

CHRISTMAS PAPERWHITES

Christmas and Paperwhites are a perfect combination.

They are delicate and fragrant snowy blooms that enhance any holiday decor.

One of my bowls of Paperwhites is in full bloom right now...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness...

President George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789

Of all the blessings I count today... you will be among them!

May you and yours have a happy, safe and blessed Thanksgiving.

FRENCH DRAMA

I am a decorating drama queen! I love love love to bring drama to any decor!

And black is just the perfect way to bring some much needed ohh-la-la to my dining room...

THE SCOOP #94

Hi friends! Welcome to 

THE SCOOP #94!

This is me....

ON THE MENU MONDAY WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25, 2013

Just a quick note to all my wonderful readers!

THANK YOU!!!!!
Because of your diligent voting you have voted me into the winner's circle as Lamp's Plus

2013 Best Hone Blog Family Category!

THE MAKING OF A COZY GUEST BED

With the holiday's upon us and the weather getting nippy guest at StoneGable will want a cozy warm bed to crawl into at night!

I've made up the bed ready for Thanksgiving guest... with lots of cuddly layers and soft warm fabrics.

Here's how I pamper my guest... starting by making their bed...

WORTHING COURT IS HOUSE SNOOPING AT STONEGABLE

I'm over at my friend Suzy's at 

WORTHING COURT

Head over to Suzy's where there is a whole lot of StoneGable HOUSE SNOOPING going on!!!!

Come see a couple of my newest home projects!

MAIN STAIRS REVEAL

This post should really be called...

Main Stairs Reveal... SORTA!

They are done enough to show you the direction we are going... and I am so excited to share.

As a reminder, here is the BEFORE...

DECORATING 101: GROUPING LIKE ELEMENTS

I am not a professional decorator but I've learned a lot about decorating over the years.

I am an avid reader of decor books and blogs and magazines, learning and experimenting as I read. 

And I have learned about decorating don't by the school of bad choices and mistakes! 

I love to play and try and redo and move things around. I think THAT is the best way to learn... and decorate!

One of my favorite and easiest decorating tips is to group like element together. I recently used this decorating rule on the top of my living room coffee table...

THE SCOOP #93

Welcome to ...

THE SCOOP # 93

Hi, I'm Yvonne from StoneGable! And I'm the newest host of

The Scoop!

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be joining this group of fabulous blogger and all around wonderful girls... not to mention being a permanent host of one of the hottest linkies in blogland!

For those of you who are not familiar with my blog, I'll share a wee bit about it... and me!

WOODLAND CHINA~ MY MOST ASKED QUESTION YET!

I recently posted 

THE VERY BEST THANKSGIVING TIP YOU WILL EVER GET

and although the post was popular, it was the earthenware dishes on the title page that got the most attention!

I got so many e-mails and comment questions about the dinnerware, these beautiful pieces deserved their own post...

ON THE MENU MONDAY WEEK OF NOVEMBER 18, 2013 AND A SPECIAL GIVEAWAY

Hi Friends!

Before we get to this week's menu I want to make you aware of a very very special giveaway...

Do you know anyone who is planning a destination wedding? If you do make sure to share this post with them...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ A LIFE STRAINING TOWARDS GOD

I think the very hardest prayer for me to pray is the Lord's prayer.

Not that I don't know it or forget it... but if I'm not careful I can rattle it off in no time, thinking about my grocery list or what I have to do and not at all being present in the prayerful moment.

I was raised Catholic (and am blessed for it) and no one could polish off a rosary quicker than me!!!! Okay, that chore checked off my list! This beautiful act of devotion and prayer and meditation and I turned it into a chore!!!

It wasn't until I put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus for my salvation, that I longed for a deep and intimate prayer life...

THE BEST CHRISTMAS DECORATING TIP YOU WILL EVER GET!

Today's post is not necessarily pretty. It is very practical. But hopefully, it will lead to a whole lot of Christmas pretty around you home!

I used to dread dread dread Christmas decorating. Not the actual decorating while Christmas music is playing in the background... but the rooting through the basement to find all those huge blue bins (that all look alike) stuffed with all sorts of Christmas decorations from the last 30 years or so. I moaned and groaned as I lugged  them upstairs to root through them some more. And in the end I usually left most of the Christmas content in the big blue bins and only used one or two items from them to decorate! UGH!

Now decorating is a breeze! It's so much easier than the decorating ghosts of Christmas pasts! I'm so excited to show you how I tamed my inner decorating grinch and all that blue bin decor to find joy and fun in Christmas decorating...this is the BEST Christmas decorating tip you will ever get...

ONE LAST VOTE!

Today is IT!

It's the last chance to vote for StoneGable as 

2013 BEST HOME BLOG...

So I really need you to vote ONE LAST TIME!!!!! 

Please go to Lamps Plus on Facebook by clicking HERE... find the 

BEST HOME BLOG SWEEPSTAKES under the large header and click on it.

Follow the directions. Vote for one blog in each category.

StoneGable is in the FAMILY category.

Your vote is very important to me and hopefully (fingers and toes crossed) will put me over the top!

Thanks, to all my wonderful readers and blogging friends for helping me and being so supportive!!!!!

A big hug to you all!

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #73

source

Welcome To...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #73

Before we begin I have a very special announcement that will affect you and me in very good way...

HOW TO ROAST THE MOST SCRUMPTIOUS TURKEY EVER

I have been making Thanksgiving Turkey for decades... some were better than others along the way.

But ever since I found the "cheesecloth" method, my turkeys have been perfectly roasted and succulently moist! Not bragging... just truth!

I say, no one needs to eat dry turkey! I'll show you now I make mine...

THANKSGIVING IN THE FIELD

The late fall day was absolutely magical! Blue skies, a slight breeze coaxing the last autumn stained leaves from the trees so they could dance across the cut fields of corn... 

What a beautiful day to celebrate Thanksgiving... al fresco!

THANKSGIVING CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST VIGNETTE

I always say... "Thanksgiving dinner is the most work intensive meal of the year". At least it is here at StoneGable!

Even though most of us get lots of help, there is a whole lot of prep and cooking going on!

The last thing I need or want to do Thanksgiving morning is to serve my out of town family and guests a big sit down breakfast.

Here's an easy, serve-yourself way to feed all the people who wake up  in your home on Turkey day and have a beautiful seasonal centerpiece all at the same time...

ON THE MENU MONDAY

This week I am decorating for Christmas.... there... I said it!
Now I know I'll be getting calls from my children. I can just hear it.

Er... Mom? Are you okay? Really Mom... CROSSHOLIDATION?

You see, I am a one-holiday-at-a-time gal! No RED from Christmas decor bleeding into Thanksgiving browns and burnt oranges!

I am was the spokeswomen for giving each holiday and season their rightful turn!

But this year it all changed... and it's all YOUR FAULT...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ OUR JUST REWARDS

photo source

I recently had the opportunity to hear Bruce Wilkerson (a best selling Christian author) speak.

His message was so profound and so thought provoking, I was going to write about it today...

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

This is a beautiful time of year to look out my windows! The farmland and trees are ablaze with autumn color! My living room is bright and has an ever changing view, thanks to my windows and french doors!

No wonder I have such a hard time choosing paintings for this room... what could compete with the view just beyond my windows...

THE VERY BEST THANKSGIVING TIP YOU WILL EVER GET!

I'm so happy you stopped by today! I going to share...

THE VERY BEST THANKSGIVING TIPS YOU WILL EVER GET!

Seriously!!!!

Let's get right to it...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #72

photo source

WELCOME TO 

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #72

Before we begin, I need your help! BADLY!

I have been nominated for 2013 Best Home Blog and your votes will make my blogging dream a reality!

Could you please vote for me... and maybe vote every day until Nov15th? You will? You are so sweet!

Thanks! 

Go to LAMPS PLUS on Facebook and "like" LAMPS PLUS. Find an icon that sorta looks like this... under the main header...

Click on it and vote!

I am in the FAMILY category!

Wish me luck... AND VOTE! 

Thanks, again!

Now let's get inspired...

IT'S TIME TO PLANT PAPERWHITES

Paperwhites and Christmas just go together... like hot chocolate and marshmallows... and Christmas trees and strings of tiny white lights!

The add a showy, yet simple beauty to any Christmas decor!

Now is the time to "force" them so they will be blooming for Christmas!

Paperwhites are so so easy to plant and grow... I'll show you how and share a few tricks to keep them fresh and pretty for the whole Christmas season...

THANKFUL FOR HOME~ COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

I have a special place in my heart for Thanksgiving!  I love the season, the food, the family and friends, the reason for celebrating and the preparation!

I also love our family traditions that have formed around this All-American holiday!

Traditions are a way of passing along our beliefs.... or customs... our ways.  They help us to belong and connect. They are a beautiful thread that stitches the heart and minds of one generation to the next.


We are folks that love and celebrate tradition, especially around the holidays...

A POST FROM MY DAUGHTER

Hello, friends!

This is my daughter Jacqueline. 

As part of BIO... BY INVITATION ONLY...

a group of international bloggers are given a prompt each month to blog about.

This month we were to ask someone else to write our monthly post!

I chose my sweet daughter! I started blogging because of her (you can read about it HERE) so I thought it only natural to let HER say a few words to my readers...

NO SEW THANKSGIVING SHOWCASE BURLAP WEBBING PLACEMAT AND NAPKIN AND $100.00 GIVEAWAY

Setting a great Thanksgiving table really sets the mood for TURKEY DAY!

I have an easy and creative way to make your own placemats and napkins for the big day!

They're burlap... so that translates to chic, chic, chic...

I am thrilled to be part of the NO SEW THANKSGIVING SHOWCASE...

DELICIOUSNESS IN A JAR

Oh my... put food in a jar and it becomes a CELEBRATION! I adore single serve portions and any food (except peas) in a jar!

Here are some of my favorite StoneGable foods in a jar and how to make them...