Christmas Market Success...

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So this past weekend I took part in a local vintage Christmas market with 20 other vendors!... the first annual Vintage with Flair Christmas Market... It was quite a success so I expect it will be taking place again next November...

I wasn't sure how it would go as 90% of the vendors items were mixed together throughout the venue... would things fit?... would it all set up together and flow?... there were a few individual vendors who, because they were selling smaller jewellery pieces, had their own spaces and they also took payment for their items right in their "booths"...  but everything else was running through a central cash area...

It was a little nerve-wracking setting up... not knowing... really knowing... the other vendors... moving vendors items around during setup... placing peoples items... everyone has their own way... ideas about how they like their pieces to look... to be displayed... I had to shuffle a few things here and there throughout the day to be sure that some of my pieces were being seen... there was so much at the start of the day it was easy for pieces to get lost in there!... 

For most of the day I manned the cupcake table... it was a nice way to chat with the shoppers... and man where their shoppers!?... the first two hours were B-A-N-A-N-A-S... and then the rest of the day it was steady with treasure hunters...

The lineup to get checked out in the first hour went down one wall... turned at the corner... and then up the length other wall!... luckily the lineup moved very swiftly... the ladies taking payment and packing up treasures were amazing on Saturday... I'm sure they must still be recovering!...

I had some very Christmassy items... narcissus bulbs in jars... giant lux paper wreaths... buntings and garlands... 

...and vintage jar snow globes... THOSE MOVED FAST!... I know it's obvious that people will be looking for Christmas items at a Christmas market but these items really disappeared right away... I was legit surprised how quickly they got scooped up!... 

I did learn that other "non Christmas" plants at a Christmas market just don't really move... they're much better suited for Spring and Summer events... Noted folks!... more narcissus next year ;)

The couple of furniture pieces that I brought were a hit as well... My first item to go was the tea trolly!... and of course the chalkboards and chalkboard trays... the window chalkboards seem to be a harder sell... 

I'm not sure if they're harder to picture in one's nest?... they're a little less ordinary than a gold framed chalkboard... 

One thing that I think really helped with the chalk boards was to have them chalked up with sweet sayings... and seasonal greetings!... 

...really showing people what they can do with these reloved pieces!... what do you think?

Now that the event is over I've got a few of the final items upon the Feathering My Nest Facebook page...  as I'm clearing out the last few items that I currently have on hand to make way for the new... Things are moving quick on there now so pop over and check out the sales!...

There are so many more items that I wanted to make for this past weekend's event but time just did not allow it... I just had to get some sleep... and well working for the man burns up about 9 hours every weekday!... ha!... so be prepared to see a ton of goodies at my solo sale in March!... yep... and stay tuned for details and sneaky peaks of the pieces that will be available at that event!...

Were you at the Christmas Market in Red Deer Lake this past weekend?  What did you think?  Are there things you would improve?... Things that you really liked?... Things you would like to see more of at an event like this?... Things you would like to see less of?... let it rip folks!... these events are for you and we're here to give you what you are looking for to feather your nests!...

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!...

xo

Lacey

It's The Little Things...

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Sometimes a quick little project is a nice pick me up... not TOO much mess created... cleanup is easy... all materials are on hand... and there are no loose ends after you've cleaned up your mess (of fake snow)... 

 

Last night my little project pick me up came together quite nicely... I had many glass top jars on hand that I've been collecting now for the past while... gold ribbon... check!... fake snow... check!... glitter... check!... mini Christmas trees... check!... I was good to go!

After washing and thoroughly drying the jars I dumped in a little fake snow... you know that fake snow that looks like shredded plastic?... yep... that!... but just that by itself wasn't doing it for me... I sprinkled in a little Martha Stewart glitter and POP!... just the little bit of sparkle it needed... Then I dropped in a couple of trees... on with the lid and a little gold bow or knot and I had a collection of these vintage jar snow globes in no time!...  

You'll find these little vintage jar snow globes at the Vintage with Flair Christmas Market  in just a couple weeks time!... :)

xo

Lacey

Vintage Look Christmas Trees...

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I love the look of things vintage... old... worn... tattered... yellowed with time... I've been seeing these bottle brush trees... I've been seeing vintage looking trees apparently made out of bottle brushes... after some investigating googling I found that these were easy to make!...

I really didn't think it was going to work... but it did!... go buy a bag of little Christmas trees from your nearest craft/Christmas supply store... 

Then get yourself some bleach... I used the regular liquid bleach... not the thicker 'he' stuff... I think I made a mix of about two thirds water and one third bleach... in a glass container... 

...got some tongs and started dipping...  INCREDIBLE!... it worked... seriously I didn't think it would!

You'll know pretty quick if you need to add more bleach to speed up the process...

Once they came out I gave them a good rinse in the sink... I did all of this in the sink in case of drips or splashes... The fake snow on the trees comes off - don't worry... unless you wanted it there... then you're going to have to redress the trees with some thick paint... 

Then the dying part... honestly I didn't think this was really going to work either... haha... I used the same glass container because I knew the trees would fit... put in some water and then spooned in RIT dye... I'd chosen a light pink... I think I'd used only two tablespoons MAYBE... you don't need a lot!... and you can always add more if you'd like them to be darker!... 

I went for a sweet light pink look...and gave them a good rinse when they came out of the jar of dye... I let them dry out overnight... in the pantry where the kitties couldn't get at them of course...

After they were good and dry I got a hair comb and gave them a good comb out!... hehehe "what'd you do this weekend Lacey"... "Oh combed out some Christmas trees!..." hehehe....

Then to add an extra vintage looking touch I busted out the German glass glitter that I'd picked up at the Farm Chicks sale two years ago!...  I knew I would find the perfect use for it...

A little clearglue action with a paintbrush and then a little glitter shake shake and BAM!

...be sure to sprinkle your glass glitter over a container that you keep as your glass glitter container... this glitter is sharp!... I had some glued to my hand and then rubbed my hand across my face... um... ouch... it sucked...

The finished trees turned out so sweet!... the German glass glitter really was the cherry on the top of this vintage sundae!... there is something hearty about the glass glitter...  

I've got two sets for setting up during the Christmas season... they will be at the Vintage with Flair Christmas Market...

Aaaand... I made these snow globe like corked jars!... They now have a gold sparkly ribbon tied around the tops to make them a little more Christmassy... Can't wait to see how they go over!... 

I was half worried that you wouldn't see the bases in the faux snow at the bottom of the jars but the glass glitter just shines through!

Here are a few more close ups...

xo

Lacey

Chrimbo Hollies...

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Ahh… it's nice having had a week and a bit off of work already… and I still have all of this week off!.. chill time to the max!.. ha ha… that sounded like it was right out of Saved by the Bell… My parents arrived a week and a bit ago to visit Pickly and I over Christmas and New Years!.. we've been eating lots… shopping lots… what has your Christmas been consisting of!?.  lots of chill time I hope!.. 

The paperwhites that hadn't bloomed for our Annual Christmas Shindig were in full bloom for our family Christmas!.. don't believe the box when it says that the blooms are "fragrant"… paperwhites stink… but they look sooo pretty!..  

  

  

  

Some Pickle loves me is the understatement of the century!.. Santa Pickle has spoiled me as usual this Christmas!.. And as usual I was up before the birds on Christmas morning… which lead to many Christmas day naps...

…nothin but comfort… 

…zzz… 

We took the Momma and Poppa out to Banff for Afternoon Tea this past Friday… the weather was beautiful… the sun had decided to come out… finally!.. 

…and we were lucky enough to spy these unicorn elk… 

Now tonight we're chilling out even more… lots of food… bubbly... and movies!

I hope your Christmas has been fabulous!..

xo

Lacey

Christmas Party Success...

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Christmas party success means a few things… it means that the house was cleaned and decorated in time… the food was good… AND we had an amazing night with quite a number of our friends… I love having our friends around… but especially during the Holidays… I always get homesick during the Holidays… and the best cure for that if you can't just hop in the car and get home in a few hours is spending time with your friends… 

I've been very fortunate to have enough banked time and EDO's that I've had the past three Friday's in a row off… Having that extra day every weekend makes a big difference to what you can get done around the house… We completed the photo wall… I would like to adjust some photos and cut all crisp white mats but for now this is how it exists… I would also like to rewrite "home"… I don't know if I want another word… font… what do you think?.. what's the right word for this?..

What have you been up to this December so far?.. are you an early shopper?.. we've just finished our main Christmas shopping… though we have a few little things to pickup… Do you have any design controls on Christmas?.. hahah that sounds hilarious but this year I've decided that all presents will be brown paper wrapped with various red and white ribbons and twine… It looks beautiful… or so I think… it's less distracting on the eyes than bright printed papers… and who doesn't love brown paper packages tied up with string!?.

Here are some party prep and party shots… Of course I made some of Chris's Momma's Short Bread Tarts and Cookies… tarts complete with blueberry and raspberry jams...

  

I made my first attempt at a baked brie… I tried one a few weeks back at Bunco… what's bunco you ask!?. google that… and then find a group of crazy ladies to get together with once a month to play… trust me you'll have a ball…  back to my brie… I baked it on a baking pan… that was mistake one… mistake two was not watching it like a hawk… it melted out allover… One… get a brie baking dish to contain the gooey goodness… Two… watch the brie… either way it was delicious...

Mr. Pickle and I are getting into wine more and more… we've tracked down a few whites now that we really enjoy… we're still on the hunt for reds… but we've 9… YES 9 bottles of reds to try out now after our party… I found these darling wine charms at superstore… yeah… they have some really sweet things there if you take a real good look...

Olives… I am not a fan… I'm not sure what it is exactly but I don't like the taste… but I grabbed some up to go with the meat and cheese platter that I put together...

Now this was our biggest get together yet… every other Christmas shindig we've ended up having on the same night as friend's companies Christmas parties… well not this year… we had the most people we've ever had in the house at once in the house!.. Like I'm talking 40+ at the hight of the night...

I loved it!.. only I wish I had a little bit bigger of a house to fit everyone a little less snuggly… haha… don't get me wrong I like a good snuggle… but it was a struggle to move around to the food and drink… check out the piles of footwear… this is only about a quarter of what was in the foyer… foyer… I use that term very loosely btw… for if you know my house you know how small that space really is...

I had on a few pairs of random shoes… these were by far my faves… I now want white Chucks… Santa if you're reading I saw some at the mall yesterday… my foot is a ladies size 6...

What is a party at Chateau Pickel without Red Solo Cups… Yes… the song is now stuck in my head too… 

I found this darling little gem on my camera the next morning!.. seriously we've got to start taking pictures of us together before we start our nights out…  There isn't one shot of Pickle and I from either work Christmas party or our Christmas Party…  This photo is from the end of the night… my curly curls were much nicer at the start of the night!.. Oh!.. the brown sweater I found at superstore too… I always take a quick peek at the clothes there… you never know when you might find something!.. and about the jazz hand there… I'm not totally sure why I decided to break out the jazz… 

The rest of the weekend we took pretty easy… a few drives and some resting… Pickly picked me up these… my fave candy… live wires...

We had some kitteh snuggles...

Some post party naps were had...

…and more kitteh snuggles...

I'm still experimenting… testing the waters… pushing the envelope… with what I can wear to work in a "proper" office… comfort equals leggings… now don't get me wrong I wear leggings all the time… but this one below was with much shorter shirts… hahaha that sounds really lame now that I've typed it out but I don't normally wear such short shirts when I'm wearing leggings… I call this one ski chalet cozy…

We cracked one of the present bottles of wine… well two actually this past week… and we've loved both… one was a white riesling… that came in a purple kitteh wine bottle!.. you can say my friends who know me really know me… hehe… The other one is Black Tower… It is really nice and smooth as well…

I was going to blame going out to lunch due to lack of cooking meals and making lunches on the fact that it's December and a busy month but that's not why… we are lazy in the evenings and just don't want to spend time cooking… we'd rather work on projects… chill out and snuggle!.. Luckily for us it turns into some tasty lunches… well me especially because I'm working downtown now and have access to many restaurants...

Two of this past week's highlights!?.. Beer Revolution and the Palomino… the pictures speak for themselves...

Now here I sit… Saturday morning… snuggled in a blanket in my front living room with the tree on… Christmas music playing… blogging… kitty snuggling… and I finishing 95% of the shopping that I had left to do yesterday… now I have two days to relax before a short 3 day week before I take two weeks off over the holidays… its been awhile since I've had that much time off altogether… I'm quite excited as my parents are coming and Chris has a nice little chunk of time off too… and we've nothing planned to do other than spend time with loved ones… 

Haha… now I said this weekend I've two days to relax… this is just in theory of course… because I would like to get the office upstairs up and running for real… the spare room completely prepped and ready for my parent's visit and the basement well on it's way to being gutted out… it's been a catch all for the past year… and it is bursting at the seams… a few runs are in order… a dump run and a donation run… let's see how this goes today!.. What are your plans for this weekend!?.

…of course I've included another shot of the kitteh's… how couldn't I… look at these two little devils plotting… they're growing closer every day… it's very sweet… 

Have a great weekend now and we'll chat again soon… sooner this time than the last… I promise… I've got some thoughts on the past year… and some on the upcoming year and what I have planned for the year ahead ;)

xo

Lacey