How doth the little busy bee improve each shining hour, and gather honey all the day from every opening flower!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

OPEN HOUSE INSPIRATION!!!

This year I decided to wait & decorate until after THANKSGIVING! It is really such an important holiday that I thought I would honor Thanksgiving by waiting! :) However, that has not stopped me from enjoying in the many many Christmas Open Houses I have attended!!

Open Houses are no longer just free cider & cookies! They are an important part of my decorating style! Yes, don't get me wrong, I most certainly enjoy the spiced cider & fancy treats that I nibble on throughout the store while I ooooohhhhh & aaaaawwwwww but, the inspiration is everywhere!!!

At Arnett's Country Store I was inspired to buy some of her long red stockings to tie on my front piece of picket fence....how darling & what an awesome POP of color that gives!! So simple!

IMG_2126

IMG_2127

Arnett's also had the latest & greatest in Christmas "cool"! CONCRETE SNOWMEN!!!

IMG_2115

Juat pulling up to a store like this will give you INSTANT inspiration & you will come away just dieing to dive into your own decorating!!

IMG_2113

Check out THIS display outside of a country store in Mt.Vernon, IL. I think this idea would look great in my wheelbarrow!

1118101035

Also, how about adding a HUGE wooden snowman to your decor?! Look how cute he is?!
1118101036
or what about that "pocket" next to him? What if that were a HUGE stocking filled with goodies & hanging on my front door?! Can't you just picture it?

Now step inside this wonderful store for even more inspiration!!

This tree made me want to buy some of those little battery operated candles to put on my own tree!! Also, just look at all of the dried oranges on this tree?! I will HAVE to try this out this year!

1118101043


At this store called Two Raggedy Sisters they use Sweet Annie as a GARLAND in their trees!! It looks SO pretty & makes your room smell amazing!!!

1119101634


Also, you could be a winner of a fantastic FREE door prize!! This is usually a FREE gift certificate or "item"! I won a $15 gift card this year to one of my favorite stores!! The Dusty Attic in Equality, IL! Of course when I went to redeem it I spent another $60!! LoL! :)

Some of the stores have beautiful scenery to take photographs of! At Country Lane Treasures we enjoyed watching & photographing her live sheep!

IMG_2129

so what are you waiting for....GET BUSY...and get to an open house!!!! :)

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for the beautiful tour! Some wonderful prim ideas,Warm Blessings!~Amy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy Thanksgiving!!
    I was just at the The Olde' Homestead a couple of days ago.
    I bought one of the cute penny rug stockings with a snowman inside.
    I also bought 2 of the tiny sheep ornies. (one white, one black)
    I need to make it back over to Arrnetts.
    I need to get done buying all my presents, so I can get back to buying for me!! :)

    Where is the Two Raggedy Sisters, located?
    Im not sure if I have ever heard of that one.

    The background looks so cute on your blog!!
    Take Care,
    Tam

    ReplyDelete
  3. THANKS, TAMMY! I LOVE THE BACKGROUNDS YOU CREATED & SHARED! SO SWEET OF YOU! :)
    TWO RAGGEDY SISTERS IS IN DUQUOIN & COUNTRY LANE TREASURES IS IN CREAL SPRINGS! HAVE YOU BEEN BY THERE? SHE HAS AWESOME OLD ANTIQUES! I BOUGHT AN OLD WOODEN SLED THIS YEAR! :) SHE GAVE IT TO ME FOR $18 WHICH WAS THE CHEAPEST I HAVE SEEN IT! SHE IS GOOD ON PRICES!!

    I NEED TO QUIT BUYING FOR ME & BUY PRESENTS! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looks like a fun trip Jenn! I love that concrete snowman! Thanks for sharing! I just spyed the two concrete urns in your slide show up top. I have those same two exact urns. They were my grandmothers! Hope you are having a good Thanksgiving!
    Jayne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jenn, I love those long red stockings!I have to have one of those concrete snowmen! I need to get out around here and see if they are available.
    Get your decorating finished and show us pictures!lol
    betty

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can't see photos anymore...please help! Dying to ser

    ReplyDelete