Last Minute Holiday!

Hi Friends:

With Christmas just around the corner, we thought you could use a little last minute inspiration. From decorating to entertaining, here are some quick and simple ideas to put the finishing touches on your holiday. If you are on top of things and ready to go, save these ideas for next year!

Many of us exchange ornaments or use them to decorate packages. These snowflake ornaments were made by cutting out circle motifs from an old crochet tablecloth. Just dip in fabric stiffener and let dry. Lace tablecloths work well, too; look for them at thrift stores.

We are in love with bottle brush trees! How about this Christmas tree farm displayed on a vintage silver tray! 

Yup, we're obsessed! Who can resist a vintage toy car with a bottle brush tree tied to the top?

Tuck a mini poinsettia into a sugar bowl for a little holiday cheer.

Do you have more people coming for dinner than your tableware can accommodate? No problem, mix and match; it will look modern and interesting at the same time. After all, no one dresses from head to toe in one brand, right? 

Giving a gift card? Here's a great way to present it. Buy a chocolate bar and wrap it with a printed snowman image. Using bits of fleece, add a hat and scarf. Tuck the gift card under the wrapper and voila!

For sipping hot cocoa or filling with candies, we love these snowman cups for the little ones from Blue Cricket Design. All you need are styrofoam cups with lids, orange felt and paint!

Friends, we've so enjoyed sharing our vintage finds and every-day inspirations with you this year. From all of us here at Georgia's, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy and healthy new year!

Easter Fun!

Hi Friends:

Did you know that bunny rabbits, chicks and eggs historically symbolize Spring and new life? There are, of course, many traditions and practices surrounding Easter. Easter baskets, dyeing eggs, hot cross buns and Easter Lillies, just to name a few, all in some way celebrate newness and re-birth. Easter is joyous and hopeful!

At our house, even though we're all adults, Easter is a big event. I still make a big dinner, put together Easter baskets for everyone and I have managed to keep the egg hunt tradition going by upping the ante. In addition to hiding chocolate eggs in the yard, my husband and I hide plastic eggs filled with coins, dollar bills, a fiver or two, a ten, a twenty and golden eggs worthy of a gift card! With the holiday just around the corner, I have been busy gathering together some ideas for this year and want to share them with you in hopes of making Easter "eggstra" special for you and your loved ones!

Welcome guests with a carrot door decor. I embellished this one with indoor/outdoor fabric strips!

Display your eggs! This wire basket is ready for those hand-dyed beauties!

 

Decorate with a bunny. Whether ceramic, stuffed, or vintage wicker like this one, nothing says Easter like a bunny!

These picket fence baskets from The Lucky Clover Trading Company are too cute and a real bargain at $3.50!

This crochet carrot pouch from Repeat Crafter Me is adorable! It's the perfect quick and easy project and you can fill it with a special treat! Click on the link for complete instructions.

Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with this Easter basket favor made from paper cups. So cute!

Aren't these chevron bags great! Perfect for Easter goodies. Here I glued an Easter chick to a small scrapbooking clothespin and used it as a bag clip. Bags and clothespins are available at Michael's!

If you're giving a special Easter gift, tuck it into a beautiful egg like this beaded beauty. 

I made this crocheted egg cozy with the help of a DIY tutorial from Flax & Twine using DMC pearl cotton size 5. I love the natural look!

Sew up a few carrots! How cute to decorate with or tuck in a basket. I used vintage bedspread fabric and calico to make the patterned carrots; the other two are felted. Cut carrot shapes from fabric, sew right sides together, turn inside out and fill with poly fil, add calico stem and whip stitch closed. Sew simple!

This baguette board loaded with filled eggs doubles as a table centerpiece and favors for guests! A cute basket would work, too!

Speaking of eggs, look at these cute alternatives for fillable plastic eggs. Fill with jelly beans, m&m's and more!

Make Rice Krispie treat pops! Simply cut Rice Krispie treats into an egg shape with a cookie cutter, decorate and add a lollipop stick!

Assemble a mini Easter basket for friends, neighbors or co-workers! This little basket from Michael's measures 3" x 4" and comes in a variety of colors.

How about these cheery mini paper bags also from Michael's sized perfectly for homemade cookies or candy!

Need a hostess gift? Embellish a planter with a bottle brush chick, pinwheel or candy-filled egg! Find embellishments at craft stores.

Georgia's crew wishes you and yours a happy Easter!

Valentine's Day!

Hi Friends:

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and we all know that it isn't just for lovers! In this day and age of emails and texts, why not express your feelings for the special people in your life with one of these thoughtful gifts or DIY project ideas from Georgia's. Your personal touch will mean so much! 

Hearts for Haiti: Proceeds from the sale of these hand-carved Haitian stone hearts support a grant program of The Hand/Eye Fund that works in Haiti to help artists recover from loss of shelter, equipment, workshops and income. 

Turn a card into a gift! We added a vintage jewelry piece to this crocheted flower pin. 

Why not put a sweet nosegay in a small Ball canning jar. Just remove the lid!

Make a one-of-a-kind card with a few scrapbooking supplies - glitter, gems and lettering!

Georgia's used vintage millinery flowers and jewelry pieces to embellish these notecards.

Turn a special photo into a gift by attaching a necklace, bracelet or locket!

Jazz up a wine tote by sewing on a pocket and adding a love note. This felt tote was $.99! Find them at craft and fabric stores.

I made this felt coin purse for my son's girlfriend with Feltworks Felt Embellishments and embroidery floss. These items are widely available in craft and fabric stores.

Loving this bookmark made from vintage jewelry hearts and chain. Perfect for the book/magazine reader! 

Another bookmark idea for your Valentine: create a photo strip with a photo booth app for your smart phone. Punch a hole in the top and thread with ribbon for flair.

This glass paperweight is from Photoweights. One of many styles available, it has a recessed base that allows you to personalize the piece with memorabilia in addition to photos. Nikki, this one is for you! It has your matrilineality (mother's lineage) along with a cameo that belonged to your grandmother. Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart!

And to all our friends, love from Georgia's!