peace

Be warm. Be merry. Be you.

Peace.

xoxo Betsy

Wrapping things up!

I've been so busy with the shop and holiday cheer that now I have got to get to all my wrapping. I love to spend time making each gift special, so I went on the hunt for inspiration, and boy, did I find it! If you need some creative holiday gift wrap ideas then you must check out Sweet Paul's e-magazine. This gorgeous gem is chock-full of good ideas, created by a very talented team. You will fall in love with this magazine instantly! BTW, I found Sweet Paul via Nice Package--another great place to visit for amazing gift wrap ideas. Well, happy wrapping!

Advent Pouches

Aren't these just the cutest Advent Pouches? I found them at nuvonova via etsy. She's sold out, but I'm making a note for next year. Happy Friday!!!! The count down is on.

white wednesday {no. 26}

i heart white wednesday!

i also heart this pearl light wreath from cox and cox.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

Look who showed up today

I was doing my dishes, gazing out the window

and admiring the tiny bit of new fallen snow,

when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

but this gorgeous buck, and he'd make a fine reindeer.

Isn't he something? Made my day.

I hope he comes by tomorrow, too. Perhaps I can get a better photo.
Can you believe he's even wearing a wreath around his neck?

white wednesday {no 25}

Last Wednesday I lamented about my desire for a white Christmas tree. Well, I finally got one! Though it is a wee tree, I’m quite fond of it and all its sparkle. I keep it safe and on display in our new Glass Cloche. I may have to collect more of these little cute trees.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

Christmas on Main St

This past Sunday we went to Stockbridge, MA for their 21st annual Main St. at Christmas event. The charming town of Stockbridge, made famous by Norman Rockwell's painting of the village during the holidays (above), was transformed into a magical New England setting decorated with holiday wreaths and festive lights. They closed off Main St and recreated the scene depicted in Main Street at Christmas, complete with vintage automobiles parked in the spots occupied in the painting. The day's activities included horse drawn rides, a visit from Santa, and Roger the Jester. The most magical part of all was that it snowed the entire time we were there. Wouldn't ya know, I forgot my camera, so my image is from my phone, but if you look close you can see the little snowflakes flying. It was a perfect day.

Holiday Sale

HOLIDAY SALE

save 10% on your next purchase

Please enjoy a 10% savings on your next purchase from Farmhouse Wares.

Just enter coupon code "holiday10" during checkout.

Available today through midnight December 6, 2010.

Offer available on sale and regularly priced items. While supplies last.

Not valid on previous purchases.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT FARMHOUSE WARES

Join me at the Christmas Tree Farm

Yesterday I mentioned our annual trip to our local Christmas tree farm. The Northeast Christmas Tree Farm is just down the road from our house. I thought I'd take you on the tour of last year's outing. I had forgotten there was snow on the ground. I guess that beats the year we had to trudge through ankle-high mud. I thought my boots were going to get sucked right into the mud. We even had to hose the tree down when we got home. Fun times! Happy tree hunting to you, too.

white wednesday {no. 24}

Some of you may remember from last year that I have a secret passion for white Christmas trees. Of course, my husband and daughter are die-hard about having the traditional evergreen from our local tree farmer. Of course, I would never want to pass up that wonderful family tradition. I love getting all bundled up to go cut our own tree, huddling by the farm's wood stove and eating candy canes as we wait for our tree to come back up to us by way of tractor. We'll be heading out this weekend to do all that, but in the meantime, and since it is white Wednesday, I will continue to dream about a white tree just like this one from Coastal Living.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

i heart this holiday candle set

Hey there! Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend. It was easy for me this year, as I played the relaxing role of guest rather than the hectic hostess. I do love to show my appreciation to the host for all that they do. This Holiday Aromatherapy Beeswax Candle Gift Set is perfect for this time of year. There's nothing like the purity of natural beeswax. Included in this holiday candle set is one 3 oz votive glass of three holiday scent blends: Spice (Sweet Orange, Cinnamon & Clove Bud), Pine (Rosewood, Spruce & Fir), and Mint (Peppermint & Birch). Each candle burns for 24 hours and scented with pure essential oils.

I love how beeswax candles burn brighter than most others. They're naturally drip-less and smokeless, and they tend to have a longer burn time than candles made from other waxes. Beeswax also burns clean and purifies the air at the same time! In addition to supporting sustainable beekeeping, the consumption of beeswax candles is also good for the air we breathe. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving. Bee well.

Oh yeah... they're available at Farmhouse Wares!

Happy Thanksgiving

Farmhouse Wares wishes you a safe, cozy

and Happy Thanksgiving.

A Sweet Holiday Gift Idea

We just got in these gorgeous honey sets. The perfect gift for the food lover, the Bee Raw Varietal Honey Set offers a complete tasting from around the country, ranging from Maine to the state of Washington. Every honey is as unique as its floral source, and can be compared to wine, tea and coffee in its variety and complexity.

Set includes nine honey vials. Each 1 oz. honey-filled vial is hand-corked and sealed with bees wax, then packaged with a beautiful, handcrafted oak block in a ribbon-enclosed gift box. When you're done with the honey, the vials make a pretty cute bud vase, too!

Bee Raw Honey is dedicated to sourcing local, single floral-source honey from coast to coast. They help support artisinal beekeepers and celebrate the rich beekeeping heritage represented in each region of the United States.

Available at Farmhouse Wares.

tree in the kitchen

A small evergreen in the kitchen is just the right touch for my holiday decorating. I'm getting inspired and starting to plan. This lovely kitchen is from Min Lilla Verdanda. Have a cozy weekend.

Cabbages and Roses-Oh My

If you love Cabbages and Roses fabric as much as I do, then I highly recommend you scoot on over to French Larkspur right now. Tracey is has an amazing giveaway from their new Hobury collection (shown above). Hurry, the giveaway ends Nov. 25th

white wednesday {no. 23}

There's nothing better than a white Wednesday that features old junk put to new uses. Designer Katie Thompson of Recreate recycles vintage finds into stylish furniture and interior accessories. She gives new life to this vintage suitcase, adding white linen upholstery and whitewashed timber turned legs. It would look so perfect in my bedroom.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

French Printed Burlap Pillow

Make your home cozy, like this kitty, with our new French Printed Burlap Pillow. Burlap has a way of bringing together rustic charm with casual elegance-- pure farmhouse style.

white wednesday {no. 22}

Today's white Wednesday features the hand-crafted, un-glazed white bone china spoons by Caroline Swift. Purely exquisite.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

sweet and salty roasted pecans

I made these sweet and salty roasted pecans as a snack the other day, and they were out-of-control delish. My family went nuts for them (excuse the pun). This southern style recipe is super easy, and I'm thinking this will make a nice Thanksgiving gift for my family. I'll wrap them in vintage containers and tie the recipe on with a pretty bow. Give 'em a try:

You'll need:
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
12oz whole pecans
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1.Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Lightly grease a rimmed baking pan.
2.Combine the egg white and water in a mixing bowl; beat until fluffy. Fold in the pecans to coat evenly. Combine the sugar, salt, and ground cinnamon in a shaker or cup with a lid. Dust the pecans evenly with the sugar mixture. Spread the nuts over the prepared pan.
3.Bake in preheated oven until toasted and fragrant, stirring every 15 minutes, about 1 hour. Cool on pan, and store in an airtight container.

The Magic of Numbers

There are a number of reasons I'm crazy about numbers. Mainly, I love the simplicity found in their shapes, and numbers give me an instant sense of organization, which is heart-warming to us Virgos. You may have seen our Numbered Glass Jars in the December issue of Romantic Homes Magazine, but we've got more numbered goodies to dress up your home and garden decor:

Numbered Glass Jars, Numbered Garden Row Markers, Galavanized Numbered Pots, Ceramic Ruled Pitcher

Have a great weekend!

pretty wrapped bottles

These festive bottle wraps are a great way to make bottles of water or cider extra pretty on your Thanksgiving table. Our Glass Milk Bottles ,with their porcelain lids, are perfect for this craft project. Just pick some simple autumn colored fabrics to cover up the little french logo that our bottles have, and you're ready to go.

a white pumpkin halloween

Have a great weekend everyone. Hope you all have a safe and magical Halloween!

Image found via the Deluded Diva.

recycled leather rug

This Recycled Leather Rug, by Eileen Fisher is my latest obsession. We have wood floors throughout our home, and I rarely use rugs because my shaker instincts prefer the ease and convenience of cleaning bare floors. But it sure would be nice to enjoy the soft, natural fibers of leather under my feet this winter as opposed to the chilly wood floors. It would look pretty perfect with the chair that I slipcovered with the Home Depot drop cloth, too.

Shaker Style Peg Rails

Winter is coming and soon coats, hats and mittens will needs a nice, neat home. This means I'd like a functional place that is NOT a kitchen chair (where my husband and daughter prefer to put theirs). I love the clean simplicity of Shaker peg rails. I'm thinking of installing them around the entire length of our porch/mudroom. I did this in our bedroom a few years ago, but where does my husband throw his clothes? That's right, on the chair. How do you train them?

Weekend Projects

Well, the weekend is finally here. We have a ton of projects that need to be wrapped up before the snow flies. It seems like the painting projects never end. We've been in our house for over 10 years, and somehow painting just isn't as fun when it's the second or third time around. It's those first coats that go on to your new home that are most exciting. I still get eager to see the transformation as we're nearing the end, but I'm so impatient with the rest of it all. I walk around saying, "I just want it to be done." While my husband is always saying, "If you did it all today what would you have to do tomorrow?" Happy weekend!

white wednesday {no. 19}

Happy White Wednesday! Today we're featuring our newest addition to the shop, our faux sheet Music Candles. Add a little romance and ambiance to your farmhouse decor with this set of three faux candles. The flameless, LED candles flicker and glow like the real thing. Each is accented with ribbon, an antique-style skeleton key and clear bead.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

Signature Style

For the most part, I consider the L.L. Bean clothes practical and functional, but I haven't drooled over one of their catalogs in years. Then came along L.L. Bean Signature. They've sucked me right in with their updated spin on the classic New England preppy look. You've got to check out the lifestyle video too. It has beautiful people in beautiful places, wearing beautiful clothes. I just want to put on this cozy flannel dress and run in a meadow with a black lab by my side. Seriously, they've come a long way since the rubber boot, and I can officially say that I'm drooling over their winter 2010 catalog.

Entertaining at Home

Creating a cohesive menu for a dinner party or holiday event is no easy task. Once you’ve created that crowd pleasing menu, why not present your selections to your guest in style. This Zinc Memo Board-Easel is the perfect way to do just that. I’ve dressed mine up with a little bittersweet vine. In addition to displaying your menu, it also makes an adorable picture frame or place to leave daily love notes. The Zinc Memo Board-Easel is both a magnet and chalk board. You simply write your message and wipe away clean. Coordinates perfectly with our Zinc Place Cards.

white wednesday {no. 18}

This White Wednesday we're featuring our vintage-style white Ceramic Tureen. Perfect for serving soups and side dishes with bit of elegance. Designed with a slightly Victorian feel, including scalloped details on the handles, this lidded serving bowl or Tureen is topped with a sweet bird finial. Available at Farmhouse Wares.

P.S. Don't forget to visit Faded Charm for more white Wednesday goodies.

the love of my life

It's my husband's 50th today! Thank you for being so lovable, cute, supportive, smart, generous, kind....I could on and on, after all, you've had 50 years to perfect yourself. I love you truly, madly, deeply.

mums the word

May you have a pumpkin and mum kind of weekend!

good scents

Just in time for the holiday season, the Farmhouse line, by Sweet Grass Farm, now has two limited edition scents that will warm your home. Holiday Greenery is back with its fresh pine forest aroma that sets a cozy cabin mood while the new Cranberry Cinnamon is a friendly, inviting scent that combines the freshness of cranberries with the warmth of cinnamon (think cranberry scones). These two scents are available in the following products:

Farmhouse Soy Candle 16oz:burns for 100 hours
Farmhouse Dish Soap: makes doing the dishes so much better
Farmhouse Liquid Soap and Shea Butter Lotion: perfect for a guest bath
Farmhouse Linen and Room Spray: so sheets and towels can smell great too

Fill your home with Farmhouse scents today! Available for a limited time.

I should have known

When I posted last week that I wanted to curl up in front of a fire, I should have known it was a sign. The above picture pretty much sums up my weekend. I don't know what happened to me, but my body, mind and spirit were in the mood for early hibernation. I hunkered down on my couch with my favorite (and very soft) wool blanket, some tea, and proceeded to indulge in a reality TV marathon. I realize the TV is not as romatic as the wood fire, but I'm pleased to report that I'm just about caught up with all the Real Housewive shows, Flipping Out and (dare I admit) Jerseylicious. I'm trying to get my groove back today. I'm missing my blankie, but I'm all reality TV'd out.

white pumpkin place cards

These cute white pumpkin place cards were made in a jiffy, and they'll look great for a Halloween party or Thanksgiving feast. I just love how the little white pumpkins look on our individual antique white Cupcake Stands. Simply print up your name tags, add them to the stems, and your done. So cute and so simple.

Get the Look {farm fresh style}

We love the look of Country Living's Early American Country Kitchen. Recreate the same farmhouse style in your home with our new Glass Numbered Jars and our wooden Fresh Eggs Sign. Add your own little pink shelf, and voila...you've got the look.

we're having a fall sale!

HAPPY FALL FROM FARMHOUSE WARES!

PLEASE ENJOY 10% OFF YOUR NEXT PURCHASE

JUST ENTER COUPON CODE "92210" AT CHECKOUT.
OFFER ENDS MIDNIGHT SEPTEMBER 25, 2010.

DISCOUNT AVAILABLE ON
FULL-PRICED AND SALE ITEMS

(valid while supplies last. not valid on previous purchases.)

click here to shop

happy fall

OK. I'm letting go of summer now. I'm falling into autumn's arms, and I know she will embrase me with plenty of warmth. Enjoy every moment!

A Bit of Old Country

Check out our Brick French Dishtowels in the fall-winter edition of Early Homes Magazine. We couldn't be more thrilled.

two blue trucks

It's fun when my home decor mimics life. Happy weekend!

I don't want to say goodbye...

Here's the last of the echinacea sitting in our pretty little Recycled Bedside Water Carafe. Sigh.

A S'More Bar

This crisp, cool weather is just right for nights by a cozy campfire. We spend so much time by our outdoor fireplace, toasting marshmallows, drinking wine, and telling stories. S'Mores are a traditional campfire treat, and the kids light up when we offer them. It's almost more fun to watch the adults, though. It brings out the kid in all of us I guess. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to learn about this S'Mores Bar from Erin at Dandelion & Grey via Postcards & Pretties. What a brilliant idea! Erin created this S'Mores buffet using our Wire Gathering Baskets to hold the marshmallows and graham crackers. So adorable. The S'Mores Bar is a must at my next outdoor party.

Dried Wheat Bundles--Perfect for Fall Decorating

Celebrate the harvest season with our Decorative Dried Wheat Bundles . Wheat Bundles are tied with natural twine to bring nature's beauty to your country style decor. Symbolic of a bountiful harvest, these heavy-headed wheat stalks make an elegant statement.

New! Treillis Metal Cake Stand with Wire Mesh Dome Cover

Create elegant presentations for the fall with our new Treillis Metal Cake Stand with Mire Mesh Dome Cover. The footed cake plate is generously sized, allowing plenty of room to serve up cakes, cheeses or fruit. The wire mesh cover protects food while creating eye-catching style. Its distressed cream finish gives it an aged, shabby chic quality. Perfect for entertaining or everyday use. Available at the shop now.