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Sunday, December 6, 2009

IT TAKES A VILLAGE ....TO DECORATE MY STUDY FOR CHRISTMAS!

I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Susan at Thoughts from Over the Rainbow for the Tuesday Deck the Halls Party. Thank you Mary and Susan for giving us links to great posts all over Blogville.

The intended use for the room I am sharing today is a formal dining room. We are much more comfortable serving family and guests in our family room, so our dining room is used as a study/music room/library! Yep! I've packed a lot into one room, and yep, it is wall-to-wall "stuff".

I have always felt that, since Christmas decor is only up for a short time, it doesn't matter how tacky I get with my decor! That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it (the implication is that normally my decor is not tacky, but a lot of people might disagree with that implication)!

I have been collecting village pieces since we got married 40 years ago. Being the bargain hunter, I have never paid full price for any piece in my village. I buy them at "after Christmas" sales, estate sales, and garage sales. It doesn't matter to me that all of my pieces are not one type, or that they are not all even the same brand. The way I see it, towns are made up of a lot of different styles of houses, stores, etc. I'm probably just justifying having so many different styles in my village, but again, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!




You may need to get your sun glasses before you enter this next area of the village!








Don't forget to go to Little Red House on Monday for mosaic links and to Thoughts from Over the Rainbow on Tuesday for Deck the Halls links.


Thank you for stopping by my blog. The villagers were so glad to have you visit. laurie

45 comments:

Four Paws and Co said...

Your mosaics are fabulous! I've always wanted a village, but I haven't a clue where I would put it. Thanks for sharing your! ☺♥☺

vignette design said...

Laurie, You have been a very busy girl! Wow, I wish I could see your village in person. The flea market is too clever. --Delores

Anonymous said...

WOW Laurie,great post. Your villages are very nice. I have a couple in the attic, I wish I had somewhere to display them, they are such fun to put up. Enjoyed yours.

Hugs,
Chris

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

OMG,Laurie!
I wish I could see these is person they are just FABULOUS!!! There is so much detail and so many delightful pieces! I feel like a little kid in a candy shop! There are so many neat ones I don't know where to begin, but I so love that ferris wheel with the skating pond around it! Are these just all the same brand or line or have you mixed them up! I am just curious because your's is the neatest I have ever seen! There is nothing tacky about you my dear, everything is so gorgeous! Hugs, Cindy

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Laurie! What a beautiful village! I wish I could see it in person and study every detail. I love the way you always decorate for and enjoy each holiday! As I have said before, I am sure that a visit to your house must be such a treat for your grandchildren! Happy week!...hugs..Debbie

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Laurie, I am always so humbled by you decorating. My den is strewn with ribbon and paper bits; my kitchen counter is still piled up with some holiday grocery shopping not yet put in the pantry, and there is not one, single decoration up! How do you do it??? Next weekend...I promise. C

Stacey said...

Laurie, you amaze me! When I came across my villages this year I didn't even unpack them. Yours are beautiful!! I love the artwork above your buffet too.

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Laurie, I think your village display is charming - so inviting!
My grandies would have a fit over that! What I really love, though is that you are creative with your dining room. We have a large dining room - not often used, and I would love to do what you have done with yours. Also, I enjoyed your cloche post - so pretty! Lots of eye candy! Linda

"Blossom" said...

Wow, this is georgous. When my youngest daughter was home I use to purchase one villiage every year for her. Now she displays them in her home for her children. You have really displayed them so beautifully.
Happy Holidays.

From the Old InkWell said...

Laurie, It is all so charming! I just love the little houses and Christmas village. :)

Anonymous said...

i guess you didn't get my note on the chat room.please email me your addy,ok?thank you.i have looked and looked.no can find.ha
i love your decor,as always.i love everything you do....Anniepoo

Carol said...

Your villages are beautiful! I bet your grandkids love looking at them.

Foley said...

Love your decor!! I have a number of the Snow Village pieces that I haven't put up for years..may have to dig them out!

I don't think the Villagers will get lonely one bit!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Your villages are beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I had thought about starting one years ago, but glad I did not since I don't have a place to sit it up where I live now.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Dear Laura! I love all of your villages! You take the cake with the little trailer and garage sale! :)
Now the lighted one on your piano is so pretty! Can I just come to your house and borrow a few things? You really do have everything! :) I just love it!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

How beautiful is your home and villages! What a wonderful post and the time it took to put all this together is more than I can even imagine. Wow just awesome. Thanks for sharing
Maggie

Leslie said...

Whoa! Can I pay you to come over and decorate my house for Christmas? Haha! Just kidding... but you've done such a beautiful job! I need to take lessons from you.

Maggie said...

Gorgeous mosaics and fabulous villages, it must take you hours if not days to set everything up!
Have a great week.
Maggie

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a collection you have there. Beautiful. Rosie

Kathy said...

Hi Laurie, what a wonderful village you have there and I like you way of thinking. I was looking forward to seeing my friends village this year but she decidec to go visiting in England for xmas. so seeing yours has made up for that :-). I am afraid to start collecting anything else myself as we have ran out of room, your flea market and amusement park are adorable, you grandchildren must love them all. Kathy.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

You have a wonderful collection.
Thank you for the tour.

Dawn Marie said...

I love your village. I actually have a hard time each year setting mine up..i want to add on but just have no idea where to do it!

The one your Mom took to college is sooooo stunning, what a neat memory.

I to look for discounts and never pay full price when I add on to mine. This year I saw Menards had a House---that actually had a running fountain in it..I'm waiting for that baby to go 50% or more.

Salmagundi said...

I've said before that I want to be your grandchild, so that I can be mesmerized by all of your wonderful decorations. The villages do not disappoint!! Sally

artis1111 said...

I had a customer that built a 2 million dollar home and had shelves put around every ceiling to put her snow villages. I love it when people go all out and have fun!! It is beautiful!!!!Kathy

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

I love all of it, Laurie!

I haven't even started my villages yet. I have an idea or two and I'll get at least one done before I go to bed tonight or early tomorrow morning.:-)

Sarah said...

Laurie, I think you have the right attitude about your villages. Mix it up! Your mosaics are beautiful. I loved getting a peek at all your villages. One of my fondest childhood memories is when one of my aunts took us to visit a family of elderly sisters who lived on their family farm. They were of German heritage and every year they had a huge Christmas tree in the foyer of their big, two story Victorian home. Under the tree was the most amazing miniature village complete with running water, moveable parts, a train, etc. It was magical. I'm sure your grandchildren will grow up with the memories of your magical villages. ~ Sarah

Carol said...

I had so much fun looking at your displays! I agree with you..I mix up my Dept 56 with Joann Fabric houses & it just doesn't matter. You have a great collection!

susan said...

Laurie-I know what a labor of love putting this together is!! I have always loved the villages--any kind and your collection is so beautiful. It's almost like reading....creating and going to another place for a little while. Thanks for sharing and coming to the "party" :)

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

What a wonderful collection of houses. I just started collecting last year. I have the little 4" ones. You have displayed them so very nice. Nice mosaic of them, too.

Terry said...

Howdy
all I can say is Wow !!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing and putting a big smile on this cowgirls face.
What a blessing it was to stroll through your friendly village.
May you have an awesome rest of the week.
Happy Trails

Sandy said...

Laurie, what a great collection of villages you have! VERY nice! I love it.

Kammy said...

So cute Laurie ! I love all the little villages...but, do you know that there are horses on one of the roofs ? Do they think they are reindeer...was that Santa ? LOL ! Really sweet and I love it !
Kammy

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

Hi Miss Laurie! You must have a village to help you get all these villages up! You stick to your story's girlfriend! Everything is adorable! I laughed when you talked about town's having different buildings and such! You know around here in the south all I could think of were all the little towns with no zoning laws!! (LOL!) Take care my friend and God Bless! Lauralu :)

Sue said...

OMG Laurie- I am in awe of all of your village pieces!! They are just gorgeous. I think you have inspired me to start looking for houses and accessories that are this size. I only have a couple of small, cheapie ones. I also love your mosaics, once again. Jeez, I gotta start practicing them. Maybe once my head can full concentrate... LOL
Always love to visit you....
hugs, Sue

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ginny said...

Way too much work for me! But it is beautiful! I have a small village under my pencil tree..has about seven large and four small buildings and a lot of extras.

Kathleen said...

Fabulous, Laurie..and I know how much time that takes! I love that you are not a village snob, LOL..I have one good piece that was a gift a few years ago..I vowed I wouldn't start a collection, at this point in my life. Collecting dust is enough for me...I broke down and bought a few after Cmas..it could become addicting...like Christmas cookies..one leads to another!
Beautiful villages my dear..

SmilingSally said...

LOL Well, your village sure is complete. I don't think you've missed a single thing!

KimMalk said...

Ooo, I love the arrangement under the cloche.

Anonymous said...

I remember seeing your villages last year and being in awe of your collection!! I still don't know how you do it with working and all getting all this decorating done= I am still poking along!

blessings
mary

The Muse said...

Colors all clamored
The rumors raged...
Was it actually true?
They asked the Christmas sage.

Is there a place...
Where colors can play?
Can anyone go there?
On this very day?

Why yes, it is true!
She said to~
The red,
The yellow,
The green
And the blue...

For here in this village...
This quaint little town...
There is unfettered joy...
And Christmas love abounds!

HUGS!

Lavender and Linen said...

I too started collecting, Dickens Village, during the 80's and 90's. However, we have not put our village up for several years. Seeing yours makes me want to get ours out again. Beautiful, but I know how much work you have put in to it.
Thanks for sharing.

prashant said...

The flea market is too clever

Work from home India

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