Organization Is The Key!

On Crooked Creek,

organization is the key to any Seasonal change!

















And 2013 is "The Year" to finish that
which I began in 2012!!!






















2012 was the purge and edit stage.
Once my employment was changed to retirement,
I cleaned out every cabinet, closet, cupboard and drawer
on the upper and lower levels of our 1970's Ranch Style Home!






















This year, as I began to take down the Christmas decor,
I began emptying every storage tub and refilling by category.



                  

Even with all the previous purging and editing,
"Mr. Ed' still has made several trips to the Thrift Shop,
Goodwill and our re~cycle dumpster.

















Next came the task of organizing the Seasonal decor
neatly on the shelves.
I opted for smaller containers with more specific labeling.

















Ladies, as many of you know,
those containers can hold a lot of items
which can mean a lot of weight.






















Lighter and brighter has multiple meanings
in the updating of Studio One!!!

















Using card stock and ink,
leftover from my former business,
I made my own labels.






















* * * Tip * * *
I have "card cataloged" each bin
with a detailed description of its contents.
These skills come from my former volunteer position
as City Librarian in Southeast Kansas.






















Now, as I need a specific item,
I can open my 4" X 6 " index file box,
locating items through the listing
instead of lifting and opening each bin!






















I am continually grateful
for the time I have to enjoy my home.
As all of you know,
On Crooked Creek,
Season ~ by ~ Season
change is constant!!!



















Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek is joining hostess,
Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch
for Metamorphosis Monday

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

and. . .

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

Yvonne @ Stone Gable for
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits!

Be sure to visit and be inspired with all the
interesting, creative happenings in the Land of Bog!!!

Streamlined Vintage Tablescape. . .

 

Once the Christmas Roses
and the Christmas decor had been removed,
a much needed streamlined vintage tablescape
to welcome in 2013 
seemed quite fitting On Crooked Creek!




















Soft, creamy ivory blossoms
combined with an icy crystallized Boston fern
in an etched lead crystal vase,
makes a striking centerpiece.




















Placing the vase atop a vintage rose bordered silver tray
allows for easy removal during mealtimes.

























Encircling the base of the vase,
I wound strands of varying hues
of heirloom vintage pearl necklaces.
The insertion of a gold leaf pin
and gold link bracelet help to reflect the soft glow
of the stripe frosted glass votive.

























Rim shot of my everyday white porcelain dinnerware.
A perfect choice for a Winter evening dining experience
On Crooked Creek. Everyday stainless flatware
combine with our rose etched crystal stemware
atop a black and white toile place mat.

























Our vintage rose etched crystal stemware,
with these beaded base detailing,
adds a romantic ambiance to our dining table.




















The features that swayed me to make this choice in dinnerware
are the embossing on the dessert / salad plate
and the huge SNOWflake
embossed into the inner being of the saucer!!!




















On Crooked Creek
an overview of a streamlined vintage tablescape
just in time to welcome 2013!



Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining our dear hostess, Susan
@ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

AND. . .













our dear hostess Debra @ Common Ground for
Be Inspired Friday!


Be sure to visit each of these dear ladies
for inspiration in your own home decor!!!

Winterizing The Front Porch!

 

Just when I had finished organizing and labeling
all the storage bins in Studio One,
I pulled the Winter faux evergreens back out
to winterize the front porch On Crooked Creek!






















Once the red Christmas wreath was removed from the grate,
I decided to go with a Winter Theme
for the front porch decor.

















Filling my flat basket with ice laden branches
(@ 50% off from Bittersweet),
I added a few rustic SNOWflakes with bells
and my signature fat poofy bow to decorate the grate!

















Next, I wove some evergreen with miniature pine cones
through the open rods of the grate to accentuate the basket.






















"Mr. Ed" carried the Christmas Tree in the concrete urn
(aka un~decorated now it becomes a Wintergreen)
to the porch. Using a bit more evergreen,
I embellished the Wintergreen.






















I think the Wintergreen fills the corner quite nicely
and helps accent the new door mat.






















Thank goodness it has the initial for our last name
and not the initials for my Blog!!!






















Removing the red berries and the red and white checked bow
from the table left a nice "winterized" wreath around the candle.






















I placed the table in the other corner
keeping the white for a cohesive effect.

















Of course, the temperature here on the Prairie
is +40 degrees. Not one flake of SNOW in sight,
except, of course On Crooked Creek!
























Until next time. . .

Toasty Warm Tablescape. . .

Welcome to a toasty warm tablescape
to herald in the  2013  New Year!

Frigid temperatures have arrived on the Prairie!
During this time of the year,
"Mr. Ed" and I, often times,
retreat to the lower level Family Room.

 


Having not yet reached double digits this morning,
I decided a warm, toasty tablescape was in order.

I chose a warm, golden palette
to keep our tablescape toasty warm and inviting.

 

My heirloom oak dining table,
passed to me from my beloved Maternal Grandmother,
fills one end of our Family Room.


Normally, I begin with my choice of dinnerware,
linens and stemware,
but today, I began with the centerpiece and candlesticks.

 

I adore the deep burgundy hue
and the rubbed bronze detailing
at the base of both the bowl and the candlesticks
of this set earned through hostess points
years ago at a Party ~Lite party held On Crooked Creek!

Adding nubby dark spice candles
encircled with pip berry rings, evergreen boughs and pine cones
compliments the Lodge theme of our Family Room.

* * Tutorial * *

A Simple Centerpiece ~
Placing a soft evergreen wreath in the base of the bowl,

 
I added 3 large pine cones to the center of the wreath.

 
Filling in the void spaces,
I added 4 medium pine cones.

At the base of the bowl,
I place evergreen and pine cone boughs.

To the left of the candlesticks,
2 over~sized metal acorns snuggle on pine cone boughs.

 

Combined with another acorn
and a set of acorn salt and peppers,
the right side features a pair of quail.

 

 
Sporting stripes in brown, gold, rust and turquoise
river place mats against the copper table topper
needed lighter dinnerware.


I opted for my Chili Pepper dinnerware from Artland.

While the golden hue of the dinner plates
added the lightness to this tablescape,
those dessert / salad plates were a bit too busy!

Folding the napkin in thirds
and placing it atop the dessert plates
was a simple solution.

 

The addition of handles
makes this soup bowl one of my favorites On Crooked Creek!

Wooden handled flatware,

from our travels in Germany,

compliments our Lodge theme quite nicely.

Instead of stemware,
I added our generous sized mugs
for steaming mugs of coffee
or a SNOWMAN Blend.

Bench seating allows for a continuous,
unobstructed view of the entire dining room area.

Although the table has been set for 4 people,
a table for 6  can be easily accommodated.

Linger a while and warm yourself
with my toasty warm tablescape of 2013!

 

 

Homemade soup is simmering gently,
waiting to warm our bodies and souls on this frigid Winter day.

Comfort food,
combined with a toasty warm tablescape,
makes for a great start to  2013!


Until next time. . .

www.betweennapsontheporch.net

On Crooked Creek will be joining
Between Naps On The Porch
for Tabletop Thursday with our dear hostess, Susan.
Be sure to visit for inspiring tablescapes for your own home decor.

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

Also, Stone Gable for Tutorials Tips and Tidbits
with our sweet hostess, Yvonne.
Inspiration, combined with encouragement, abounds
with multiple creative ideas for your home.