Bonus -- It's time for the Christmas windows!

So I know I've been a real slacker when it comes to the blog, especially with the window posts.  We've still been doing the windows at Collector's Antique Mall in Asheboro, North Carolina -- we just haven't been sharing them with you.  So for that, I apologize, offer as a gift to you our newest window, just in time for Christmas.

If you've read our blog before, you know that the Christmas window is not necessarily our favorite one to do.  We have more parameters and limitations with it than we do with a normal window design (the tree goes here, it must be rich and full, blah blah blah).  But we really enjoyed this one.  It came together quickly, there was tons of silver tree junk in storage at the store, and we could use our trusty black and white tiled "floor".  And there's always lots and lots of glassware at the store to use. 

We suspended plastic glittery snowflake ornaments in silver and white from the ceiling, and filled the wall with black, silver, and white framed mirrors.  We wanted it to SPARKLE! and SHINE!  And it does. The effect doesn't translate all that well in photographs, but standing outside at night looking in, it really twinkles.  So pretty.

Balls and tinsel and picks galore!

The tree is so full of stuff, I was afraid it would fall over.  We found a gajillion silver picks and we used them ALL.  We also had tons of that cheap silver tinsel garland (can you see it?  it's kind of buried in the tree), and we debated about using it -- will it look like cheap silver tinsel garland?  But it's kitschy, and I LOVE KITSCH, so we went with it.  And I swear, it made that tree looks expensive.  Who'd have thunk??

We didn't go overboard adding presents under the tree.  Just some carefully curated items, mostly chosen for their colors and designs.

We loved this doll for her white hair and patterned dress.  And the dominoes are freakin' cool!

So we've done a Christmas kitchen, a traditional living room, our Hipster Cabin Christmas last year -- but we'd never done a table and chairs.  We found this great white iron and glass mid century patio table and mixed it with two traditional black chairs.  We were selective with our red accents, and mixed crystal, painted wood, milk glass, and steel for the other pieces.  We think it looks pretty awesome.

We've wanted to use this checked bedspread for a while now.  It was perfect here.

Crystal Christmas tree and Santa says "Hi!"

This has deer heads for handles!  Perfect!

We finished the whole window with angel hair tinsel -- another kitschy classic.  But it's so sparkly, and delicate!  We put it EVERYWHERE.

And the piece de resistance is my disco fringe silver tinsel wreath I made.  Did you see it?

You can make one too!  I started with a Styrofoam wreath base, and used silver bead garland and angel hair tinsel from the dollar store.  I used my handy glue gun to glue random lengths of the bead garland to the top, and I did two layers.

Then I took hanks of angel hair tinsel and wrapped it around the form, hot gluing the ends in the back.  I kept adding it until it was full, then I went back over it and teased out some loose ends for that fringe-y effect.  It was very messy, but you know, whenever I make anything, I make a huge mess.

Messy, but sooo sparkly!

And here it is installed!  Merry Christmas y'all!!

On the Radar -- So Not Your Granny's Wreath

From Pinterest.

Ok, so I know that the word "wreath" probably makes you think two things:  "Is it Christmas?" and "How boring! Wreaths are sooooo outdated!"  And that's how I've felt for the past few years.  But not now!  Wreaths have made a comeback, and I am sooooo excited!

I really used to LOVE making wreaths.  I made them all the time, whether for Christmas or (insert holiday here) or just for fun.  Then, for some reason, I got a crazy thought in my head that they were too old-fashioned.  Outdated.  Boring.  But last Christmas, I made a few.  Just for kicks.  And now, in the past week, I have found myself longing to go to Hobby Lobby and scout for supplies to make one.  Don't I need to make a new fab Valentine's wreath?  How about one with blackbirds, in honor of the Blackbird girls? 

While I barely contain my growing NEED to make one, check out the plethora of super creative and beautiful wreaths I found, on Etsy and Pinterest.  From simple to super complex, these wreaths are definitely not boring...

Made from paper cups, from here.

Made from plastic spoons, from here.

Made from maps, from weird little world on Etsy, here.

Made from old silverplate, from here.

Living succulent wreath from SucculentDESIGNS on Etsy, here.

Yarn and Ball wreath, from sian on Etsy, here.

Cinnamon stick wreath, from Pinterest...not sure who to credit!