11.17.2010

As if I didn't have enough decorating on the brain....

Check out my holiday inspiration stash.


I actually own all of these except for the one on top.  I pick these up at Half Price Books.  If you have one in your town, you're awesome.


Past Christmas issues I can't bear to part with.  Well....if my house were burning down I prolly wouldn't run to grab these, but ya know.


Anyone else LOVE when Country Home put a Santa on their covers?  Anyone else still grieving the loss of this most excellent magazine?
*sob*


This, my friends, is the best current holiday mag right now.  FULL of merry-making goodness.


Like this....raise your hand if you like that pipe cleaner garland.


Or this:  Reminds me a bit of Funky Junk Donna getting her bling on.


And this is just yummy....the colors are perfection.


Here's the mantel of the room above.  Yes.  I know.


And girls, this book is over a decade old, and it's still in style.  Martha Martha Martha.  You who set trends for the rest of us 10 years later.....I don't think a Pottery Barn catalogue would still be considered fashionable after a decade, eh?  She is a magician. Love her or hate her, she's got the goods.  She. has. got. the. goods.


Someone explain to me how I can love the blues and greens and reds above, yet still go weak in the knees when I see a rainbow of whites like this:


Sparkly nuts!  I'd fit right in....


I'm also gathering inspiration from all the blogs....I stashed soooo many ideas from last year, and didn't save links to where I got 'em, so I hesitate to share them here as I can't give credit where credit's due (and there won't be any tutorials)....but I'll prolly stick 'em up over at the ::cottage crush collection::

And hey.  I'm having a crew for Thanksgiving in just over ONE WEEK.  Did I mention I was in the midst of 4  room makeovers?  Oy.

29 comments:

Joyce @ Quilted Nest said...

I have many of those books and magazines as well. I just keep looking at them over and over - can't bear to part with them. What joy!

Polly said...

I NEEDED this Cindy! I'm feeling "not quite ready" for Christmas this year! I put up a tree in my new booth yesterday and I still didn't feel very inspired. But these pictures, especially the turquoise mantle one, might just do the trick!!! By the way, that room soooooooo reminds me of YOU!!!

Martha looks like so young in that photo!!!



Thanks for posting this!!

From the Old InkWell said...

Hi Cindy, I could sit down in the middle of all of those mags and have a blast. Heaven! :)

Patti's Artful Design said...

That magazine and book stash looked very familiar.....it is refreshing to be among those that share the decorating crazies. I, so-o identified with your post!

Anonymous said...

Hey Cindy! I still pick up issues of Country Home in antique malls. That was the best mag. Love all the inspiration photos. I get overwhelmed and love it all. Not sure what theme to run with this Christmas. Two trees is a must. I like to let the kids decorate one. Look forward to what you do...

Anonymous said...

You have got me drooling! I love every one of those looks....to bad I only have two trees, lol.

Anonymous said...

Martha's style is so timeless because it is just classic. Love her or hate her she has is going to leave a legacy, that I am not sure someone is going to fill.

Beautiful, classic and timeless, these photos and books evoke such sentiment to the season.

Marie said...

OMG...you are a magazine addict like me! I hoard magazines too, especially the holiday specials. Luv the white tree too and I still have mine which I use every single year. Goodluck with your remodeling and guests at the same time. It'll be chaotic but fun, I hope.
-marie

Tami / Maddie Lumpkin said...

Last month I came across Country Home mgazine @ a Lowes Home Improvement Store.I was so excited!It was a Fall addition and had no advertisements.A little pricey @ $12.00.I bought it anyway and savored every single page. Wonder if they are going to publish special issues every once in a while? Anyone else have any info.?

Leanne said...

I think I've looked through the new Christmas Ideas magazines 20 times already. It's gorgeous! There's so many great ideas I don't know where to start. Thanks for sharing all your inspiration.

Deb said...

I've never heard of Half Price Books (don't think we have one in Canada) but would definitely be shopping there too :-) I do have the Celebrating Home book though - love it! What a great collection of holiday magazines you have. The more vintage looking the covers the better & I agree - you can't beat a vintage Santa on a holiday issue ♥

Claudia said...

Yes, I miss Country Home. Want it back. Now.

Love all these photos and you're right - that room Martha decorated is timeless.

xo
Claudia

Suzanne@Meridian Road said...

I'm still mourning the loss of Country Home. I prefer not to talk about it.

As for Martha, well, I love that room. I seriously thought she'd come up with some prison chic trends but nope. She didn't.

Good luck with Thanksgiving dinner! Talk about incentive to get things finished!

~Kori@Strawberrie Hearts said...

Gurl, you craaazy!! ;)

Tiffany said...

Love this post. I WISH I could just sit and read all those magazines...I sooo MISS Country Home & Cottage Living too..
:(

NanaDiana said...

Oh you saver you~ You have almost as many Christmas magazines saved as I do...and as MyHero wants to know-Do you really NEED all these magazines? No! Do.you.really.need.clean.underwear.? 'Nuff said!

I love each one of your pictures..some because they appeal to me for my own home and some just because I enjoy them and would love to see them in someone else's home...but not necessarily in my own.

Had my smile coming here today. Have fun getting that big turkey ready..right after you finish room #4- Good Lord, gal...what WERE you thinking? Hugs-Diana

Anonymous said...

Gosh, all in one week I've learned about 1/2 Price Books and that Goodwill has outlets! Why can't any of these stores be near me?? :)

Take care,
Lisa

Carol @ A Bird in Hand said...

Hello!!! Love your blog and have joined as a new follower. I can't wait to stroll through all your lovely posts and pics. And a BIG thanks to you for joining me as well!!!

hilary@oldhousetruelove said...

Don't do this to me!!!! Not yet!!! :)

Modern Country Lady said...

Hahaha - that is so familiar- I have tons of those magazines going way back !!! Love the room Matha did - cute !!

FairfieldHouse said...

Cindy,

Loved this post. Love Martha. Love the inspiration. I too am having a full house on Thanksgiving and have multiple projects in progress. Yikes!

Your Friend,
Deborah

{northern cottage} said...

wouldn't it be FUN to have a latte together and peruse through those mags and books TOGETHER!

Pam Kessler said...

Thanks for posting all those yummy Christmas photos. You got me in the mood to pull out my old Christmas mags and look around.

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

How fun, we have many of the same books. I'm STILL so sad about Country Home (and Cottage Living as well). I was so shocked when they closed up! I'd have saved more of my old issues if I'd known it was going to go out of publication.

And well Martha, I do agree most of us love her or hate her but she really does have timeless style and does an A++ job. Personally, I am a Martha Stewart fan but I do wish her show was more like her old show where they really focused on a project, in detail.

I think I'll go dig out my "Country Living Merry and Bright" and start dreaming now.

Chris
ps... got TWO Christmas issues of current subscriptions today including of course, Martha. Can't wait to sit down and go through them.

Tricia said...

We are of the same mind Cindy. I've been looking through all my back Christmas issues too. I could just about cry over the loss of Cottage Living. Oh how I LOVED that magazine :)

Romeo said...

Right there with you on several issues....Country Home....oh yes, it was devastating and yes, I am still mourning the loss. Yeah, yeah I know they have put out a couple of "new" issues but have you noticed it's nothing more than a compilation of the older issues?!? What's up with that?!? Surely, there are more than a handful of us who had a love affair with this magazine....I mean there is no other magazine that satisfies when I'm ready for a nap and looking for prime real estate on which to take that nap....

And then there is the issue of Christmas inspiration magazines!!! Yep, with you there too. Next to me right this moment, you will find, BHG Christmas Ideas 2010, Merry and Bright, Jeanne d'Arc Living Christmas and "she's" just getting started!! This is what I'm knowing as self control...three IS self control right?!?!

Well, the hour grows late for my whiskers and that book "Merry and Bright" would be a delightful landing spot if "she" would open it up for me.....

Purrs!

Romeo

Michele Lewis said...

You sparkly nut you (takes one to know one) :P

So I am envious of your book collection (I am great at getting rid of clutter except decorating books lol) I always end up going to the library and taking notes that I never read again (needs pictures lol)

A note on pottery barn: over and over in our classes we talk about how trendy they are. As a designer we are taught to avoid most trends unless they are inexpensive change-out things. Of course if they want to hire us every five to ten years to redo their houses who am I to complain if trendy is used. LOL

Oh and how can you love the blues and then the whites? Simple!!! Variety is the spice of life. That is part of the joy of being a designer. Getting to put in all the things I love in different spaces because I just don't have enough rooms in my own place!!!!

I would need a good 40 rooms to decorate for Christmas in each style I'd want! LOL

Happy holidays!

Leslie @ Farm Fresh Fun said...

Laughed out loud as I JUST pulled out my box of old Christmas mags AND my BFF called me breathless earlier saying she'd just rushed in from buying that same BHG mag and I "MUST get it!"
Can't wait to see what you put together on your new mantel!
hugs,
Leslie

Angela said...

It's nice to know someone else saves their Christmas mags, too. It's one of my fave times to get them. I still have some of the Victoria mags and I ALSO miss Country Home - A Lot!

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