A Christmas Celebration with Friends

Christmas festivities around here began last week with a special holiday luncheon I hosted for some Blog Beauties I was fortunate enough to have met at my friend Jennifer’s En Le Jardin event last year. From that time we have had opportunities to indulge in antique shopping together, create beautiful one-of-a-kind Valentine boxes, share our own unique experiences in the arts, and most of all become friends.

It’s wonderful to gather a few times during the year and see each other in person ~ all these Georgia Girls and this one Italian Girl in Georgia.


As we waited for everyone to arrive, we sipped on champagne Bellini’s and some refreshing cranberry and mint water served by this little merry guy.




I had prepared an “Italian style” lunch and served a yummy chicken Caesar salad, my special Southern pesto pasta salad, a fabulous artichoke, Greek olive, feta cheese concoction, and fresh crusty rosemary bread with balsamic dipping oil. {Are you hungry yet?} I am happy to say there were very few leftovers!







Seated by the Christmas tree, a view of the wintery weather outside, and fragrant candle light inside, we finished the meal with some decadent and delicious vanilla cream cheese and strawberry, white chocolate chip cupcakes ~ to die for!



Some of the most fun was exchanging gifts with each other ~ all hand made with love.


Sherry, Sherry’s Rose Cottage, made this adorable Christmas stocking paper ornament that held a precious {rather precocious} little fussed up doll.


While the pretty boot hangs on my tree, I had to move the little girl to my studio to watch over me.


Jennifer, who has a new blog Pink Marshmallow Pie, used miniature vintage ornament boxes and sheet music to frame her sweet dolls.


Best of all, they were wrapped in a cute Christmas bandanna, tied with frothy tulle, and adorned with a delicate rose ring.


I made my friends a winter white popper filled with a surprise and a monogrammed matchbook style pocket booklet out of pretty wall paper.


This one was for Angela, Miss Molly Cottage, who could not join us for lunch and who we missed. 



I also gave each guest a bag of my new favorite treat ~ Pine Bark. {I will be sharing this recipe later on, for those who want to indulge.}


Rosalyn Sue, The Patriot Girl Files, made us shabby chic Christmas stockings filled with scrumptious hand made fudge and other craftiness.


Can’t wait to see what Santa fills mine with!


And Jenn, Sweet Eye Candy Creations, surprised us with a sweet as Southern sugar pastel polka dot box with her "Believe" Santa tag.


Inside was a sparkly vintage inspired candy mold ornament ~ and mine in hot pink!



This was a fabulous way to start my Christmas week.

Now I invite you inside my home for the holidays. Welcome.


Some of you may know that I’ve had some fun recently with composing colour collages and showing them to you in these last few weeks. Now you can see this Christmas colour inspiration put into place in my home. Enjoy.


This vintage angel girl greets you at my entry way beside red and frosty green ornament balls placed in a hand made acid green flower pot on my hand painted table.


This year I placed my petit porcelain manger on our marble fire place mantle ~ a vision in creams, whites, and golds.


Moroccan tea lights illuminate the mantle and hand made wooden crosses hang on my white berry wreaths.




I caged some silver, cream, gold, and white glass ornament balls in my Victorian wrought iron bird cage and crowned it with a tea light and berry wreath.



I punched up these creamy winter whites with some hot pink sparkle and shiny silver...


Violet blues and antique gold...


Cobalt glitter snowflakes, beaded organza ribbons, and blue and white candles from Denmark...




...and some chocolate treats, too.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.  Thank you for your kind comments over the year and also your friendship.


Buon Natale,
Suzanne

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