Every year as we wrap up our Holiday season, we wonder how we can
possibly top what we've just done...how can we find cuter ornaments,
how can we come up with any better ideas for next year...no way...it's
going to be impossible!
Then we go to Atlanta for our major January shopping
trip,where all of next season's themes are figured out.... the blood
starts flowing...the ideas start coming, and the cute stuff starts
appearing before our eyes and Voila! We know it's going to be another
killer Holiday Design House.
I thought it might be fun to give a little insight into what goes into creating the house and let you know how its coming along.
This
year we bumped our opening back a week because its almost a nervous
breakdown trying to take apart the October Design House and take it to the level of our Holiday open house in three weeks. As
it stands, our families are not fed and no laundry gets done at home
until this puppy is done.
As we have mentioned in previous
posts,
the ornaments, garlands, and such are all purchased in January. Amy and I
also start purchasing vintage auction finds, sleds, skates, tobaggens,
skis all throughout the year and stow them away for this event. The
boxes start trickling in in July. Kim and Diana try to keep up with the
unwrapping and pricing during the summer as they know all too well that
its like a slow moving freight train that's coming straight at them with
delivery after delivery after delivery.
Next when it becomes apparent that the freight train is winning we
bring in the high school recruits all lined along long tables, laughing,
eating and pricing Christmas bears, balls garlands....
Meanwhile
Amy is formulating her game plan and themes for all of the rooms. She
starts assessing her color palettes to see what tones work well
together, what walls need to be painted, what antique elements need to
be brought in and what other layers she will need to complete the look.
Some rooms are no brainers like "letters to Santa"...we found a
killer life sized Santa who sits at a desk and gorgeous ribbons with
letters to Santa printed on them....soooo cute.
Once
everything is set, furniture, trees, lighting, the ornaments start
coming into the house...once they start rolling in Amy personally styles
each and every room.( because she is ridiculously good at it!) ..it
will take her one full day per room...which is two weeks!
Holy Crap Batman!!! right about now we have a come to Jesus meeting
and she delegates out the spaces she will not be able to get to...such
as the barn, , front porch, bathroom, outdoor areas...and we start to
figure out how to get these areas up to par with the beautiful house.
This year we will be hosting 60 extra vendors that will stretch from
Lucketts Store on over to the Design House so that should make all of
this even more awesome than usual.
We hope you'll come visit us November 8-9-10 10 to 5
see ya then!
It is that time of the year I become a pie making machine, which I have no problem with cause I most
enjoy making, baking & eating pie.
This
year we bumped our opening back a week because its almost a nervous
breakdown trying to take apart the October Design House and take it to the level of our Holiday open house in three weeks. As
it stands, our families are not fed and no laundry gets done at home
until this puppy is done. 
As we have mentioned in previous posts,
the ornaments, garlands, and such are all purchased in January. Amy and I
also start purchasing vintage auction finds, sleds, skates, tobaggens,
skis all throughout the year and stow them away for this event. The
boxes start trickling in in July. Kim and Diana try to keep up with the
unwrapping and pricing during the summer as they know all too well that
its like a slow moving freight train that's coming straight at them with
delivery after delivery after delivery.
Meanwhile
Amy is formulating her game plan and themes for all of the rooms. She
starts assessing her color palettes to see what tones work well
together, what walls need to be painted, what antique elements need to
be brought in and what other layers she will need to complete the look.
.JPG)
We made it in to Flea Market Decor's Winter Issue!
Here are a few shots from around the Design House over the last few days. 
I
absolutely love the smells of fall, rich damp black soil, warm fires
burning, fresh picked apples, earthy fallen leaves and the crisp
cool air. Could it just stay fall and skip winter, please.
We are super-excited to welcome Kathy Wall for next weekend's Design House!
Ever
since the first Twinkle Bell dinner when I made the creamy corn
polenta, I am obsessed with freshly gristed cornmeal. I have to say it
is unbelievable more delicious than just plan store bought. If you have
the chance to find it at a farmers market or at a mill it is worth the
extra time & effort to track it down.
The date for the next Twinkle Bell Secret Dining Fellowship Event for October is set! 
In an earlier post, we shared some before and after photos of the shop when Suzanne found it. 
Just cruising around Pinterest today, and checking out all the great lighting and accessories.... We stumbled on a few photos, and thought, "wait, we HAVE that!"
Have you always wanted to try your hand at upholstering a chair?
