Traditional Wedding with a Touch of Country

Two weeks ago, my daughter's friend was married in a traditional ceremony held in a beautifully restored barn. She had asked me to decorate for her wedding and reception several months ago. The tricky part was uniting a traditional style gown with the white cowboy boots the bridesmaids were wearing. After surfing the web, I came upon burlap and realized this would be the key to bringing the diverse elements of this wedding together. The front of the barn needed "something" so I used many yards of burlap, shirring tape, four tall shepherds hooks in large pots and two daisy balls for the backdrop. Ferns on the floor gave the needed touch of greenery and life. The unity candle table was wrought iron and we placed a simple cotton tea cloth on it.To decorate the aisle, I adorned very large horseshoes with the bride's choice of flower, the daisy. These were alternated with lassos also decorated with daisies.

The beautiful wood floors and beams of the barn lent themselves to the rustic charm of this wedding.

The reception was held in a camp dining hall. No alterations to the building were allowed so we had to keep the decorating limited to the tables. The typical serving line area was obscured by another large piece of burlap with shirring tape sewn at intervals. The tray bar was layered with cardboard, lights and tulle and then framed engagement pictures of the bride and groom alternated with horseshoes and arrangements of daisies were placed on top of that.

Canning jars tied with yellow gingham ribbon were filled with stems of daisies and placed on the burlap runners that ran the length of the tables.

A closer view of the decorated tray bar.

I was very pleased with how the diverse elements came together with such an easy to find and inexpensive material ~ burlap!

I am joining with Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays!

Exciting Giveaway ~ Thanks to The Nester!

Who wouldn't love a sign like this? This is our state motto with my little Buckeye's name emblazoned in the background. Stop in at the Nester's and enter for a chance to win one of these personalized signs from Danielson Designs and Dayspring.

More Great Gift Ideas!

Here are the addresses of some more creative ladies. Shelley is Very Creative Indeed. You'll find all kinds of great gifts you can make - easily! Visit around on her site - it will be time well spent. This darling apron is so easy, you don't even need a pattern!

Here's Shelley's address: http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/

This basket liner is super easy too. Visit your favorite thrift store for a basket then personalize it with the super easy liner. Fill with homemade goodies and you're sure to be the Best Gift of the Year Award Winner!

http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/2009/05/basket-liner.html

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Best Ideas Ever!

Well, sometimes life gets in the way of the best intentions and that is what happened here the last month. Benji had three major emergency surgeries in less than a week and we spent 11 days in Children's Hospital. He came home with a PICC line (a port that delivers the medicine straight to his heart) and I hook him up to a special machine that administers heavy duty antibiotics three times a day. He's still not out of the woods and according to one of the doctors over his care, "He's in grave danger for the next three months." So, please keep us in your prayers - especially Benji as he fights a deadly staph infection around the hardware in his back.

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Sometimes I find some very creative ideas on blogs I happen on. This post has the addresses of some of the creative ladies who come up with those ideas. Enjoy visits with Amy, Savannah and Amanda for help with your holiday decorating and gift giving!

Amy gives a free tutorial on how to customize a beautiful clipboard for someone on your list. Here's the address to that post - but be sure to stay a while and see all her other cool ideas:
http://adayinthelife-amy.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-can-make-that-teacher-gift.html

Another neat gift idea that could easily be adapted to Sundy School teacher, a family name, pastor, etc. Again, stay a while and enjoy the creativity of Amanda.
http://imperfectlybeautifulms.blogspot.com/2008/12/cheap-yet-chic-teacher-gifts.html

Then Sweet Savannah will offer all kinds of beautiful ideas for decorating your home for the holidays. Be sure to visit the posts before and after this one for all kinds of ideas and ... click on HGTV's Favorite Holiday Ideas in the right column - ooo, la,la!
http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2008/11/holiday-mantle-ideas.html

Happy Thanksgiving!