Lights Of The Del Coronado

 

 

I didn't expect to see San Diego beaches for the fourth time this year, but when the invitation came I didn't hesitate too much. The Hotel Del Coronado is prettier than ever all decked out for Christmas. And the Thanksgiving buffet was wonderful! I've never had a better traditional meal. But the menu was quite extensive for those who wanted something more.

 

 

 

 

 The Del was booked to capacity, and I kept imagining the place as a huge cruise ship. The crowds were somewhat daunting, and not at all like the quiet home celebration that I thought we would have. 

 

 

 

Weather in the eighties on the beach. A beautiful fog was moving in and changed the look of everything by morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Twilight proved the best time for a few shots. The hardest part was jockeying for position on the sidewalk! But I still managed to take too many. I fell under the spell of The Del once more. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wood floors in the old section of the Victorian building have a pleasant creak, and when things quiet down late at night you can just imagine the former grandeur.

 

 

 

 

 

The hotel shops are fantastic, but I was too busy and too generally dazzled to take photos. My favorite was the Christmas shop.

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that every single visitor took a photo of the tree in the foyer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing like starting the season with a bang!

 Now I'm ready to hang a few lights of my own.

But I think I may have to look for some snow. . . . 

 

Lots to catch up on!

Thanks so much for coming by!

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

 

Ready, Set . . .

 

 

 

  

 I want to kick off the "official" decorating season EASY. Mostly because easy is my middle name. But I also like the signs of the season to evolve. I like too many different things, and get tired of looking at the same thing for a whole month so things will change a bit along the way.

 

 

 

One of the quickest and easiest ways to add a holiday mood is with vintage linens. I brought out just a couple of touches of red to transform the whole sitting room. A fire, a few candles, and you're there. I'm talking five minutes here! 

 

 

 

 

This is the vintage book I used for the graphics in my last post on PINK for Christmas. I copied the page in black and white. I always bring out the books first for inspiration. And if you're going to get the old favorite tales in by Christmas you have to start early.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I was thinking of Scrooge when I began in this room because I tend to the curmudgeony at times myself during the holidays! Scrooge's commitment at the end "to honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" reminded me of how ready my rooms always are for just a nudge toward Christmas embellishment.

 

 

 

A quilt, a cloth, a holiday book. . . . Even my vintage fireplace tin has a snowflake on it year round! Bringing in the plants from the frost provides the first holiday green. 

 

 

 

 

My Swedish ivy has thrived since I brought it in after being picked bare in front of my shop last year!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm over the first hump already, and have plenty of time left for my reading chair! By the time the Macy's parade is over, and black Friday (sorry, but no thanks), I'll get to digging out a few more things. But it won't take much.

 

 

 

 

I'll take Scrooges advice and try to "live in the Past, the Present, and the Future . . . and will not shut out the lessons that they teach." I'll keep adding a bit of cheer here and there, like I did with this vignette from last year, and the same vintage quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I'll try to follow this advice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy times!

 Happy times!

Family times!

Hopefully a little of all three at the same time!

And all my best to you, dear friends. . . .

Enjoy the process!

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

 

 Join me at

Common Ground~Vintage Inspiration

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home

Country Pink Thinking

 

 

 

If you just can't stand pink, then you'd better look away now. . . There's a lot of it here today. I've been looking for pink ornaments and finally found a few that I'm going to use here and there during the holidays. I've been working on a table idea too, and, as I often do, I collect related things on the dining table and look at them awhile.

 

 

 

 

I've been working on a few props too, like these favors made from graphics and antique book pages. I reproduced a page from one of my Christmas books for the front, and copied it in pink paper for the theme. It's a pamphlet version of a book bundle. It can be dressed up or down with tags or other decorations. 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed displaying the delicate color and a little shine against the rustic finishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My box of Shiny Brites was seven dollars at a flea market. I declined a box I found at an antique store for three times the amount.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The French enamel tin was a recent flea market find. (Eighteen dollars.) I have actually seen these around the country for a far higher price. And it's pink!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I left the book pages with their ragged edges exposed. Sometime I'd like to try soaking the pages first to make them wavy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year's glitter tags.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limoges plates, white vintage Wedgewood cups and saucers, and ruffled napkins support the soft theme I want for my future tablescape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ingredients. . . .

 

 

The background here is a vintage Christmastime newspaper I have been holding on to. It has the sort of graphics I copy for paper projects. I have also seen pages like this cut and pinked for shelf edging, but I don't have the heart!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The back cover is an old almanac page that Petite Michelle Louise sent me in a little graphics bundle. It said "back page" to me. Thank you Michelle! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Don't you love gathering ideas this time of year?

'Tis the season!

Wishing you a wonderful and delicious week ahead!

 

Jacqueline

 

 

 

P.S. To see the finished tablescape click here.

 

 

 

 

 Join me at

Between Naps on the Porch~Metamorphosis Monday

Savvy Southern Style~WOW US Wednesday

My Romantic Home~Show & Tell

French Country Cottage~Featherd Nest