EAB Designs

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-18T15:35:33-05:00

This past week has been so much fun. Last Saturday, we bundled up to shop for our Christmas tree and came home with a beautiful 10' frasier fur. Each year, since our girls were born, I give them one or two ornaments reflecting something special about their year - a vacation place, new activities or hobbies, or a special handmade ornament. One day when they have a place of their own, they'll be able to take all of their ornaments with them for their own tree. I keep a running list for them noting the ornament(s) they received each year. For now, our tree is filled with beautiful handmade and unique ornaments that we look forward to unwrapping each year.

Years ago, I started collecting these twelve days of Christmas ornaments. They are laser cut from wood and beautifully hand-painted. I would treat myself to a couple each year, until I finally owned the entire set.

The weather forecast is calling for 10 - 20 inches of snow beginning late this evening and into tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to having everyone home with no place to go. Lots of time for holiday baking and preparing our traditional Christmas Eve menu including these two favorites, both of which can be made ahead of time and frozen.

pierogi - My father was born in Poland and Christmas Eve would not be the same without these delicious Polish dumplings filled with mashed potatoes and farmers cheese. The boiled pierogi are served with melted butter and sour cream.
pirags - Both of my husband's parents were born in Latvia, and after we were married, we added Latvian pirags to our Christmas menu, little crescent shaped sweet bread rolls filled with finely chopped sauteed onions and bacon. So yummy...

We serve these with a hot bowl of soup, either our traditional mushroom soup, or our cream of chestnut with prosciutto and sage. My mother's background is English and French. So in honor of that, we pop open English Christmas crackers filled with a small toy, and paper crown which we wear through dinner. And for dessert - creme brulee!

I hope you enjoy a most happy Christmas celebrating your favorite traditions with family and friends. All the best to you this holiday season - Julie

One-of-a-Kind

2009-12-15T23:31:38-05:00

I'm so happy to announce that my younger sister, Alicia, has just opened an Etsy shop, 467designs, featuring her unique costume jewelry. Growing up, Alicia and I were always busy creating something. However, while I gravitated more towards the traditional, Alicia was drawn towards all things unique, shiny or just plain different. Her love for eclectic and artsy elements has never diminished, and her jewelry collection reflects these same passions. As Alicia says, "Why accessorize if no one is going to notice?" Here's a peek at a few of her one-of-a-kind pieces currently available in her shop. She'll be adding more designs each week so be sure to stop back in!

Alicia brings her unique sense of style to her Northern California home as well. Filled with an expanding collection of art pieces, beautiful modern furniture and whimsical touches, it has been described as a mixture of Picasso meets Dr. Seuss. Here is a picture of her upside down Christmas tree, adorned with the cutest red and white ornaments. I love the contrast of the black and white Christmas wrap beneath the tree.

Her collection of unique art pieces, and painted cement floors provide the perfect accent for her modern dining room table and brightly colored suede chairs.

Alicia's home, which has been featured in local California newspapers, is the perfect reflection of her unique decorating style and passion for design. You can read more about her creative style, and inspiration here. Thanks so much for welcoming my talented and beautiful sister to the Etsy family!

My Daughter's Room at Christmas Time

2009-12-14T22:36:31-05:00

Thought I'd share a couple pictures of my youngest daughter's room and her Christmas decorations. A few years ago she purchased a beautiful white Christmas tree with money she earned. The tree does not have needles, but rather wooden branches that appear to be covered with fresh fallen snow. She also bought her own vibrantly colored ornaments. Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving, she disappears for a couple hours and puts up her tree and decorations. At night, when the room is lit only by the tree's white lights, it looks like a modern winter wonderland!

This year, busy with exams and projects, she seemed to only get half of her ornaments hung. The remainder of them were still in their storage box in her room amongst a pile of clutter. Tonight when I came upstairs, I discovered her big sister hanging the remainder of her ornaments for her AND cleaning up her sister's room. How sweet is that?! When she was finished, we closed the door and I called for my younger daughter to come upstairs. When she opened the door to a clean room and fully decorated tree, my oldest daughter yelled "Merry Christmas!".

Remember my daughter's dress form which is usually covered in one of her creations? Well, since Thanksgiving, she has her lit up and decked out for Christmas!

Vintage Ornament Displays

2009-12-10T15:13:02-05:00

I love to mix vintage glass balls with other ornaments and arrange them in apothecary jars, or glass vases to add a little Christmas sparkle to areas all around the house.

This jar, filled with mercury glass and handmade vintage ornaments, is a favorite. Sitting on our large round kitchen table by the bay window, it reflects the candlelight each night and also the sunlight that streams in through the window during the day.

We finished our Christmas decorating, with the exception of our tree. My little one and I (shh...I'm taking her out of school early) are driving to pick up sweet girl from college tomorrow. Once she's home, we'll head out to search for our tree. Next week the holiday baking begins. I'm not sure who's more excited, me or the girls. Wishing you a happy and festive weekend!

Christmas Greens

2009-12-08T12:20:25-05:00

With another wintry mix in the forecast for this afternoon and tonight, I decided to brush the snow off our evergreens and do some outdoor decorating this morning. I collected a variety of holly, boxwood, cedar and blue spruce from our property to place in our iron planters and urns. The soil acts as as an oasis floral foam when arranging the cuttings, and if kept damp, the evergreen cuttings will stay fresh through the entire holiday season.

White lights were wired through 12" grapevine spheres to sit on the bed of fresh greens. The lights with brown wire are a bit more difficult to find, but definitely worth the effort as they blend in so well with the grapevine.

Promise to share pictures of our evergreen wreath later. I need to head off to the local market to select some fresh fruit to finish decorating it.

First Snowfall

2009-12-06T16:36:08-05:00

Saturday we enjoyed our first snow of the season with large beautiful snowflakes falling most of the day. Looks like our outdoor decorating will have to wait until nature's beauty has melted away.

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney with Care . . .

2009-12-04T00:01:00-05:00

Christmas stockings have been a favorite tradition in our family since I was little. I remember Christmases past running to pick out which knee sock I would hang by the fireplace. My earliest memory is filling each other's stockings with tangerines, walnuts and coins. Later, we each had a special stocking made from crocheted granny squares.

Once I was married, I couldn't wait to carry on the tradition in our own home. During the year, when I come across the perfect stocking gift for one of my girls, I stash it away until Christmas. (Sometimes, I forget where I've hidden them which leads me on a panicked treasure hunt!)

These are pictures of our stockings which I hung today. I made them from burlap, lined with muslin and fleece interfacing for structure. I like to place fresh cut boxwood in the stockings until Christmas Eve when we fill them with treats and unexpected surprises.

My husband built our beautiful floor to ceiling mantel with columns. Years ago I tore a picture out of a magazine and told him I would love to have one just like it in our living room. He did such a wonderful job. It's the focal point of the entire room.

Magical Christmas Music

2009-12-02T19:46:42-05:00

Treated myself to an early Christmas present - Andrea Bocelli's "My Christmas" CD. It's absolutely beautiful and I recommend you all go right out and treat yourself to a copy as well. Each song fills you with such joy and Christmas spirit. I especially love the song "God Bless Us Everyone". It's something you'll look forward to listening to year after year. Magical!

Handmade Santas

2009-11-30T21:39:46-05:00

I discovered these little handmade Santas at a local craft show a few years ago. They are from Saint's Nicks. You can find their show schedule on their web-site, but they also take custom orders online as well. Santa's robes are made from vintage fabrics and blankets and they use a variety of items in Santa's pack to match the recipient's personality. My oldest daughter, the artist, received the Santa on the left and my youngest, a nature lover, received the other. I just love the charm of their vintage blankets, preserved berries and sweet expressions.

Christmas Cones

2009-11-29T17:28:16-05:00

A selection of Victorian inspired Christmas cones have been added to my Etsy shop, and can be found under the "Holiday" section. They are a a perfect addition to your holiday table, mantel, or tree. Hang one in the center of a wreath or on the back of your dining chairs. Filled with holiday treats or small gifts, they are a delightful hostess gift or welcomed surprise when placed at your dinner guests' place settings.

From now, through December 23rd, I am happy to offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders totaling $50 or more.