HGTV Feature - Christmas Ribbon Tree Wall Art by The Corson Cottage

Click the button above to see our HGTV feature!

 

 

I'm super excited to share this news with you!

We are being featured on HGTV!

 

HGTV.com is sharing a Christmas Craft Countdown in December.

Our Ribbon Christmas Tree Art is the feature for December 17th!

How cool is that???

 

 

Remember this budget friendly holiday wall art I created last year?

Check out the DIY how to create your own post here.

Thanks HGTV for featuring our project!

I can't wait to get into our new house & share all of our new great ideas!

I am kinda sad that I don't have any great Holiday decorating stories to share this season.

It will be worth the wait to get into our newly renovated house just in time for Spring!

 

Carrie

 

participating

Live Laugh

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Seasons Greetings

image by Carrie Corson

 

 

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season!

I know I have been absent from my blog lately.

Life is so busy with the our renovation & the holiday season upon us.

It makes me sad that I don't have the time to devote to my blog.

In due time life will return to a more normal pace.
Ha!  If there is still such a thing!

I will then return to a more normal pattern of posting updates around here.

 

In the meantime please know that I have not forgotten about my friends in blogland.

This is one of my favorite times of year for blogging.

It's just not quit the same, without having a home to decorate for the holidays this year.

I need to spark that good ol Christmas spirit!

So this morning before heading off to work at Dwellings I thought I would spruce up the blog a bit.
What do you think?
Festive?

 

Good news is we will have a home very soon...each day that goes

by our renovation marks yet another hurdle off the list.

I will get back to updating you on all the latest reno news I promise!

 

Have a great weekend friends!

 

Carrie

 



Mother's Day Centerpiece

A Mother's Day Centerpiece.

Are you entertaining guests for Mother's Day?

I thought I would share how I took my simple Spring Centerpiece,

to a perfect casual centerpiece for a Mother's Day brunch, lunch or casual dinner.

First I filled my white pitcher overflowing with these fresh green Snowball Viburnum.

 I added a smaller container & filled them with a pop of purple from the clematis from the trellis.

For a casual get together I like to place stacked plates for easy access right in the center of the table.

I think it sets the tone for your guests that it is intended to be a casual occassion.

The silverware I placed in a third small pitcher.

I think this table setting makes for a casual comfortable environment when guests arrive.

It also saves you a little time as the host.

When the meal is ready, you don't have to spend time setting the table or getting out the dinnerware.

White dishes are a must have for me.

I love white serveware, dishes, pitchers, platters...you name it.

You can never have too much white serveware in my opinion.

White is a staple you can use in a casual or formal setting

The best part about this table setting is I did it all without spending a penny.
By using the basic essential dinnerware I had & basic white pitchers
all that was left was taking time to cut some fresh flowers from the garden.
Once that was done a few more minutes arranging the pitchers & done.
Simple. Casual. Beautiful.

What are your Mother's Day plans?

Carrie

Participating
Home Stories A to Z
Savvy Southern Style
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Shabby Nest
Remodelaholic

{Happy Easter}

Happy Easter!

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Carrie

Happy New Year 2012

source

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2012!

I just want to thank all of our readers and growing community here

at The Corson Cottage.  We truly appreciate all of you so much.

Thank you for all of your support in 2011.

May you all continue finding & following your passions in 2012.

Always remember to take time to reflect & enjoy life's simple treasures along the way.

Carrie

~ Red Gingham Pillow ~

When I was decorating throughout our home for the holiday season,

I needed a quick and easy pop of red for our bedroom.

{Red Gingham Pillow}

Now, it's been a little while since I had the sewing machine out....

But, I picked up this red & white gingham fabric at Hobby Lobby for $4.99/yd.

I only needed 1 yard and I managed to whip up 2 lumbar pillow covers in no time.

I think they added that simple touch of holiday to our bedroom.

I've always wanted to make pillows and maybe even sell my pillows someday.

Well...I have sold a few at Market Days in LeClaire before....see them here.

I think this little project has motivated me to get back to making some more pillows.
I intended on working on these last year. 
But my health took a lead role with my back issues and surgery.

Now that I am finally past all that!
Time to get back to business!

Hopefully you will be able to see some more pillows this Spring here on the ol blog.

If you would like to see more of our Holiday Decor go here.

Carrie

Linking up to
The 36th Avenue
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Shabby Nest

Sensational Stocking Stuffers Under $15

Santa.....

We have got

Sensantional Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Great deals too!

1. Ikat Bowl ~ $8 CWonder

2. Capri Blue Candle Tin ~ $12 Anthropologie

3. Homegrown Monogram Mug ~ $4 Anthropologie

3. Alphabet Scented Candle ~ $7 West Elm

4. Alphabet Letter Paperweights ~ $7 West Elm

Do you ever secretly want to be your own Santa?

If I were Santa I would most certainly bring me

the Ikat bowl & Homegrown Monogram Mug.

Hopefully you all are putting the finishing touches on your
shopping if you are not already done.

Carrie

{Home for the Holidays} Link Party #3

Time flies when you having fun at all these holiday parties!

I can't believe it is almost Friday again and time for...

{Home for the Holidays}

Link Party

Thanks again to everyone for linking up last week & sharing your great holiday decor!

Here are a few features from last week's link party that will just warm your hearts!

Jen from At Home in the Northwest showed us how to make

a great looking personalized gift for under $10.  I love the simple cottage look of this doormat.

Christie from Three Pixie Lane showed off her Ski Lodge Christmas.

Love how warm & cozy it feels.

Jane from Modern Jane shared her festive Christmas Tree.

I'm loving the white, silver & blue ornaments!

What is a party without a tour of one's home???

Don't forget to take our Home for the Holidays 2011 Tour before you leave the party!

Party Rules:

1. You must be a follower of {The Corson Cottage},

if not please be so kind as to become one!  The more the merrier!

2. Link up your holiday related posts! 

 Home, Decor, DIY,Craft, Inspiration, Recipe it's all good.

3. Link back to the party and visit other party guests!

 

I guess it is time to get to the party!

So what are you waiting for?

Get your party on!

Holiday Home Tour 2011

Welcome

{Home for the Holidays}

With The Corson Cottage

We have Decked the Halls

(I do mean literally.....my maiden name is Hall...(chuckle:)

this holiday with all kinds of Christmas Cheer!

So, as a guest here at The Corson Cottage

I would love to invite you in for a cup of hot cocoa

with whipped cream & marshmallows...of course!

(Hey nobody said we had to watch what we eat this time of year)

I hope we will warm your hearts this holiday season!

Our Front Porch....come on inside.....burrr....it's chilly out there!

I have been very fortunate to have been blessed with wonderful memories

of the holiday season.  As I was decorating my home this year it made

me think of all the great times we had decorating our home

when I was a kid.  I actually think decorating for the holidays was my first decorating

memory ever.  I can remember my Mom would turn on the Christmas music and make Dad turn

off the TV and it was a family affair.  She would make hot cocoa and we would all decorate the tree.

 There were always holiday touches all throughout our home.

Won't you join us in our warm & cozy living room?

I can remember stringing cranberries and real popcorn making homemade garland

for our trees as a kid.  I could not believe my Mom was having us put food on the tree?

Really??? 

This year for the holidays I have been inspired by the warm heartfelt memories of my past.

So I made my own garland and hung it on our gallery wall you can see it here.

If you would like to hang in the living room a little longer feel free to visit here and here.

Hmm are you getting a little hungry?  I think I smell Christmas cookies baking in the kitchen.

As I get older it has become more and more important for me to

recreate the spirit of the Holiday season in our home for Travis & I. 

  Hopefully someday maybe a little Corson too.

So this year I went all out!

I made sure there were simple holiday touches in every room.

Our tiny cottage kitchen gets a little crowded maybe we should move on into

the dining room it's much more comfortable.

I really think, who am I kidding, I KNOW the dining room is my favorite room on our tour.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

I love all of the natural elements, the fresh greens, the poinsettia, my new lanterns!

We always spent most of our time at the dining table on holidays.

We could spend hours talking, laughing, eating, just being merry & bright!

For me it was important to create that feel in this room.

All the comforts of holiday you can sit down & stay a while and enjoy yourself in.

To sit and stay for a while in our dining room visit here, here & here.

Need an extra seat?  Let me show you our back porch.

This is our reindeer.....I haven't name him yet.

Any suggestions?

Our back porch is directly off the kitchen and the dining room.

It works perfect for extra seating.

Let me show you the upstairs....

Our office even has been touched by the little Christmas elfs.

I even got a little crafty and made this ribbon Christmas tree art you can see more here.

Our bedroom

I don't know about you but the holidays wear me out!

I hope you can see your way out.

I am going to curl up with my cozy cable knit throw.

I hope I have warmed your hearts with all the best of holiday spirit this holiday season.

I am so thankful and blessed to be able to make memories for my family

just like the loving memories my Mom made for our family.

I feel like I have finally created a

{Home for the Holidays}

Wishing you & yours a very safe and

Happy Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year

The Corsons

linking up to

Don't forget to join us on the rest of the Fridays in December!

{Home for the Holidays}
Link Party

also linking up
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Somewhat Simple
The 36th Avenue
Saved by Suzy
Hooked on Houses
The Shabby Nest
Chic on a Shoestring
Simple Home Life
Whipper Berry
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm
Between Naps on the Porch
Cottage & Vine
Savvy Southern Style
It's Overflowing
Space 46

Cute Little Cottage Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas Tree...

Here is our Christmas Tree.

To be totally honest, while I love the way my tree turned out,

I was a little sad this year about this little guy.

Don't get me wrong this tree will do just fine and by no means am I ungreatful.

It's just....

Travis & I have had a tradition each year that we've been in our home.

 We normally head on out to a local tree farm on the day after Thanksgiving.

and cut down a fresh tree.  A big ol 9 foot pleasantly plump classic tree!

Well.....needless to say that tradition didn't happen this year:(

Our home is still.......on the market to be sold as some of you know.

So, we didn't know if having a real tree on our new carpet was such a great idea.

And, I really didn't want to move my big wooden table and try to find another place

for it in our home right now, nor did I want to store it.

That is when I came up with this idea.

Why not by a fairly small artificial tree and set it on top of the table?

So, that's just what I did.
We have 10 foot ceilings so even though the tree is still 6.5 ft tall it looks pretty small in the room.

I didn't invest a lot of money into a large artifical tree because frankly,

I want to go back to our old tradition someday.

(And I totally miss that fresh Christmas Tree smell when I walk in the door every night!)

I wrapped a few votives in ribbon and placed them at the

base of the treeto add some ambiance at night. 

And, I told you..I am all about red ribbon this year.

I added small touches in each room to help tie our overall look together.

It was really simple and inexpensive and I think it helped add that festive cottage touch

I was looking for this holiday season!

My ornaments I have collected over the last few years.

Most are from Dwellings. 

A few of the wooden snowflakes are from Target last year.

I also added some gingham ribbon bows to the tree.

I think this poor little guy is starting to feel a little lonely.

It's time a started wrapping presents to put under the tree!

Stop back tomorrow.

I will be posting our Holiday Tour of our Home!

Carrie

also linking up

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Frugal Friday

Whipper Berry

Funky Junk Interiors

Between Naps on the Porch

Savvy Southern Style

Naturally Simple DIY Garland

I posted earlier about our holiday gallery wall.

I thought I would show you just how simple it was to make the garland.

Our gallery wall needed just that little touch of holiday.

So I tried to figure out a quick and simple solution and came up with

a naturally simple jute garland with wooden ornaments with sprigs of fresh greens.

All of which I already had left over.

What you need to get started.

Supplies

Jute String

(You could use plain white string or a thin ribbon even a thin piece of fabric.)

Wooden Snowflake Ornaments

( I choose wooden snowflakes because it coordinated with my natural holiday decor,

but you could use silver balls or any ornament really.)

Fresh Green Stems

(I love the fresh greens, but again you could mix it up and a little sparkle by using any glittered stem.)

Steps

1. Cut a piece of the jute string long enough for the space you will be hanging it.

Remember to allow for a little extra to get the swag in your garland.

2. Tie on your first snowflake.

3.  Leave about 10-12 inches and apply your stem.

4. Repeat these steps until you filled your garland.

I didn't want mine to be perfectly symetrical so I mixed it up a little.

Here I tied the green sprig then added a snowflake ornament.

You can add pieces directly on the long jute swag to add more interest if you want.

I also did not hang the garland on the wall perfectly symetrical.

I liked that it added that slight touch of whimsy.

Which for me is what the holidays are all about.....spreading cheer.

What do you think of the garland?

I would love to know if you try making this yourself.  Let me know if you do.

To see more of our holiday gallery wall go here.

And don't forget to stop by on Friday for our
{Home for the Holidays}
Link Party

grab a button

Carrie

also linking up to
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
Funky Junk Interiors
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Shabby Nest
Funky Junk