Photography ~ My Favorite Images of the Holiday Season

 

Tis the Season!

A few of my fav snap shots of the Holiday Season!

Dwellings

 

I got a new Canon DSLR just before the holidays rolled in.

I've been busy snapping away ever since.

I thought I would share some of my personal favorites with you all.

 

 

Last year I shared a Holiday Home Tour with you all.

This year, since I'm missing the major component (the Home) at the moment,

I thought I'd share some Holiday Happening pics instead.

Primitive Cottage

Penny Waters Studio

LeClaire

 

I just love falling back in love with my passion...{Photography}

It brings a simple joy to my life, just like the spirit of the Holiday Season!

This is a joy I have the pleasure of cherishing all year long!

 

{HAPPY HOLIDAYS}

 

Carrie

 



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

Penny Waters Studio - LeClaire

 

I recently was asked to do a photography project for a friend & local shopkeeper.

Penny of Penny Waters Studio in downtown LeClaire asked me to photograph her shop.

Naturally, I was super excited that she would be so gracious to ask me!

She was looking for a little holiday gift to share with her loved ones,

who unfortunately don't get to visit often.

 

 

The string of photos in this post are what I came up with.

I wanted to be sure to capture what a holiday shopping experience

at Penny Waters Studio might be like.

Beginning with telling the story of what the holidays in LeClaire are all about.

 

 

The view of downtown from the front of Penny's shop near dusk.

 

The shop may look familiar.

It is actually right next door to Dwellings.

Come on in to shop the studio!

 

Penny Waters Studio has a casual cottage feminine flare with touch of whimsy!

 

 

I had so much fun stepping out of my comfort zone & taking photos for someone new.

I've taken lots of photos for family & their shops.

But, it was really nice to branch out a little on this project.

It only makes me eager to do more!

 

I really hope Penny's family enjoy their gift of a quaint visit to LeClaire through photos!

 

 

All images by Carrie Corson.

Copyright of Carrie Corson.

 

Carrie

 

participating

Savvy Southern Style

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Dwellings Holiday 2012 ~ Part 2

 

I've been so busy that I almost forgot to share Dwellings Holiday 2012 Part 2 with you!

Missed part 1?  Check it out here.

I have been helping out each weekend at the shop this season.

Don't worry, Travis is holding down the fort on Our Renovation.

The progress continues! 

Can't wait to share our updates this week!

 

The shop is a glow in downtown LeClaire!

Festive & fun holiday decor for your home.

The shop has been a bustle for the holiday season!

 

Adorable whimsical pixies!

What a great alternative elf on the shelf!

What a festive & fun Christmas Season it has been!

Only a few days left!

If you're in the area stop in for unique gifts galore!

 Interested in seeing more of LeClaire, Iowa at the Holidays click here!

Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!

 

Carrie

 

participating

Savvy Southern Style

Christmas in LeClaire ~ 2012

 

This weekend we celebrated {Christmas in LeClaire}.

Every year the town has a Christmas walk weekend filled with festive holiday traditions.

Carriage rides through the downtown, holiday shopping, wine tasting & this year

 Mr. & Mrs. Claus even made time in their busy schedule to stop by for a visit!

Such a quaint & charming part of what I love about small town living.

 

Strolling down main street this weekend the sidewalks were a bustle with busy shoppers.

All the lights add such a glowing touch as the sun goes down.

It really gets me in the spirit of the season!

 

Dwellings

 

Michael curated a picturesque holiday storefront filled with fresh greens & lighted pots & orbs.

The lighted candles on tabletops are such a simple holiday addition for the brisk evening.

Inside you will be overwhelmed as your scenses go into overdrive.

The shop is filled with home decor & holiday for any modern family.

 

Primitive Cottage

 

Tammy & Julie created a quaint & cozy primitive country cottage

scene at their shop for the Holidays.

Looking for a great gift for the crafter in your family?

Try PunchNeedle at the Primitive Cottage!

 

Penny Waters Studio

 

Penny's shop has a great collection of whimsical holiday decor.

Penny's shop shows us a softer side of Christmas.

With feminine feather trees or soft color palletes great for a cottage home.

 

Aunt Hatties

 

Looking for the perfect one of a kind gift this season for that hard to buy for person? 

You simply must stop in to visit Donna at Aunt Hatties!

Donna has fun & quirky gifts that are sure to get a chuckle or two.

 

Hope you all enjoyed your stroll down mainstreet with me!

Have a great weekend!

 

Carrie

participating
Savvy Southern Style
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

 



Dwellings Holiday 2012 Part 1

 

For those of you who follow along, you have seen images from my brother's shop Dwellings.

If any of you are new around here, from time to time I will rattle on about the shop!

I help out on the weekends at the shop & have been updating the shops Facebook page.

 

So...I'm excited to say that.

The shop has been updated for the HOLIDAYS!

I thought I would share the first glance of holiday images with you all.

 

I am dying for the natural simple white holiday decor this season.

Classic. Casual. Elegant. Cottage.

 

ahhhh....

 

 

If you are traveling on Interstate 80 this holiday season stop in downtown LeClaire, Iowa.

I promise, you will not be disappointed you did!

We are located just about 2 hours west of Chicago on the Iowa/Illinois border.

We have a great variety of quaint shops in the downtown area.

And...yes, I am partial:)

Wouldn't you be???

 

 

 

I also love the modern natural lodge look for the winter season.

 

 participating

Savvy Southern Style

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Wordpress vs. Blogger ~ Thoughts?

 

I'm tossing around the idea of converting from Blogger to Wordpress.

What are your thoughts?

 

I am looking to update the look of my blog to feel a bit more modern while still feeling classic.

Truth:  I've never really felt as though I have perfected the look & appearance of my blog to be

 a true representation of my creativity and style.

So, I've been searching for the Right Thing if you know what I mean.
 

 

 

I really love some of the fantastic themes that are out there for Wordpress blogs.

I've been wanting to take a Wordpress class (when I can find the time.)

I also know there are some great tutorials out there.

But, maybe then again its really just all about content & I should stick with what is simple for me.

 

So, naturally, thought I would ask those of you who support me along the way!

 

Which blogging platform do you use?

Has anyone made the transition from Blogger to Wordpress?

Is it as scary as it seems???

Do you have to be completely HTML savvy?

 

 

PLEASE I need your help...let me know your thoughts!

 

 



 

 



Our Renovation ~ Choosing Exterior Siding Part 2

Certainteed Mainstreet Siding - Sterling Grey

 

If you guessed that we selected the Certainteed Mainstreet Double 4" Vinyl Siding, you were correct.

This is the exterior siding material choice we have gone with on our home.

  If you haven't checked out Part 1 of Choosing Exterior Siding click here for a Reno catch up.

 

As I stated in Part 1, choosing siding pretty much all came down to budget.

I will admit, I was just a lil bit disappointed.

If you read my first post about choosing siding, you know this wasn't necessarily my top pick.

I knew all along, it may come down to this, but I am an optimist, so I held out hope:)

Don't get me wrong, I most certainly do not want to sound ungrateful,

I truly am absolutely thrilled with how our home is turning out!!!

 

But, when you realize this may be the only time you get to make these decisions, you want to make absolutely sure the choices you make for your home will stand the test of time.

I want our home to have an exterior modern & timeless cottage feel.

I know that aesthetic would have been best captured by

 more natural material or more natural looking materials.

 

A little Renovation Reality...

YOU WILL MAKE COMPRISES

BUDGET IS THE BUDGET

Don't get me wrong, we have gone over on some things & came in under on others.

But, for us sticking to our budget is a must in the end.

It's also part of what we originally set out to do.

Make the home of our dreams on a budget & that is exactly what we are doing!

 

We may still add some character and dimension in the gables on the front of our home.

But, just as I have to wait & see on that one so do you!  Ha:)

 

 

So, now that the big siding decision is out of the way it's on to the fun stuff!

Time to choose a siding color.

Wanna help?

 

We have it narrowed down to three options.

 

1. Granite Gray

2. Flagstone

3. Pacific Blue

 

{Views from the Outside}

 

 

1. Granite Gray

 

 

 

2. Flagstone

 

3. Pacific Blue

 

Our Home Renovation

(The porch is still coming off & the upper windows to be replaced.)

 

 

Well...what do ya think???

 

Whats' your favorite?

Which would you pick?

Which would you pick for us?

 

 

Want to see more of Our Cottage Renovation click here.

 participating

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Funky Junk Interiors