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Monday, December 9, 2013

A Christmas Kitchen


Hello everybody!
Christmas is just round the corner, and the year will be over very soon! It's amazing how time flies, and it has been a very busy year for us too! I love decorating for Christmas! I don't know about you guys, but I do so love a white Christmas! It makes everything so much more festive and makes me so nostalgic! Winter is officially here for us, and it has been snowing constantly in this neck of the woods:

I have been busy getting the house ready for the holidays and I am loving it! Our kitchen is the one place where friends and family love hanging out the most, and therefore the most decorated part of the house, besides the living and dining area, of course.  I love using dried orange slices and evergreen sprigs to make my own garlands for decking the doors and windows of our house:



To make this pretty garland, I cut the orange slices into one inch thick slices, sprinkled them with some confectioner's sugar, and baked them at 200 degree on a non-stick baking sheet (single layer) for about two and half hours. Flipped the slices and checked once in a while to ensure both the sides are evenly dried. Baked until the orange slices were translucent! It's quite fool-proof, easy, and looks very pretty when it is strung with jute twine into a garland:

In between the slices I also hung some evergreen sprigs collected from my backyard for some holiday cheer:
 And, at each end of the garland I added these cute burlap banners found at Jo-Ann craft store:


Don't they look so pretty next to the orange slices?

 I love how it looks in my kitchen window:


Decorating window sills with holiday accents is so much fun! Especially decorating them with holiday candles:
This holiday tree from Big Lots ($4) graces a cute white Ikea pot:
A galvanized tin bucket painted white is filled with pine cones with a red cardinal sitting atop the cones:
I don't know what is it about red cardinals, but I simply loveee using them as accents in Christmas decor:
They look adorable in any vignette:
I bought a pack of six of these red cardinals for $6 (60% off holiday sale) from the craft store, and I am having so much fun playing with them:
The French script has been applied on the galvanized bucket with rubber stamp:
The glass soda bottles has been recycled as candle holders:

I love how the red candles contrasts against the white window:
Evergreen sprigs, small pine cones, and red berry pics make pretty tags around the bottles:


I love it when all the elements of a vignette come together to make a pretty statement. I like how the kitchen window sill looks especially when it snows outside and the holiday accents inside bring instant warmth and cheer:


I am so glad you stopped by for a visit! Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a very happy, safe, and wonderful holiday season from my home to yours! 

My heartfelt thanks to these gracious hostesses for showcasing my French Country Bathroom in their wonderful weekly parties. If you are looking for inspiring home decor projects, holiday inspiration, or delicious recipes, do pay them a visit or simply join their fun weekly parties to share your own creativity along with many other like minded people.
Judy @ DIY by Design
Sandi @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Jann @ Have a daily Cup from Mrs Olson
Kathy@ A Delightsome Life
Kathryn @ The Dedicated House
Maria Elena @ Our Home Away From Home

Thank you, ladies! You make me smile!
~Hugs, Poppy~

Linking with:


Town and Country Living: Christmas Extravaganza Party
Songbird: Christmas Decorating Ideas Linky Party
Craftberry Bush:The Inspiration Gallery
Exquisitely Unremarkable: Holiday Decor Link Party
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
The Scoop
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sundays
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating: Flaunt it Friday



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31 comments:

  1. Patty at Home and Lifestyle DesignDecember 9, 2013 at 8:10 PM

    Very unique. I love the red bird and the red candles in the glass bottles. Very nice! Your kitchen looks lovely.
    Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design

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  2. FABBY'S LIVINGDecember 9, 2013 at 9:04 PM

    Beautiful vignette in your kitchen window sill, I love it! Love the bottles, I'm gonna try it and see how I do, lol! The orange garland is fun too. Have a happy 2nd. advent week.
    FABBY

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  3. chateau chicDecember 9, 2013 at 9:51 PM

    Poppy, I love your dried orange garland! Great idea!
    Mary Alice

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  4. Marty@A Stroll Thru LifeDecember 10, 2013 at 8:13 AM

    I love this, the orange garland is just the cutest idea and the cardinals are so pretty. You did an amazing job with this window. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  5. Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️December 10, 2013 at 9:51 AM

    I love how you decorated your kitchen window. It's so pretty.

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  6. ℳartina @ Northern NestingDecember 10, 2013 at 1:28 PM

    Very pretty...love that garland!!

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  7. BabsDecember 10, 2013 at 8:15 PM

    I LOVE LOVE your cardinals and orange slices. This is the first year I haven't dried some. I never thought to sprinkle them with powdered sugar. Thanks for the tip. Love your vignettes. They're so fresh and pretty.

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  8. Kim December 11, 2013 at 10:01 AM

    What a bright pretty kitchen you have, Poppy I love all your colorful red Christmas touches, but I am really taken with that garland! How unique and pretty. I have to pin and make! :) Kim

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  9. Just JudyDecember 11, 2013 at 10:28 AM

    Love your decor and especially the orange garland...Enticing for the real birds outside to want to come in your warm and cozy kitchen! :)
    Thanks for sharing,
    Judy

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  10. Art and SandDecember 11, 2013 at 12:11 PM

    What a gorgeous banner.

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  11. kitty@ Kitty's Kozy KitchenDecember 11, 2013 at 5:18 PM

    Hi Poppy,
    Doing dishes must be so much more cheerful being at your pretty window. The garland is wonderful and the touches on the window ledge are just perfect. What an inspiration.

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  12. Pamela GordonDecember 11, 2013 at 8:01 PM

    Your kitchen window decor is so sweet. I love the orange slice garland and the burlap words. I pinned some of your photos for the bucket with greenery and pinecones. Lovely!

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  13. Meeha MeehaDecember 12, 2013 at 12:23 AM

    Everything is super-cute and cozy, like a trip down memory lane at my grandparent's fairy tale cottage! I love how you chose to decorate with natural elements :)

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  14. Mary@mydogsmygardenandmaryDecember 12, 2013 at 1:30 AM

    Love your kitchen - it's so festive and I love the red accents. Bet the kitchen smells so good with the orange on your garland.
    Have a terrific weekend.
    Mary

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  15. Kayla @ Home ComingDecember 12, 2013 at 11:05 AM

    Beautiful! And I be that orange smells amazing. I'm hosting a giveaway for a beautiful chandelier that you should enter! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/12/master-bedroom-reveal-and-chandelier.html

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  16. Joy@Thrifty Parsonage LivingDecember 12, 2013 at 2:02 PM

    Beautiful vignette in your kitchen, love the colors!

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  17. Tammy NDecember 12, 2013 at 5:59 PM

    Very pretty orange garland. I bet your house smelled good when you were baking the oranges.

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  18. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonDecember 13, 2013 at 12:02 AM

    Oh Poppy, every year I think that I want to make an orange slice garland or decorate oranges with cloves and every year I forget. lol! I love the smell! Your garland looks so darling draped across the window and I love your candles in the bottles. Sugar and Spice wonderful for sure!
    Thanks so much for joining 'Creating Christmas'
    hugs,
    Jann

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  19. CEM MANIASDecember 13, 2013 at 5:12 AM

    Hello Poppy! What beautiful Christmas decorations! I really enjoyed the orange slices ... wonderful! Thanks for showing the decorations of your kitchen! A good weekend for you! hugs, Manuela
    (cemmanias.blogspot.com)

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  20. cgammeterDecember 13, 2013 at 9:48 AM

    All you decorations look awesome. I bet your kitchen smells wonderful with the orange garland. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. cairncottageDecember 13, 2013 at 10:53 AM

    Hi, Poppy! Love your decorating style! I'm like you, as I love the natural greenery and pop of red for Christmas decor. What a great idea for a garland, too! I bet the orange aroma is wonderful! Following you on Bloglovin'!
    Ann @ Cairn Cottage
    http://cairncottage.blogspot.com/

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  22. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageDecember 13, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    Poppy, your post is just beautiful! I too love cardinals although I have never seen one here on PEI. Your orange garland is wonderful and I like the greenery you added to it. Thanks for the recipe for making the slices and thank you for sharing your lovely post at my HOME.

    Christmas blessings,
    Sandi

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  23. Maria ElenaDecember 14, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    Poppy, just wanted to stop by and let you know your post was featured today at Our Home Away From Home. Have a good weekend!

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  24. Christine @ Rustic-RefinedDecember 14, 2013 at 7:29 PM

    I had to PIN your creativity....Love it!

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  25. Cristina GarayDecember 14, 2013 at 9:37 PM

    All your decorations are so very pretty! The orange garland with the signs, the bottle candle holders, the cardinal... I love it all, just beautiful!

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  26. Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouseDecember 15, 2013 at 2:43 AM

    I love your garland and the smell in your kitchen must be divine.

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  27. An Oasis in the DesertDecember 17, 2013 at 10:29 AM

    Your kitchen sink area is just beautiful and so cheerful! I really like the orange slice swag. I'm thinking a bowl of those with some rosemary sprigs would be a great calming decor item after the holidays. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  28. KathyDecember 17, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Poppy this is absolutely marvelous - I love your dried oranges and the birds - perfect! I will be featuring your post in this week's Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  29. The Charm of HomeDecember 17, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    So pretty!
    Sherry

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  30. UnknownDecember 24, 2013 at 11:35 AM

    I love your simple decorations for the window! The orange slice garland is perfect!! Great light for your pictures as well! Merry Christmas and I hope you will stop by the country sometime :)

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  31. filcowy kufer HogatyDecember 17, 2015 at 5:25 AM

    It's so pretty.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and for your loving thoughts. They make me smile!Hugs~Poppy