Last Minute

I am sure many of us are still doing last minute shopping, and preparation for Christmas.

Kitty Kitty Bang Bang on a See Scout Sleep pouf - photo by Kate Grace Bauer

I will be signing books today at the Historic New Orleans Collection, so please stop buy and pick up a copy. It makes a great gift.

Also Kate Grace Bauer did a nice post on GoNola.com - take a look.

Valorie Hart Christmas decor - photo by Kate Grace Bauer

Kate heads up "kgb" a multifaceted management, styling, and marketing company based in New Orleans. She has worked intensely in fashion and marketing for over a decade. Her company "kgb" is an umbrella company that works in all aspects of the fashion, design and retail world. It offers brand management, sales representation, personal and editorial styling, photography, art, retail merchandising and social media consultation.

Kate Grace Bauer

Happy first day of winter - photo of Valorie Hart by Kate Grace Bauer for GoNola.com - Audrey painting by Ashley Longshore

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Dollar Days

You do not have to spend a lot of money to set a pretty holiday table. Shop the supermarket, the dollar store, and go forage in your back yard.

I did a TV segment about doing this. To prepare for a segment I lay everything out on my dining room table a couple of days before, a kind of sketch and dress rehearsal of what I want to present.

Domino also did a nice little tutorial on easy pretty table settings.

Domino

Domino

Domino

I take photos of my styling jobs for my records, which I now share with you. The settings are not complete, but you will get my thought bubbles.

Use a non Christmas color - This placemat was 97 cents, the ribbon was $2. for a roll, the notecards (which I fold in half) were $5. for a box that will last forever, tea lights in a jar, and all the china and glassware are things I have

This is the nature inspired setting - I use all my white dishes - Bird and nest from the dollar store - Napkin and runner made from a hardware store canvas drop cloth, ditto for twine used as a napkin ring that I tucked a sprig of rosemary into - Place card is a gift tag- Note the frayed edge on the napkin that enhances the natural vibe of the setting - Just cut and rip the drop cloth - It rips in a nice straight line

I foraged in my yard for "flowers", in this case white berries from a night blooming jasmine

Sure you can use paper napkins - These came from the dollar store - I rolled it like a diploma and put a ribbon band around it - Ribbon was a dollar too - And I added little gold stickers (also $1.)  to coordinate with a vintage glass that has a gold medallion design on it - The placemat is paper, and who doesn't have a glass bowl and ornaments to use on the table

Classic red and green  - I used a red melamine plate  and red napkin I had, with a green charger I found on clearance for 50 cents - Cranberries as vase filler, an apple as place card holder -  Plaid ribbon from the dollar store _ I also added a plaid dish towel as a placemat that you can see in the TV segment

Cranberries as vase filler for candles or flowers

The premise is simple:

• Stick to one or two main colors
• Use all of the things you have and mix and match, and layer
• Break up that supermarket bouquet into small posies, and forage in your yard
• Use fruit as vase filler, place card holder,  or in a tablescape
• Use jars for tea lights, use lots of candlelight
• Use ribbons and twine for napkin "rings"
• Get a canvas drop cloth and cut it into a table runner and napkins
• Use a dish towel from the dollar store as place mat
• Use place cards - You can cut a note card in half
• Don't be afraid to use paper napkins or paper placemats 

Enjoy yourself - a pretty table makes even tuna sandwiches look and taste better (so said my TV host Sally Ann Roberts).

Sally Ann Robert and Valorie Hart talk about cheap and chic table settings on WWL-TV

See you at the dollar store!

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I Showed You Mine, Now Show Us Yours

A blogger said that holiday decorating for design/decor  bloggers is like our Oscar time. True enough we enjoy decorating above and beyond normalcy. So my publisher Glitterati wants to see your seasonal decor.

Four years ago - the first tree with Tiffany colors and boxes

Three years ago

Last year

Two years ago in House of Fifty

Last year

Last year

Just go to the Facebook page Glitterati Buzz. Submit photographs of your seasonal decor to the Glitterati Buzz HOLIDAY PHOTO CONTEST for a chance to win a copy of my book House Proud: Unique Home Design/Louisiana! (Make sure to use hash tag #houseproudholiday and tag both Glitterati Buzz and Visual Vamp on your submissions!)

And here's a video of my latest Christmas segment of WWL-TV that I just did.

Valoire Hart with Sally Ann Roberts on WWL-TV December 16, 2013

 I show you mine all the time, now show us yours at Glitterati Buzz. Use #houseproudholiday and tag both Glitterati Buzz and Visual Vamp.

Holiday table settings by Valorie Hart on WWL-TV

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Thinking Of You

Just a brief round up of a few of my favorite Christmas images.

I wish I was doing this with my sister

I love this painting by Ashley Longshore

Nothing like tinsel

Santa Lucy

And our Christmas card for you....

It's That Time

The world didn't end, though sometimes the madness we create makes it seem as if it is on the way.

Christmas seems subdued. Last year the recession seemed to propel people into pulling out the stops to cheer the atmosphere. This year the decorations in my neighborhood are not as plentiful, with many houses still dark with just a porch light on.

Here's what I did this year. I pulled back a bit and edited. I hope you enjoy it, and it  puts you in a good holiday mood for the days to come. All photos by Sara Essex Bradley (unless otherwise noted).

Cholo

The overview

The tree topper is a blue bird - snap shot by Valorie Hart

Come into the living room

Audrey by Ashley Longshore gets a gilded garland

Kitty Kitty Bang Bang - snap shot by Valorie Hart

The gold gnomes, and yes I got the West Elm lacquer boxes - they're very nice - snap shot by Valorie Hart

Come into the dining room

The table is set for a holiday dinner party

Placemats from Wal Mart, polar bear ornament as party favor is Martha Stewart, plates are antique Limoges

The other side of the dining room

The little tree on the sideboard is loaded with vintage ornaments

Coconut (a white pit bull) the neighbor dog gave this ornament to Cholo - they're in love - snap shot by Valorie Hart

The Nativity vignette lives on the dining table when not in use for a dinner party

Valorie Hart Christmas - photo by Sara Essex Bradley

What about you? Did you pull out the stops this year?

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Reward!

We have all put something somewhere and then forgot where we put it. It's usually something small like keys, earrings, or loose cash. What have you misplaced and forgotten? Lately I have misplaced something big. Maybe you can help me find it.

It started a few weeks ago when I put up a new Christmas tree. I wanted to edit this year and change things up a bit. I would do just one tree, and chose to do a trad tree instead of the vintage retro aluminum tree. Surprisingly there were enough ornaments from that silver six foot tree to cover the new nine foot tall trad green tree.

All was going well until I went to get the Tiffany boxes I always put under the tree. I went to the cupboard, the high one you need a ladder for in the guest bedroom. The boxes were not there, nor was the silver tree, and a couple of silk toss pillows I tie with ribbons to look like gift boxes were gone too.

MISSING! REWARD for the return (or information about) Tiffany boxes, silver retro tree, and two silk pillows

The search was on. The shed, the garage, the attic, the junk closet, the closet under the stairs. I spent a couple of hours tearing the house apart. My heart was sinking, and my mind was racing. What did I do with these things? Give them away? Sell them? Loan them to someone for props? I emailed a few colleagues. No one had the things.

Prayers to St. Anthony started. Here in New Orleans we pray to St. Anthony when we lose or misplace something. When he guides us to it, we drop something in the poor box when we pass by church as a thank you for his blessing. Nothing from St. Anthony.

Where is this tree and boxes and matching pillows? Why it's at House of Fifty! Thank goodness there are photos by Sara Essex Bradley, since that's all I have left at the moment! Go check it out (thank you Janell)

Laying on the chiropractors table, eyes closed, listening to the New Age music he plays, I tried to clear my mind and let the answer come to me. Nothing.

At first I was upset. Then I calmed down and thought perhaps I gave the tree away. I've used it for a few Christmases, and it was getting a little shop worn so to speak. But how could I give away those Tiffany boxes that are so precious and hard to come by? And maybe I gave the pillows to someone, but who? Was it you? Or you? Or you?

So I am offering a generous reward to the person who can solve the mystery and help me find my mind. And my tree. And my pillows. And my Tiffany boxes.

Want to see more of what my edited Christmas decor looks like this year? Stay tuned...

Visual Vamp 2012 Christmas Decor

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The Most Beautiful

Since I started playing with other decorators on the Internet, starting years ago with the old Rate My Space site, I have been taking photos of my house to share. What an adventure it was to learn to upload photos then! RMS segued into blogging where the visual vamp emerged. Learning to post was yet another learning curve.

I take hundreds of photos of interiors and home decor furnishings and objects. They are primarily scouting shots, or photos of rooms I am working on. I have a little Sony point and shoot camera. I don't use a tripod, and I am often on the move, or have a long exposure (I hate to use flash) so the photos are, how can I say this politely, soft and fuzzy ha ha.

I don't pretend to have the talent a professional photographer has. I can compose a shot. I know what looks good editorially. But the magic and mystery of lighting, technique, and sensitivity that all combine to make a beautiful photo is well beyond my crappy scouting shots, or blog snap shots.

I have a story in the current issue of House of Fifty. I wrote, and styled it. My favorite photographer Sara Essex Bradley shot it. I think the photos are the most beautiful ones of my home that have ever been taken. And kudos to the designer of House of Ffty Shari, of little blue deer, for an amazing layout.

My little piece of swamp is a cover girl - House of Fifty

The story is about whether to decorate for Christmas or not. I'd love for you to read it and get back to me with feedback.

Excerpt of my article in House of Fifty

House of Fifty has been published for over a year by Janell Beals. She started it out of a reaction to her age when she was trying to get a job. She's neither young or nor old, but in reaction to being somewhat discarded for younger candidates, she decided to get off the anger and pity pot, and start her own magazine.

The magazine is not just for those in the House of Fifty. It's for everyone. It has wonderful articles and photos. Talent is timeless.

The house never looked so good! Photo by Sara Essex Bradley

This month Janell is trying something different. HOF has been free for over a year. The production costs are mostly paid for out-of-pocket, that is, out of Janell's pocket. This month you get a free preview, and then have the opportunity to purchase the online issue for $1.50.

Please buy the 172 page issue (and yes I did buy it). It's cheaper than a cup of coffee, and so much more rewarding. I think all magazines, online and newsstand, need our support. This is the best looking issue yet, and I was so excited to see the fabulous home of one of my favorite bloggers Linda Roberts of Lime in the Coconut featured.

The home of Linda Roberts is featured in House of Fifty

And yes, I am Christmas decorating again this year. It's taken me longer to get motivated, and I almost didn't do it.

I replaced an old fake green tree I had for years. It hit the trash at the end of the season last year. Most of the lights had gone out, and it was a mundane six foot tall cheap tree that no longer responded to fluffing. So I bought a new tree.

I saw a tree on QVC one night while watching insomniac TV. It fascinated me because not only was it pre-lit, it had a system where each section is plugged into the other, so there are no plugs on the light strings to attach. And it had a built-in foot switch. Genius!

The QVC tree

It was pricey, so being the bargain hunter, I found it at half the price on eBay (with free shipping!). I got a nine foot tree, the largest I have ever had. I ordered it in September, so it sat in its huge coffin-like boxes until a few days before Thanksgiving.

The QVC tree

I set it up easily enough. I went back to QVC to get links for all of you since the eBay source is sold out. Then I saw the reviews which are pretty negative!!!! I guess I am lucky that I got one of the good trees ha ha. But the trick of this tree is to follow the directions. the sections have to be lined up precisely to make the light connections.

The naked tree - I almost left it this way!

It has taken me a couple of weeks to drag out the ornaments. At first I was not going to do anything. The tree looked pretty with just the lights. I decided not to do two big trees this year, so all the ornaments from the retro tree ended up on the new nine footer.

It's a different look for sure. And like anything new you bring into the house, you have to get used to it. I'm not sure if I'm in-like with the new look or not. And I'm not sure I will drag all the rest of the house decorations out.

Will I be a Christmas HoHoHo this year? I managed to get the ornaments on the new tree

The glorious photos in House of Fifty were taken last year. That's how it goes in publishing. You work a year ahead for holiday stories. This week Sara and I are shooting another house for publication for holiday 2013.

For me last years decorations were refined to perfection. It is a look I have been tweaking for three years or so. When I look at the photos in House of Fifty, I feel like I've done it, so now what?

Stay tuned to see what happens this year, if anything. It just seems that the holidays came too fast and are too smashed together this year. And I feel like I'm living The House of One Hundred.

Get over to House of Fifty and treat yourself to the great holiday issue.

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