Rust and Feathers

With a New Year comes a new shop called

Rust and Feathers...vintage redefined.

This new shop is located 

less than a mile South of The Lucketts Store on Route 15.

I'm excited to be a part of it, where I'll be

selling vintage furniture and accessories.

For those of you who have been following along with me

for awhile, some of the things in my space

may look slightly familiar.

I've been gathering things here and there

in anticipation of being a part of this new venture.

It was hard to take this mantel straight to the shop...but

in this business...if it doesn't sell it comes home!

Always love little cubbies.

Great color on the screen door!

A little taste of other great items throughout the shop...

Fabulous European baker's rack

Industrial style stools

Great set of lockers

Folding chairs with pillows

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek of what you can expect to find at

 RUST AND FEATHERS 

14928 James Monroe Hwy. (Rte. 15)

opening on January 3, 2013.

I've already been shopping...

the perfect size and style lamp for our bedroom.

If you live in the area or are making a trip to Lucketts or Leesburg,

be sure to stop in and take a look around.

Mary Alice

In the Kitchen With Mary Alice

Baking cookies has always been a fun tradition at Christmastime.

When our children were young,

we would bake up to 12 different kinds of cookies.

Of course, those were the days when 

the kids were excited to help!

We had fun fixing plates as gifts for friends, 

neighbors, teachers, using them at parties and,

 of course, eating plenty ourselves.

Now I'm down to baking just our favorites.

Mint Chocolate Snaps are very festive for Christmas

since they combine chocolate...a must have...and candy canes.

I found this recipe years ago in a Southern Living

Christmas Cookies book.

These are so easy to make, starting with melting 

6 oz. of chocolate chips in a double boiler.

Cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the melted chocolate, beating well. 

Then add the egg, syrup, and flavorings. Beat well.

Stir into the chocolate mixture, flour, soda, and salt.

Then stir in the crushed candy canes.

Shape the dough into balls and roll in sugar. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes.

Since we like them chewy, I usually bake them for 12 minutes.

I think most cookies are best right out of the oven!

Below is the list of ingredients:

Mint Chocolate Snaps

6 oz. package semisweet chocolate morsels

1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons shortening (or butter)

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy (approximately 3 large candy canes

                or 10 small candy canes)

Hope you Enjoy,

Mary Alice

Christmas Eve Traditions

Traditions are a great way to tie the bonds of family together.

Christmas was always a time that we established a lot of traditions

when our children were young that we still carry on today. 

Even as our children are now young adults, I love that these 

traditions are still important as I hear comments such as...

What??!! We're not cutting our tree on Saturday?

(We usually cut it down and put it up Saturday after Thanksgiving)

Have you made any Christmas cookies yet?

You are making hot cranberry punch, aren't you?

...and so on!

Christmas Eve has always been a special family time...

more low key and casual.

Dinner is usually more like a supper...

Megan and Mike are in charge this year 

since they like to try new recipes.

(This might be the first they're hearing about this!)

I set a simple table using my everyday ironstone plates.

At Christmastime I also pull out a quilt to use on my table that 

my Grandmother made. Of course, she NEVER would have used

a handmade quilt on a table in her day!

Amazingly intricate handwork.

For place cards I went very simple...

I cut some leaves from my magnolia tree...

wrote our names with a gold sharpie on the leaf...

then put the leaf, along with a little Christmas ornament,

in a French creme pot that I bought from

Dreamy Whites last year.

A simple centerpiece came together rather quickly.

Decided to use a small breadboard that easily fit

in the middle of the table.

Then I went with my favorites this season...

bottle brush trees

vintage ornaments

 ironstone

and holly cuttings from our tree.

When we get back from church,

we top off our evening with Christmas cookies

and hot cranberry punch.

I'll share some recipes in another post.

Trust you are having a blessed Christmas season with your family!

Mary Alice

Linking to:

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

Shabby Art Boutique

Jennifer Rizzo

One More Mantel

After tweaking this mantel too many times to count, 

I think it's time to stop!

It started out with mostly silver and mirrors.

But it seemed a bit harsh...so I tried softening it by

adding some bottle brush trees.

 Some height was needed between the mirrors...

mercury glass candle holders did the trick.

Burlap ribbon added a totally different texture 

and helped unite all the pieces.

The burlap stockings...my daughter's idea...

were the finishing touch!

Ta-Da!!

Christmas Blessings,

Mary Alice

Joining:

The Dedicated House Make It Pretty

Country Farm Home Country Whites Weekend

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Christmas Tree

Last Saturday was in the 60's so my husband and I

trekked out to the Christmas tree farm.

Some years the trees seem to be picked over...
but I guess it's about the experience, not the perfect tree.

Simple was the word of the day for our tree this year.

In my younger years, I made a set of pillow ornaments each year.

Most of the patterns I used were images of Old St. Nick.

Each one is different.

This year I used these pillow ornaments and added a few others that

trigger happy memories.

When we were first married, 

my husband found the most unique ornaments

at an antique and accessories shop in Haddonfield, NJ.

They are favorites to this day.

Ornaments made by our children will always top the list.

On another note...

I want to thank Jean at Ruby and Arthur for the

wonderful giveaway she had that I was

fortunate to win.

I think you all know by now I have a love affair going on

with vintage ornaments so I was thrilled to 

receive these darling little ornaments in colors I love.

And I adore this vintage card that was tucked inside!

Thank you so much, Jean!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas,

Mary Alice