~ A Rosary ~

(French Farmhouse 425)

Hi friends

I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.

My husband surprised me with this beautiful large Rosary from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

(French Farmhouse 425)

As soon as I opened it I draped it over my antique chippy pink column and there it's stayed since.

(French Farmhouse 425)

I love it

Thanks to my sweet husband

...

I can't believe 2012 is almost here.. Do you have any special New Years plans?

My family and I will be cozy at home for the New Year

Just the way I prefer it! :)

Have a wonderful weekend and a very
Happy New Year!!!

xo,

Rachel

~ Merry Christmas ~

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

~ Merry Christmas ~

xo,

Rachel

~ Christmas with Claire ~

(Claire)

I am so blessed to be a mom to two boys

but

my only little girl is my sweet Claire

I picked her out of a basketful of kittens almost 5 years ago at my sons baseball game.

I was in love at first sight

She is so sweet and follows me everywhere all day long.

She knows I'm her mommy ;)

(Claire)

The sunlight was streaming in this afternoon as I lit some candles and was reading one of my favourite books then Claire decided to join me on the comfy sofa.

I took one look at her all cozy next to me with the sunlight on her and I had to take a few photos.

Isn't she precious?!

I love her.

~ Merry Christmas friends ~

xo,

Rachel

~* A wonderful Christmas gift idea is to adopt an animal at a local animal shelter 

or give a donation to The Humane Society ~*

~ Shabby Chic Inspired Christmas Vignette ~

Hi friends

I hope you're all having a wonderful time preparing for Christmas.

I took some photos today of a vignette in my living room inspired by Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic

An antique wooden garden trug

Pastel ribbons made from Shabby Chic fabrics

My new favourite Tuberose Linneas Lights candles

Mercury glass candlesticks from Target

A little greenery and pinecones

A special family photo in a chippy white frame

I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far and enjoying all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Season!!

Thanks so much for all of the sweet comments on my previous post..

It really means alot to me.

~ Merry Christmas ~

xo,

Rachel

~ Christmas ~

Hi friends

Sorry I have been a bit absent from blogging lately

There is so much going on this time of year and my lack of blogging reflects it.

I've slowly but surely been adding some touches of Christmas around our home

I love decorating with fresh greenery and like to keep things simple

I purchased this sacred heart from my favourite shop

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

It goes perfect with our Christmas decor

Little touches of greenery here and there

very simple

I love mixing rustic with pretty

I purchased these pretty little books when I attended the 2nd Saturdayz fleamarket this past weekend with my friend Tracie

My favourite part of our Christmas decor is the handmade school ornaments our sons have made

Our Christmas tree is full of a variety of handmade and sentimental ornaments that all have special memories

Our tree isn't vintage or shabby chic style but it is perfect for us.

~ Have a  Very Merry Christmas ~

Remember the true reason for the season

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

xo,

Rachel

~ Priceless ~

( My grandmother and Santa Claus )

Hi friends

When I was going through some photos I found my favourite photo of my grandmother on Santa's lap

Isn't she darling?!

I love this photo and decided to put it on my inspiration board

My grandmother is so special to me.We have always been close and we are the best of friends

I took her to her first antiques fleamarket a few weeks ago! :)

(my beautiful grandmother at 2nd Saturdayz Fleamarket)

I love how my grandmother is looking up at Santa

~ Priceless ~

We are going to a Christmas tree lighting this weekend in a charming German town called Leavenworth,WA.

This is one of my familys favourite traditions.

Have a wonderful week and weekend everyone!!

xo,

Rachel

 

~ A beautiful gift ~

(My inspiration board)

I was so surprised the other day when I recieved a beautiful gift from my sweet friend Tausha.

She sent me the new Rachel Ashwell 2012 calendar wrapped so pretty..

I admired it in Tausha's beautiful home.

Tausha's blog is  Simply Me

Tausha is so talented and I think she should be a stylist for Rachel Ashwell.

Or she should have her own book published with all of her stunning photos.

Thanks so much Tausha for your friendship and your kindness

~hugs~

I put the calendar on my inspiration board along with some favourite photos and bits and bobs.

Isn't it pretty?!

I marked my sons' birthdays with the gold push pins.

I LOVE it

Have you started your Christmas decorating?

We've been busy here at 425 putting up our Christmas tree and decorations.

My sons always put up the ornaments on our tree.

I love the ones they made in school,those are my favourites.

This is truly my favourite time of year!

Have a wonderful week friends

xo,

Rachel

~ Ruffled Linens Stockings Winner!! ~

The winner of the Ruffled Linens Stockings Giveaway is:

(Using http://www.random.org/ )
#2


(Antique Chase)

Marcy from Antique Chase 

Congrats Marcy!!

Please email me with your info

french.farmhouse@hotmail.com
I will get them mailed to you asap

Have you ever visited Marcy's blog?

Marcy is so sweet and has a beautiful home that has been featured as Cottage of the month at The Old Painted Cottage blog

The stockings will look so pretty in her home.

~ Have a wonderful weekend friends ~
xo,

Rachel

~ Thankful ~

(My Thankgiving Mantel)

I am so thankful for the blessings in my life

My husband

Sons

Family

Friends

&

You

Thank you so much friends for all of your kind words this past year

I am thankful for all of the new lifelong friends and "soul sisters" I have met through blogging

You know who you are ....

xo

I made a simple Thankgiving table setting with mercury glass candlesticks (Tausha, I copied your look and went back to Target to buy the gold ones too!! lol)

Scattered dried hydrangeas and put some sprigs in glass bottles

I used my ruffled linen Christmas tree skirt again as a tablecloth

Hopefully nobody spills cranberry sauce on it!

My mantel has more mercury glass and scattered dried hydrangeas

A string of  Christmas lights give such a warm glow

Have a beautiful day with family and friends

xoxo,

Rachel

~ A Rosy Note Giveaway ~

Hi friends

I wanted to let all of you know about my friend Tricia's Giveaway at

A Rosy Note

Tricia and I became blogging friends when we both had just started blogging.

She is tuly one of the kindest bloggers around and is a very talented photographer.

You have to see her photography it is just beautiful.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!! :)

xo,

Rachel

 

~ You still have time to enter the Ruffled Linens Giveaway! ~

~ Ruffles and Roses ~ Christmas tree skirt ~

This morning on my way to Starbucks I stopped by my favourite flower stand  to buy some roses

When I got home I decided to put the roses in my antique french enamel bucket

I think it makes a wonderful centerpiece for my dining table.

I got inspired to create a tablesetting using my Ruffled Linens 72" Christmas tree skirt

It is huge and the attention to detail is amazing~Christiana is so talented.

I think it makes a beautiful table covering

I always try to use items in different ways than they were intended.

I just placed the enamel bucket right on top of the circular opening so you can't tell its a tree skirt.

The Ruffled Linens Christmas tree skirt is just too beautiful to not use year round

I have also used the Christmas tree skirt as an ottoman cover in my living room

(My Flora Doora, Thanks Jane! ) 

So far its been a wonderful start to my weekend...

Starbucks..beautiful roses and ruffles :)

( having fun photo editing with picnik.com ,this is my favourite image)

Thanks so much friends for your sweet comments on my last post

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!

xo,

Rachel

~ Still time to enter the Ruffled Linens Giveaway ~

~ Faded,tattered and worn ~

I recently inherited this antique rug that belonged to my great aunt Clara for many years.

 My great aunt used to have it on her buffet and not used as a rug.

I wanted to actually use it as a rug,so I washed it in my washing machine with a little bleach to lighten it a bit.(I know its probably not how you are supposed to wash these old rugs) lol.

I am so happy with how it turned out because we now use it in our entryway.

I love the soft faded blue colour

Faded,tattered and worn

~LOVE~

And the fact that it has been in our family for years makes it even more special.

I started loving these old scatter rugs when I came across my friend Tausha's blog

(Tausha ~ Simply Me)
The photo above shows three of Tausha's scatter rugs in her living room.She has some really beautiful ones.
LOVE them!

Do you have a special item in your home that has been passed down to you?

Have a wonderful weekend friends!!
Thank you all so much for your sweet comments on my last post
It really means alot to me
xo,
Rachel

~ You still have time to enter the Ruffled Linens Giveaway!! ~