Gee whiz....

Time flies, doesn't it?? Yet when we want something to get here ALREADY, it seems to take forever....for instance, cooler weather........would LOVE for it to be here, and break this summertime heat !! Yet some of you think, but then comes winter, and I am SO not ready for that.....just for the record, TEXAS is ready for fall and winter!
So days fly by and I haven't had a chance to blog.......catching up from travel time, house needs attention, clothes need to be washed and these people want a meal or two!! I know you, too, have faced such challenges as well.
I am eager to show you more pictures from our Product Showcase from the national Convention for Willow House.  Do you want to see them?
I'll start with a few and you let me know if you want to see more, m'kay?

We had not only our Simply Good Design Home Decor Product Showcase, but also the Jewelry by Sara Blaine jewelry display that we were all so anxious to feast upon! Boy, were we wowed, and in no way disappointed!!!  Our design team totally ROCKS and really showed us some great ideas.
You be the judge!!

Hard to get a shot of the mirror w/o someone's reflection...that's not me, but would you look at these TRIVETS surrounding the mirror?? How clever is that???

Isn't this FUN and colorful???

This fashioned headboard is done with Paint and three Cottage Garden Wall decor!!

Stunning with purples and grays!

Ingenious...this is a window box planter, turned into a wall sconce! See, ingenious, right?

Doesn't this make you want to have a PARTY??

who would have thought to surround a round mirror with our sconces and make a starburst?? They DID it! Cool, huh? And notice the smaller framed items are framed COASTERS!!!  The architectural lamps are made with garden trellises!

how did ten days go by with NO posts???

Isn't this FUN????

EASY, creative way to add a headboard!!!

Who wouldn't love a craft room as beautiful as this??

isn't the purple and gray a great combination???

Well, all my business and busyness had me all in a tizzy!! SO MANY great things to share with you all.......IF you want to hear about Willow House and all the GREAT things in store.  AND IF you want to see eye candy from the product showcase that our great designers (who blog by the way over HERE) come up with each year to both pique our interest and give us spectacular ideas for our products...you just won't believe some of them!!!
While I hate to inundate those of you who don't like to decorate or be inspired with such great ideas, I just don't see how I can do anything else......so let me know if you like the ideas!!  And remember that on Plate and Pattern, they give away a product every Tuesday on Prop Closet Tuesday....so check in every week, and you might just WIN something great!

They just wowed us with both the Product Showcase for the HOME as well as the display for our new line of Jewelry by Sara Blaine....I did mention to you that we are the first direct sales company to be multi-divisional, right? We are launching a line of beautifully hand-crafted jewelry this fall......it is hand crafted in Bali!  Sara's designs are phenomenal, and I think you will agree that they are just downright gorgeous.
So why don't I just show you some pictures???
I'll start with the product showcase, and then tomorrow or the next day...(SO MUCH to do to catch up from being gone!) I'll show you the jewelry.
Hope you enjoy!! I have much more to share!!!

The lovely Monarch lantern...do you like it?

Do you LOVE this vase??  The Athena Crackle Vase....$34.96!

Isn't this a beautiful, calming tablescape??

The Monarch Lantern....just gorgeous and huge!

Willow House Weekly

A fall tablescape from our Product showcase at Convention

A lovely mantlescape from a fellow consultant

Notice the different heights on the tablescape-adds interest, and look how they tied the flatware up with the napkin!

I will try to do a normal blog post today w/o mentioning the adorableness of my baby granddaughter......now I know/understand why others can't stop gushing about their babies.  She's just so darned adorable!! Last night I held  her after her bath, and with eyes wide open, she gazed so peacefully.  Adorable, I tell you...oh, and I wasn't going to mention it, was I??

So whether you celebrate Halloween or not, do only fall decor or ghoulish, there are so many great ideas out in the world of blogs, aren't there?  I like just fall decor, but there are actually some stylish ways to decorate for Halloween.  I certainly don't go for gore, but I've seen some really CUTE ways to decorate for Halloween.  What have you seen that you like/ or what have you done?  I just have fall decor at my house, and it will last until it is time to decorate for Christmas.  That's always a fun transition, especially after I'm ready for a bit of a change.
Speaking of Christmas, have you begun your holiday shopping yet? All I have are some stocking stuffers and some baby toys for that little bundle I mentioned up above, that I wasn't going to get sidetracked with...it's just so darned hard!! Ha.

The Eclipse Platter

The Villla Server

A fun tablescape for Thanksgiving

So, if you are stumped for ideas, there are SO many places for inspiration...what are you favorites?
You can check out www.southernliving.com , www. bhg.com, and www.realsimple.com for good ideas for every season.  You can go to my website and if you check in the outlet, there are some REALLY good buys for stocking your gift closet, putting together a cooking basket for a foodie friend, decor items at inexpensive prices, and much more!  There are different "products of the week" that are marked down for just that week, so you'll want to check it weekly.  And we all know great blogs for inspiration right?  So many clever crafty blogs, so many inspiring decorating blogs and an overwhelming amount of handy, diy'ers that will gladly show us how to do it yourself!  What are your favs?
Just a few ideas from me:  something like the Eclipse Platter shown above can go from Fall Decor to Christmas decor in a matter of minutes.  For fall, you could thrown acorns or mixed nuts in and add a few pillar candles and you have an instant centerpiece.  For Christmas, simple change out the filler for small ornaments, fake snow, or red/green (or whatever your holiday color choice is) marbles/rock/glass and add a holiday candle.  You can also choose gold or silver and use jingle bells surrounding the candles.  add a few ornaments laying on top, and you've got holly, jolly decor!  In a container like the Villa Server, you can pile it full of pinecones, stick in a bow, or use it for fruits and nuts.....for Christmas, just pile it high full of ornaments with a sprig of greenery and you're good.  Or sit in a Christmas Cactus or pionsettia with some bright green reindeer moss stuffed around the edges.  Holiday Cheer for your centerpiece! What are your ideas for these products?

So I will close with a recipe......I am thinking of what I will serve at my Open House and Sample Sale coming up a week from today (yikes!!!) and what I will serve.  There is an awesome spread to put over cream cheese that many will enjoy.....you get a jar of apricot or peach preserves, put into  a bowl, stir in a Tablespoon (or more if you like a little more PUNCH!) of amaretto, and about a cup of chopped pecans.  Stir together and spread over a brick of cream cheese.  Serve with ginger snaps or wheat thins.....enjoy!  That's an EASY appetizer or treat and looks festive!  What are your favorite simple and easy appetizers???

A Slider Bar!!

Pic found at PlateandPattern.com

Think of the options for which  this kind of party would be perfect!!!  Whether it meets a need for tailgating, for the Pumpkin Carving party you may be planning, or simply a great Sunday night supper idea, consider what kind of toppings you might plan for your sliders!  The girls here give you several, but I am thinking of at least a few more, if not just the All American toppings that are "go-to's" for our burgers.  Down here in Texas, there would HAVE to be some jalapenos thrown in the mix somewhere, right?   I love that they've given the options on the Galveston Memo Board and even shown the different options by having them premade right there......um, at my house, they would totally scoop up the demo burgers and eat them on the spot! Ha!

Pic from Plateandpattern.com

Anyway, I loved this idea and thought it would fun to share it with you!  To see how the girls did the party, and the recipes for how they did their sliders,  go to PlateandPattern.com/index.php?postid=67.  Hope you'll enjoy this resource for your next festive occasion!

Linking up to Jenn's Beauty and Bedlam Tasty Tuesday Party!!! Go see all the yummy tastiness!

Holiday wonder with Willow House!

It sure is fun to think about winter/holidays when it's nearly 100 degrees outside!

Enlarge picture to see detail, but these are our new Roxy Reindeer plates and linens....Isn't she adorable?

More of Roxy!!!

A pom pom bouqet made of carnations in our Royal Street Urn..doesn't that shout "Happy Holidays"??

In just a few weeks.......

I thought I'd give you a sneak peak at a few of the new products that will be coming in the new catalog....some great products, but only a fraction of the new things that will appear in the Willow House catalog!! I cannot wait until our convention where they will take a huge exhibit hall and make a product showcase that never disappoints!  It is incredible what they come up with.  I love the "out of the box" ideas they create......I will have photos to show you when I come back, for sure!!!! In the meantime,  here's the Sneak Peak!!
May I introduce the French Wired Basket with Tiers??? I am in love.

the Hyacinth Covered Casserole matches the Hyacinth Mixing Bowls and ramekins......isn't this so pretty???? And the Highland Casserole Caddy will complement it so beautifully, it will be a MUST HAVE.......imagine how this will look at your Thanksgiving buffet!!!!

The Verde Fruit Bowl........

And the Alfresco Pie Plate, which is a companion to the Alfresco Serving Dish/Casserole......You can't see the yummy colors, but they are there under that yummy looking pie!!!