the stockings were hung....

...by the chimney, staircase & iron bed with care! i am pretty sure that's what they meant in the story but they just shortened it. afterall...who doesn't have {3} sets of stockings hanging up? i may sound a bit greedy waiting for santa to fill that many socks with goodies, but truly...i am happy with just {1} being filled. to the top. with lots of candy! ok, really i just love holiday decorating!

so, just what do my {3} sets of stockings look like? well...just keep on reading and i will show you! my spare bedroom is decked out with socks created from vintage chenille bedspreads shown {below}.

 

the one in the middle was fabricated by your's truly! i had the other two custom made by a most talented gal many many years ago. i tied them up with jute upholstery webbing & when i ran out of that i used a pinkish vintage sewing tape which you can see in the closer view {below}.

moving right along is my mantel with "decorative use only" vintage wooden sock forms. not entirely sure of their original purpose. maybe to stretch those wool socks out after a wet day in the snow?! i do know i like 'em. i never thought i would be so happy to find socks with holes in them!

and the following set of socks makes {3}. three sets for three people! well, two people + one four legged child. 

 

they are hung on my staircase so that i can check and see if santa has made an early visit to our home. somehow he always forgets my goodies on the first trip thru when he fills up bill & lucy's stockings. but when i mention to hubby to pass onto to santa that i have been a good girl...that usually works as things turn up at the last minute! 

again i had them custom made - by a very talented gal by the name of karen pfaller. i first saw karen's work in country living many moons ago to which i contacted her & requested some neutral socks to be made for our family. she lovingly created them from repurposed wool sweaters & i couldn't have been more tickled with them. thank you again karen!

ok santa! we are ready when you are! now - with a houseful of "wild wimen" fast approaching this evening i am off to the races to get in full on party mode! thanks for peeking today! 

may your day be merry & bright...and your stockings FULL!

Comments

[Toni @ The Tattered Cottage]

Beth -
You have such a flair and talent for style in decorating, designing...it takes my breath away! Your home looks lovely with all of your special touches! I'm on the hunt now for sock forms! I love visiting with you, you give so much inspiration. Hoping your holidays are stockings filled to the brim and overflowing :)
Happy Holidays,
Toni

[Funky Junk Interiors]

Girl, you totally have to go to Nesting Place on Monday and post this there. Your hits will whap you right outa junkville.

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/

And if you have a tree up (I haven't dug that deep into your site YET but I indeed WILL) please post it at my own Christmas Trees Unite. You need to be seen. Scratch that. I want to share you!

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2009/12/myyyy-christmas-treee-link-yours-up-too.html

I accept cold hard junk for being your manager. You're welcome.

I WANT that bedroom. WANT. It's all I want for Christmas. I am not sick, really. But there's something about white and rust that takes over within. Some days it's simply hard to be me.

Good grief. I gave up on Christmas decorating because I didn't have the right stuff. You on the other hand, make simple look like the ultimate. DUH. You've convinced me to get a tacky silver tree and overload it with vintage ornaments. And do something simple yet lovely to my railings like you have. And then I'll want people over for Christmas and that...

It is hard to sit still. I have alot to do here.

Donna

[Beth@The Stories of A2Z]

I love all of them! Just beautiful!

[Deb]

Love your spare room iron bed with the chenille socks! And the huge clock face is fabulous. I have a set of the wooden sock forms hanging in my laundry room ~ love your idea of hanging them from the mantle at Christmas time.

[Deborah]

Beth,

Your simple, pure style is raw beauty at its best.
Thank you for sharing.

[Robin]

Okay, I am not sure I can take any more pictures of your house. It is just too beautiful. Little warning would be good. Throw in a picture of some rust to cleanse the visual palate. Dang...

[Lisa Shatzer]

Oh wow! That bed is every little girls (and big girls) dream! So, so lovely. Your fireplace mantle is wonderful all the layers and textures. I love the staircase too!!

[show & TELL . . .]

dearest donna.

please say hello to your newest cyber stalker! seriously! i took a look at your blogsite... (not nearly enough time spent there yet)... barely scratching the surface and i am so overstimulated i can't hardly take it!

clothing hanger curtain rods? i am so "borrowing" that one!

yep...you are hired! and as my new manager i may need some further instruction on the nesting place blog! i am so NOT computer savvy and learning as i go! but i did manage to post my newly listing charlie brown tree on your site! i truly appreciate the urging!

you are probably going to wish you had left this "pandora's box" alone! ha!

really though...THANK YOU! your note is the highlight of my day...week...okay YEAR! it's so fun when you connect with people "who get it"!

happy day for now...i WILL be back...bells & all!

beth

[show & TELL . . .]

greetings toni! oh my goodness. i am so incredibly humbled by your kind words! thank you for that and i am so glad to hear i have inspired you to make a treasure hunt for sock forms!

happy hunting AND happy holidays!

:) beth

[show & TELL . . .]

hello to another beth! thank you for stopping and your nicest note! hope you can peek at my tree that i just posted! :)
happy holiday wishes...

[show & TELL . . .]

thank you deb! the "clock face" was one of my creations from a found garden table! i made it YEARS ago and it still stands front and center! and yes! bring those forms out for all to admire in the vintage glory! happy holiday season to you!
beth

[show & TELL . . .]

oh deborah! you are so kind! thank you for your note! i would definitely say my decorating is pretty basic. just give me some boxwood, jute and manilla twine and i am THRILLED! thanks to YOU for stopping!

[show & TELL . . .]

hold on tight my friend! a warning that i just posted my tree. have a mint until i can get ya some rust! :)

[show & TELL . . .]

many sincere thank yous lisa! i am tickled to hear you love my decorating! and indeed! that bed is a dream come true! chippy iron...who could ask for more!? i appreciate you stopping by!

have a wonderful weekend!
beth

[Mitzi Curi]

I love your color palette and use of chenille for stockings. They look festive and Christmas-ey without the typical red and green color scheme.

[Gretchen Schaumann]

Wow, can I book a bed and breakfast in that spare room of yours? Unbeleivably perfect!! Gorgeous work Beth. The fireplace mantle is so very cool and the clock you made is to dye for. Would you ever share your tips and secrets of that baby in a tutorial? I'd love to try my hand at something like that. It would be fabulous on this ginormous (made up work, I know) wall I have with a vault going downstairs.
I too have a stocking stretcher in wood, but mine is way big. Must of been for papa bear. lol Love the size of yours and the creative idea to hang them at your mantle is ingenious. Also, love the stockings hung at the end of the gorgeous patina bed in the guestroom too. That was just suggested over at JunkFest on Andreas bed she has in her rooms by some of her commenters and than I come here and see just how cool it truly looks and for sure am loving the result.
Any chance you could show a closeup of your fireplace mantel sometime? I have one that is our headboard in our masterbedroom and it looks like you've got some great creativity going on with the inside surround. I could use something cool looking for mine, and I've not seen anything until your blog that I loved.
Your home is a treasure trove of ideas. It should absolutley be featured in a holiday magazine for ideas.
Fabulous-
Gretchen

[show & TELL . . .]

Hey miss gretchen! i have to tell you how tickled i was to receive your comments and glorious remarks on my blog/home! i am so glad you happened upon my site! isn't the web a wonderful thing to open doors to others with similar passions??

i would be happy to show you a closer shot of the mantle inset. we were not able to have the actual fireplace but i insisted on a mantle which inturn called for some creative collaging! :)

when the dust of the holidays settles a bit i will send those over your direction! and i look forward to seeing your fabulous tree you described!

i hope this finds you enjoying some time running your toes thru the sand! lucky girl to get a break from this chilly winter! happy holiday season to you gretchen and i look so very forward to visiting with you soon!

happy day!
beth