AMERICAN HARVEST

NEW BLOG ADDRESS

Hi everyone,

I am consolidating my blog and website.  For future use please go to www.americanharvestinc.com to read about American Harvest happenings and related stories.

Thanks,

Sharon

SPRING OPEN HOUSE 2010 WITH NICOL SAYRE

You are invited to American Harvest's Spring Open House 2010 with Nicol Sayre on Saturday, March 13th.  This event will feature Nicol Sayre's original dolls. Nicol will be at the shop from 10am-1pm to sign her dolls and meet with you!  We will have great new Spring and Easter items for your home.  There will be an Easter Basket full of eggs.  Inside each egg will be a discount coupon that you can use toward your purchases that day only.  Discounts will range from 10% to 40%.  (Sorry....the discounts can not be used toward your purchase of Nicol's dolls.)

TRAIN OF LIGHTS

One of the gifts we gave to our kids for Christmas was tickets for the Train of Lights.  We rode the train between Sunol and the Niles District of Fremont.  It is about an hour round trip ride.  We left at dusk and returned in the quiet stillness of the night  The short trip through the Niles Canyon with fun company and pretty landscapes was a great way to end our Christmas festivities.  I hope that you enjoy these pictures of the Train of Lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year everyone, with wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2010, Sharon.










 

LITTLE THINGS (IN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS)

Sometimes I spend hours working a vignette or display.  Then sometimes, a small quick idea makes for a big impact.  At home, my Christmas decorating takes days, weeks.....I love decorating!  Here are some simple, little ideas that worked for me this year that took no time at all!.

 

I placed a Susan Arnot theatre on a vintage ironstone platter behind my sofa in the family room.  It sets on an antique bench.  Very simple, but worked great in this spot to pick up the soft colors of this sofa.

 

My family liked this one...a tall vintage ironstone pedestal candy dish filled with nothing more than holiday style Hershey candy kisses surrounding a glittered candle that is battery operated.  I sold these candles like crazy in the shop this year.

 

Rodger gave me this vintage music box years ago.  It looks sweet underneath three white feather trees.

I collect any and all sizes of vintage Christmas houses, whether they are German or Japanese.  These little Putz houses hang from one of my feather trees.  Because they are small, they can get lost in a grouping of larger houses, so the feather tree worked great in showing off these little charmers.

Instead of arranging my houses on a mantle this year.  I simply turned over some antique bowls in a pie safe and set the houses on and around the bowls.  Quimper pottery from France is placed in the background.  (This is just a small grouping of my houses,)

 

Wendy Addison made these three Winter gardens for me a few years ago.  I poured in German glass glitter in the "fish bowl" and then placed a battery operated tea light for atmosphere.  A friend told me that a good Christmas display is all about the lighting to set a mood.

Nicol Sayre made this beautiful paper ornament for me this year.  It is a very special gift from my friend.  I hung it to the side of an antique mirror.  Simple and special....

I found the black child's dress form in Paris a couple of years ago.  For Christmas, I took vintage garland and fashioned it into a "skirt".  A Nicol Sayre original crown is set on top.  The other dress form is new, but has an antique child's dress on it.  I then took more of the garland and made a necklace.  A Donna O'Brien crown tops it off.

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I took a platter from my Christmas dishes and simply placed fruit that Wendy Addison embellished for me.  The fruit is glittered and then crinkle wire was added.  Don't forget to take your child's creations and place in your vignettes!  Years and years ago, my son took a pinecone, stuffed it with cotton, painted the edges gold and then glittered it.  I guess, we have been into glitter for many years.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone and remember the little things that make your holiday memories so special in the years to come!

FRENCH WEDDING CUSHIONS AND DOMES

Over the past year or so, I have become a collector of French Wedding Cushions.  These cushions and globes held and protected the bride's crown.  Often, the crowns were made of wax flowers and did not survive.

Each Wedding Cushion or Globe de Maree was custom made for each family.  The different leaves, flowers, birds and mirrors represented something special.  Two good sources for information are Fete et Fleur and My Antique Mall website.

 

Many of the glass domes did not survive and you'll find the cushion without the dome or the base. (The one pictured above is for sale, this is picture #2)

 

This one in picture #3 is for sale also.

 

These delicate creations are becoming more and more desirable in the American market.

 

The wedding cushion above is vertical and holds the wedding crown of wax flowers.

 

I do have a couple of wedding cushions with their original domes.

Most of my cushions are red, but here is one that is blue.  Note that there is no base.

 

This cushion is square with braiding.  Can you see the small crown that is set on the cushion?

In order to keep collecting these beauties, I have decided that I might have to sell one or two of them.  I will be bringing two of them into American Harvest today.  If you are interested in collecting these, please give me a call at the shop 925-485-1577.  I think that the ones shown in picture #2 and picture #3 will be for sale.

FUN TIMES IN ATLANTA

The last time we were in Atlanta we met up with our good friends, Art and Vicky.  We spent the day at the World of Coca-Cola.  If you like coca-cola memorabilia, this is the place to be.

 

"Brain Tonic" sign was just one of the fabulous old signs on exhibit.

 

 

 

One of the beautifully restored Coke machines.

 

There were lots of great old Santa and Coke advertisements.

 

Afterward, we headed over to the Varsity for some of their famous hot dogs.  What'll ya have?

 

A view from Art and Vicky's backyard.  They have a boat on the lake, it was too cold to go out for a ride!

 

So after a great day at the World of Coca-Cola and then The Varsity and a whole lot of talking between girlfriends......where did we go in Atlanta?  Can you guess from the above picture?

 

That's just CRAZY...we went to dinner at a Texas Bar-B-Que bar.  It was so fun. 

 

Here I am with Vicky and Nicole, our server, at the Texas Bar-B-Que!  You gotta love that cow hide tablecloth on the table behind us!

Atlanta sure was fun, now let's get our friends back to California so that I can visit them more than once a year!  See YA'LL later.

HOW DO YOU DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS?

Do you have any tips for holiday decorating?  Do you have a secret way of displaying Christmas items that you'd like to share?  We started decorating at home yesterday and would like to hear of your decorating ideas!

FUN TIMES AT AMERICAN HARVEST WITH DEBBEE THIBAULT

Debbee and Laura are putting finishing touches on the Debbee Display.

Monique did some last minute dusting.

 

Sharon arranged cookies and candy for our guests.

 

April moves so fast that it appears that the rest of the world is spinning out of control.

 

Bonnie and Roger (first in line again) found great Debbee pieces to add to their collection.

 

Karin loves this American Harvest Santa!

 

Adora has a great collection of Debbee's Snowmen.

 

Bob showing us the "Debbee's" he liked.

 

 

Jann and Joe drove a long way to be at AH with Debbee.

  Don and Kathy enjoyed their time with Debbee too!

SPECIAL CREATIONS BY DEBBEE THIBAULT

Debbee Thibault has created special pieces for our Magical Holiday Evening.  The event takes place Friday, November 20 from 6-9pm.  These items are one-of-a-kind creations by Debbee, specifically for American Harvest customers.  Can't attend?  Then call us at 925-485-1577 between 6-9 pm on Friday and we can help you.  Remember these pieces are not available until 6pm.

Santa with package, bear and doll   $205.00

Santa with Yoyo doll, doll, bag with elephant and house   $205.00

Ellee the Elephant dressed in white with red poka dots, tea kettle and ornament ball  $160.00

Small Green Santa with 4 ball ornaments  $132.00

Ornament Lady painted in silver over blue   $120.00

Santa on Mushroom with sack and 3 flying Santa Fairies   $220.00

Candlelight Santa with Elephant  $160.00

Snowman on log with snowball in the air  $112.00

Rabbit Snowman with Snowman ball and Snowman on a stick  $120.00

Santa Rides a Lamb  $91.00

Heart and Soul with 3 flying Santa Fairies   $345.00

Parade with boy in blue and stick horse, doll, elephant and bear   $299.00

There are several other one-of-a-kind creations that are not pictured.  We hope that you love these Debbee Thibault creations as much as we do!  Hope to see you at the Magical Holiday Evening or the next day as the DT signing continues(Saturday, Nov. 21).

DEBBEE THIBAULT SIGNING CHRISTMAS 2009

You are invited to

A MAGICAL HOLIDAY EVENING WITH DEBBEE THIBAULT

at

American Harvest

438 Main Street

Pleasanton, CA 94566

on Friday, November 20th from 6-9pm

Debbee will be featuring many one-of-a-kind creations made especially for American Harvest customers!

These designs will be very limited and no two exactly alike.  The fun will continue the next day, Saturday, Nov 21st as Debbee will be back at the store to sign her work and tell wonderful stories of inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven't seen Debbee's new 2009 Christmas Collection this will be a great opportunity to view them in person.  Also, don't forget that American Harvest has a Debbee Thibault Loyalty Club for in store and online customers.  If you are unaware of the club, please call 925-485-1577 or email this link for details!

info@americanharvestinc.com