When the San AntonioExpress-News contacted me to do a feature article on a trash to treasure tablescape, I just couldn’t wait. I love shopping flea markets and one of a kind boutiques for those hidden treasures.
They were so excited to see how I would take these finds once considered not worthy or someone else’s trash into a vintage holiday tablescape. For one day we visited goodwill stores and local flea markets and one of a kind antique stores. I had no idea actually what theme I would do , but as usual I let the variety of goods lead me to what became
Cookies & Cocoa with Santa
invites and placecards by Harper Gray
My vision went from an outdoor shoot with cozy blankets and a campfire to back indoors by the fireplace to finally on the porch of an historic cottage in downtown New Braunfels, Texas.
I ran with the colors or red and turquoise. It all came together when I found bits and peices of old dusty weathered furniture at Max’s Haus in New Braunfels just lying around.
The editor and photographer followed me around watching every peice I picked up with confused looks on their faces. I knew just what each peice would be used for. I hope to share some images with you from the photographer of our shopping trip.
I took along my creative assisitant Mika of Cookie Craft. My life has never been the same since we met. My little Martha shares my vision and attention to detail and completes my passion to design and style. Not only does she make and decorate amazing cookies, she sews, paints, draws and puts up with my at times crazy requests (not to mention she laughs at all my jokes).
We busily put together stockings, wreaths, snowglobes, tablecloths and place settings all in one full day of hard work. I called Santa at the North Pole to see if he could spare the time to have cookies with me and I was as giddy as a child when he said YES!!
The next day we set up and styled our vision for the newspaper and the photographer took pictures of our details and a “few” of Santa himself. I invited my sweet young nephews Tommy and Charlie to come see Santa and have cookies and I couldn’t have been more proud to have them there sipping chocolate milk and enjoying Santa all to themselves. How special is that?
Enjoy the article. I am so honored to have been asked to style this shoot. I hope it brings inspiration to you for the Holidays.
All week I will be breaking down certain details for you to see aong with how-tos and free printables that you can use to set your table.
I hope you will join me all week as we “trash talk” our amazing front page article.
click on this image to view the article as seen in the
San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle
