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We have become enamored with those candles that are fake but flicker like a real candle and best of all go on and off automatically. they even smell and feel like real wax.

Now should I want to have a candle in each window at Christmas I can do so as there is no plugging in necessary.

These on our mantelpiece go on at 7ish and off 5 hours later. It is kind of nice to see the "surprise" of the light each evening.

The light did not show up in the previous photo so had to take it directly.

I also used them on my porches this summer as I like to leave a light for the neighborhood.

Any simple decorative things in your lives that please you?

Where did you get the candles? I have not seen any like that, though I have not been shopping for candles for some time. I used to use the little ones that are plastic and you turn them on and off. I like the automatic idea better!
I would like to add those to my living room decor one day (when I finish that room!)
Very nice.

For me I enjoy our ceiling fans. They keep the air moving and I love the tropical feeling they give to the house. I like mine to show up so I have them in brown wood tones with wicker paddles. I always enjoy them.

Picture is of the fan we had in the living room in Virginia. (the room is almost empty because the house was sold and we were moving out) We bought similar type for here in Florida. I bought the outdoor type, the blades clean so much easier.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

fresh flowers or a flowering plant.

I love battery-operated candles, LadyofShallot. I never liked using real candles because of the soot.

Another favorite decor item for me is a throw pillow. I use too many on my bed, but I limit the ones on the sofa to two or three, changing them out seasonally. That's also the one item that I'll update regularly according to decor trends.

Mary Ruth, I first found out about these from DD. When they had a mantel fire just before Christmas a couple of years ago she switched.

Mine I got at our discount store. Of course discounted. Think we paid about $3 each. They use two triple A batteries. I took all they had in the white color.

I would really like to have a ceiling fan, but so far we have not invested in one. Actually could use one to keep the heat on the first floor in winter!

I also like fresh flowers and of course pillows. But right now #1 is the candles!

Fun thread! I found two matching (24 x 44) picture frames without pictures at a local thrift store.

Took them to the glass shop and had mirrors cut to size for cheap. I might add some darker stain color to the frames later. Dh added "D" ring hooks for hanging.

Like LOS, I am obsessed with the battery candles. We had this discussion last year!

It is so nice to come home to the glow of the candles. I got them for my DDs so that they did not come home to dark apartments.

I also bought them for elderly relatives since they are much safer than real candles.

My favorites are Candle Impressions. Their batteries seem to last much longer. I have them in the bathrooms, and they come on around midnight and stay on for 5 hours. They are a great nightlight.

I would say books, clocks, pillows and fresh flowers or flowering plants. And pictures -- lots of favorite art hung everywhere!

Martha

My favorite decorative accessory I would say are lanterns, candlesticks, sconces, etc. I've always loved them and have many collections. LOS, I've discovered the battery operated candles too. I do not have any with a timer though. I'm on a mission to find some, thanks to you
My problem with wax candles is once they have been lit I no longer want them displayed. Always dread when the lights go out. DH will start to light my good candles instead of looking in the the buffet drawer for the burnt ones
Also must add, for an outside decorative accessory, I love solar lights.

I'd find it very difficult to choose only one favorite thing! However one is a metal wallhanging my DH made from an old gate. I also really like my original art collection, my many candlesticks, the silver holloware, some of my art glass, and a bowl in a metal stand which was one of my first yard sale finds. I've previously posted pics of most of these things but here's a rerun of the bowl I like. I paid $3.00 for it and since I was new to yard sales couldn't believe my good luck.

Just thought I'd chime in. I was in Costco today and they had sets of 7 battery/time candles for $24.99 after a $5 rebate. That's about $4 each, not bad.

In summer it is fresh flowers from the garden and in winter, candles brighten my home. I especially love gently scented candles with a spice or cinnamon fragrance.

Emily, I'm with you. I recently began using the battery lit candles as part of a small table scape. I love them. A couple of weeks ago I found some large ones. The wax on them is textured and colored to look like tree bark; very realistic and you know my heart quickened when I saw them. Yes, they had to come home with me. They are perfect for our home. Currently they are in lanterns on our stone wall. I like looking out the windows at night and seeing them lit up. They go on at 7 and off at 10.

I love fabric, which is why I also love throw pillows, you can add some pizazz to any space with some beautiful pillows. It's hard to narrow it down though because I also love lamps and art.

If it is for vignettes, my favorite thing would be a cloche.

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I love fabric, which is why I also love throw pillows,

Me too, Brenda. In fact I have some wonderful fabric samples that if I only wanted to open my machine would be terrific pillows! LOL

Mary Ann, Bark texture would indeed be very suitable for either of your homes! But I wonder why they are only three hours when mine are five?

For me it would have to be mirrors. I love big bold ornate mirrors. Even though I have one or two in every room I still see ones I want. I love anything with Fleur de Lis' on them too.

both my favs in one...hehe

ZL, now you remind me that I love mirrors too. Not necessarily ornate but just mirrors. Was thinking about hanging all the "extra" ones in DGD's attic space.

OOoh I love your crosses too! Even though I am a faithless (is that a word?) person I love relig ious art!

I really like the way you have them displayed.

I'm afraid I am hooked on pictures. I love pictures of old house, barns, grist mills. When we were getting ready to move into our new home we were moving a few things and I had brought several pictures out and had them stored ready to hang. My nephew told my mom I had enough pictures for 2 houses. LOL...and I probably did. It took a year for our house to be built so I was always on the look out for pictures at thrift stores and yard sales so along with what I already had in the other house I did have a "few" LOL.

...and btw I love monkey hooks for hanging pictures, mirrors etc. They have made my life much easier for sure.

Emily, this is what I've discovered, the envelope pillow cover, so easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhZnHhbcN-Q
(to add to this pillow on you tube, I would add an extra inch to fold over. If you have thick feather pillows (like I do), you need a little longer flap to fold over so the pillow won't show.

Such an easy pillow to make. I will no longer buy the forms for the pillows either. I will simply change them out and reuse the same forms. I'm telling you Emily, these are the easiest pillows I've ever made, you should try them. Covers are easy to take off to clean and change up.

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Originally posted by lady of shallot:
ZL, now you remind me that I love mirrors too. Not necessarily ornate but just mirrors. Was thinking about hanging all the "extra" ones in DGD's attic space.

OOoh I love your crosses too! Even though I am a faithless (is that a word?) person I love relig ious art!

I really like the way you have them displayed.

DH is slowly filling up that front wall with crosses. That's the only thing he collects, well except for power tools. hehe

Cross lovers, have you seen THIS Blog? This guy makes beautiful bottle tops in the shape of a cross.
http://crossbottleguy.blogspot.com/

Edited to add photo:


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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

Lamps. I can't do without lamps.

I'd be just fine in a home with no ceiling lights at all. I rarely ever use those, and turn lamps on in every room. I have many styles in our home:

Vintage pair in the bedroom (40's era)
My Mema's crystal prism lamp, in our family for over 100 yrs
Vintage Southwest-influence (white stone)
Flickering early-American on breakfast buffet
And all in between!

I'm addicted to them, everywhere we shop, I find lamps I want. :-)

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Such an easy pillow to make.

Brenda I should be ashamed to even say this but it is not the actual sewing of the pillow cover I mind, it is opening up my machine!

I have made very many pillow covers in my time, the one pictured I pieced the patchwork cover for (sorry now I sold it) I have made them from designer fabrics, appliqued them, hand quilted them. One time I had an idea to feature a stained glass window in our home in different ways of making pillow tops, one was the quilted version, one was needlepointed etc. Never quit got that collection finished, alas as is true with so many other things.

Hi Miz M,
I hope all is going well with you!

I do not use ceiling lights unless:
*someone dropped something very small and we need to find it
*I need to deep clean the room
*need to take accurate measurements of something in a dark corner
*look for something behind or under furniture that was lost or dropped

Otherwise it is always mood or task lighting.

Really hard to narrow down what my favorite decorative accessories are. Lamps are very important to me, and art. Then I also use books a lot, and things that are old. A bit of patina makes for interesting accessorizing. Something fresh like flowers or plants adds a lot to a room. As I said, hard to narrow it down.

Interesting and thought provoking topic. We are not ones for many decorative possessions as we like the less is more approach. We do have a collection of crystal that is displayed behind glass doors. As William Morris wisely said, Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. In my mind nothing is more useful than beautiful wine glasses, especially when sharing a bottle of Merlot with dear friends.

Hi, Mary Ruth, thank you!

I used to dream of owning a lamp store, but how could I sell any? I'd want to keep them all!

Another fav accessory of mine are small occasional tables. I try to have them near any chairs, etc, to put drinks on, reading glassed, plants, whatever. Cozy and useful.