Being Published.

    There is nothing more excited than having your home or business featured in a publication.For years I wanted  my home to be featured in a magazine,and  after many portfolios sent in and rejected, it finally happened in June of 2011. Victorian Homes  Magazine ,did a 12 page spread about, My Old Historic House. I know most of you have heard me brag about this over and over, so I promise this post is not about it.

This is the book. 

   Years ago,1995, when I lived in St.Louis, in a townhouse, I had a Christmas Party at  my apartment, which was decked out for the Holidays. One of my guest ,was a friend and customer of mine, Ms. Mary Engelbreit . When I invited her, I had no ideal she was working on a Christmas book. No, really I didn't. Any how, she asked at the party, if she and her photographer could come and take pictures for her book. Of course, I said yes. And when I asked  when, she said, Tomorrow. Well it took a little late night cleaning, to get the after party picked up, but we did the shoot the very next day.
    Mary grew up in St.Louis and started her business by selling home made greeting cards to her friends. She became very successful and  now, she is almost as well know ,as Norman Rockwell. Mary came into my shop often. Sometimes to buy things for herself, other times to look for props. The shop I had in those days was called, The Antique Garden. It was located in the oldest freestanding greenhouse in the state of Missouri. It had been built by a florist around the 1904 Worlds Fair.The old  floral shop was in the front and it housed one of St.Louis's best Antique Shops. I had been working for a wholesale florist for about 10 years and I thought it was time to open my own business.So I did , and I rented this old greenhouse and  it was a combination floral and antique shop.But that is another story. Anyhow ,Mary Engelbreit became one of my good customers and this is how I ended up in her book.And, being in her book sure made a difference in my business. Was a very good thing for a new business owner.

This is Dear Sweet Shelia.

This is a comment Shelia left me asking me to post about being in Mary Engelbreit's Book

The comment I left for Shelia at Note Song 

    Last week I was following one of my dear blog friends- blog and she mentioned Mary. It seems she had gotten an ideal from one of Mary's  magazine publications, for her Christmas decorations. That blogger was Shelia from - www.notesong.blogspot.com. I left a comment about being in Mary's book and she  in return asked me to post about it. So that's how we got to here.Sorry Shelia, I am not the smartest  blogger out there in blogland, so I am afraid ,I do not know how to add your link. But, please everyone, go visit Shelia.

My dining room at my townhouse apartment that was featured in Mary Engelbreit's Christmas Book.

caption from the book.

   My townhouse, that is featured in Ms. Engelbreight's book ,was the whole second floor of an old 1900's Victorian Mansion. Parts of the townhouse still retained the Victorian charm, while other parts were very  modern. I had never lived in a townhome before and this was a fun adventure. You entered my apartment through the original front doors and went up the original, beautiful staircase. The staircase opened to my entrance hall, which was actually the second floor landing. There was a fireplace in this area. It was a rather large space and I decorated it with a big square marble top table. A very large living room was to the right and the dining room, kitchen and two bed rooms were to the left. You will see things in these photos that you have seen in, My Old Historic House posts, so I am sure you will recognize them right away.
   Have fun and enjoy this post. I have to say, I do not have a scanner. I just took these pictures with my post and shoot camera. I am afraid they could be better, but are not too bad. I did not get any pictures from the original shoot, so these, that I did for this post, can now go into a folder, and that's a good thing. I bet if you don't have this book and want a copy it could be found on Ebay or somewhere. The Title of the book is: Mary Engelgreit's Christmas Companion and it was published in 1995 by Andrews and McMeel Press from Kansas City, Missouri. My pictures are featured on pages 22,55,85,92 and 108. If you have some of Mary's books, look and see if you can find me.

This was my Entrance. Notice  all my domes. Most of them are now in my Dining room. 

Caption from the book.

I added gold stick on stars to lots and lots of candles. They were placed on a  large serving tray that I  gold gilded. Fresh gardenia flowers and an antique French gilt cherub were also on the tray.

   I hope you will come sometime soon for a real tour of, My Old Historic House. I will always leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will greet you with a big jump and a kiss. I am working on Christmas for this year. Don't seem to get much done, too busy writing and posting this blog. So maybe, by Christmas Day, I will have some photo's for you, of Christmas 2011 at The 1845 Historic Elgin/Cottrell House Museum. Happy Holidays.
 

The dining room with the table set for the party.

I  no longer have this side board but I do still have my dogs.They are now in my kitchen.

The dining room had two windows and I added shelves and placed all may cranberry glass on them. Cranberry looks very beautiful when the light can come through.

One of Mary's drawings from her book.

Caption from the book.

These lights were on my tree when I was a kid. I have kept them all these years and always place them somewhere at Christmas time.

I used a box wood wreath to circle my Mothers silver punch bowl. I added winter berries, dried orange slices and real fruit that I had gold gilded.

Fresh pine and a large bow  was placed above all my ,"store bought relatives."She now hangs in my Up River Parlor.

A close up of my ornament collection.

Mary Engelbreit when she was young, visiting Santa.

This  is another wall of the dining room.. Notice I had fresh flowers everywhere.

Caption from the book.

My enrance hall as it appears in Mary Engelbreit's book.

 Fresh fruit was  sugared for the dining room table.

                                   I just checked and this book is available at Amazon.com. and some are used and very reasonable.

DEAR SANTA !

Sissy Dog and Santa 

This is the real Santa, he like Clarksville and visit us every year.

In  honor of  Santa coming, we decorate the City Hall and give him a special spot to meet the little children.
Santa Claus Collection.

Snowman Collection.

The Clarksville,Mo. City Hall, transformed into Santa Land.

Mountains of snow men await the little ones who have came to see Santa.

Santas of all sizes and descriptions are on display.

      Santa arrives in our little town today.This is the first of his many visits.  Several of the  citizens, guided by our Mayor, have decorated the meeting room at city hall here in Clarksville,Missouri for his arrival. This is about 6 years now that we have been doing this. When we first started we had very little to work with. I donated a Santa and a Snowman collection, that I once used to decorate my house  and the Mayor has added to this for many years now. Some town folks bring us and donate  Santa or Snowman every now and then, making this project bigger and bigger. Several trees are decorated, a mantle and the entire meeting room is transformed for Christmas. The Mayor does most of it, she is devoted. Some town folks help out and I usually place the Santa and Snowmen. This year the meeting halls looks more beautiful than ever. It is a little thing we all do for the Children.
    I ventured down to the city hall shortly after Santa arrived, taking Sissy Dog for a visit. She had her letter ready and made her list and checked it more than twice. After a long wait in line, of which Sissy was a very good girl, it was our turn. It didn't take much to get her to jump up on the old jolly mans lap. He was so delighted to see her and remembered her name. After several Sissy Kisses, Santa took her list and promised that if she could be good till Christmas, some of her dreams would come true. We thanked Santa and went back to our shop, where Sissy greets all the customers. So far, she is holding her own and seems like she might be trying extra hard to be a good girl. I am sure she can do it, as she always is a really good girl.
   When we got back to the shop, Sissy fell asleep and started to dream about what she had asked Santa for.

Rabbits to chase. I try and discourage this habit, but she loves to chase them. When her uncle Bruce,the Clarksville Dog Walker, walks her, he encourages her to chase them. I guess that is why she is so excited when Bruce shows up. 

Sissy would be happy to get anything from her favorite shop in New York. It is on 5th Avenue and is the latest in dog fashion. However, I would never let anyone call Sissy  by that name. No! No! 

A new  warm coat would be nice for our winter walks. 

Lots and Lots of good dogie treats would be appreciated.

A new collar, nothing too fancy,

This little darling princess dog bed would be tops on my list.

I don't think Daddy would like this idea, but a little brother or sister would suit me just fine.

Santa please bring my Daddy lots and lots of customers and lots and lots of readers and friends on his blog.

And Santa, please don't forget my two best friends. Shotgun and Basil, they have been awful good as well. They live next door, so they are easy to find. 

       I will leave you now and I hope you will come by some time for a tour. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will always greet you with a jump and a kiss. And from me and  Sissy, I sure hope all your Christmas Wishes come true. And remember all the fur babies out there, they are helpless and always give so much back. God Bless the Little Children and the Animals.

Merry Christmas from Sissy Dog!

Welcome to Richard's Great Stuff in Clarksville,Mo.

A girl has to take a break sometimes.

There just might bea bunny rabbit in here.