The best of 2011...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!  We enjoyed ours here in Colorado.  There had been a few days before Christmas that brought snow and the cold, so it made it feel even more like Christmas here. I just love this time of the year and remembering the importance of what Christmas is truly about.

  As I look forward to the New Year to come, it is always a great time to look back over this last year and reflect on what 2011 brought.  I feel many of the goals I had set for this last year I was able to accomplish or to start on that path of getting to the goal I had set.  Setting goals give's me a chance to try to attain them in a realistic way and if I don't get there before the end of the year, I can continue to work towards them.

I wanted to share with you all what I think was some of the best things that happened to me this year and posts I shared with you.  I am really excited for what this New Year brings and some of the goals I would like to attain.  I have something coming up that is a big change for me and my family and we are really happy about it.  I can't share just yet, but very soon!!  A new road on my journey and of course I will be bringing you all along. :)

I hope you will enjoy going back in time over this year and visiting some of my posts that I felt were the best of 2011...

Following your dreams...

Love of old books...

Smell the roses...

This very moment...

Victoria's secret recipes...

A Sunday game of chess...

Flirtatious...handbag and clutch

My Art Saves Story...

Enchanted 2011 Collection...

Victoria Hayden...

Creating Vintage Charm...

Vintage matelasse floral stockings...

I will be back in the New Year of 2012 with new designs for my shop, lots more decorating in my home and exciting things that will be happening in my business!! Thank you to all of you who stop by for a visit, leave sweet comments and have become my support as friends!! I appreciate you all so much and look forward to what this new year will bring!!  I wish you all a very Happy New Year friends and many great blessings in this new year to come!!

Hugs and love,

Christmas Time...

Hi friends!

  I wanted to share the winner of the $50 gift certificate to spend with Mikarose clothing...the Random Generator picked lucky number 8!!! That's you Allison that said "I follow your lovely blog!" Yay!!! So happy for you!  I hope you will love getting to shop with Mikarose!!  I know I am happy to have found this wonderful company and definitely look forward to shopping with them too!! 


There has been so much going on here between filling orders, designs, baking, shopping and wrapping that I really haven't had much time to decorate for Christmas.  I decided to keep it very simple this year, so with that I don't have a lot to show you in pictures.  I do however have this post from last year that shows some of the decorating I did here...I hope you will enjoy getting to see this again if you saw this last year or if it's the first time, I hope you will enjoy a little peek into our home for the holidays with a re-post...


So happy to get to share a little of Christmas decorating with you all this year.  Last year we were just moving in and putting our floors in, I didn't get to decorate for the Christmas season at all.  


We have been taking in the moments and savoring the beauty, warmth and comfort of our home at this Christmas time.  Little by little it really is starting to look and feel like the home I had envisioned. I decided not to stress about projects that still need to be done in the house this month and instead focus my attention solely on the spirit of Christmas...it has been a nice change!


I have a tradition every year that I make something homemade and special for my family.  Giving something from my heart and hands shows my family how much they mean to me.  I too have fond memories as a kid being given handmade gifts that I have treasured...much more than things that were bought for me.  


This year I decided to make some new stockings. As I pondered on what I wanted to do, I remembered some beautiful crocheted snowflakes my mother-in-law had made for me years ago.  I thought, what better way to create something special than to incorporate something  from her heart and hands, along with mine.  


I let the family pick what snowflakes they liked and then sewed them on.  Using burlap, linen and canvas...I had a neutral background for all of the beautiful and intricate snowflakes.  I made the cuff of my stockings with a scallop edge from an old maltesse coverlet that used to be on my bed. They have added so much whimsy and beauty to our Christmas decor and fireplace...we all love them!   


I feel lucky to have such a talented mother-in-law, who is always making wonderful creations for us from her heart.  We love and treasure her! 


Ready to share with you all what Christmas time looks like in our home...a little whimsy, touches of elegance, with a cottage feel...Welcome friends and enjoy! 

Burlap and crocheted snowflakes...

Personalized letters...

Homemade stockings, made with love... 

Hung with care...

 In hope's that St. Nicholas will soon be here.

Hopefully no coal in mine!

Birdies and snow...

Vintage bottle brush trees...

Joy to the World!

Shiny ornaments...

A miniature nest under a cloche...

The splendor of the tree...

No two snowflakes alike...

Brilliant red berries...

A dove for Peace and it's pretty nest...

A hand carved wooden dove...

A sweet nest...

Pretty wrapped packages, ready for the tree...

No peeking...

  

Tree bathing in the light...

Still more room for presents!

Lot's and lots of pine cones...

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas from my home to yours!!

Thank you for stopping by and visiting!

Hugs and love to you all!

Mikarose Giveaway!!

Hello friends!!

I hope your week is off to a great start! Can you believe we are only 2 weeks away from Christmas?!  I feel like the days just blend and the weeks go faster...I have heard this comes with the older you get...does this mean I am there? ;)

How about starting your week out with a wonderful giveaway?!

I was recently contacted by the company Mikarose about doing a giveaway for my readers.  When I went to look at their website I was very impressed at what I saw!  They are a company that carries beautiful, quality clothing all done in a modest way!  I am someone who believes in dressing modestly, so this really appealed to me.  I found many dresses, skirts and other items that I now want to add to my wardrobe.


Another thing I loved about Mikarose...their prices!! They are moderately priced for such beautiful, quality clothing.  That is always a bonus! I loved that they fit many sizes too.  From xs to plus size they have something for everyone!


Here is what Mikarose shares about their company...


Mikarose is a clothing company that specializes in modest, elegant and fashionable dresses. Our company's idea evolved when the owners realized how difficult it was to find modest dresses in today's market. We are sure you have had similar experiences when looking for a modest dress. After many frustrating outings, we formed Mikarose. Our goal is to provide an extensive line of modest dresses, without having to sacrifice style. You will be able to wear our line to a broad range of functions: from everyday events to corporate parties. We hope to not only meet the needs of women looking for modest wear, but all those who are seeking elegant dresses.


Here are just a few things I found that I loved from their site...

I love this dress!!

 The style is so flattering, but I have to admit I loved the name too...

Victoria (this is the winter version in slate)

Here is is again in black...

Another great thing about this dress?  It's on clearance!! 

This top is so pretty in this pink coral and

 I love the attention to detail with the flowers!

Who doesn't love a great skirt?!

  A a-line skirt that flatters any figure with a soft flowy bottom.

This is a beautiful wrap dress that also comes in stone, burnt red and plum...

Mikarose also carries pretty accessories...

There is so much more to see on their site! Mikarose is being very generous and giving one lucky winner a $50 gift certificate to shop with them!! Wouldn't that be great to add some new clothes to your closet?!  

Here is how to enter...

Visit Mikarose, come back here and leave a comment on your favorite thing!  It's that easy!!

Would you like to have additional entries? 

Of course you would! ;)  

Here are a few more ways to enter...

1. "Like" Mikarose and add them as a friend on Facebook and tell them I sent you!
2. Blog or FB with a link to this giveaway to share with your friends, don't forget to tell me here!
3. Follow along with me here or let me know if you do
4. "Like" me Victoria Hayden Designs on Facebook and say "Hi"

When you do each additional entry come back and comment that you did for each separate thing!! I will run the giveaway until Friday the 16th of December until 12am Pacific time!  This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only.  A winner will be picked by using the Random Generator and winner will be announced on Saturday the 17th of December! 

 Good luck and I hope you enjoy visiting Mikarose!! 

Hugs to you all!

Vintage matelasse' floral stockings...

I'm excited to show you the stockings I have been working on...

I hope you will love them as much as I do. 

 I was happy to create these with some of my favorite fabrics by the amazingly talented Tanya Whelan.  I paired the stockings with a beautiful vintage matelasse' fabric for the scalloped cuff. Then I added a ruffled gingham fabric (from the Darla collection by Tanya) made into a pretty rose, coordinated perfectly with the beautiful floral patterns on these pretty stockings.  They are lined with a cream muslin that makes them nicely finished and durable for all the goodies that Santa will fill them with. Each stocking gets a big sparkly gold or silver glittered letter to add that extra special detail to make each one personalized.  These are now available in my Etsy...

Personalized glittered gold or silver letter...

Vintage matelasse' floral stockings...

A pretty ruffled gingham rose...

Some of these stockings are limited in some of the fabrics, if you see something you love you might want to buy it now or it will be gone!  These are all so pretty and will add a vintage, romantic and sweet look to any Christmas decor!  A perfect gift to give filled or left for Santa to fill.   You can visit my Etsy here.

I have another stocking design I will be back to share. 

Have a great day friends!!

The Winners Are...

I just wanted to pop in for a minute and announce the winners for the Creating Vintage Charm magazine!  I received my copies over the weekend and I loved every page!! It was exciting to see my tutorials in print and I hope that you too will try some of the handmade gifts I shared. I just want to thank Sonia Crouse the editor of this amazing magazine for featuring my gift tutorials! I know she works hard to put this eye candy and articles together for all of us to enjoy!! Thank you Sonia!!

  There is so many other beautiful things to see...make sure to buy your copy here!!  I loved getting to read and look at the magical event, Once Upon A Dream hosted by the oh.so.talented Jennifer Hayslip!  You will also see Natasha Burns (one of my favorite artists too!) share a whimsical tutorial on a Midsummer Mobile...it's beautiful!! So many other talented ladies and features...you will love it!

So...the 3 winners are...#11, #20, #29....that's Deborah@Fairfield House,  Traci@It's My Life and Lori@Morning Glories and Moonflowers!!!! So happy for you ladies!  I will be getting in touch with you for your mailing info. I hope you enjoy this beautiful magazine!!

I am hoping to share another post later today or tomorrow on some very pretty stockings I made that will be in my Etsy!! Be back soon!

I leave you with a little Christmas inspiration from my Pinterest board Christmas Time...

Have a wonderful Monday!!

Hugs,