Home In Style

wiNter 2013 T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

BRAZOS VALLEY HOLIDAY EVENTS HOLIDAY ARTS EVENTS IN THE BRAZOS VALLEY WEARABLE ARTS GROUP PROVIDES OUTLET FOR VARIETY OF ARTIST TALENTS BRING IN THE OUTDOORS WITH HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Holiday Home

house near Caldwell brimming with Christmas décor old and new

When Quality Matters...

AMBROSE FURNITURE WORKS fine furniture • interior design • upholstery fabric • gifts • home decor

401 South Main Street Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 822-4071 www.ambrosefurnitureworks.com

12

Holiday home

House near Caldwell brimming with Christmas décor old and new

Contents 7 BRAZOS VALLEY HOLIDAy EVENTS

22 Holiday Arts Events in the brazos valley 25 Wearable Arts group provides outlet for variety of artist talents 26 Get your home ready for holiday guests 27 Safely deck the halls this holiday season 28 Bring in the outdoors

Before & After Sale Event of the Year!

Enjoy Your Patio All Year!

Act now! LimitEd timE offEr!

nEw ScrEEnroomS

And PAtio EncLoSUrES

SAVE UP to 40% Save Big during the Before & After

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

(979) 599-5250

Sale Event of the YEAR!

13902 iH 35 north San Antonio, tX 78233

call now for Your frEE in-Home design Survey

sunrooms4u.com

On Elegant Patio Covers, Patio Enclosures, Sunrooms or Screen Rooms. If you order before 9/1/2013 01/31/14

Guaranteed in Writing!

Best Products! Best Price! Best Value!

4

(210) 564-0833

sunrooms4u.com

MORE REASONS • MORE CHOICES THE WIDEST SELECTION AVAILABLE

Waldenbrooke Estates Waldenbrooke Estates does more than provide a beautiful place to live. We provide a trusted community with a sense of belonging. Everything is designed to create a better senior lifestyle. We offer you a whole new world of friendship, compassion, gracious living, and comfort in the ultimate location. Put them together and you have the perfect combination for an independent, rewarding and fulfilling retirement. I invite you to schedule a personal tour and join us for lunch. Experience for yourself, the warm hospitality and quality that is a way of life at Waldenbrooke Estates.

Your lifestyle is waiting.

We want you to ask yourself, “Why did I wait so long?”

2410 MEMORIAL DRIVE • BRYAN, TX 77802 ARRANGE A PRIVATE TOUR BY CALLING MICHELLE WAGNER-YEATTS

979-774-1298

(above) Children perform as elves during last year’s Christmas at the Creek.

(BELOW) Girls pose for a photo with Rudolph at last year’s Christmas at the Creek.

6

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

Brazos Valley

T

his Christmas families can take their children to one of the most popular and longest-standing local attractions on Dec. 5 – the snow hill in Sue Haswell Park.

Each year for its Holiday Magic event, the city of Bryan brings Santa letter-writing stations, a holiday mural, games, rock walls, free photos of Santa, live entertainment and food and beverages to the park. Children can also slide on inner tubes down the snow hill in the park, at 1142 E. William J. Bryan Parkway.

Shuttles begin at 5 p.m. for the Dec. 5 event and end at 9 p.m., running from the parking lot at Blinn College.

“Holiday Magic is a great way to kick off the holiday season,” said Gwynne Shillings, who is in charge of special events and marketing for Bryan Parks and Recreation. “It’s a free event that the whole family can enjoy.” d in the

holiday events For more information, visit www.bryantx. gov.

Here are some other local events for families to enjoy:

Nov. 28 - Jan. 1 Christmas Lights will be on display after dark in Stephen C. Beachy Central Park, at 1000 Krenek Tap Road in College Station.

Nov. 29 - 30, Dec. 6 - 7, 13 - 14 and 20 - 21 Ledbetter Volunteer Fire Department’s Christmas Lane of Lights – 6 to 9 p.m.

The intersection of Highway 290 and F.M. 1291, at Stuermer’s Store (hayride trailers pick up there).

Enjoy a hayride through nearly a mile of lighted Christmas scenes, including animated

Fabrics

By Holli Koster Special to The Eagle

displays, two historic houses and Santa.

The fire department will serve cookies, hot chocolate and wassail.

Entry is $8, and children under 2 are free.

For more information, visit www.ledbetterschristmaslaneoflights.com .

Nov. 30 Twilight Firelight at Fanthorp Inn in Anderson – 4:30 to 8 p.m.

The Fanthorp Inn’s Twilight Firelight holiday event at Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site in Anderson celebrates with a journey back to the 1850s.

The old stagecoach inn will be open and featuring period music, stagecoach rides, chuck wagon cooking, carol singing and a host of living history characters.

Activities begin at the Grimes County Courthouse, 100 Main St. in Anderson, where visitors board a replica stagecoach or wagon for a

From B/CS To Broadway And Back!

Dec 6-15

Jan 17-19 *the Winter Fundraiser

2013-2014 Season & Individual Tickets Available! Visit Our Website, www.Theatrecompany.com The Theatre Company, Located in the Tejas Center, behind Joann’s Fabrics

Funding for these organizations is provided by hotel taxes from the cities of College Station and Bryan as distributed through the ACBV. The Eagle www.theeagle.com

7

(Above & Left) Singers and actors perform at last year’s Christmas at the Creek event.

8

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

ride down Main Street to Fanthorp Inn. Upon arrival, visitors will meet their hosts from 1850, Henry and Rachel Fanthorp, along with cowboys, travelers from the 1800s and personalities who will entertain with stories, music, wassail and good cheer.

For more information, visit navasotatx.gov.

Dec. 3 Breakfast with Santa – 9 a.m. to noon Lincoln Recreation Center, at 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station The Breakfast with Santa will include a free hot breakfast, face painting, arts and crafts activities, entertainment and more. All participants ages 15 and under will receive a gift from Santa.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Lincoln Recreation Center at 979-764-3779.

Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Concert 7:30 p.m. – MSC Opas

Rudder Auditorium, near the intersection of George Bush Drive and Houston Street on the Texas A&M University campus.

For more information, visit opas.tamu.edu.

Dec. 6 - 15 Christmas Show: “Whistle Down the Wind” – Theatre Company Located behind the Tejas Center at the intersection of Villa Maria Road and Texas Avenue in Bryan.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newest London musical hit based on the Christmas classic movie starring Hayley Mills, “Whistle Down The Wind” is the heart-warming story of three orphaned children who find a wounded stranger in their barn and help him celebrate Christmas.

For more information, visit www. theatrecompany.com.

Dec. 6 - 7 Christmas at the Creek Wolf Pen Creek Park, at 1015 Colgate Drive in College Station Activities include a live nativity, concert,

APPLIANCES • KITCHEN CABINETS • JACUZZI TUBS

hayrides, dance performances, a petting zoo, live entertainment, photos with Santa and more.

A Holiday Vendor Village is a new attraction this year at the festival site; vendors on Saturday will sell a variety of arts, crafts, jewelry, candles and other items.

The Artisans’ Corner gift shop, live entertainment and photos with Santa will be held at the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley at 2275 Dartmouth St. Parking is located at Post Oak Mall. There will be a hayride drop-off and pick-up at Post Oak Mall, The Arts Center and the Colgate Street entrance of Wolf Pen Creek Park.

For more details, including a schedule of events, visit cstx.gov/Christmas or call 979-764-3486.

Dec. 8 Jingle Bell Fun Run – 2:15 p.m.

This 2-mile run starts at the intersection of University Drive and South College Avenue and ends at the intersection of Texas Avenue and Villa Maria Road. Entry fee is $20 through Nov. 29. Race shirts are provided to participants who registered before Nov. 15 and while supplies last.

Serving Builders, Remodelers and Their Customers

12850 OLD WELLBORN RD. #400 • CS •

979-696-2242

WWW.FACTORYBUILDERSTORES.COM The Eagle www.theeagle.com

9

(top left) Kids ride in a barrel train at last year’s Holiday Magic event. (top right) A girl plays in the bounce house at last year’s Holiday Magic event. (middle left) A girl poses for a photo with Santa at last year’s Christmas at the Creek event. (middle right) A boy tries out rock climbing at the 2012 Holiday Magic event. (bottom left) Children work on their letters to Santa at the 2012 Holiday Magic event in Bryan. (bottom right) Visitors to last year’s Holiday Magic event in Bryan slide down the snow hill. The hill is the event’s most popular attraction.

10

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

Dogs are welcome.

Participants can register online at rectrac. cstx.gov or in person at the Stephen C. Beachy Central Park, at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. Packet pick up will be Dec. 5 to 6, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 979-764-3486.

Bryan/College Station Christmas Parade – 2:30 p.m.

The parade begins near the intersection of University Drive and Polo Road in College Station, runs north down Texas Avenue and ends just before the intersection with Villa Maria Road.

For more information, visit bcsparade.com.

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

MSC Opas Rudder Auditorium, near the intersection of George Bush Drive and Houston Street on Texas Avenue.

It’s holiday time, and everyone’s favorite first grader is back to celebrate.

All of the students in Room One are happily creating the perfect holiday party. Except how is Junie B. supposed to enjoy anything when she has drawn the name of her arch nemesis, Tattletale May, for her Secret Santa Gift?

But wait -- the Secret Santa gift is the perfect opportunity to give May exactly what she deserves - maybe.

For more information, visit opas.tamu.edu.

Dec. 10 Christmas with the Boston Brass 7:30 p.m. – MSC Opas Rudder Auditorium, near the intersection of George Bush Drive and Houston Street on the Texas.

For more information, visit opas.tamu.edu.

Dec. 11 Holiday Open House – 10 a.m. to noon Southwood Community Center, at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

The center will serve refreshments, live

entertainment, door prizes, photos with Santa and provide information on activities offered for seniors.

For more information, visit cstx.gov.

Dec. 13 Downtown Bryan Christmas Parade – 6:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at 24th Street and Bryan Avenue in Bryan, travel south to 28th Street and end at 24th Street and Main Street.

For more information, visit downtownbryan. com.

Dec. 14 Home for the Holidays Event – All day • Navasota City Hall, 202 E. McAlpine The city of Navasota is hosting free fun activities for the family. The downtown Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit navasotatx.gov. or call 936-825-2241.

Mattress SleepCenters Your Family Owned and Operated Sleep Center since 2005

• Naturally Hypoallergenic • Dust mite resistant and antimicrobial • Ideal for Allergy Sufferers • Unparalleled support and pressure relief • 100% Breathable PureLatexBliss = Pure Bliss!

• Human Touch is the only Robotic Massage® chair tested and recognized by Chiropractors as a valid supplement to back care therapies.

• Relaxes the spine by naturally decompressing the vertebrae

Next To The Entrance To Post Oak Mall 1402 Harvey Road • 979-696-3900 10-7 Weekdays • 10-6 Saturdays • 1-5 Sundays

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

11

Holiday Home

house near Caldwell brimming with Christmas décor old and new By alleN JaNciK SpECIal To THE EaGlE

photos bY ChaNdLer ardeN

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

12

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

Amaryllis, berries and wicker and silk spheres accentuate the mixed greens that cover the staircase railing.

H

omeowners Tommy and Pat Novosad are always busy entertaining friends and family at their ranch home on the outskirts of Caldwell. The Novosad home is ready for a gathering of any size at any time. There is always fun to be had, but for the Christmas holiday season, they pull out all the stops.

When it came time to decorate for the first Christmas in their new ranch home, Pat called her interior designer, Allen Jancik, to the house.

They developed a plan to decorate around her favorite holiday pieces, while adding enough new product to fill the nooks and crannies of the sprawling home. With four grandkids, numerous nieces and nephews and scores of extended family and friends coming to visit, a tree alone was not enough. Six years later, Jancik continues to add, re-arrange, re-use and re-invent Christmas at the ranch.

The front door to the home is surrounded by a plush green garland filled with wild red berries, huge sugar pine cones and grapevine. Woven into the garland are shed antlers from elk, white tail and other animals on the property. An antique goat cart filled with red poinsettias adds plenty of holiday color, as well as a bit of humor.

In the entry hall, the 12-foot long buffet is transformed into a showcase for the family collection of nativities -- many Czech and German pieces from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and some bought new when Pat and Tommy were first married, 42 years ago. The buffet top and the shelves of the large plate rack above are cleared to make room for greenery and all manner of berry, poinsettia, ribbon and gilded or beaded ornament. All of this is only a background for the intricate details of the characters portraying the events of the first Christmas Eve. The highlight of the collection is a large Holy Family and the three Magi. These characters are handmade and dressed in new and vintage fabrics and trims from around the world.

The large plate rack above the buffet acts as the creche for the Holy Family. On either side of the main doorway, a pair of mirrors and sconces is dressed with greenery and antlers, with additional pieces from the nativity collection sitting below

(LEFT)The tree top is ruled over by a jolly elf on a tricycle, juggling a spinning wheel of tinker toys.

(Center photo) An antique sleigh and peacock feathers add character to the great room’s dÊcor.

(Right) Holiday touches in the doll room include a pair of reindeer and a tree holding an antique Dopey doll, along with other unique decorations.

14

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

15

(TOP LEFT) At the top of the stairs, the gallery is decorated with a pine tree filled with horns, burlap and mercury glass. Its top is filled with a bramble of vines, which grow from wine bottles atop the nearby sideboard. (TOP RIGHT) The Holy Family resides in an antique creche with its original 1880s paint. The nativity figures are dressed in antique fabrics and trimmings. (MIDDLE RIGHT) A party ready bobcat lounges on the sideboard top. (BOTTOM LEFT photos) Velvet reindeer and greenery serve as the centerpiece for the main dining room’s table.

16

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

(TOP LEFT) Mr. and Mrs. Claus keep tabs on a group of mischievous elves in the keeping room. (TOP MIDDLE) An antique bird cage filled with French crowns sits on an antique tender box overflowing with greenery and amethyst. (TOP RIGHT) Oma Bell watches over the Holiday festivities from her rocky perch. (BOTTOM LEFT) At the end of the gallery, wild glittery vines and flowers climb over a Saguaro stump. (BOTTOM CENTER) A bird cage filled with ornaments adds a sparkling touch. (BOTTOM RIGHT) An antique Santa sits atop a table in the great room.

them on a pair of Czech wedding chests.

The main dining room decorations are just as impressive as those of the entry hall. The decorations here incorporate other inhabitants of the ranch: deer and peacocks. A more woodsy theme prevails, but not without plenty of glamour and lots of glitter. An India blue peacock mount with a 6-foot tail, perched in a forest of oak trees on the fireplace mantel, inspired the color palette for the room’s holiday decor.

On the dining table, velvet deer forage through a fantasyland of mixed greens, assorted

flowers, succulents and glittered berries. At one end, an art deco blue mirror acts as a reflecting pool for one of the deer. The deer are hidden from predators by saddles made of greenery and other elements from the forest foliage in which they graze.

The great room is the place to be for a child, or a child at heart. A 12-foot Christmas tree filled with ornaments in red, green, silver and gold is surpassed only by its menagerie of playful elves.

The “star” on the tree top is being juggled by a mischievous, 36-inch tall elf on a tricycle. The

star actually turns on its axis and is made from an antique set of Tinker Toys; the toy tins are used as containers within the tree to hold other Tinker Toy creations.

No Christmas is complete without a visit from the jolliest old elf himself. A former store prop, the vintage mechanical Santa now waves at passersby in the great room instead of window watchers.

All the elves and reindeer are by Annalee, and the collection of hundreds of pieces has grown from one small mouse decoration on the Novosad’s first family Christmas in 1971.

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

17

(Page 18 and page 19, left photo) The entryway buffet is filled with a large nativity, decorated with German silver stars and antique silk tassels. (BELOW) A bird cage filled with old mercury glass ornaments and a music book sit atop a piano in the great room.

Another favorite decorative item in the great room is the 1907 sleigh. Photos, both formal and playful, tend to take shape in and around this Pennsylvania antique. After a visit from the grandkids, the sleigh, which holds gifts, is likely to have additions of baby dolls, blankies or toy dinosaurs and other miscellaneous surprises.

Like most of the holiday decor, the great room mantel changes every holiday season. Jancik has added oversized, beaded stargazer lilies and peacock feathers that reach as high as 8 feet above the mantle top. The feathers are inserted

individually into the trunk of a Saquaro cactus to give an almost tail feather look to them. The stair rail is lined in generous swags of greenery and red amaryllis.

On a ledge to the right of the fireplace sits a vintage birdcage nestled into a grouping of small trees. Inside the cage are antique French and American crowns, symbolizing the three Magi who visited the baby Jesus. Another birdcage, on the piano, holds old mercury glass ornaments.

The elves from the great room have taken over the kitchen, as well. A tangle of cooking twine

emanating from the left corner of the kitchen mantle and held taut by one little mouse serves the acrobatic madness of a host of elves. Other elves play across the cabinet tops and on the kitchen island.

The landing and gallery leading to the guest rooms are a little more untamed than rooms below, taking on an overgrown, forest feeling. A 10-foot pine tree -- filled with burlap, rusted metal garland and mercury glass ornaments -- is tucked into a corner of the gallery. Its top is intertwined and knotted with tendrils and vines growing from The Eagle www.theeagle.com

19

20

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

(OPPOSITE PAGE) One of a pair of chests in the entry displays one of the homeowners’ many nativity examples.(THIS PAGE) Elves play all around the kitchen, with the help of cooking twine. branches above the adjacent buffet, where a bobcat lounges atop the buffet hutch. In the spirit of the winter season, he wears a vintage ice-blue crystal necklace. Below the bobcat is an antique creche in the folk art style, made in Iowa in the 1880s. The Holy Family inside rests on an antique Turkish shawl; they are dressed in antique fabrics and trimmings, a custom creation by Jancik. The far end of the gallery has a niche, which is overgrown with pine branches, tiger-lilies, amaryllis and jeweled grape leaves and other brambles and vines.

On the other end of the house, upstairs in the doll room, the decorations were chosen to match the Victorian decor. An antique advertising calendar from 1914 wishes visitors “Seasons Greetings” as they enter the room.

Inside, a platinum tree topped with gilded pearl pea pods is good camouflage for a pair of white, Annalee deer on the floor below.

Within the tree are all sorts of hidden

characters. A familiar face peeks out from a lower branch ... feeling “Dopey”? This little guy is from the 30th Anniversary Snow White doll series, c. 1967. Several of his friends are climbing around inside the tree, as well.

As we near the holiday season for 2013, final preparations are being made for Christmas at the ranch. This home is a fantasyland for all who enter. A combination of family decorations, collections new and old, and new additions each year creates the background for the holiday and Christmas season to play out.

Throughout the decorations at the ranch, one will find both whimsical and profound reminders of the meaning of the season -- the original Christmas story of the birth of Jesus, as well as the American Christmas of Santa and his elves. Christmas and the holiday season are a wonderful time, whether you are 3, 30 or 103.

AJ

environments Allen Jancik, ASID Allied Interior Design PO Box 2052 • Bryan, TX 77806 817.714.4385 • aejancik@hotmail.com Holiday Decor • Interior Decorating • Consultations Party & Wedding • Conceptualization • Landscape Design

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

21

Holiday arts events in the Brazos Valley

T

By molly wallace SpECIal To THE EaGlE

he holiday season is upon us! With family in town and excited little ones, it’s always a good idea to have some seasonal events planned to keep everyone entertained. Let The Arts Council be your guide to all the arts events in the Brazos Valley! For a complete list of events and to see ArtMap, a listing of local public works of art, visit acbv.org/events.

Begin your adventure at The Arts Center, located at 2275 Dartmouth Street in College Station! “Diversatile,” a special exhibit highlighting the diversity and versatility of blacksmithing opens on Friday, Dec. 6. This

22

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

show features the work of local blacksmiths and showcases their artistic talent and craftsmanship with an aim to change the way you think about ironwork. Admission is free, and families are welcome. The Arts Center is also a great place to do some holiday shopping! The Artisan’s Corner gift shop features unique art created by local artists. From watercolors to pottery, there’s something for everyone on your list. Stop by Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Dec. 6 and 7, Christmas at the Creek comes to Wolf Pen Creek Park! This event

features a petting zoo, dance performances, hayrides, pictures with Santa at The Arts Center, a live concert and more. You’ll find art in the park with local artists selling holiday items. Christmas at the Creek is sure to become one of your favorite holiday traditions! For complete event details, please visit cstx.gov.

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than by listening to carols? The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform their Holiday Pops Concert on Dec. 8 at Christ United Methodist Church on Highway 6 in College Station. Selections include “Jingle Bells,” “The First Noel,” “A Hanukkah Medley,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and more! This concert is a great activity for the whole family. Adult and child tickets are being sold now. To purchase your tickets anytime, visit bvso.org/tickets.

Every Sunday Mic Check Poetry hosts a poetry slam at Revolution Cafe in Downtown Bryan. Head downtown at 8:30 p.m. to hear local poets perform their works or to share your own poems. To learn more visit miccheckpoetry.org.

If you are looking to get outside and enjoy the cooler temperatures, check out Veterans Memorial Park. Walk the American History Mile Trail to see memorials honoring military veterans from American wars. The trail features the Wall of Honor, which has the names of over 4,600 veterans engraved in it. The trail is a great way to bring history to life and a great opportunity to get moving during the holiday season! To find out more about Veterans Memorial Park, visit bvvm.org.

The Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University is home to the Forsyth Galleries, the James R. Reynolds Student Gallery and the J. Wayne Stark Galleries. This December the Reynolds Gallery will be featuring works by renowned cartoonist Dave Coverly, creator of “Speed Bump” through Dec. 15. The exhibit is

great for kids and for cartoon lovers of all ages!

The Stark Galleries will be exhibiting “Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist Works on Paper by the Artist and His Circle” through Dec. 15, showcasing Degas prints and sketches, as well as works from Degas’ friends and fellow impressionist artists. The show is an insightful look into Degas’ development as an artist, as well as an opportunity to see his influence on his contemporaries. The Forsyth Galleries has “George Woodall and the Art of English Cameo Glass” on display, as well as “Forsyth Favorites: Faculty & Staff Selections from the Permanent Collection” through Dec. 15. Take this chance to get a peek at Texas A&M University’s extensive permanent collection. The best part is you can see all four of these exhibits in the same building.

If you love the theater you are in luck! The Theatre Company will perform “Whistle Down the Wind” Dec. 6 through 15. Stage Center will show “Inspecting Carol,” a comical twist on the classic holiday play, “A Christmas Carol” Dec. 5 through 14. Navasota Theatre Alliance will put on “Somethin’ Special for Christmas: A

Cowboy Christmas Comedy” Dec. 5 through 15. Unity Theatre will bring “Nuncrackers, The Musical” to life from Dec. 5 through 22. Brazos Valley Troupe will be performing “Cool Yule: A Vaudeville Holiday” Dec. 13 through 15. There’s a performance for everyone this season!

Brazos Valley Chorale and Brenham Children’s Chorus will have their annual holiday concerts this December. Brazos Valley Chorale will perform “We Need A Little Christmas” on Dec. 7, at First Presbyterian Church; with traditional Christmas music and contemporary choral pieces it’s sure to please! Brenham Children’s Chorus will perform their Christmas Concert Dec. 13 and 14 at the Blinn College O’Donnell Center.

There are many events in the Brazos Valley at this time of year, from theatrical productions to choral concerts to art exhibits, and we hope that you will make supporting local arts a part of your holiday season! For even more arts events or for details about any of the events in this article, please visit acbv.org or call (979) 696-2787.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Molly Wallace is a marketing intern at The Arts Council. For more information on The Arts Council and local events, visit acbv. org.

Let Let �e �e beauty beauty in... in...

wi� wi� daylight daylight solutions solutions

d “We don’t just stan ows wind our d, stan behi t just don’ “Wend .”, them on d ows stan we nd our wind behi da.” them d onWan -Jack stanand we y da TerrWan -Jack and Terr y

Financing available for $67/month at 60 months with qualified credit*

6803 Woodway Dr. • Waco, TX 76712 6803 Woodway Dr. • Waco, TX 76712 254-751-0008

254-751-0008 windowworldwaco.com

windowworldwaco.com *Based on typical installation of ten (10) 4000 series white double hung windows without grids. With approved credit. See sales associate for details

THE EaGlE www.tHeeagle.com

23

Mary Anne Durbin, member of the Brazos Valley Wearable Arts group, wears an outfit that she made, at her son’s wedding. She purchased beaded ribbon and sewed it in a diagonal pattern on fabric, to create the jacket.

24

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

Wearable Arts group A

By STACY CANTU Special to The Eagle

provides outlet for variety of artist talents rtwork can be crafted in many ways -- and for the Brazos Valley Wearable Arts group, an affiliate group of the Arts Council of Brazos Valley -- art is something to be worn and shared with the community in the form of clothing and accessories.

“Making wearable art combines the functionality of clothing or accessories with the aesthetic principles of art,” said Mary Beth Vanderpoorten, member of the Brazos Valley Wearable Arts group.

Members make articles of clothing, which are decorated using techniques such as hand or machine embroidery, applique and beading.

Members also often hand dye fabric using a variety of dyes and inks.

“Recently, repurposing existing garments or accessories has been popular,” Vanderpoorten said. “Examples of items that do not have to be sewn are jewelry, knitted or crocheted items and hand woven articles.”

Members, who have unique styles that range from classic to funky, share their knowledge with the group and often offer free classes on a new or interesting technique.

“Some of our recent programs have been on making bead or wire jewelry, shadow applique, thread play embroidery, purse making and decoration, sewing leather and/or fur, combining colors and making custom buttons,” Vanderpoorten said. “Often speakers from outside the group are invited to present programs on ethnic design, sewing techniques or other topics related to art principles.”

At each meeting, the group has a “show and tell” segment where members show their latest creation and explain how it was done.

“It is a good way to get inspired, as well as to learn new techniques,” Vanderpoorten said.

Each year, the group works on two special projects.

“In the spring, we have a challenge, where a theme is given and each member interprets it in a unique way,” Vanderpoorten said. “In the summer, we have charity project where we make

items to donate to local charities. Recent projects have included gowns for nursing home residents or for hospitalized children.”

Darlene Hamiter, a member of the group, said she usually creates her artwork based on each year’s challenge.

“This past year was ‘Hey Lady where are you from?’” she said. “I am from Tampa, Florida, so I made a Latin-inspired skirt, with a punk Mickey Mouse blouse that was accented by a shawl trimmed in paper cigars.”

In a previous Africa-inspired challenge, Hamiter made a jacket adorned with various tribal masks and shields.

“My ‘Faded Love’ dress was for the Threadplay challenge, where I made the fabric for the sleeves out of thread scraps,” she said Hamiter began sewing 50 years ago.

“I began sewing on my grandmother’s treadle machine at age 4,” she said. “My love for sewing grew from there. In ninth grade I made a suit that had 42 pieces to the pattern. After high school, I began doing alterations on wedding dresses and making custom costumes for others, and I continue to this day.”

In addition to their meetings, special projects and classes, the group is also available to present style shows for other groups. These shows have been presented locally and regionally.

The group meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday, from January through October, at the Arts Center in College Station. Visitors are welcome to attend. Information on each program is listed on the ACBV online calendar at www.acbv.org. For more information, find Brazos Valley Wearable Arts on Facebook.

A fully customized cleaning in a one-size-fits-all world.

Come home to the customized service that is guaranteed to fit you perfectly.

• Cleaning Supplies Provided • Bonded And Insured • Screened Employees • Credit Cards Accepted

(979) 595-1111

2551 Texas Ave. S. Ste G • College Station

• Serving the BCS & The Surrounding Areas 2008-2013

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

25

METRO CREATIVE Connection

Get your home ready for holiday guests

F

amily gatherings are synonymous with the holiday season. Even those families who have spread out far and wide often manage to come together at least once at the end of the year.

When families include members who don’t live within driving distance of one another, those who aren’t hosting the holiday festivities must plan an overnight stay. Lodging costs can be considerable during the holiday season because hotels can quickly fill to capacity. Holiday hosts who want to go the extra mile can invite guests to forgo hotels and stay overnight at their homes, where guests can spend more time with hosts and won’t have to worry about finding lodging they can afford.

Though it’s a nice gesture to host overnight guests during the holiday season, it’s also one that requires a little work on the part of the hosts, who must take time ouf of the often hectic holiday schedule to prepare their homes for guests. The 26

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

following are a few pointers for hosts who want to ensure everything is ready and accommodating for overnight guests.

• Take inventory of household linens.

Depending on how many guests you’ll be hosting, you may need to stock up on extra linens. If only one or two people will be staying overnight, you should be able to make due with what you have.

However, if you’ll be hosting a second family for the holidays, whether it’s one night or a full week, then you will likely need to buy more linens, including bedding, pillows and blankets. Take inventory of what you have and make sure you have adequate bedding for each guest, as well as some extra bedding in case of emergency.

• Discuss pet allergies. Holiday hosts who have pets should discuss pet allergies with potential overnight guests well in advance of the season. If guests are allergic to your pets, then it might not be comfortable for them to stay overnight at your home. While most families

would not want to shelter their pets on a holiday, doing so is an option but one that may not even be worth it. Pet hair and dander around the house might be enough to trigger an allergic attack even when the pet isn’t in or around the home, so sheltering the pet may not be a solution after all.

Discuss this issue with prospective guests well in advance of the season so they have time to find affordable lodging in the event that any of them do have a pet allergy.

• Stock up on toiletries. Toiletries are bound to run out if you’re hosting guests for the holidays. Before guests arrive, stock up on these items, including toilet and facial tissue, hand soap, bath soap, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and extra toothbrushes in case guests forgot to pack their own. These items have no expiration date, so even if you end up buying more than you need you can always use them down the road when guests have long since returned home.

• Clear the house of clutter. Clutter can make a home seem even more crowded when guests are staying overnight. Clutter can accumulate anywhere in the house, from bathrooms to a living room to the kitchen.

When hosting guests for the holidays, you will need all the space you can get, so clear the house of as much clutter as possible. Put all toys away and clear the common areas of items like shoes and clothing that can make a space seem more cramped. In addition, clear the dining room table of any items that aren’t needed at mealtime and choose festive centerpieces that don’t take up much space.

• Don’t be caught off guard by a storm.

If guests will be staying multiple nights, it’s safe to assume everyone, hosts and guests included, will want to get out of the house, be it to enjoy local holiday celebrations or simply to avoid cabin fever by getting some fresh air. But the holiday season gets its fair share of inclement weather, including snowstorms. Hosts should not be caught off guard by a snowstorm, stocking up on items like a snow shovel, a snow blower and salt or a de-icing product for walkways and driveways before guests arrive. This will ensure everyone won’t feel trapped inside the house should a storm arrive unexpectedly.

Hosting guests for the holidays is no small task. But hosts who prepare in advance can ensure everyone makes the most of their time together.

Safely deck the halls this holiday season Keep the area around a fireplace clear to prevent fires.

S

pending time around a warm fireplace is an indelible holiday image. The entire family hanging stockings from the mantle while a fire roars below can make for a cozy evening and set the scene for the season to come. While the warm glow of candles and a blazing fire are key components of holiday decor, some holiday decorations have potential to be dangerous if homeowners are not careful.

Fireplaces Gathering around the fireplace is a holiday tradition for many families. But it is important to remember basic safety precautions when doing so.

Fireplaces can become quite hot no matter which type of fuel they burn. Draperies and other fabric should not be hung too close to fireplaces and stoves.

The glass and screens that cover fireplaces should be used to prevent sparks and embers from entering a room.

Keep children away from fireplaces while they are in use.

Have fireplaces professionally cleaned each year and inspected by a certified chimney

specialist. The United States Fire Administration says heating fires account for 36 percent of residential home fires each year. Clearing the chimney of creosote can reduce accidental chimney fires.

Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures so they don’t reach dangerous levels.

Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.

Do not leave fires unattended for long periods of time or allow them to burn overnight.

Keep Christmas trees far away from fireplaces.

Christmas trees can easily ignite, and the heat from the fire can dry them out over time.

Candles Candles used to decorate Christmas trees and the like were once the norm. However, candles can easily tip over and start a fire. Today there are far safer alternatives to providing holiday illumination.

Flameless candles use a twinkling LED light to create the atmosphere of an actual candle. They can be purchased in all different shapes and sizes.

Extinguish all candles before retiring

METRO CREATIVE Connection

for the night.

When using candles, make sure they are out of the reach of children and/or pets.

Use electric lights on a Christmas tree instead of lit candles.

Christmas Lights Many brands of Christmas lights are UL-listed and tested for safety. But safety precautions are necessary when stringing lights as well.

Do not overload circuits with too many lights strung together. Doing so is a fire hazard and can cause overheating.

Use caution when putting lights outside.

Purchase lights that specifically mention outside use. Have a person help you string lights when you must climb a ladder. Spotters can help prevent injuries.

Shut off lights when you go to bed. You will be saving energy and preventing fire risk.

Keep dogs and cats away from Christmas lights. They can become tangled or chew on wires and get shocked.

Better by Design‌

s a m t s i r h C r o f t n a w I All is a fan. dealers lighting

an employee owned company Corner S. College & Koenig in Bryan

775-1697

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

27

1729 Briarcrest Bryan, Texas 77802 Publisher Crystal Dupré Director of Sales and Marketing Ron Prince Display Advertising Manager Joanne R. Patranella 979.731.4719 joanne.patranella@theeagle.com Creative Services Manager Jim Bob McKown 979.731.4706 jimbob@theeagle.com Special Projects Dawn Goodall

aspidistra foliage

Special Projects Editor Shauna Lewis 979.731.4704 shauna.lewis@theeagle.com Section Designer Courtney Lewellen For questions or comments, please call: 979.731.4738 or email: homeinstyle@theeagle.com www.theeagle.com

By cHarla aNtHoNy SpECIal To THE EaGlE

Juniper berries

bring in tHe outdoors

hoLidaY deCoratioNs – gardeN stYLe

Advertise your company in the premier home magazine in the Brazos valley.

Publication Date: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 Space Reservation Deadline: Friday, Jan. 31, 2014

28

Home iN Style WINTER 2013

W

hile readymade decorations, centerpieces, wreaths and garlands may be purchased for holiday decor, the outdoors can be a great source for materials. If you are ready for a change, on a tight budget or don’t have much time to decorate, bringing the outdoors inside will give a fresh look and just take a few minutes.

Leaves, branches and berries gathered from your own garden will likely be fresher and last longer than any you can buy. And, your landscape may offer greens that would be difficult to find for purchase.

FreSH greeNery Decorating with fresh greenery is one of the oldest winter holiday traditions. Grab a pair of garden pruners and head outside – snipping branches and greens to tuck into your

year-round displays.

While pine and holly are traditional holiday greens, landscape ornamentals like nandina, ivy and boxwood are common in Brazos Valley landscapes, and may be used, as well. Branches of ligustrum, photinia, pittosporum and viburnum are evergreens that may require a constant water supply, but can be used effectively in a vase or basket. Other useful evergreens are aspidistra, holly fern and asparagus fern.

If you are fortunate enough to have a magnolia tree, select a few branches to trim. This versatile evergreen is long lasting and has leaves that are deep green on top with a rich bronze color underneath.

Rosemary makes an attractive wreath. Simply cover a foam wreath form by inserting five- to six-inch cuttings of rosemary. Add sprigs of holly, pinecones and a ribbon for an original creation. Ivy

Juniper Foliage

and Asian jasmine, groundcovers found in many area landscapes, are ideal for making garlands when twined onto grapevine. Add sprigs of holly, pine or cedar, and it’s ready to hang.

Unless you are allergic, use red cedar for garlands, wreaths and in centerpieces. Often laden with grayish blue berries, this native tree is actually a juniper and in abundant supply. If you don’t have access to garden greenery, purchase traditional greenery and make them unique by adding items gathered from your landscape like ornamental grass blooms, dried flowers and berries.

Boughs and berries Winter is the bare branch and berry season, and few plants stand out this time of year more than the deciduous holly. For a dramatic effect, simply arrange long branches of possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua) in a vase. Ladened with orangey-red berries, its gray limbs are attractive, as well. Tuck fresh flowers or a few snips of dusty miller at the base for a chic, finishing touch.

Evergreen branches of yaupon holly with berries make a wonderful addition to wreaths and centerpieces. (Tip – to minimize berry loss, select branches with berries that are just beginning to turn from green to red) Branches of the winged elm tree make dramatic displays and can be spray-painted festive colors. Mossy branches, a personal favorite, are

often covered with lichens and easy to arrange.

Use a heavy container to avoid tipping and let the branches soar in spaces with tall ceilings. For sparkle, spritz them with glitter or accent with small, shiny ornaments.

Of course, mistletoe holds a special place in holiday rituals, and trees benefit from its removal.

Carefully bundle and hang small bouquets in strategic doorways.

Gather and use moss, pine cones, acorns, dried flowers and seedpods. A bowl of bur oak acorns, fresh citrus or pomegranates makes a simple, but elegant accent for any table.

Blooms Roses are often still in bloom during December in our area. Carefully cut and place stems in water for small bouquets. Poinsettia is not the only holiday flower; cool season annuals such as cyclamen, pansies and snapdragons can be found in garden centers. Use them in containers indoors for the holidays; then plant them outside for color throughout the spring.

A floating floral is a simple but elegant centerpiece. A single gardenia or orchid suspended in a glass container of water lasts a long time. Add floating candles for a radiant evening.

Use natural items as decorations to extend the garden’s bounty into the winter holiday season.

Bring the sense of calm and relaxation we usually feel in our gardens inside our homes during this

Possumhaw Holly

often-hectic time.

How to harvest When gathering greenery from shrubs or trees, remember that you are actually pruning the plants. Consider carefully which branches to cut and which ones to leave. Distribute the cuts evenly around the plant in order to preserve its natural form. Wear gloves and use clean, sharp pruning shears to cut branches and greenery, placing them into water until ready to use.

Take note Some plants can present poisoning hazards for small children or pets. Poisonous berries are found on holly, mistletoe and some ivy. Keep all these plants out of the reach of children and curious pets.

As evergreens dry out, they become more flammable. Keep greenery safely away from fireplaces, candles and holiday lights. Ensure that wreaths and garlands that you bring indoors are as fresh as possible, misting them lightly with water and allowing them to dry before bringing inside.

Charla Anthony is the horticulture program assistant at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Brazos County, at 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas, 77803.

Her e-mail address is gardening@ theeagle.com.

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

29

BTU Has Extended The Rebate For Foam Installation And Added Businesses!

The incentive rate is based on BTU’s estimated cost of new peaking generation. Incentive payments will be a minimum of 10%, not to exceed 25%, of the total installed cost per customer project. Incentive payments will be considered per meter, but one customer can receive no more than 20% of BTU’s annual program budget.

Let m e Over , Greg Pru 2000 itt sh use l ess e happy cu ow you h laugh le st o at ut ctricity. M omers no w. il and w ity bills d y custom w ur er inter.

You c ing summ s an to er o.

Now businesses get paid to lower their utility bills and make the building more comfortable!

When you INSULATE with RockCrete Foam Insulators it is the last time. Rock-Crete foam reduces your temps, and your bills, typical savings is from 30-70%

This incentive program is subject to the availability of funds and may be terminated at any time without advance notice.

Long Hours At The Office? Too Many Errands To Run?

Fabric Care’s Convenient “To-Your-Door” Service Makes Life Easy at No Additional Cost!

Fabric Care Cleaners

Committed To Quality, Excellence and Customer Service.

HASSLE FREE CONVENIENCE ONE LESS ERRAND NO NEED TO CALL

NO ORDER TOO SMALL TWICE A WEEK SERVICE HOME OR OFFICE

3505C Longmire @ Rock Prairie • College Station • 979.695.0993 2617 S. Texas Ave. • Bryan • 979.822.1583 3239 Wilkes @ Tabor Road • Bryan • 979.778.4721

Visit Our Website For More Information About Our Services

WWW.FABRICCAREBCS.COM

CELEBRITY SPA & SALON

F u l l S e rv i c e S a lo n manicures • pedicures • facials • facial & body sculpting • body waxinG Therapeutic massages • make-overs • makeup application • eyelash extensions

B E L E C

PA S Y RIT

N O L SA

INSTANT GIFT CARDS ONLINE Make the perfect gift!

979.690.6200

w w w. c e l e b r i t y s pa . n e t 4081 HWY.6 • STE. 601 • CS • MON 9AM-6PM • TUES-FRI 8AM-8:30PM • SAT 9AM-6PM (take barron road exit located on East Frontage Road)

become a fan on facebook