Just in time for Christmas! My favorite artist from Nebraska...Cody Foster.

Image from Cody Foster and Company

Image from Cody Foster and Company

Image from Cody Foster and Company

Image from Cody Foster and Company

Our mantel.

More mantel.

Since I just recently spent a week doing the family tour in Nebraska, I thought I would write about Cody Foster. He is a native of a Valentine, Nebraska, a small town in a very pretty part of Nebraska. Valentine is immediately north of the Niobrara River, on the northern edge of the Sandhills physiographic region. We actually canoed the Niobrara a couple years ago and loved it.

The store, Backporch Company and Friends is still there on main street Valentine and is absolutely adorable. His grandmother runs it! Cody Foster still keeps his entire company based out Valentine as well, which is wonderful for the economy. He started designing in high school with his grandmother, Isa Foster making Christmas ornaments. When we stopped in his sweet little store, it gave me shivers. The houses are incredible he designs and my mantle is my display for them. For more information on Cody Foster, click here. To buy Cody Foster in Knoxville, check out Michael Peters Home in Bearden.

Here are a few pictures of his designs that might inspire you for the holidays! What's your favorite holiday decoration?

Country Living Fair 2010 Stone Mountain, Georgia and Southern Living Idea House Senoia, Georiga

Southern Living Idea House 2010 Senoia, Georgia

Note the Christmas subway art.

Room at idea house. I like how they used the ceiling.

Earth Angels Art display

Some cool upholstery.

Close up junk market style places setting by Gorilla Glue.

Salvaged door knob used as a vase!

Table setting junk market style by Gorilla Glue.

Note the candleholder- all made from piping at Lowes.

Great idea by Rustoleum paint- Funkin pumpkin with chalkboard paint.

Good use for clearance pumpkins.

Gorgeous display of pumpkins at entrance. So festive.

The Country Living Fair was everything I thought it would be and more! There were so many cool vendors and sponsors at this event. Next year I think I will be a little more prepared with some definite things I have in mind for my house because it can get a little overwhelming with all the fabulous choices there are. I think my favorite purchase was a linen pillow for my antique library chair that has a ruler screen printed on it. It worked out perfect! I also got to shop from Jenni Bowlin's tent, a favorite scrapbook supplier and stocked up on some bingo cards. I got some great ideas at the Gorilla Glue tent on junk market style and some super paint ideas from Rustoleum. I was super excited about how to refinish some antique knobs with Rustoleum and came away with a great freebie from them as well that makes spray painting easier.

We also toured two great homes while we were in the area, The Southern Living Idea House in Senoia, Georgia and one of the new green houses designed by Country Living manufactured by New World Home. Now I will not claim I am interior designer or decorator, but it made me get excited about interiors when I saw the Idea House! I am also amazed at the Country Living house that is complete in 60 days and custom built. Beautiful and eco friendly. Senoia is so quaint and cute. We browsed a couple antique stores there and then ate lunch at the Redneck Gourmet down a couple feet from a scene from "Fried Green Tomatoes".

I could write a book about our wonderful trip and post a bunch of pictures of the fun we had!

Cool links:

Country Living Eco house 2010

Southern Living Idea House 2010

Rustoleum Paint Cabinet Hardware