Inspired by Christmases Past…

So often I find myself taking photos of my Christmas decor right before I take the decorations down. You know what they say about good intentions… Over the last week I’ve s..l..o..w..l..y been working on spiffing my house up for the Christmas season. Today I’ll finish decorating our main tree and maybe hang a few more lights. My decor is simpler this year. And that’s ok. Sometimes, it’s difficult to remember exactly what I loved about previous Christmas decorations and I  want to be reminded of how I did things in years past. My Christmas decorating doesn’t change a whole lot. I just put the same decorations in different places. I think of decorating as creating little moments inside my home. I like what I like…which includes twinkling lights, natural elements like pine cones, lots of white and silver, mercury glass and bottle brush trees. Here are some of my photos from last year’s Christmas house and some of the “moments” I created. I hope they inspire you as well as me!

Stairwell

Foyer

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Tree

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Kitchen

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Bed

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Topping your Tree…

‘Tis the season of all things bright and magical. That is how I truly feel about Christmas. The smell of fresh pine, the twinkle of Christmas lights — it makes me all gooey inside.

Last weekend was my last show of the year, the annual Appalachian Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair in Morehead, Ky. Hosted by the Kentucky Folk Art Center, this show features over 100 vendors in a variety of different styles, categories and mediums. I was happy to be a participant. Not surprisingly, my Christmas ornaments and Christmas tree toppers were my popular items. It is that time of year after all.

My own tree stands almost bare at this moment, except for the lights that were strung last night around the beautiful evergreen branches. Each year, I find my decorating style changes just a little. Much like a painter aspires to a more loose painting style, I aspire to decorate a little more loosely. “Does this beaded garland look haphazard?” This is the question I asked my husband last night. This was the question which garnered a blank look as a response. “I don’t want it to look too done”, I explained. I guess that really is a “first-world problem.” Today I will work on casually and haphazardly decorating the rest of my home for Christmas…doing it up right, then undoing it just a little.

I have some new items available and the theme, you’ll see, is Topping Your Tree. All of these dolls are built on paper-mache cones and would be beautiful perched atop your Christmas tree this season and for seasons to come. And, because I love items that serve a dual purpose, many of these dolls will look just as great used as free-standing dolls long after the holiday season has come and gone. (Click each photo below to be taken to the listing for that item.)

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Hope you enjoy looking at these little creations as much as I enjoyed making them. And, if you’re looking for something specific for your tree top, don’t hesitate to email me! It tickles me to no end that my creations get to become treasured parts of your holiday experience.

Riverside Christmas 2011

Before we took down our Christmas decorations & hauled our trees out of the house, I managed to snap a few pictures. My decorations don’t really change that much from year to year, but I did spend some time making some items this year, like the lovely paper wreaths made from vintage hymnals & matching trees. You can see them on our entrance & hanging from a guest bedroom mirror. I also made quite a few ‘trees’, inspired by a tutorial in Country Living or Better Homes & Gardens. (I’ll never be able to find this tutorial again!) Of course, I couldn’t stop with a just a couple. Soon there were trees everywhere, made of paper cones & scraps of linen. Mainly this year, I decorated on a budget. The few items I purchased were cheap & tiny, but I found ways to elevate them & incorporate the collectibles I already owned. What I discovered this year? Don’t underestimate the impact of pine cones. Stash them in terra cotta pots, sprinkle them on bookshelves, line them up along a mantle or fill glass vases with them. They can make a big impact & reinforce a ‘natural’ theme. Use old dishes to make even the simplest Christmas item special. Our Christmas home isn’t spectacular by any means. But it does ‘feel’ festive & special. Here are a few pictures of our Christmas home.

Christmas Inspiration

Every year, I dream of putting our Christmas decorations out the first week of November…of getting our house Christmas ready & winter cozy, washing curtains & slaying dust bunnies so that by Thanksgiving, the bulk of the work is done, our home is mostly decorated & all that is left, is our annual tradition of purchasing & putting up our live tree the day after Thanksgiving.

I always dream of this. But it never, ever happens.

Right now, there are ornament boxes scattered, totes full of silver balls waiting to be packed down, garland to be strung, cleaning to be done & dolls to be made.

But next year, I WILL have everything done the first week of November. You believe me, don’t you?

If you’re like me & are still decorating your home for the holidays….here are some of my favorite images to inspire. I come back to these again & again because they make me want to create the perfect country Christmas.

Enjoy! I hope you find them inspiring.

(Most of the above images are from Country Living magazine or Better Home & Gardens.)