Hello My Dear Friend!
How are you holding up with trying to get everything done? It seems like once Thanksgiving is over the Christmas decorating begins - and for some of you, maybe you do it earlier!
Either way,
I have a few tricks up my sleeves, and between us, as much as I love helping my clients create new spaces in their homes, the thing I don't love is getting caught up in the Christmas crowds. So, I have a little system. It's not much, but it's how I make it work so I'm not caught off guard and decorating is more fun that way.
Anyway, I have some things I keep on hand and sometimes I do buy a thing or two when I'm out and about. But I keep it more to a "must have" and a few "wants" on my list for creating a warm and cozy holiday home. That way, I know in my head the things to look for when I am out and about and doing my "stealth" shopping. That's when I give myself a brief window of time to stay on task and get in and out of the store with blinders on!
I'll start with ornaments. Yes - I have many I have collected over the years, but I typically add some to my collection when I'm out shopping and see something I like. I keep on hand larger ornaments, smaller, vintage, some gifted ones, some gold and some silver and other colors. Differing texures also lend some great visual interest.
I change things up every year and rotate items and displays so I can enjoy the same things, but in a different way. Ornaments can be put in a bowl, placed atop a candlestick, or added to a shelf garland. Here in this picture below, I created a hanging display out of a very large vintage frame into which I added cards and some ornaments. I also keep twine around. It comes in SO handy for so much.
Another holiday item I keep around - battery operated twinkle lights. I keep them in my dining room hutch drawer so I can remember where I put them. They can go in a decorative garland, a holiday scene, or even a decorative setting of dishes on my hutch.
Here, below, you can see I have put the twinkle lights in my shelf display. They don't show up in a huge way in the pic, but they look great when you stand back and admire the length of the shelf with the little truck scene among the bottlebrush Christmas trees (Dollar General) Artificial snow is another great fun decor item(always have that handy). It just brightens up whatever I want to call attention to!
I decided later to remove the "Merry Christmas" ribbon. As much as I loved it, you couldn't read it from across the room. Maybe I'll find a special place for it later or top a gift with it!
Another great example, above. Thinking outside the box, I found a red plaid festive scarf I rarely use and put it in this tin tray (trays are a great thing to move around each season!). I added my little silver teapot, a gift from my mom many years ago, and I added some teacups and winter pics plus ornaments. That was such an easy display to do! I also collect floral pics and floral sprays to add into a decorative pitcher or in other places in my displays. Nothing is hard!
Candles and candle sticks. I have a few favorites I use and move around. Here, though, is an example of what a friend of mine put atop her candlestick in her store booth. A lovely winter bird's nest! She owns The Blessed Nest here in Lexington, NC, and you really need to check out the Evenbrooke vintage store where her booth is located. So many great things for home and gifts.
I love collecting various frames. I find them at yard sales, vintage stores, trade with friends, whatever. I also save Christmas cards and enjoy going through them in the years later. I can place the card of my choice in a frame, and it give a very inexpensive happy place. I have the wooden frame in my kitchen and I change the art in it seasonally - or when I remember to! It also gives me the chance to think about the person who sent the card.
Collecting ribbon from various stores give me such joy! I have a little stash of ribbon I keep because it helps change things up a bit as well.
I did a super quick Walmart run yesterday and saw lots of inexpensive ribbon choices (below). I never know what I will use the ribbon for when I purchase, but I get what I love and save it for later. Guess which one I chose? These are all wire ribbon, which makes styling bows and garland easy! I chose the peppermint one! I have a whole year to think what I might do with that when I decorate next time!
Buffalo check wired ribbon makes for great lantern toppers!
Garlands of different styles, etc. I love getting various types of Christmas garlands. I buy a few different ones every other year or so, and sometimes I use them entertwined, and other times they are just lovely in their simplicity, as seen here, below in my little snow village.
Along with garlands, I always have some sprays I can place in a vase,or a tray. The possibilities are endless! I love my pink wood tray, and I just added a bit of festive color on the top of my dining room buffet. I also have one silver plated tray, a wood dough tray, and a black one I sometimes use. I may change out the plant in the middle for a lantern, but that's how I roll. I don't decorate all at once. I decorate through different days, tv commercials, and when I need a break from writing my blog - haha!
Anyway, I hope you have a great holiday season and remember to focus on what's really important. Make some special memories and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your business.
Thank you for a very good 2024,
Much love and gratitude,
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