A Little Christmas Decorating

I decided to do Christmas Light as I call it.  Less decorating and less to put away.  I am really liking it.  I did keep everything up, as our Morkie likes to play with everthing. 

My front room, one of my favorites.

Light Christmas down the dining room table.

Instead of a big tree, I just did my clusters on the back game table.  It has a great view of the pasture.

I put a bit of leftover fake fur around the bottom of the trees.

An old Santa our daughter made years ago, on the desk to give us a smile.

View from the desk.  Even in winter it makes me smile.

And last but not least.  Luminarias, or Fireolitos -- (Bags with sand and candles), as our street is on a luminaria tour.  Taking up room waiting for December 24th.  My neighbors reuse theirs.  If it doesn't rain or snow, I might consider it.

 

Merry Christmas - Light.

Poinsettias in the Fireplace

Speaking of fireplaces.  This old house has two.  The front room is one of my favorites.  I love to sit and relax and read up here.  Or, have a cocktail. 

 

I have been putting faux poinsettias in this fireplace for the last couple of years, and it always makes me smile.  Faux, so the dog doesn't eat them.

 

This year, I am going decorations only, and a few faux tabletop trees.  And....maybe some red ornaments in the bowl on the table.  And, more candles, and, and, and.....

 

I am taking the less is more approach.

How are you decorating?

Martha Stewart Shooting Star - Fun DIY

I made this star several years ago, from a picture in a Martha Stewart Magazine.  I believe now you can buy them from her website. 

It is simply a large star with garland I purchased at Party City, the star is wrapped in lights, and I used light strands for the tail.  I may have to make a few more, if Party City still has the stars.

My neighbor called the other day, and said her kids were waiting for me to put up my star.

I guess I better get busy.

The luminarias are only done on Christmas Eve, as we are on a luminaria tour.

Are you decorating yet?

Easy way to Light Christmas Houses

I have tons of Christmas Houses.  But, this year I am going small on the decorations. I just don't want to get them out and put them away.  I did decide I needed a few out here and there.  But, I hate lighting them, the cords, the tangles.  I came up with a creative way to easily light them with just plain Christmas Lights.  Plug in, stick in the holes and move on.  Yes, you will see a few random lights here and there, but if you put snow around or as I usually do (white tulle) it will cover the extra lights and give it a nice glow.  I just haven't gotten to the fabric store yet.  You can do white lights, I had blue, so blue it is.

 

 

In my wine room, I did red one.  Again, I need to get some white tulle for snow, yes tulle like on wedding veils, it looks amazing, try it.

 

These houses got red lights.  Next year I may have to put all ---- afraid to count--- of the houses out.

 



I have a range of houses everything from Department 56, to Dickens Village, to Hobby Lobby ones, and I mix and match and love them.  Again, maybe next year all tons of them out, but this year, relaxing and small.  Enjoy.

White House Christmas 2011

The White House Christmas Tour 2011 is on HGTV tonight, check your local listings.  The theme this year is Shine, Give, Share. 

I love the dog made of buttons.

 The Gingerbread House.

 The dog made out of I don't know what.  But love it.

Check your local listings.

Displaying Lighted Christmas Houses - Department 56

My house has a pass thru dining room.  You must walk/pass thru it to get anywhere in the house.  So the dining table seemed like the perfect place to display my Lighted Christmas Houses.  It started years ago when we put the Halloween ones there, I kind of like it, so I put the Christmas ones there this year.  Yes, I normally tape down the cord, etc, and cover with a rug, still working on that part.

I feel like a cat lady however, because, this is just a small part of my collection.  A few of my favorites.  I have at least this amount and more still in the Christmas storage.  But, this year, I want simple.  I did a simple tree in red in the back family room.  The one thing that is hard about decorating for the Holidays, is moving the stuff, and storing it while the Christmas is out. That is major. 

Oh, well on to the houses.

I actually use colored lights in them.  That also started after Halloween, as I share the cords between the 2 and liked the colored lights so much better.  A little more festive.

I wasn't going to put them out.  But now I am glad that I did.  They make me smile.

:)

Sarah Richardson Holiday Country House

Yes, I know it has been terribly overexposed. However, I like the simplicity of the decorations. This is actually last year's Christmas Decorations, but again, the simplicity is nice. Just a little inspiration. I also loved BH&G's table top trees, which I showed in a previous post. Not feeling Christmasy yet? No worries, put a bowl of ornaments out, or a bowl of scented pine cones. You don't have to decorate to enjoy. I myself and going super simple and easy this year.

Yes, and if you know me you know I love pillows, she has tons.

Make Your Own Shooting Star Holiday Decoration

Must be almost December. I am putting up my shooting star. I saw this in an old Martha Stewart Magazine, and made it last year. The star is from Party City and is about 20". It was about $10, and is covered in silver garland. I added extra silver garland, and some white round LED lights. The tails are about 72" long and are just white string lights. From far away, (couldn't shoot far away with my camera) it really looks like a shooting star and the lights look more clustered. I do like it close up as well.

Don't want to make one? Now they are sold by Grandin Road. They are the Martha Stewart version.

Either way, I love it.

How are you decorating?

Department 56 Christmas Houses

I have tons of Department 56 Christmas Houses. I decided this year to only put out the truly favorites, in small vignettes. This left at least 20 in the garage. Oops. I need to stop collecting.

This group is on my main desk in the family room. The cute green row house I carried all over San Francisco pregnant. If you are reading this Lauren, yep, pregnant with you.

I like to light them with colored lights. I prefer the glow. This one was given to me by my stepmother when I was still in college. I still remember how they had it hidden lit under the tree with a pillow, and my Yorkie Sandor, pulled off the pillow. It's a favorite.

No coincidence that these are on my wine/liquor cabinet. A brew house and wine cellar.

On my front room desk.

In my daughter's old room. The Emporium changes colors. These are for her to start her collection.

Craft - Old Shirts as Christmas Ornaments

I love Eddie Ross's blog. I check it every day. Well after checking it yesterday and seeing the pic of him and Kathie Lee Gifford, I clicked on the HGTV link to get some more pics. Let's face it, I decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, I can't wait until December 6th. I just can't. So, I was truly rewarded when they showed these pictures of handmade ornaments. You see I was just getting ready to sell some of the Hubs old shirts on Ebay. But no more, I am going to make these clever ornaments. According to HGTV, directions coming soon. Although, they look pretty easy to duplicate. If I have enough fabric left over, I might make a couple of pillows for the couch and chairs that are in the same room as the Tree -- Brilliant!!

When do you decorate for Christmas?