Flocked Christmas trees

 

We have had faux Christmas trees since after the Christmas of 1991, when my daughter at the age of 8 ended up in the emergency room on Christmas eve. The culprit? The live Christmas tree caused her to have a severe allergic reaction. It was not fun, and we have never had a real one since, with no regrets.

This year I bought a new 6.5 foot flocked tree from the Christmas Tree market. It was my second choice, my first choice was a little too pricey. I do like it, but had quite the time decorating it. I decided to use what I had for ornaments, next year I’m sure I’ll do something different.

Taking pictures of a Christmas tree is certainly not an easy task, do you turn the lights on or leave them off?

 

 

I have always place our tree in this corner of the living room but it’s totally visible from the sun room below.

 

My poor excuse for a table cover, just threw a piece on linen over the table and tree stand. No time to sew right now

 

  

 

And below is my baby flocked tree that I got last year. It’s a 4.5 feet slim tree and I love it.

It sits in my office/TV/sofa room where almost nightly I end up. When my husband snores too much.

 

Joining Sarah’s tree party and Julia’s Hooked on Holiday House tour.  Thanks, Sarah and Julia, for hosting. I am WOWED by all the beautiful Christmas links at all the holiday parties. Such inspiration!

 

Gulf Coast Christmas front door

Wordless Wednesday

More Christmas decorating

Nothing like 34 degree weather today to motivate me to finish my decorating for Christmas. This weekend I worked on my new flocked tree, redecorating it more than once.

Here’s a quick preview:

Still have some things to do before finishing it, such as make the linen table shirt to hide the 30 “ high X 30 “diameter round table it’s sitting on. I post a full picture it soon.

And the last thing I put up is my front door decorations. I don’t like to advertise to my neighbors how early I put everything up, so I wait on this. And that’s a joke since they can see all the inside lights in the 7 different rooms that are now twinkling away.

Here’s may front door in 2008 all in red:

Here’s last year in red and lime green:

And here’s a sneak peek at what I’m working on today for the front door:

I do love the cold weather while decorating outdoors. Makes me feel like I’m back on the Cape!

Aqua Christmas vignettes in dining room

Everything in the dining room this year has been reused in different ways. The best thing I ever did was take the top of the hutch off. Not only did it open up the room but I gained space to do a vignette.

I went out to my back yard and cut some greens and silver Artemisia to fill this display.

I used a glass cake plate, a silver tray on top of that, then a silver vase. This gave the necessary height.

I got out old family silver candlesticks and even polished them! Put on crystal bobeches and dropped some plastic beads that I’ve had for years.

I’ve had these angels for many years, 20 or so. Last year I painted them in shades of aqua and they sat on top of the hutch top with a swag.

This year I’ve used them on the table.

And there is the swag that always went on the hutch top in it’s new location this year. It actually stands out so much more against the transom.

Very happy to change things up a little this year without spending a dime.

Thanks Rhoda for hosting the vignette party this year.

Christmas mantel

I made this “cascading garland” by cutting lengths of a third garland and wiring them to the other two garlands.

 

 

I used glass bead sticks that are slightly pink, glittery stars, and aqua balls.

 

  

It’s simple. The cascading effect makes it full.

Back home after Thanksgiving in Ft Walton, FL

Had a wonderful time with Dave and Liz at their home last week for Thanksgiving. We arrived early Monday morning, after the 3 hour drive. So glad they are close now that we can visit back and forth. I brought over my 7.5 Christmas tree for them since I ordered a new one for me. Here’s Liz’s Mississippi Coastal beach tree:

Mississippi cotton, star fish, and beachy driftwood.

It’s so pretty! Liz entertained 16 guests for Thanksgiving dinner. 6 of Dave and Liz's dinner guests were at their final CoBRA training before they deploy to Afghanistan in a week. It was so bittersweet to share this memorable Thanksgiving meal with them. God Bless them and keep them safe as well as all our other heroes in unsafe places fighting for all of us.

It was an amazing dinner and Thanksgiving. Liz, please send me the pics you took of your awesome new teak table all set for Thanksgiving dinner. It all looked stunning.

My new tree is on it’s way, here’s what I ordered. I love it and can’t wait. I’m changing my Christmas decorations up a little bit. Some things will be the same as I adore the way they look.

And below is my Christmas gift to me. It’s the Kingston Charleston chest, will be shipped on the 20th. Not sure which bedroom I’ll put it in, I have so many empty spots that are crying out for this sweet chest.

Christmas Tour of Homes with the Nester

 

Joining Nester for her Christmas Tour of Homes with the Nester! Loved your video, Nester!

Holiday Linky Friday with the Inspired Room

 

Home for the Holidays with Southern Hospitality

Hooked on Holiday House Tour with Hooked on Houses

Be patient, I wanted to give this little update on one of my garlands…I decided to try to flock this one. A brief explanation of how I made FLOCK….then tour to follow.

Used the old tried & true Ivory Snow Flake flocking recipe. Except you have to buy Ivory snow soap bars and make your own flakes now. Ivory Snow stopped selling their flakes back in the late 90’s. 

 

It’s all done with a mixer, then I “painted “ snow on with a brush.

 

I’ll post new pictures with the decorations back on this garland later. Let me know if you want this FLOCK tutorial.

 

ON to the home tour….

It’s a special, happy, and joyous Christmas this year as as we thank God that we have all made it through those bleak days that began on May 11 this year. Liz and David will be home for 2 weeks from Walter Reed. They arrive in about 11 days. Son is arriving in 4 days… so HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is such a blessed feeling this year.

I’ve changed and added a few things since 2008. If I had more time there are 2 big things I want to change….will do next year. It involves flocking!

Front door….added some zesty lime green this year.

Got these 2 fillers with stick lights on sale at the end of last years season to in my urns.

These two cascading garlands are new and if even one of them falls again, they are going back in the attic. I posted about it here and will explain more in a later post.

Liz and David's room, ready and waiting. We had to move furniture and lowered the mattress to make things easier.

While all my other garlands and trees are on timers, I bought this HOLIDIAY LIVING 3 count wireless remote system for daughter’s room. That way she can easily turn off the 2 garlands without disturbing them or causing another crash down. I put the 3rd remote outlet on one lamp at the bedside. Although all lamps in entire house have a wall switch that is hot wired to the bottom electrical outlet, this little remote should make things easier for them

I love these string or maybe straw glittered and pearled stars.

Son’s room with seashell garland. New this year and so fun!

The new little flocked tree. She is so cute!

She is perfect for this room, she’s a slim tree, only 5 1/2 feet tall and she doesn’t take up too much space.

I used brown and copper ornaments that I had. These icicles are actually plastic and have been painted many times.

Some old copper and gold bead sticks as a topper.

Love the contrast of the white flock with darker ornaments.

I’m in love with flocking and white trees now! Yes, it’s a little messy but only every time you touch it! HA HA! We'll have to keep Bailey, the BIG BLACK DOG out of here!

Glitter balls and an old garland of silver beads that I cut up.

Tree in living room. For some reason it has a bluish cast. I love the ornaments though, so next year, this tree will be FLOCKED! Wish I had time to do this year! I think that will look amazing ….a flocked white and green tree with aqua, brownish, and copper ornaments.

New cascading garland on the mantel. I made this one after Grandin Road sold out of cascading garlands. It was simple to do and looks almost as good as the 2 in Liz’s bedroom that I did buy from Grandin Road.

The green of this garland looks good, not blue like the tree next to it.

Garland in the front hall.  THIS IS THE GARLAND THAT I’M FLOCKING RIGHT NOW…..UPDATING SOON!

This will get flocked next year also, it has that bluish cast that I don’t like.

I’ll never be able to improve on this in the kitchen. I love it year after year...... winter whites, icicles, silver glittered grapes, pearl fruit…

There are at least two strands of lights out on this. Waiting and debating to decide if I should take it apart to fix.

Sink window, can’t get the camera light right on this shot.

The dining room is all different this year. Read here.

I like it! We’ll see what kids think.

One of the three light strands went out after all ornaments were up. Had to totally take it apart and redo to fix.

There are a few more things I have not finished. God willing, if nothing else falls down or burns out, I‘all be on schedule.

Painting beaded fruit a lovely shade of metallic pearl white.

Thanks for visiting, I may have a few more things accomplished in a day or two. Make sure you visit the Nester and  all the other party goers. Thanks for hosting another great Christmas party!

Looking forward to view your home tours!   Have fun decorating….