Design a Room Interiors Camberley: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

At Home: Get merry and bright!

Rituals are an important part of our lives, even if they can be boring at times.  My official marker for winter is an appointment to get the tires changed on our car.  It's happened. Winter is officially here, even if we only had a dusting of snow followed by torrential rain.<br /><br /> Each year as I  approach the end of November, Christmas creeps into my thoughts.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIgsGolyVHzBNhfsg9QSX7HIWRHB_H4ryh0jIEo49TWtd50SLrBh5upt9-U5m17Vwx0votGhD87zsrcPF-SoN9IHfYb2zX3fKbX5N-g55guwLEgieXaLMelg5OEvRzuzxmkpnj6Cos3L6/s1600/red+chair+merry+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="red chair, Christmas sign, outside porch, Christmas decorating" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIgsGolyVHzBNhfsg9QSX7HIWRHB_H4ryh0jIEo49TWtd50SLrBh5upt9-U5m17Vwx0votGhD87zsrcPF-SoN9IHfYb2zX3fKbX5N-g55guwLEgieXaLMelg5OEvRzuzxmkpnj6Cos3L6/s1600/red+chair+merry+christmas.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/christmas/decorating/best-christmas-decorations/?sssdmh=dm17.769744&esrc=nwdc_bonus111414#page=3">source</a></span></div><br /> While I love to look at all the seasonal additions other people make to their homes, and I marvel at the time and creativity it takes to decorate, I keep things as simple as possible.  I'm a vicarious decorator,  enthralled by others' efforts and the numerous possibilities without the physical work and outlay of cash.<br /><br /> Here's a good example.<br /><br />Every time I visit my daughter's house I am greeted by her inviting red door (now there are boxwoods in the planters) ...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH5ieWyZ02KhS0F5OicCww8zUEl1LdLCJrk0DIA8-Fr5zETR0XWqZAWI5lfzxH8hO8nvByWtcdKIiqa9MZo6zGipiFxpTqxl4itUEH621WnHqdLMzdhQdMkxAgt33gBrsYsfDHnCJppEm/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="red door, front porch, Christmas decorating, " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH5ieWyZ02KhS0F5OicCww8zUEl1LdLCJrk0DIA8-Fr5zETR0XWqZAWI5lfzxH8hO8nvByWtcdKIiqa9MZo6zGipiFxpTqxl4itUEH621WnHqdLMzdhQdMkxAgt33gBrsYsfDHnCJppEm/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;">and covered porch large enough to have two tables, a bench (made by her dad) and a chair.  </span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVytmXpe2OHvSx6vZeXJ_VCg8dCkV6YcIL-mEPldtNhNLGtDvkB9WiEyLm3R-gHZBDPakH1PYLx9ZB3y6zdW4H2ihzI6bjlYCtWdIJiyTVTzWMR5zmUxgU-x_ljmVmyP4Slrvs9KuS8aL/s1600/IMG_1244+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28oyeb1keLTBwi55GAgnCYc0Giql_yhevH7bcN3Rgeruie6pmTn0xb6kfpLsYCX6XB46vCbi24fxAaXLJ3T1QYz3FextxFSTJbtGy5RuUw_NSGV_vsh2ALHIqGTkwQZhkGGRym2jrTHZw/s1600/photo+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black and white patio, porch, outside decorating" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28oyeb1keLTBwi55GAgnCYc0Giql_yhevH7bcN3Rgeruie6pmTn0xb6kfpLsYCX6XB46vCbi24fxAaXLJ3T1QYz3FextxFSTJbtGy5RuUw_NSGV_vsh2ALHIqGTkwQZhkGGRym2jrTHZw/s1600/photo+(5).jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: start;">This space is calling out for Christmas decorations now that the cushions are stored for the winter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't get me wrong, my daughter  doesn't need my help to decorate, and she's very independent.  For the last several years she's had some great looks for her front door, but this is the first Christmas for the bench on the porch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVAY2jTrn5AgNvK_3jGa5H1IqvUL5QnPmrauybDsJyH5kiN_RvK7Mil3WhVlwcDB840FsYY5IK_KL3C63cTbJaLqrv3aKPCt0bf8n4TU6bZxYVJIKWh_JvhI5iGzAeguQhi6LXhSAozXW/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="red door, DIY natural wreath, outside decorations, Christmas patio, porch" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVAY2jTrn5AgNvK_3jGa5H1IqvUL5QnPmrauybDsJyH5kiN_RvK7Mil3WhVlwcDB840FsYY5IK_KL3C63cTbJaLqrv3aKPCt0bf8n4TU6bZxYVJIKWh_JvhI5iGzAeguQhi6LXhSAozXW/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> 2013 Wreath made from  her garden shrubs </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVytmXpe2OHvSx6vZeXJ_VCg8dCkV6YcIL-mEPldtNhNLGtDvkB9WiEyLm3R-gHZBDPakH1PYLx9ZB3y6zdW4H2ihzI6bjlYCtWdIJiyTVTzWMR5zmUxgU-x_ljmVmyP4Slrvs9KuS8aL/s1600/IMG_1244+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="feather wreath, red door, Christmas wreath, porch decorations" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVytmXpe2OHvSx6vZeXJ_VCg8dCkV6YcIL-mEPldtNhNLGtDvkB9WiEyLm3R-gHZBDPakH1PYLx9ZB3y6zdW4H2ihzI6bjlYCtWdIJiyTVTzWMR5zmUxgU-x_ljmVmyP4Slrvs9KuS8aL/s1600/IMG_1244+2.JPG" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 Sparkle and glam wreath </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0GYLg8pA1irDG7xG7F9npcoc_5CGIfmItlz7mptM0JvDklFDltBONKuvn_qzYEU6FtN8-fmFP1rPy57r9XER3Q6WiYyH50sVdhnLo3lW8h2Df-ds2Rte9c3e04eIE8X-pmohBbvrVFN2/s1600/IMG_1245+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="snowballs, planter decorations winter, outside, porch, Christmas " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0GYLg8pA1irDG7xG7F9npcoc_5CGIfmItlz7mptM0JvDklFDltBONKuvn_qzYEU6FtN8-fmFP1rPy57r9XER3Q6WiYyH50sVdhnLo3lW8h2Df-ds2Rte9c3e04eIE8X-pmohBbvrVFN2/s1600/IMG_1245+3.JPG" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 Glowing snowballs and white sparkle twigs</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">  What I liked about the feather wreath and snowball planter was its longevity into the winter months.  If you are putting effort into a project, you should aim to get the most from it. </div></div><br />This is a "what if" post... what if I had that porch.  If my daughter is reading this now, she's rolling her eyes. I'm always on about something, and in the end she'll do her own thing as daughters usually do. <br /><br />Let's start with the boxwood planters on either side of the door.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGesmECdb9_rK1UsDx_9zGBWw0KWPv0W3FcUq6aImRPfJrd9RJr_wkdFoOF_vGZHhr3TMoENtOt2AJ6ylsMG1B2mRNi_PrAxJVf4Yssvya4eyY_amEb_TLISRZiNoxdRIwNynhL0ZjeVnd/s1600/boxwood-+planter-Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGesmECdb9_rK1UsDx_9zGBWw0KWPv0W3FcUq6aImRPfJrd9RJr_wkdFoOF_vGZHhr3TMoENtOt2AJ6ylsMG1B2mRNi_PrAxJVf4Yssvya4eyY_amEb_TLISRZiNoxdRIwNynhL0ZjeVnd/s1600/boxwood-+planter-Christmas.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://henhouse.ca/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><br />I have the cedar and my daughter has lots of silver balls.  Anchoring things because of the high winds is always a challenge.  I use tree ornaments and stick a wooden skewer  through the top and down into the soil. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-DNKUGCt7fT_b3lULoWx5pLs_MmRx7_jAiAC-3hPHrFc9TNjqkpjocd3NuhrasFeb8ym0iMEUYtfyHIhbACwUXTac03cOh24zb6-LUuGCBT6smN2tyaTg0fN1gnzhrer02u7rINBjEO8/s1600/outside-foilage-berries-planter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-DNKUGCt7fT_b3lULoWx5pLs_MmRx7_jAiAC-3hPHrFc9TNjqkpjocd3NuhrasFeb8ym0iMEUYtfyHIhbACwUXTac03cOh24zb6-LUuGCBT6smN2tyaTg0fN1gnzhrer02u7rINBjEO8/s1600/outside-foilage-berries-planter.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.deborahsilver.com/blog/tag/red-twig-dogwood/">source</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then there's  twigs and berries to add height and colour.  This is a great solution when planters bank a door because the added height and colour would be at eye level. </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjC1aj0HJ9geIIFqISuecxjLa8nG5kUrTX6_eoofohoR8yl87zbjntUbpocyA8yepsqPNm3gnW732QPIy7jxQLk4PxdTMvy2y6RuN_zkx4G9XugiQHnnh4mK9arED3z7FJwXRBOMxoWC5/s1600/bench+greenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="porch decoration, Christmas, natural elements, silver balls" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjC1aj0HJ9geIIFqISuecxjLa8nG5kUrTX6_eoofohoR8yl87zbjntUbpocyA8yepsqPNm3gnW732QPIy7jxQLk4PxdTMvy2y6RuN_zkx4G9XugiQHnnh4mK9arED3z7FJwXRBOMxoWC5/s1600/bench+greenery.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/christmas/decorating/best-christmas-decorations/?sssdmh=dm17.769744&esrc=nwdc_bonus111414#page=12"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><br />Following the dictate that simple is best, here's an idea to build on. This is an easy look to achieve and it invites modifications.  Not sure where you would ever find  gigantic pinecones in our neck of the woods, but you could certainly carry off the rest of it and make some bright additions. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oO6uTZqtgbQ3AU5RzHzUxpQueNtEhWdhuEanznXMl4-y7lCZBtzeMxGOgXhrV6ZqELcjTLEOG9HavqegI_X8NdlIvBhvH9bcosUOncE03A-w36HA40eJWnBNOL_WgOCv8uwt7PP-KR2D/s1600/benchblanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="front porch, plaid blanket, natural Christmas, black bench" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oO6uTZqtgbQ3AU5RzHzUxpQueNtEhWdhuEanznXMl4-y7lCZBtzeMxGOgXhrV6ZqELcjTLEOG9HavqegI_X8NdlIvBhvH9bcosUOncE03A-w36HA40eJWnBNOL_WgOCv8uwt7PP-KR2D/s1600/benchblanket.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="260" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://5thandstate.blogspot.ca/2011/12/christmas-house-2012.html">source</a></span></div><br />How about a plaid blanket or plaid pillows for a nice splash of pattern and colour?  A definite considering plaid is very in this year (so I've been told).  I'm thinking about the  red plaid scarf my daughter just purchased.   It  could be folded around a summer pillow and pinned.  A piece of fabric would achieve the same look.   Presto!  Job complete - one plaid pillow.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EXLYHwZzy3MFHxAf8nOqaDf4bBHkMewj0Gxg3PGIsaX8Eqxm-q2sgPnVsOtkvdWDcPikhkZP4qBRM7ome5MPXg-NKe9bkko4Sw_ldcPX8vJSV9nYRPEGiKeSB50g8O6nbE2fe0oL-M6v/s1600/OB-plaid+pillows+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black bench, plaid pillows, Christmas decorations, porch, " border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EXLYHwZzy3MFHxAf8nOqaDf4bBHkMewj0Gxg3PGIsaX8Eqxm-q2sgPnVsOtkvdWDcPikhkZP4qBRM7ome5MPXg-NKe9bkko4Sw_ldcPX8vJSV9nYRPEGiKeSB50g8O6nbE2fe0oL-M6v/s1600/OB-plaid+pillows+.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a simple idea along those lines I just whipped up.  I know how much my daughter  loves happy little signs!  Not!  </div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">or.....</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxebZzal4n6iuy606wPemytvo3RC-TCfd4qycrhI6tltGrpo6Z5mGa_R4Jc89Q0FjZxfstgGImcVmELmWhBQcGvvni1P1lovXfji0INsTT2sByOGZ-G2spyFPEreFys99-YtPPpFSspUr/s1600/burlap+pillow+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="burlap pillow, red chair, red polka dots, porch, outside decorations" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxebZzal4n6iuy606wPemytvo3RC-TCfd4qycrhI6tltGrpo6Z5mGa_R4Jc89Q0FjZxfstgGImcVmELmWhBQcGvvni1P1lovXfji0INsTT2sByOGZ-G2spyFPEreFys99-YtPPpFSspUr/s1600/burlap+pillow+christmas.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/113072921/similar?ref=error_page_redirect&filters=christmas+burlap">source </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> you could make burlap cushion covers with stencilled polka dots (a great kid friendly project)....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLMsx5IDDDqqlgK6cKo2SXvUxvAIBSYVG059nfCU18DGhH9tXPQj1aWCAdx6r7KubAid_zSV-kt6zvTuYiaDk9G3SVIGb-M-vuDjLKi0yCvwXrSa-KNdtxlm48ryLMmFwr-6_PITPyjDJ/s1600/blanket+pillow+outside+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="red pillow, red blanket, outside decorations, Christmas, porch " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLMsx5IDDDqqlgK6cKo2SXvUxvAIBSYVG059nfCU18DGhH9tXPQj1aWCAdx6r7KubAid_zSV-kt6zvTuYiaDk9G3SVIGb-M-vuDjLKi0yCvwXrSa-KNdtxlm48ryLMmFwr-6_PITPyjDJ/s1600/blanket+pillow+outside+christmas.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/catmomlydia/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> you could use a  plain red blanket and blend it with  the summer white/black cushions for a very graphic look</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a few simple changes to pillows </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HgR1XREAVr2y_hTQyihNNq4xTMBsYiSzIfUYbIQheU2WVUKdvXU7ATIw1bJdsrnYyO52SC9o75rFK6l7OmFXZmvI1ceEw_UcuJlnHoA1I1lUva9xT2B-ZT3khlP8HX-21te1ngC8c8RO/s1600/OB-Porch+at+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HgR1XREAVr2y_hTQyihNNq4xTMBsYiSzIfUYbIQheU2WVUKdvXU7ATIw1bJdsrnYyO52SC9o75rFK6l7OmFXZmvI1ceEw_UcuJlnHoA1I1lUva9xT2B-ZT3khlP8HX-21te1ngC8c8RO/s1600/OB-Porch+at+Christmas.jpg" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and add bright arrangements for the table.... </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYkrM7Vr7VLYslglgGRcuxTo_p-IkphDiBerp7nxatRQfAIEqpDrGPFGKSIXYljSp-YzsNuwKySlTNw0YDuioBfmtgoldmXK68g3dUgDMoKWMgtOox87AEU7GEznhNGPQ9rgJNyyLVfGb/s1600/e9db4d8d26c24c1179a88ddcc33c198e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="outside decorations,  red lantern, red table, natural Christmas, porch " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYkrM7Vr7VLYslglgGRcuxTo_p-IkphDiBerp7nxatRQfAIEqpDrGPFGKSIXYljSp-YzsNuwKySlTNw0YDuioBfmtgoldmXK68g3dUgDMoKWMgtOox87AEU7GEznhNGPQ9rgJNyyLVfGb/s1600/e9db4d8d26c24c1179a88ddcc33c198e.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.theyellowcapecod.com/">source </a></span></div><br /><br />Then there's always lanterns and greenery for the tables.   Get the spay paint out if you already have black lanterns. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZbZLOIRHmw2IqKVkeqZy0neGg9ZfEIk4BxBABb3VS-6qG12-XpXukppVgNdK4b2ox1zPQ5ntINuX6rutPxe3rsLp-4IZ42DrzFYJzDqzFrUUUt5jQtz4aijXwyt-lFfFcTlE5DbTquzx/s1600/lit+twig+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="natural Christmas, twig balls, outside decorations" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZbZLOIRHmw2IqKVkeqZy0neGg9ZfEIk4BxBABb3VS-6qG12-XpXukppVgNdK4b2ox1zPQ5ntINuX6rutPxe3rsLp-4IZ42DrzFYJzDqzFrUUUt5jQtz4aijXwyt-lFfFcTlE5DbTquzx/s1600/lit+twig+balls.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lit twig balls are always a big hit, and they could be added to any container depending on the size.  You can also spray paint twig balls and just go with colour and no lights. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PEmjCuz9SK48gEDfhDrG3ZqS70uZVP3SmAt01PrJB_bmcPtifOnb0Gbgpv3eVLo2_YIwz2tXZpzCliU5HAakYfwlXHLmhvYgk_Mg0b55LgiUBdYuubbbobRspcLUXSBP5Z-F5Twto1zh/s1600/photo+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="natural Christmas, red container, bird planter, winter decorations, porch " border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PEmjCuz9SK48gEDfhDrG3ZqS70uZVP3SmAt01PrJB_bmcPtifOnb0Gbgpv3eVLo2_YIwz2tXZpzCliU5HAakYfwlXHLmhvYgk_Mg0b55LgiUBdYuubbbobRspcLUXSBP5Z-F5Twto1zh/s1600/photo+(7).jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why not take an idea from my sister Vera's  red bird themed <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2013/12/a-nature-inspired-christmas.html">Christmas pot</a> from last year?  It continued to look good for months after Christmas. </div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6o92dxeqBzxlvs_19Tw5hmTfykh3vSBhp3V6PSDHnjoU99jcPnYCL3aYz3vIXmfMWluSWGFgQxfRNToj8tp9GAibN4hSAq7u3V5JiQrvWGYNjLLxNi3Lfvvsg19NUk5CO1C9ryYEVRhz/s1600/skates+wreath+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="swag, door, skates, Christmas decorations" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6o92dxeqBzxlvs_19Tw5hmTfykh3vSBhp3V6PSDHnjoU99jcPnYCL3aYz3vIXmfMWluSWGFgQxfRNToj8tp9GAibN4hSAq7u3V5JiQrvWGYNjLLxNi3Lfvvsg19NUk5CO1C9ryYEVRhz/s1600/skates+wreath+.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.paintedhomedesigns.com/2011/12/o-u-t-d-o-o-r-c-h-r-i-s-t-m-s-d-e-c-o-r.html">source</a></span></div><br />Love the idea of skates in a swag for the front door.  This would be super easy with a red door and lot of accessible greenery on one's  property.   And I just found my daughter's  little white (now yellowish) skates in the storage room clean out!  Ideas! Ideas!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GtguOpQCd6XS5Zyh9TsyknoIV7r7x003LiV02aESrDTKmkGQmtFuDMfjiJfRdm7k-XB9MoyRQ3hLT2XeGXDaNXqPPsldwcdn3bRk7z4sdctgDTUV4qY-xrmdy6n-Dh5xUmA8xsGZdZ-m/s1600/wreath+bench+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bench, wreath, Christmas decorations, outside" border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GtguOpQCd6XS5Zyh9TsyknoIV7r7x003LiV02aESrDTKmkGQmtFuDMfjiJfRdm7k-XB9MoyRQ3hLT2XeGXDaNXqPPsldwcdn3bRk7z4sdctgDTUV4qY-xrmdy6n-Dh5xUmA8xsGZdZ-m/s1600/wreath+bench+christmas.jpg" title="Designing Home: Get merry and bright" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Or just give in and put a  plain old wreath on the bench. How simple is that?</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">No pressure! <br /><br />What are you doing with your entry for Christmas?</div>

At Home: Get merry and bright!

Rituals are an important part of our lives, even if they can be boring at times. My official marker for winter is an appointment to get th...

8:15 AM

A difficult good-bye

I've wrapped up the Christmas season in different ways, but 2013 will stand out as a doozie in my memories. In Newfoundland the season is "officially" over on January 6- Old Christmas Day - when most people begin to think about taking down decorations.  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXranqvzpHVG9a37ASbCZLfyo6wfdoXrBRLvrgWqZFavSw3gBtDZMkDW9fUM5ZVHUesqgzidK6dc38N_XrNmrOrl5_4fqsibrPenqhzPs2OxGi3GHVHDJuCzUgevRAqUH_2Ri_8tb5glnq/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simple Christmas decorating " border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXranqvzpHVG9a37ASbCZLfyo6wfdoXrBRLvrgWqZFavSw3gBtDZMkDW9fUM5ZVHUesqgzidK6dc38N_XrNmrOrl5_4fqsibrPenqhzPs2OxGi3GHVHDJuCzUgevRAqUH_2Ri_8tb5glnq/s1600/photo-7.JPG" title="Simple Christmas decorating" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Family room looking festive at night  with magnolia and wreaths</td></tr></tbody></table>  The season was chugging along quite nicely until  January 2nd. when everything fell apart because of extremely low temps, a snowstorm, and then massive power outages prefaced and preceded by rotating outages to conserve.  Needless to say that is a recipe for all kinds of problems including broken water pipes.  I've been learning the not so pleasant ways of insurance companies ever since. Enough said!  Living in a bit of a disaster zone with ceilings ripped out, dehumidifiers and air blowers going, plumbers and carpenters banging and dragging materials through the house, etc. is not my idea of perfect harmony. <br /><br />It was like Christmas dribbled away without our noticing it.  Couldn't turn on the Christmas tree or the outside lights, couldn't entertain unless you wore your long johns, brought a flashlight and served melted snow. Much was reported on Twitter about the events, and I particularly enjoyed two <a href="http://heidiwicks.blogspot.ca/2014/01/10-things-i-learned-from-darknl-2014.html">blogposts</a> by Heidi Wicks that are definitely worth a read.  I love her humorous take on the everyday. True and funny.<br /><br />In the midst of construction I removed my Christmas decorations and looked for inspiration for next year.   <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzA5IrWUdL3vzEk5fDgWN313VVdOtjG5biMAPPeQtIivuBntlbyFI2EjQZMJPOUIPKmuJ1S03qIuj-ScEnYScnMD8DV2F1_Bqjg75A3lfXbGBJbZNsM5je_Q0fZvGBiXotwkoJl3pBaSZ/s1600/DSCN9964_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzA5IrWUdL3vzEk5fDgWN313VVdOtjG5biMAPPeQtIivuBntlbyFI2EjQZMJPOUIPKmuJ1S03qIuj-ScEnYScnMD8DV2F1_Bqjg75A3lfXbGBJbZNsM5je_Q0fZvGBiXotwkoJl3pBaSZ/s1600/DSCN9964_01.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nature inspired theme perhaps</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My love of birds takes many forms and I have a friend who gives me one each Christmas.  I think next year I will pool them together and see what I can come up with. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHYJdKTNRowzc3EAbGZP1hE22zfpnZeswpl6oGcerhtJSBSDXdp0a_YxdEDq9F-1TH_K0m8pdYZZs9YTzsFTP38lv1XaJHkeabtDq6XwP6U2MNN682jMN1PCD1VxHBQZXYGWai0n02mTJ/s1600/DSCN9966_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Simple Christmas decorating birds " border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHYJdKTNRowzc3EAbGZP1hE22zfpnZeswpl6oGcerhtJSBSDXdp0a_YxdEDq9F-1TH_K0m8pdYZZs9YTzsFTP38lv1XaJHkeabtDq6XwP6U2MNN682jMN1PCD1VxHBQZXYGWai0n02mTJ/s1600/DSCN9966_01.JPG" title="Nature inspired decorations " width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds and dragonfly</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJUjYT_h27WTBBbeVSkRSX45WEJlZhVR0KyGeETxpnH9P_CttdA9IlPUapHS0Ro6dHOlqvPgH-MZPMDCsLfufkE9aMeMl4qXyP3qAaNLJDKux7HdvNDbXc2jbtD7yoS21f0ZGU-Pk8i-M/s1600/DSCN9965_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="silver pinecones ornaments birds simple Christmas decorations" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJUjYT_h27WTBBbeVSkRSX45WEJlZhVR0KyGeETxpnH9P_CttdA9IlPUapHS0Ro6dHOlqvPgH-MZPMDCsLfufkE9aMeMl4qXyP3qAaNLJDKux7HdvNDbXc2jbtD7yoS21f0ZGU-Pk8i-M/s1600/DSCN9965_01.JPG" title="A nature inspired Christmas " width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> A winter display </td></tr></tbody></table> I can't bear to put it all away, so I find little ways to add sparkle and colour to the winter months. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT4I9kj-uyUNb7ZmiMvMkOYN-hYkstI3FK5m3_XJCjOq5Ddj2f2NUaepgX23_a0HPuO9Nw67LxVN9X8n57An2pFS76X4-tJypm5E81O_p1hPzA7kinx0ymwSVmVGNYFMMDxQ1G7Bb-QIS/s1600/DSCN9969_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Accessories white and red poppy birds " border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT4I9kj-uyUNb7ZmiMvMkOYN-hYkstI3FK5m3_XJCjOq5Ddj2f2NUaepgX23_a0HPuO9Nw67LxVN9X8n57An2pFS76X4-tJypm5E81O_p1hPzA7kinx0ymwSVmVGNYFMMDxQ1G7Bb-QIS/s1600/DSCN9969_01.JPG" title="Simple seasonal decor " width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppy with birds</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">And finally my little spot of red. Good- bye Christmas 2013.</div><br /><br /><br />

A difficult good-bye

I've wrapped up the Christmas season in different ways, but 2013 will stand out as a doozie in my memories. In Newfoundland the season i...

9:40 AM

Wrap it up

Trying to be earth friendly is an ongoing battle especially at Christmas.   I hate the fact that all the pretty gift wrap ends up in the landfill because  it isn't recyclable.  paper gift  bags work for me and I always reuse  those I receive. I  also purchase fabric bags when I see them and hope the receiver  passes them along to another person. When the last of my gift wrap runs out (probably this year), I plan to use brown paper (Kraft Paper) which you can recycle.  The options for dressing it up are endless. Here's a few nifty ideas to get you thinking about the possibilities:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPsAaZ1N4qKtya-WauOy-xMIAB9bcpnSOpwIauDDJIS5qYP8R-26nH6E1uxUuXedWsxYFtfLam25OSlHFem-gFcipiGg9m63PMRnNrls9PNHmD74LAprsbt0_RoT6Dn6HSJhO7BPfZOxG/s1600/38913984249965447_pP9gm4TY_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPsAaZ1N4qKtya-WauOy-xMIAB9bcpnSOpwIauDDJIS5qYP8R-26nH6E1uxUuXedWsxYFtfLam25OSlHFem-gFcipiGg9m63PMRnNrls9PNHmD74LAprsbt0_RoT6Dn6HSJhO7BPfZOxG/s640/38913984249965447_pP9gm4TY_c.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>  Braided wine, a bit of greenery  and a pine cone.  What could be simpler than that?  Wrapping the twine around the package off center adds to the design element.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkGiqFF6jgkJwFTMWDDEO05w6DQptmukMdMt2JclmF0AecookKtzm5Ji5Nem3EDtB75qAkFDh5H9_KAxTVqKv_ECCOtYlHbdZhjOicJGOGhSooJZqg2tBoz1hxj54sJaoDh8p3XyZEA9x/s1600/81487074479177424_VNaA2V3s_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkGiqFF6jgkJwFTMWDDEO05w6DQptmukMdMt2JclmF0AecookKtzm5Ji5Nem3EDtB75qAkFDh5H9_KAxTVqKv_ECCOtYlHbdZhjOicJGOGhSooJZqg2tBoz1hxj54sJaoDh8p3XyZEA9x/s400/81487074479177424_VNaA2V3s_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> What a great way to share old photographs.  Copying them is so easy these days.   </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD5qliK2yM6kBDKYpgj1KxR08-f86WynVo45hrbLxwKmbHiLkbbcicePVJYH_S88T_57hWhqlKoVaXdrL4pOtrUbzJmP-miY7FdNayzxNgn3ctZehgAW8F8MORyYLLmYsPimH_XPEL1Je/s1600/103090278939924055_hK0xH24r_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD5qliK2yM6kBDKYpgj1KxR08-f86WynVo45hrbLxwKmbHiLkbbcicePVJYH_S88T_57hWhqlKoVaXdrL4pOtrUbzJmP-miY7FdNayzxNgn3ctZehgAW8F8MORyYLLmYsPimH_XPEL1Je/s400/103090278939924055_hK0xH24r_c.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />Love how the black satin ribbon looks with the green and the stamped gift tag.  The splash of cedar finishes the job.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI-2GpYLh-dsxEB4t0g0exJMI5WI2PChwqsp_cyOcGjyZlye3dcVq8Ny4HwpbvPutkZds-tbyKo8YpBjZ-cZHwgKGbVR_VJrg1fyuX3SsNaAEK31cr0lTwTrE2Zz7d9EFMXsYvPM1nglc/s1600/193091902743148482_tGn6JbRJ_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI-2GpYLh-dsxEB4t0g0exJMI5WI2PChwqsp_cyOcGjyZlye3dcVq8Ny4HwpbvPutkZds-tbyKo8YpBjZ-cZHwgKGbVR_VJrg1fyuX3SsNaAEK31cr0lTwTrE2Zz7d9EFMXsYvPM1nglc/s400/193091902743148482_tGn6JbRJ_c.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The name of the recipient becomes the major design element in this wrapping idea.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKT-D2kB4VHXqkmgCpzXz2u6cod5kMynhvIoieMPegC8YERm2MFPRhtY_5M77qPm1pBkwraZWcJl8phKBynqFTYwXsRtkMWHYf_aRPOANe4C_ql49CCO6vdqmAJY2C8IqdeVyBTDR9VoP/s1600/5559199509513464_kcswB5wI_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKT-D2kB4VHXqkmgCpzXz2u6cod5kMynhvIoieMPegC8YERm2MFPRhtY_5M77qPm1pBkwraZWcJl8phKBynqFTYwXsRtkMWHYf_aRPOANe4C_ql49CCO6vdqmAJY2C8IqdeVyBTDR9VoP/s320/5559199509513464_kcswB5wI_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>  Have you seen the lace tape that is so popular now ? I've been on the look out but haven't found it yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFY9gWU6ER-Znj5e42ddU1UPhjSK3VN5iknWcDXUNYQ0YvUhTJzQlZx9JD716OKBHz3VDZZxbKERGrAJcv8McD-f6-n76hHN7PQY2Ert3TyYVHFBV78MB9OLrV8yPNMgdv7lNtfyo9F36/s1600/188095721906585463_dg5Xm1sI_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFY9gWU6ER-Znj5e42ddU1UPhjSK3VN5iknWcDXUNYQ0YvUhTJzQlZx9JD716OKBHz3VDZZxbKERGrAJcv8McD-f6-n76hHN7PQY2Ert3TyYVHFBV78MB9OLrV8yPNMgdv7lNtfyo9F36/s400/188095721906585463_dg5Xm1sI_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFY9gWU6ER-Znj5e42ddU1UPhjSK3VN5iknWcDXUNYQ0YvUhTJzQlZx9JD716OKBHz3VDZZxbKERGrAJcv8McD-f6-n76hHN7PQY2Ert3TyYVHFBV78MB9OLrV8yPNMgdv7lNtfyo9F36/s1600/188095721906585463_dg5Xm1sI_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cutting snowflakes from different coloured paper and adding them to the  plain paper works to add a spalsh of colour.  Simple butcher twine  manages to look elegant with this pairing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFY9gWU6ER-Znj5e42ddU1UPhjSK3VN5iknWcDXUNYQ0YvUhTJzQlZx9JD716OKBHz3VDZZxbKERGrAJcv8McD-f6-n76hHN7PQY2Ert3TyYVHFBV78MB9OLrV8yPNMgdv7lNtfyo9F36/s1600/188095721906585463_dg5Xm1sI_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazow8vWUMUkknRcFDF2ET9rVBpX97WrOlInW2amglYuv3bbQgNjn_xjKiVkdrUmTWfDm_KQXFV6Yb5XMYaQLXlkUmiKjrYBXcNh-0kSfoPXBdai1WcL_QZAMEzyhAejSyU2_5TkGgXDb0/s1600/112871534380616032_kZNh7f2L_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazow8vWUMUkknRcFDF2ET9rVBpX97WrOlInW2amglYuv3bbQgNjn_xjKiVkdrUmTWfDm_KQXFV6Yb5XMYaQLXlkUmiKjrYBXcNh-0kSfoPXBdai1WcL_QZAMEzyhAejSyU2_5TkGgXDb0/s400/112871534380616032_kZNh7f2L_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> Who know the pages from old books could make such pretty wrapping material.  You can sew paper to make bags or else glue the edges together.  Adding red string makes it all so festive. You can do so much with so little!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FXB20lKkpI9HWF1oAgP1Ok55OujYEPiG8ysr6sMaL1kRBX9PI4h33KmV5LLOMl7AUTp2f33sVJB5SNU0BG8r3Brn7j7Njuqcyv6U-lxnMWcVTVgi6NqsorAhjdC2odu1IFLgRVgv3PeS/s1600/95560823312791833_dtCHt0F8_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FXB20lKkpI9HWF1oAgP1Ok55OujYEPiG8ysr6sMaL1kRBX9PI4h33KmV5LLOMl7AUTp2f33sVJB5SNU0BG8r3Brn7j7Njuqcyv6U-lxnMWcVTVgi6NqsorAhjdC2odu1IFLgRVgv3PeS/s400/95560823312791833_dtCHt0F8_c.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVymY5V8D0VwsHLPRU3vUbg-ha2modlgoUPBFCsu5PjcfrKs_9IPQ_KXkwbNYZ081XDxR59mSjUQ2YZb_qL2o_1Wc2nZXl6Dvje-mwP6j4SV2w79DpqYVaHr9Xj3Rn_7KmZlOxhSG0R_ik/s1600/226165212506502192_f7oQfZA0_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> I  love this one with red yarn and kraft sticks with holes drilled in  them. Of course it is the repetition that makes the design. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVymY5V8D0VwsHLPRU3vUbg-ha2modlgoUPBFCsu5PjcfrKs_9IPQ_KXkwbNYZ081XDxR59mSjUQ2YZb_qL2o_1Wc2nZXl6Dvje-mwP6j4SV2w79DpqYVaHr9Xj3Rn_7KmZlOxhSG0R_ik/s1600/226165212506502192_f7oQfZA0_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVymY5V8D0VwsHLPRU3vUbg-ha2modlgoUPBFCsu5PjcfrKs_9IPQ_KXkwbNYZ081XDxR59mSjUQ2YZb_qL2o_1Wc2nZXl6Dvje-mwP6j4SV2w79DpqYVaHr9Xj3Rn_7KmZlOxhSG0R_ik/s400/226165212506502192_f7oQfZA0_c.jpg" width="266" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> Love this look with red raffia ribbon and strips of black and white printed paper.  What you add between the raffia is up to one's imagination. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmlNtLLbyKrbu64__T4Jud_1i8VPehWq7uuSh9wBDhChjEuqaOfcc-sg2qBg_JRgv3OGkILZu2H2A6a04L4iSsTZdEz8v5VLieh0kxO9Ba5WPq_SJE0x90AVdXQu6RObqdj3LhpD4XNKt/s1600/214765475950755020_jSPRTG8i_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmlNtLLbyKrbu64__T4Jud_1i8VPehWq7uuSh9wBDhChjEuqaOfcc-sg2qBg_JRgv3OGkILZu2H2A6a04L4iSsTZdEz8v5VLieh0kxO9Ba5WPq_SJE0x90AVdXQu6RObqdj3LhpD4XNKt/s400/214765475950755020_jSPRTG8i_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Coloured tape and a button on a string.  How colourful and simple? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrtL9d-zLReMtqLXBx_qRQYKhc40z5_o33T-uYw6q1MqCcBSQBBn4JNW0RE1WfRCBJhg2h6M58KvgDjYJZ0MvD7DsNOddGuCUS27XhzsG2GF4LIwbbU2yCiKHmkancYqASeuJDD-FFCH3/s1600/221802350367479370_OL2t3APF_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrtL9d-zLReMtqLXBx_qRQYKhc40z5_o33T-uYw6q1MqCcBSQBBn4JNW0RE1WfRCBJhg2h6M58KvgDjYJZ0MvD7DsNOddGuCUS27XhzsG2GF4LIwbbU2yCiKHmkancYqASeuJDD-FFCH3/s400/221802350367479370_OL2t3APF_c.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> To get this effect I would use scraps of tulle or netting  and then over tie it with twine. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wondering what to do with that left over burlap?  Wonder no more.  I made burlap bags years ago to package driftwood Santa's I hand painted.   When you ravel out the tops and include a colourful yarn for tying , it looks very festive.  Burlap will also take a simple stencil using  paint. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDw8FanK44BY8pX5VVVNqp4pnyPhWDl8rYG5XtlNuAj-rAMzmoRKdzZYi1Nh9sRQaop9ZunHohjViLPEUSqKwrGO7tXeCvQqpM-Y4o-wnujfeLuJ1yB-zz_xj2la0lj1shbmWwFuI5doV/s1600/101119954105132567_xnnsaaw1_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDw8FanK44BY8pX5VVVNqp4pnyPhWDl8rYG5XtlNuAj-rAMzmoRKdzZYi1Nh9sRQaop9ZunHohjViLPEUSqKwrGO7tXeCvQqpM-Y4o-wnujfeLuJ1yB-zz_xj2la0lj1shbmWwFuI5doV/s400/101119954105132567_xnnsaaw1_c.jpg" width="265" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQVZlIoD4L-PFJiArl-nGXmesHHiOxXfxHDZJRFpJMrJWZ4WyYFTEIP60OqZQCI1rYcVEpdICQtOVDfiV85ZhIPs6YtQyoSn8jYVi9qJuRKtegd59LJb985_KrovoqH9VHC7tyqkrXucO/s1600/272467846177136631_nHgcisFF_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQVZlIoD4L-PFJiArl-nGXmesHHiOxXfxHDZJRFpJMrJWZ4WyYFTEIP60OqZQCI1rYcVEpdICQtOVDfiV85ZhIPs6YtQyoSn8jYVi9qJuRKtegd59LJb985_KrovoqH9VHC7tyqkrXucO/s1600/272467846177136631_nHgcisFF_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQVZlIoD4L-PFJiArl-nGXmesHHiOxXfxHDZJRFpJMrJWZ4WyYFTEIP60OqZQCI1rYcVEpdICQtOVDfiV85ZhIPs6YtQyoSn8jYVi9qJuRKtegd59LJb985_KrovoqH9VHC7tyqkrXucO/s400/272467846177136631_nHgcisFF_c.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /> Over wrapping newsprint with burlap and adding a lovely gift tag and pine cones looks very finished and inviting. <br /><br /><b> Find the links to these and lots of other gift wrapping ideas on my Pinterest  <a href="http://pinterest.com/mryall/gift-giving/">gift giving page</a>. </b><br /><br />

Wrap it up

Trying to be earth friendly is an ongoing battle especially at Christmas. I hate the fact that all the pretty gift wrap ends up in the lan...

9:19 AM

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

I love repetition as a statement and it is a powerful vehicle for impact  in art and design.  As you get ready for the coming season perhaps  you would like some inspiration. These images illustrate simple, doable Christmas decor with an emphasis on repetition. Of course Pinterest is the go to site now for ideas of any kind.  These and more ideas  can be found on my  <a href="http://pinterest.com/mryall/tis-the-season/">Tis the Season</a> folder.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGu_HaHQnI-AnKSyp80gacQq0N574DRCtsUy9C-o6yuBZJNd7J2KlRVmo2KFSQjnLhf1t4UshZ_KccM6HEx6nmjIEdU2Zqe1IuZveJcOtc4Mk0iYohXyL5shmyH_1RKSMNeCTgmRJ4uU-/s1600/171277592049697719_L5OXenoc_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGu_HaHQnI-AnKSyp80gacQq0N574DRCtsUy9C-o6yuBZJNd7J2KlRVmo2KFSQjnLhf1t4UshZ_KccM6HEx6nmjIEdU2Zqe1IuZveJcOtc4Mk0iYohXyL5shmyH_1RKSMNeCTgmRJ4uU-/s400/171277592049697719_L5OXenoc_c.jpg" width="312" /></a> </div>So simple and effective.  I think this works because of its lack of colour and sparkle against the metal tray.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHkIbq3V1kZ-rW_760eLrqGokzztXb8AvDlXbNKjPdmkEWzpP0hB3SkEpsXk1L_XHgb3jLqvNlLNljuLzqWOWXkKsmkUw9qMTI-L1TKADVKC7Q7BjjUQm4EUM1szMi5k6T7_vUJZ1hq25/s1600/75927943687341501_Cnqu5FGl_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHkIbq3V1kZ-rW_760eLrqGokzztXb8AvDlXbNKjPdmkEWzpP0hB3SkEpsXk1L_XHgb3jLqvNlLNljuLzqWOWXkKsmkUw9qMTI-L1TKADVKC7Q7BjjUQm4EUM1szMi5k6T7_vUJZ1hq25/s400/75927943687341501_Cnqu5FGl_c.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>  How simple is this?  Jingle bells, and white candles on a rectangular white tray.  The variations are endless. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w_hOQttDk82jstgmtEQbp9Hwv07gqIJlGaG5WE3aPrQAu0EWoc6PiNUq2Hk9ieCVCgo0E4XUHgONzht75MjzohOimYgeXCcwqNoogSLd62g4WHwhSraQHostr4yEmmT1I5rU0PybmVoh/s1600/18295942205832444_utRuSmnq_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w_hOQttDk82jstgmtEQbp9Hwv07gqIJlGaG5WE3aPrQAu0EWoc6PiNUq2Hk9ieCVCgo0E4XUHgONzht75MjzohOimYgeXCcwqNoogSLd62g4WHwhSraQHostr4yEmmT1I5rU0PybmVoh/s400/18295942205832444_utRuSmnq_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>  Pick your choice with this one. Greenery with candles or bulbs in sets of three or four.  I think I would stick to one or the other so it would get noticed more. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA0RFn6I3RBj04RuiKwbQyFO2S0RaYpDZihwhyMUR1KQmDWgCalCLOK7wEqFyYVSuh7-KVvyF5-LIS6AUiiINHSkXbvR0JwI2PHM0_SK2T7kAhFtbScuTvOiFaAn8fJQrThQYu3Q_Ez-L/s1600/77335318572530880_HHo0HnLX_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA0RFn6I3RBj04RuiKwbQyFO2S0RaYpDZihwhyMUR1KQmDWgCalCLOK7wEqFyYVSuh7-KVvyF5-LIS6AUiiINHSkXbvR0JwI2PHM0_SK2T7kAhFtbScuTvOiFaAn8fJQrThQYu3Q_Ez-L/s400/77335318572530880_HHo0HnLX_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> Boxwood wreath with slim tapers massed in the middle.  These little candles and holders usually in clear glass are often found at dollar stores. You could also drill holes of appropriate size in a piece of wood and cover it with aluminum foil for safety. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZV_FAJ2ZRbE98ySyoWO4lFpCj5BOMF-nLmH912-FaDrc7CQmXyI8Pt2XPu5J1gje8SHkrgOO7BJfvB1niedBdIBopDeW6tlKe6RuDqSQf5EGvoH29QEHh_hewMDuCgEEeJL7WicGWyb2/s1600/175921929165824896_uq1XqodM_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZV_FAJ2ZRbE98ySyoWO4lFpCj5BOMF-nLmH912-FaDrc7CQmXyI8Pt2XPu5J1gje8SHkrgOO7BJfvB1niedBdIBopDeW6tlKe6RuDqSQf5EGvoH29QEHh_hewMDuCgEEeJL7WicGWyb2/s400/175921929165824896_uq1XqodM_b.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>  While this isn't specifically  Christmas decor it offers all kinds of ideas about a similar shelf and a repetition of objects for different seasons. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLOJhuEvQ2LzGhE_3J4NzxnuLFaCuQLFegzGhBL8PekvQeP4WHJgUjxti0ZCfa-Aiy4UzeJoKv0645wbHKCwtjtG8KYnS1UGsn7bIEfq3_ZsuZ1nXPTC99Bmy9hlB-azOrW5ZwT7i7xxz/s1600/194288171396079426_GkIe0ZVI_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLOJhuEvQ2LzGhE_3J4NzxnuLFaCuQLFegzGhBL8PekvQeP4WHJgUjxti0ZCfa-Aiy4UzeJoKv0645wbHKCwtjtG8KYnS1UGsn7bIEfq3_ZsuZ1nXPTC99Bmy9hlB-azOrW5ZwT7i7xxz/s400/194288171396079426_GkIe0ZVI_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Love this idea for over a sofa.  Using those plastic snowflakes you can pick up cheaply and gluing them in a circle with  hot glue.  Velvet ribbon  is a must for the look.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Jpmz77FGOOYDAHl3IfRMAucPZ-_kQXdrzsH2toXkolBvSD43E-CzTpFqVPdvTkPD6CJEDMhB3sD7fUEet2NsFtL9WlSN2QSY2FCELlMeS6gKJU361fPHEIm_INGLRi8ingKdBK05d5wk/s1600/211458144973423878_OMpRjiR8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Jpmz77FGOOYDAHl3IfRMAucPZ-_kQXdrzsH2toXkolBvSD43E-CzTpFqVPdvTkPD6CJEDMhB3sD7fUEet2NsFtL9WlSN2QSY2FCELlMeS6gKJU361fPHEIm_INGLRi8ingKdBK05d5wk/s400/211458144973423878_OMpRjiR8_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> And don't you just love the repetition of gold vases and two shapes of trees?  Gold is so coming back in vogue.  <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOUji_-EpW2LzY9xwYAakI38IWa8_7wIUCxSS-3iQVq5_F5fXkFhJc69_QN5NMnZhnnGteDFPvV7-lHhMULrxG4RiIz4vD-edZd3IpHdH-sf9r6X0AvNY2c8B4EbUSkDjOT__O87LD7Uh/s1600/207165651580764062_HofDhlp0_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOUji_-EpW2LzY9xwYAakI38IWa8_7wIUCxSS-3iQVq5_F5fXkFhJc69_QN5NMnZhnnGteDFPvV7-lHhMULrxG4RiIz4vD-edZd3IpHdH-sf9r6X0AvNY2c8B4EbUSkDjOT__O87LD7Uh/s400/207165651580764062_HofDhlp0_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> Another set of four but this time using very rustic pots with moss, greenery and candles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmGWc4DcpEw1KS3ptH_M3fLdXGw47AdGDIy8lfEVNUIv-M464YvUFITro3IhMI928Lr3zWeMCtjRVW8BQbhFaV5NHnhGJJ6uhijjP9RQIYJJb76nn8MTTkKLbx2CGTmLa0C8hA_CNFpgi/s1600/280067670546657673_mqswLk1O_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmGWc4DcpEw1KS3ptH_M3fLdXGw47AdGDIy8lfEVNUIv-M464YvUFITro3IhMI928Lr3zWeMCtjRVW8BQbhFaV5NHnhGJJ6uhijjP9RQIYJJb76nn8MTTkKLbx2CGTmLa0C8hA_CNFpgi/s400/280067670546657673_mqswLk1O_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc70vNAboMfPLnNiiuFGDcUJWH_niqKtfjpYMGoASfOtWIvXCSkkeIwZRx6DfMCSwHyR8TbkkI-joWnF4367xrCHzYr4NQcFkALlONbW3ujr8p5gyFA5zn3alg0BofDis20sa_bYLkXeP9/s1600/65443000806301157_QKNwh71L_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc70vNAboMfPLnNiiuFGDcUJWH_niqKtfjpYMGoASfOtWIvXCSkkeIwZRx6DfMCSwHyR8TbkkI-joWnF4367xrCHzYr4NQcFkALlONbW3ujr8p5gyFA5zn3alg0BofDis20sa_bYLkXeP9/s400/65443000806301157_QKNwh71L_c.jpg" width="298" /></a></div> Lanterns of different shapes and heights can be used with all sorts of  seasonal decor.  I think they are handy to have around for  year around  use.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKogOrTTvkSGN7ReSkoAIyD0264zLNivSPAmC41FI4YF4YGPT_OPA-oAX57NJoslSqe_9cAma3ILG4OwEDB-it-xy7PPSw7yKBr0qFi-3jan4k80n3ybH2ljJ-zxuNnxrtrEuMM7gkbV7-/s1600/171277592050124140_XU15fOPU_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKogOrTTvkSGN7ReSkoAIyD0264zLNivSPAmC41FI4YF4YGPT_OPA-oAX57NJoslSqe_9cAma3ILG4OwEDB-it-xy7PPSw7yKBr0qFi-3jan4k80n3ybH2ljJ-zxuNnxrtrEuMM7gkbV7-/s400/171277592050124140_XU15fOPU_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> Love white and blue at Christmas.  Add in the sparkle of silver ornaments and the scene is set. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO411Hy5WWyTOa3JJ_-RRGHXENoBz55icA5kvNu_0d34d6nfrESCQtzOBoIlBPVAu5g92M7D4sy0cQ1tUZivKHckwO5XTsbkQUYWG_8PvYR-M6H6agAUldTU8kNwFFjM6NWWPRpViO7pi/s1600/243827767295248143_O1CYyo8f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO411Hy5WWyTOa3JJ_-RRGHXENoBz55icA5kvNu_0d34d6nfrESCQtzOBoIlBPVAu5g92M7D4sy0cQ1tUZivKHckwO5XTsbkQUYWG_8PvYR-M6H6agAUldTU8kNwFFjM6NWWPRpViO7pi/s400/243827767295248143_O1CYyo8f_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember that you can hang wreaths almost anywhere. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you missed last year's posts about Christmas decorations check them out <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2011/12/making-christmas-sparkle.html">here</a> for my house,  <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2011/12/christmas-decorating-for-your-table.html">for your table</a>,   <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2011/12/christmas-decorating-12-unique-wreaths.html">wreaths</a>,and  <a href="http://designinghome.blogspot.ca/2011/12/christmas-decorating-mini-trees.html">mini trees .  </a></div>

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

I love repetition as a statement and it is a powerful vehicle for impact in art and design. As you get ready for the coming season perhaps...

12:52 PM

Making Christmas Sparkle

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP709erbF7eXZIA6jQZRWBQj4zMmAJayBV5tzAZlaVW3bxTCOFOZ6mieCqmDWe60YsSFQ1GmrwToidVZ8LpgsqiRAowh1A8yQYe4kkGwebj0JTqynhfGzz7r5pstGZcxRC7tDdDPgDXlp/s1600/DSCN788066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Making Christmas sparkle is not a difficult task.  There's the little things you add to your home decor, there's music and family and friends. All you have to do is sit back and make enough time to actually enjoy it. It is too easy to get caught up in the frenzy of shopping and preparation.  I'm a fast forward kind of person, but lately I put the breaks on at Christmas, and make  every effort to notice all the small things. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhxX6HGV2MFDbctVKyEPwCMxd0sJbQptMbLEoV7rxeBY0GZZvfk69ewW3yUW4ennqsEotE2nqlYfNsptSlbwjp7rxr3nq85a1YZjCKSPh4t9dGJaosz6wOCp85sI5LQ1x9Ci_ZJUYRYXR/s1600/DSCN783966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhxX6HGV2MFDbctVKyEPwCMxd0sJbQptMbLEoV7rxeBY0GZZvfk69ewW3yUW4ennqsEotE2nqlYfNsptSlbwjp7rxr3nq85a1YZjCKSPh4t9dGJaosz6wOCp85sI5LQ1x9Ci_ZJUYRYXR/s320/DSCN783966.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> the sparkle of light on an iridescent wreath; the contrast of shape and colours</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeKIM24QbG_vg3hr4vmkH7GKYKWXNlOha2DpBuvkTonDaJGceJOhrCKfD69Ndgil_6fFIHKjRMgCeephOHkTGVaX8F-MgvpBmEnjRD8hB32NE0HXqV04QfdMBGGiSh9eHCMeb13OJWpRI/s1600/DSCN784266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeKIM24QbG_vg3hr4vmkH7GKYKWXNlOha2DpBuvkTonDaJGceJOhrCKfD69Ndgil_6fFIHKjRMgCeephOHkTGVaX8F-MgvpBmEnjRD8hB32NE0HXqV04QfdMBGGiSh9eHCMeb13OJWpRI/s320/DSCN784266.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> pleasing colours in a gift from a friend who knows me well</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZam56L4kFKC9flNtY8it6gc5LUzLTlcyrfvudXbBRvczhIhf29SFOJYP3rUys3qgg0LzWHV0rWVB2sXnaEZ4VjWrzHaxzRs_8TV5m1sSRhqAxsdY91simNLTikmYXbfDJWAvU47oD12O/s1600/DSCN784366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZam56L4kFKC9flNtY8it6gc5LUzLTlcyrfvudXbBRvczhIhf29SFOJYP3rUys3qgg0LzWHV0rWVB2sXnaEZ4VjWrzHaxzRs_8TV5m1sSRhqAxsdY91simNLTikmYXbfDJWAvU47oD12O/s320/DSCN784366.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> the reminders of great dinners with friends</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskxSNUtq4MY4WG966pO8j6ZjphOWf3iDkKx9qA_CAgR6j-7rOg65I5-xBDGFt38MzR-jaQNjIx3afuwnxnAsYCaqtQGr926R2cIU9nGcUOQilV9OlYLazeDSUrfjy-FPROeaULdh0w77o/s1600/DSCN784466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskxSNUtq4MY4WG966pO8j6ZjphOWf3iDkKx9qA_CAgR6j-7rOg65I5-xBDGFt38MzR-jaQNjIx3afuwnxnAsYCaqtQGr926R2cIU9nGcUOQilV9OlYLazeDSUrfjy-FPROeaULdh0w77o/s320/DSCN784466.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> a flower that inspired my first series in art</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOSZfo_6SvVU_xxB5gmpynuCKXV546pA3Z0t3H-6y5Uu_IQYSxuQgB6apztand2ix8gbXDuQzLr_cNk3D276BWSDdTeFLocJ77TlkyuL7qywI_ZTNloDot3Bse7m4ca_NyKaf8XCOb21p/s1600/DSCN784566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOSZfo_6SvVU_xxB5gmpynuCKXV546pA3Z0t3H-6y5Uu_IQYSxuQgB6apztand2ix8gbXDuQzLr_cNk3D276BWSDdTeFLocJ77TlkyuL7qywI_ZTNloDot3Bse7m4ca_NyKaf8XCOb21p/s320/DSCN784566.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">a  reminder of a trip to Ottawa where I actually got lost in an Ikea store<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBkSh1IT4yOTzXf1gu6cKCeJoQ4SzU50LwiKbejS_xU4NBFqZN4Hsrjxu1dCfqLGizK66i_PRRxZ4F21bRJafol2g-u6X0wA_MXZTS2w7ntAEvwrIZdZOIz51bVmKr7ryOyG1zxCWGOvs/s1600/DSCN788766.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBkSh1IT4yOTzXf1gu6cKCeJoQ4SzU50LwiKbejS_xU4NBFqZN4Hsrjxu1dCfqLGizK66i_PRRxZ4F21bRJafol2g-u6X0wA_MXZTS2w7ntAEvwrIZdZOIz51bVmKr7ryOyG1zxCWGOvs/s320/DSCN788766.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">twigs from my daughter's garden<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTVKRaOkKyng3m2VmuydqXMxhOzz4LbJNJcN8jXJ7l-3uNyDuIW8Pi9FHvjr1IIAuuxrAoF9MnNWoGj9CGCNaUDsOGqy403mqP3Gwm_8JJ-PiUHF8itjfSvC76tpkHmWwVPNShV1OFbLl/s1600/DSCN784766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTVKRaOkKyng3m2VmuydqXMxhOzz4LbJNJcN8jXJ7l-3uNyDuIW8Pi9FHvjr1IIAuuxrAoF9MnNWoGj9CGCNaUDsOGqy403mqP3Gwm_8JJ-PiUHF8itjfSvC76tpkHmWwVPNShV1OFbLl/s320/DSCN784766.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  the lamp I spent two years looking for, greenery from my garden, my husband's guitar he made  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1_0WCy6o5WxdEKxLxFFjlWfjaRrAY4E2xtk-RqTyohiDXdgi0ZMYPtuXxOHJZM70sLsNqW1kGNbkKbsGG-23DDFg7HCbJe2_QblNaFOY_0LAPnRt0FSP-ObQay1QI_Vxjt3D2ZIlO-_l/s1600/DSCN788866.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1_0WCy6o5WxdEKxLxFFjlWfjaRrAY4E2xtk-RqTyohiDXdgi0ZMYPtuXxOHJZM70sLsNqW1kGNbkKbsGG-23DDFg7HCbJe2_QblNaFOY_0LAPnRt0FSP-ObQay1QI_Vxjt3D2ZIlO-_l/s320/DSCN788866.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">music from my sister<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFsBTkt9uwjH8ugstVOyrRWUO4EOoxyC5LMRxMiONUHua2bn1mT4EpzefMo-ar_5zQSV0V5oO6PSwHEZ83UzAzcxdefmmXJE9tQ2eHRFyo8NqHnjaCvDASqZwYF4HhuxYbyfUrwEKPyNP/s1600/DSCN784866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFsBTkt9uwjH8ugstVOyrRWUO4EOoxyC5LMRxMiONUHua2bn1mT4EpzefMo-ar_5zQSV0V5oO6PSwHEZ83UzAzcxdefmmXJE9tQ2eHRFyo8NqHnjaCvDASqZwYF4HhuxYbyfUrwEKPyNP/s320/DSCN784866.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> a gift from a friend who has moved to the opposite side of Canada</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmcEjo3bvyHmR8z084ycpc3L7HMf0A_uVlHyuK-wYXLsTck8iA-vaYMmFM3_pnOWJARhgpmvyiv7lYBOPDnHXoSvp21WIugbycm7giqqP9pZCjAvXHGUVl_ZH8tFJI9-2MgXivP8uZccR/s1600/DSCN785566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmcEjo3bvyHmR8z084ycpc3L7HMf0A_uVlHyuK-wYXLsTck8iA-vaYMmFM3_pnOWJARhgpmvyiv7lYBOPDnHXoSvp21WIugbycm7giqqP9pZCjAvXHGUVl_ZH8tFJI9-2MgXivP8uZccR/s320/DSCN785566.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> finding small pieces of slate and turning them into unique Santas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi789KnIJ_YW8SjesIKATOzl7z0eGCyotLm-L-KMLpSJCpGN5NYtr-7qOeXc9y0h2gI6dVQUd50tvWFVMZ-bJLDLRs_M66XaKu3rAbtzjWqHjS9ESahE6vDyzuZddmQlWgUhNtie-L2aQjs/s1600/DSCN786866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi789KnIJ_YW8SjesIKATOzl7z0eGCyotLm-L-KMLpSJCpGN5NYtr-7qOeXc9y0h2gI6dVQUd50tvWFVMZ-bJLDLRs_M66XaKu3rAbtzjWqHjS9ESahE6vDyzuZddmQlWgUhNtie-L2aQjs/s320/DSCN786866.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> my son's ornament collection one for every Christmas, laid out for his nieces to play with, the odd guy playing the guitar is a  <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/12/17/nl-mummers-parade-1217.html">mummer, part of Newfoundland tradition</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvdkC8BFROMASZLpXzoDmugsKhUgvt2OKnhx5qkzc58uSRsSVUwX0aXxTtyQeYcQDShCS6injVl3IzhxYjHtyRE0ZLxHAtJ78rpW382-espIqjVZH_t-sAd2zwj1PURriJ-XBoMpW-PP2/s1600/DSCN787066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-1f6BM1KWKXggBV7g_UwMavXHBmfYCRHVVeH7kpPF139Cnh9D5XwTpwQ3wiTGtB16lJwoo67bx5-Zz88YbRsPsWgxObzTMnfnMB19-1OMR_PElHFDqqTkb9HspEbgt8j4omIJ9N0BYlM/s1600/DSCN787166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-1f6BM1KWKXggBV7g_UwMavXHBmfYCRHVVeH7kpPF139Cnh9D5XwTpwQ3wiTGtB16lJwoo67bx5-Zz88YbRsPsWgxObzTMnfnMB19-1OMR_PElHFDqqTkb9HspEbgt8j4omIJ9N0BYlM/s320/DSCN787166.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">new  candles waiting for friends to arrive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdsaJh_pTiUmOLK4-3R-zE-RHTwFDkWUyWhWhHYchYFTgBJFP4IfaZDidRh1ekYuNRQEpbInEovJ_7E0WMWlkV3h3pnIxRq8Cddqz3gjouaNYzaa_91dPTV_Fv1Bz3O-EAn6hIAF0_6Xt/s1600/DSCN787266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP709erbF7eXZIA6jQZRWBQj4zMmAJayBV5tzAZlaVW3bxTCOFOZ6mieCqmDWe60YsSFQ1GmrwToidVZ8LpgsqiRAowh1A8yQYe4kkGwebj0JTqynhfGzz7r5pstGZcxRC7tDdDPgDXlp/s1600/DSCN788066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimP709erbF7eXZIA6jQZRWBQj4zMmAJayBV5tzAZlaVW3bxTCOFOZ6mieCqmDWe60YsSFQ1GmrwToidVZ8LpgsqiRAowh1A8yQYe4kkGwebj0JTqynhfGzz7r5pstGZcxRC7tDdDPgDXlp/s320/DSCN788066.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-IVugP4BTum1ZaZQJp-kI4CLd-6ECmWDEy9mfIh6T6rrZmf0d3AZfh6fLlneVZO6c_1HqWB1W7FBE7fKH2jALT9JPYmRPRmS7glAYtGP3nEHqwhnysLHtKgP9u7zNtbz0LRRfTSKMDpp/s1600/DSCN787466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnp5dZ_R6lIYNB0zi8iTwHAs22Y5dyFMgU2rh_YJfdPFi5rwdaY763_jguFNgv4QtCAT-byqgyZvENS82wBpamiPbfgAJgyY5bDiatohiZVkUgknFCFGmC44pHIbWRyS9l0ch2W2caRzo/s1600/DSCN787966.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnp5dZ_R6lIYNB0zi8iTwHAs22Y5dyFMgU2rh_YJfdPFi5rwdaY763_jguFNgv4QtCAT-byqgyZvENS82wBpamiPbfgAJgyY5bDiatohiZVkUgknFCFGmC44pHIbWRyS9l0ch2W2caRzo/s320/DSCN787966.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2XEB6Ds57sIybNZ2hc00b7pnboPIol3xb29X6a_fZIEK9YGUSTo9sOUR8AkpMnBwU8ckaIf-Koop3V4GmiBmj7eQLp6ozGoTs82SRR3vQ5v1krk9D9WaFhg7dgZrRdNCnI6JaZfr6OGk/s1600/DSCN788666.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2XEB6Ds57sIybNZ2hc00b7pnboPIol3xb29X6a_fZIEK9YGUSTo9sOUR8AkpMnBwU8ckaIf-Koop3V4GmiBmj7eQLp6ozGoTs82SRR3vQ5v1krk9D9WaFhg7dgZrRdNCnI6JaZfr6OGk/s320/DSCN788666.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my granddaughters</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVddzXH9U-TA9Mpp3phjd8Jq7AUUQlMo0NttTrlwSvntXW89kCWOZ6Pjwwp5fBkQs3DPx-fVtQOPpSiAHjNzuZPVaYRCmRob0FYqEDfidS9rKChdswBw1MQUzt7ARBneQxeAKyPe4aWH3/s1600/DSCN789066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVddzXH9U-TA9Mpp3phjd8Jq7AUUQlMo0NttTrlwSvntXW89kCWOZ6Pjwwp5fBkQs3DPx-fVtQOPpSiAHjNzuZPVaYRCmRob0FYqEDfidS9rKChdswBw1MQUzt7ARBneQxeAKyPe4aWH3/s320/DSCN789066.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">grimy fingerprints</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmnjSmMEUowB0B3kw15PJ6cLDrrF2yaWCH0iz-KyaIf_gYnYaLCGbwz7Bo6OshVEO_0ynI-dJ8YHkF7HKsL0zRiIePHftfSWqnzatunWPUTnNkGf4E7Ha89UXKviYv6-oTHxTJBn6od8R/s1600/DSCN787566.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmnjSmMEUowB0B3kw15PJ6cLDrrF2yaWCH0iz-KyaIf_gYnYaLCGbwz7Bo6OshVEO_0ynI-dJ8YHkF7HKsL0zRiIePHftfSWqnzatunWPUTnNkGf4E7Ha89UXKviYv6-oTHxTJBn6od8R/s320/DSCN787566.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">and even the snow falling outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnp5dZ_R6lIYNB0zi8iTwHAs22Y5dyFMgU2rh_YJfdPFi5rwdaY763_jguFNgv4QtCAT-byqgyZvENS82wBpamiPbfgAJgyY5bDiatohiZVkUgknFCFGmC44pHIbWRyS9l0ch2W2caRzo/s1600/DSCN787966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What puts sparkle in your Christmas?</div>

Making Christmas Sparkle

Making Christmas sparkle is not a difficult task. There's the little things you add to your home decor, there's music and family an...

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