HOLIDAY: Mid-Mod Inspired Parasol Trees

...and here I thought I was DONE making trees. NOPE!

Inspired by a gorgeous mid-century modern photo, I was planning to create THIS:

As Charles Phoenix says, "I KNOOOOOWWWWWW!!!" Isn't it cool?!!

I ordered some materials online and had a plan. Then I ran outta' time to build it. So I pivoted to create smaller similar versions instead... In any case, I adore these fun and truly EASY paper trees and I think you will, too!

Continue reading for details & tutorials...

HOLIDAY: Mid-Mod Ornaments, Part 2

My last post showed you four of the ornaments I've been busy creating, and this post will share the last three mid-century modern inspired ornaments that I dreamed up.

Ready for THREE tutorials? Let's dive in!... 

HOLIDAY: Mid-Mod Ornaments, Part 1

My last post showed you a sneak peek of the ornaments I've been busy creating...
this post will share three of the seven I've created, plus a look back at one created and used on the first wreath of this year. My next post will cover the last three ornaments.

One of the ornaments I am sharing today utilizes some existing ornaments already in my stash - I'm zhushing them up with additions cut from the vinyl placemats that I have chosen as my primary material in this year's holiday decor. One of those cut shapes forms the second ornament, and an expanded version is used for the third ornament. 

Ready for some easy tutorials? Let's go!... 

holiday 2024: a tablescape trick

gathering at the table is a big part of holiday celebrations.

whether you are planning family sit-down dinners

or friends-filled buffets this holiday season,

being with people you love is a great time to set a pretty table.

and while i set up a tablescape for these photos,

including using all of my trees for a mini tree farm centerpiece,

this post is really about a fun, easy idea for your silverware!

continue reading for the details...

holiday 2024: funky fabric Christmas tree!

while most of my holiday decorating this year
involves re-using a lot of elements i already have
along with a few new things i am making,
there ARE new store-bought things in the mix...

and one of them inspired a whimsical tree:

i picked up a few small flocked trees at Target for $3 each.
as they sat in my studio waiting for me to use them, 
i looked at that bright chartreuse green tree - and had a brainstorm.

i have a fuzzy chartreuse green microfiber blanket.
i have a few wire tomato cages. i put those two together.
and the result is a very... SEUSSICAL... tree.
which perfectly fits my 2024 theme,
O Christmas Tree 

continue reading and see what craziness i pulled off!

holiday 2024: repurposed Christmas card wreath

it's TIME! welcome to homeward found holiday 2024:
O CHRISTMAS TREE

this year, i'm using 'artful' elements from my studio and my stash
to bring this holiday decor theme to life in my studio...
yes, green fits my current 'green era' color obsession,
AND it allows for a re-visit / re-style of some of the
elements that i have used for holiday decor in the past.

follow along for the next few weeks as i share
easy tutorials using stuff you already have on hand
to create a whimsical, magical holiday mood in your home...
and you can choose any color YOU love!

first up, an easy-peasy paper project that even the kids can get in on!

continue reading for tutorial and links to other similar projects...

Terra Cotta Christmas: a simply natural table

i'm gonna' be honest, i got stuck on this one.
just how do you incorporate terra cotta pots into a tablescape?

keep it simple.

as always, i used what i had on hand,
combined some varied colors and textures and elements,
and didn't try to do anything that YOU can't do in your home, too.

continue reading for a few easy ideas...

Terra Cotta Christmas: 2 nativity scenes

when i was thinking about ideas for a terra cotta pot nativity,

i looked online - and every rendition i saw was 'cute'. and painted.

not what i wanted, which is good -

it means what i've created is different than what other people have done!

(always my goal)

i wanted the same kind of simple, modern/contemporary style i've done before

that would coordinate with the other terra cotta decor elements i've made this year.

then i grabbed a traditional nativity scene

and shzooshed it up a bit with paint ;) 

continue reading to see how easy it is to transform something
into something ELSE ...

Terra Cotta Christmas: faux painted tree ornaments

while i'm having fun finding all kinds of ways
to use terra cotta flower pots in my theme this holiday season,
i needed to expand the scope... enter my favorite tool: PAINT!

i rounded up some unused ornaments from my stash
and transformed them using my faux terra cotta paint technique.
it's easy, cheap, and a great way to revive unused items!

continue reading for the details and some of my top tree decorating tips...

gingerbread theme Christmas tree

i have always enjoyed using what i have and mixing it up differently

to create new themes & looks each holiday season.

and while i don't have nearly as many bins of ornaments & elements as i once did

(over fifty JUST for Christmas! now it's about 10)

i still pull from my stash each year and then make / makeover some elements.

continuing the 'Gingerbread Holiday' theme this year,

 the tree in my studio is decorated with elements and materials on hand

to tell the story of a snowy gingerbread village.

keep reading to see how it all came together

and a few of my tree decorating tips...

Sweet Sweater Ornaments - real & faux!

handpainted ornaments are trending this year,

so i wanted to somehow incorporate that into my sweet sweater season theme...

by using a soft yellow cable knit sweater as my inspiration,

i was able to replicate the tones and pattern onto plain white ornaments

and create decor that is unique to my own style.

along with those, i wrapped a few ornaments with sweater fabrics,

finding a way to put actual sweater pieces into the mix...
for Sweet Sweater Ornies!

continue reading for the easy how-to's!

sweater-wrapped vases

on a cold rainy fall day waaaaaay back in 2007,

i visited designer Danny Seo's blog...

and when i saw a photograph of something Danny had created, i was smitten.

the guy took old sweater sleeves and put them on clear glass vases!

i jumped up and grabbed an ivory cashmere sweater of mine

that had recently become to small for me to wear.

(i did not become too big to wear the sweater - that's my story and i'm stickin' to it!)

i cut the sleeves off of the sweater, popped them into some clear vases

then added candles and bare branches to them...

the result was a cozy grouping that warmed up my dining table.

(when i added some small pumpkins to the grouping and looked at them side by side,

 i thought up the very first Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins!)

i've made a few different versions of sweater-wrapped vases over the years,

and this year i had fun combining a few ideas.

continue reading to see how vases and ornaments and sweaters are a perfect match...

Sweet Sweater Nativity

i've made a lot of things this year,
and this project ended up being my very favorite one.

i've selected it as my very first 'official' holiday decor post
because for me, this is the 'reason for the season' -
observing and celebrating the birth of Jesus.
it is at the foundation of my faith, and fills my soul with joy.

this project began with the beautiful blown glass art of artist Helle Mardahl...
i was so inspired by the luminous colors and soft forms of her art in photos on Instagram
and they immediately made me think of human forms.
i turned a few small ceramic vessels and some tiny tree ornaments
into a charmingly sweet and simple nativity scene that reflects her art.

after i added sweater scraps to the mix, i HAD to call this a 'Sweet Sweater Nativity'!

continue reading for the very easy details...

colorful holiday tablescapes

Christmas is a time of year when adults actually get to behave like kids.
it's completely socially acceptable to love cute decor and cute wrapping paper
and watch all kinds of cute, animated movies and tv specials.

let's just take that idea and use it to fuel our imaginations
when it comes to creating a merry and bright tablescape!

it doesn't take much work - and the results are like Candyland...

continue reading to see two versions of a colorful tablescape,
along with a few 'table tips'...

Target fringe tree makeover

i don't let what's available at stores limit my decorating plans.

i just take what they provide and then add to it or rework it to make it fit MY style!

this little tree is a perfect example of that...

lots of people have the original version of this in their Christmas decor this year,

but none of theirs look like this!

some white paint and a few scraps of paint chips gave it a total makeover.

continue reading to see the before and after!

merry mantel paint chip decor

'merry', indeed!

in the first of three different mantel decor projects i'm sharing with you this week,

the element of paint chips in this years' holiday decor is at the fore...

both the framed art and the paper chains make use of a rainbow of colorful paint chips

(sourced from my local Sherwin Willimans dealer),

in simple art projects that both adults and kids will love.

continue reading for details! 

re-purposed 'ornament' doorhanger

another of my previous diy decor projects got a quick makeover with paint,
turning it into a cute door hanger that resembles an ornament for the holidays!

i love re-using what i already have on hand,
giving it a fresh look for each season when i can.
it saves money, and storage space, and time spent shopping -
honestly, i'd rather be painting and crafting!!!

continue reading for an easy how-to...

rainbow colorized wreath

switching up my holiday decor themes each year is a lot of fun,
and it doesn't cost a lot to make a change...

this white wreath was just $6 at a local thrift shop four years ago,
and i've reworked it with colorful ornaments to match my colorful tree.

most of those ornaments i already had,
a few i grabbed at thrift shops and Dollar Tree to fill out my color palette.
( all told, i spent less than ten dollars on this)
attaching them to the wreath was a quick undertaking,
and the impact is uplifting - indoors or out!

continue reading for a few wreath decorating tips...

diy paint chip ornaments

nestled in with the brightly colored ornaments in my rainbow garlanded tree
are these ornaments that i made using paint chips.

a note about using paint chips, if i may....

i sauntered in to my local paint store and asked for old paint chips - 

and they handed me an armload of fan decks! FREE!

(i nearly skipped out the door...)

i highly recommend making this effort to procure paint chips responsibly.
i emphatically discourage raiding paint chip displays in home improvement stores.
just to be clear.

making these ornaments is pretty simple - it's a scissors & paste kinda' craft project!

continue reading for the easy tutorial for all three styles of ornaments... 

rainbow colorized Christmas tree

i really think Joanna and Cleo of The Home Edit would LOVE this Christmas tree!
a brilliant white tree with bright color ornaments, arranged in rainbow ROYGBIVP order 
("it's a SYSTEM!" - if you know, you know)

a place for everything and everything in its place, right?!

okay, so, yesssss, i've been watching The Home Edit on Netflix. a LOT.
and yessssss, it has indeed had an influence on my Christmas decor this year.
i was also inspired by an Insta photo of a huge garland made of balloons...
that spurred the idea to create a 'garland' of colorful ornaments
that were arranged in color order.

continue reading to hear more about where those ornaments CAME from
and see how easy this approach to tree decorating is!