ombre' gradient Christmas tree

this year's Christmas tree in our house is OMBRE'!

the ornaments are all of the SAME ones we used last year: 

i used all of the colored balls & figural ornaments and fabric poinsettias.

i didn't use the ribbon or the clear glass or paper ornaments that we used last year.

it's a completely different look for the tree - and we didn't spend a cent on it!

the ornaments used are white, ivory, gold, pale copper/rose gold, copper,

orange, tan, brown, and bronze.

i like the way the color gradient is dark at the bottom - like the floor -

and light at the top - like the ceiling.

it seems to make the tree feel even more grand and statuesque.

so.... now let me tell you the story of this theme!

that's LAST year's Christmas tree...

i had fun creating paper ornaments and pulling together a new look 

for the first year in the new house - 

which was a more neutral palette than my Mom has ever had on a tree before. 

we pulled gold from her holiday decor stash, 

and white, ivory, and browns from my holiday decor stash, 

then we bought some new ornaments to add to the mix - copper and orange.
(orange is our accent color here at home)
it all came together beautifully in a lush, full decor style - see more of it here.

well.... me being ME, i just can't do the same thing twice. ever.

.so as i was thinking about this years' tree, i remembered a tree that my friend Michael created

and shared on his blog Inspired by Charm last year: 

now, i love that idea! it's fun, it's happy, 

and from a design standpoint, it's a standOUT idea.

but it isn't ME. ...however.....

i realized that if i took all of the ornaments we already HAVE (sounds familiar, right?!)

and used them in gradient bands on the tree, 

i could replicate the idea without using the same colors. 

make the idea my own, so to speak.

which is what i hope the ideas i share here will do - 

inspire you to tweak them so they work for your style, your life, your home.

so, i showed that photo of Michael's tree to Mom, told her about my idea,

and asked if she was game to TRY it - with the promise that if it looked horrible,

she could tell me that, and I'd UNdecorate the tree and re-decorate it another way.
she agreed.

so I did it. and it worked!  (and Mom LOVES it!)

(i am also happy that i don't have to dismantle it and redecorate)

a side-by-side comparison:

Michael's tree is cone-shaped, while ours is a skinny tree - so ours looks kinda' funky.

i wish i had larger ornaments on the bottom part, but all in all i am happy with it!

i wanted to share this project with you so that perhaps you will 

look at the holiday decor elements and tree ornaments you already have 

and be inspired to think about them in a new way...

maybe doing an ombre' tree is not your thing, and that's fine.

perhaps using only one color, or a new combination of colors, 

would be a fun way to make things feel 'new' at your house 

without spending anything!

homewardFOUND holiday shop

 I've been extremely blessed to have found a HAUL of vintage and handmade holiday goods

that I am thrilled to offer you in my homewardFOUND shop this month...

as a matter of fact, I ended up with SO MUCH STUFF that it wouldn't fit in Room #1!

 so shop owner Stephani came up with Plan B, and I worked some magic! 

(click on 'read more' to see what I did....)

Happy HAULidays!

 Jingle & Jangle are getting excited!

These darling vintage elves will be in my shop soon - along with a lot more!

I've been pricing and making and prepping my huge HAULiday stash

to go into my homewardFOUND shop in Room #1 at Needful Things Addiction.
(there is SO MUCH MORE than I can even photograph right now)

and then.... Plan B happened.
The store owner asked for my help with a project - and OH am I glad I said yes!!!

Today I spent a few hours down at the store, prowling through some storage rooms

that are FILLED with amazing furniture and accessories, 

selecting some for fixtures and then getting to work turning an empty room

into a setting for a holiday happening!

That room is Room #3, and it's right next to my regular spot, Room #1...

I'll be filling it with my haul of handmade originals and vintage finds in bright happy colors
for the BIG EVENT this coming Saturday:

 .

Some new holiday things in soft neutrals will be headed into my 'regular' shop in Room #1, too!

I'll share some 'sneak peeks' here and on my social media pages

as soon as it's all set up and ready... and I hope you can make it out on Saturday -
I'll be at the store in the afternoon and evening to help out, 

and I'd love to meet you!

.

oh, Christmas tree!

 my friends, I just don't 'do' Black Friday.

that one horrifying trip to the mall for a Cabbage Patch Doll back in the early 80's was enough.
I was an 19 year old new mommy and was seriously traumatized by it all.
.

ever since, I've spent the day after Thanksgiving 

happily hiding from the world and decorating my house for Christmas...

and then that turned into decorating other people's homes and businesses.
in the course of decorating all those trees
(about 25 trees each year, give or take - that's a lotta' tree decorating!)
I've learned some helpful tips and come up with some ideas:

I found an easy tip that really makes trees glow 

i also turned a really cheap material into fun 'tomato cage' Christmas trees!

this year, I've been making some trees

to sell in my homewardFOUND shop at our Dec 2 Shop Hop event.

 'found' materials have been a big part of that process...

 last year, I created and shared a 'vintage lace Christmas tree' on a tomato cage

this year, I shrunk the idea down to size!

recently I found some funky old bristle brushes in a thrift shop, 

and of course I don't SEE them as that - I saw TREES!

they turned out exactly as I envisioned them, and I really like 'em!
I mean, REALLY like them. I am torn about selling them.... 

I've shared a lot of Christmas tree decor themes over the years,
and I hope they continue to inspire you!

The tree is up and fluffed and lit in our living room, but I have NO IDEA
what the theme will be this year... we'll see what I come up with
as soon as I get alllllll those decor boxes out of the garage and into the house!
(The only tip I have for that is 'get help!')

to all who are visiting from the Funky Junk Interiors DIY Salvage Junk link party, welcome!

Happy Thanksgiving!

wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, a wonderful holiday weekend,

and a meaningful gathering of hearts and memories.

.

I am so grateful for each one of you who visit my blog and social media pages,

and for your encouraging and supportive comments & likes.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my love of 'do-able decorating' with you!

if you're looking for some last-minute table decorating inspiration, click here!

if you'd like some ideas for which wine to serve with your turkey, click here!

if you'd like some sage words for a toast at the table, try these:

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, 

and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward

.
“Remember God’s bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. 

Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! 

Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!” – Henry Ward Beecher 

.
“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” – Aesop

. 
“Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes 

as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.” – Edward Sandford Martin

. 
“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” – William Shakespeare

.

“For each new morning with its light. For rest and shelter of the night. 

For health and food, for love and friends. For everything Thy goodness sends.” 

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

#21daysofinspiringthanksgivingtables

For the past 3 weeks, I've been sharing archived posts from this blog on other social media,

as a series I titled #21daysofinspiringthanksgivingtables .

.

I hope that somewhere in there, you've found some tips, tricks, and ideas

that will inspire you to create a lovely table setting for your Thanksgiving gathering!

Just in case you've missed any, here's the recap - 

click on the title to see the post
.
#1: Vintage White & Tan Table
#2: Vintage Black White & Tan Table
#3: Spicy Table
#4: Spicy Table part deux
#5: Green Table
#6: Urban Style Table

#7: Urban Bar Buffet Table

#8: Vintage Pink Table
#9: Vintage White Table

#10: Vintage Silver Table

#11: Vintage Brown Table
#12: Fabulous Fall Tables

#13: Autumn Picnic Table

#14: Thanksgiving Tea Table
#15: Modern Table
#16: Kids' Table 

#17: Thanksgiving Buffet Table

#18: A Tasty Table

#19: Last Minute Table
#20: Simple Table

Wishing you and yours a Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, love, and gratitude...

a tasty Thanksgiving tablescape...

I've been sharing all of my archived Thanksgiving tablescape posts on fb and IG

in my #21daysofinspiringthanksgivingtables series...
and as I came to the last few days of the series, I realized that I was short a post! 

 so today, as I enjoyed the cooler fall weather that's finally arrived,

I pulled out my steadfast white china and mixed it up with a few other things on hand 

to create a new look for you!

(you've seen that white china a lot, for years now, 

because it works for EVERY season and I can change it up in a million ways)

inspired by this centerpiece that I created last month on our dining room table, 

there are lots of soft natural hues and textures along with the warmth of a persimmon color for fall:

the centerpiece sits on a length of raw linen fabric that I've held onto for TWO decades.

I found the vintage linen napkin that matches it's tone PERFECTLY... three days ago!
they blend beautifully with the wood tones of my beloved farm table.

(remember when I whitewashed it?)

i love the finish on it now!

the punch of color comes from the ceramic dishes in a soft persimmon color,

paired with my white china to set them off.

there are three patterns, so the effect is one of layered textures.

my Mom's glassware is a peachy-orange color that coordinates well,

and the gold flatware is a warm touch perfect for autumn.

I hope this series is giving you some ideas for your own holiday table!