I’m always a little slow in sharing seasonal posts. Perhaps it’s due to my process. I tend to break out the seasonal decor totes, slowly put out new season items while removing the old, change up placed items repeatedly until I’m somewhat satisfied, make new decorations, forget to gather fresh greenery…you get the picture. We’re tripping over the bins for at least a week. I use most of the same decor pieces from year to year, so I try to use them in different locations or in different ways each year to keep the look fresh.
I’ve enjoyed changing things up seasonally as long as I can remember, so my basic decor has been fairly neutral for many years, as you can see here, here and here. (Though I do confess to jumping on the ’80’s dusty rose bandwagon way back when!?!) I love the pop of red against the creams, and whites, with touches of green here and there that Christmas brings.
Join me for a walk about our little rental house…
All the east coasters enter the home through the back door, into the kitchen:
I painted this sled many moons ago. I love these old skates.My Love’s step-father made the sled, the joy sign was made at our ladies’ Christmas craft party last year, the Elf quote was a download eons ago, I found the paper star lantern at Jysk one year and it’s still going strong (it looks so pretty lit up at night) and the stuffie is the Christmas hamster (our version of elf on the shelf–see here). I have a pair of bob skates with red leather straps…I think I’ll hang those on here, too.You can see how I made the paper garland here.This dining set came with our rental.This burlap stocking was made from a coffee sack by a friend of my older kids. They bought it for me a few years ago and stuffed it with goodies.
Step with me into the living room:
The bookcase has two vintage globes year-round. I added the metal ‘joy’ for Christmas.I made the ‘Oh Holy Night’ art a few years ago. The Willow Tree nativity set is one of my favourite Christmas accessories. My kids gave it to me one Christmas.The Luke chapter two printable was found online here. I put the snow globe together last year.This tree is such a beautiful shape…and the smell…heavenly! It truly is a giving tree: I got three projects out of the trimmings!I think I have a thing for sleds. I have several…even after I gave some away. I’m particularly missing my vintage wooden sled with red runners.Winter is cozy-ing up time!That wicker tray is usually not right at the end. It gets moved around quite a bit to make room for feet!Please ignore the empty planter. I manage to commit herbicide on a regular basis…think I’d better just get a fake plant. The basket on the floor holds children’s Christmas books that only appear for the season (see here).I painted the “Come let us adore Him” sign this year. I’d like to add a wood frame at some point. The frame behind the chalkboard is a page from an old song book. It illustrates “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”My df girl won this lovely poinsettia at a charity concert she and My Love participated in.
These are a few of the Christmas-y crafts I made this year. You can find the pillows here. The white-framed tree is from beach finds: tiny bits of driftwood, a miniature shell and a piece of brown sea glass. I also made a sea glass tree with the same frame. I gave it as a door prize at our ladies’ Christmas craft night.
I’d been looking for something with hooks and bins for the front hall. I ran into Michaels one day and this was on a shelf marked half price. When I got to the checkout it was something like $8! The lantern beside the love seat was in a $4 grab bag that same day. There were two lanterns in there. What a great haul! Can you say, “Start the car!“?
Well, that’s it for the main rooms. There’s a mini tree in each bedroom, along with a few seasonal additions. Over all, I don’t go overboard with decorations, but it’s nice to have some festive touches throughout the house.
joyintheeveryday.ca 