My house looks beautiful. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.
I probably shouldn't say that. Humility and all that stuff. But ... it does look beautiful. I love it. I really don't feel bad saying that for a few reasons which I shall list for you right now.
1. It was a lot of work 3 days, no elves, 2 injuries.
2. One injury involved spray flocking, a sparkle and four eyelashes. People are always prouder of things that involved getting an injury.
3. After standing proudly decorated for a total of 2 hours, my Christmas tree fell over. Scratch that. It didn't fall over, it smashed spectacularly to the ground accompanied by the sound of artillery, resulting in my diving for cover under the nearest thing. A Triscuit cracker. As it turns out the "artillery" was actually dozens of my antique glass ornaments shattering into pieces.
I did not cry. I came close. But I did not. It wasn't until the THIRD time the tree fell I cried. Mostly because it fell on me. People are always prouder of things they accomplish by overcoming the odds. I overcame all odds.
So those are my reasons for unabashedly proclaiming my Christmas decorating to be beautiful.
I followed my usual rules this year.
1. If you put something out, you have to take something away. Reindeer on the buffet? Then take away the vase. Just put everything you take away in a box or two and stick it in the basement until Christmas is over.
2. Just because you own a Christmas decoration doesn't mean you HAVE to put it out. If you hated it last year and only put it out because you felt like you owned it and you had to, you're going to hate it again this year. Just leave it in the box and get past the guilt.
3. If you put it on a glass block or under a glass dome it'll look like it cost more than the $3 you paid for it. That rule works any time of year.
And this year I added a new rule. Use more fishing line to attach your Christmas tree to the wall than you think you would need. In fact, factor in the amount of fishing line you think it would take to capture Jaws and then double it. Then use more than that to tie up your tree.
This would be the tippy, topsy, toppling tree.
One final point for those who are wondering. If a tree crashes in the living room ... it does make a sound. And by it, I mean me. And by sound I mean swear words that would warm Gordon Ramsay's heart.
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qtpuh2tme
So Christmaslicious! ~:)
Mary Werner
Beautiful! My favorite are the trees under glass on the table. We always fish lined our trees which we cut from our farm. They were so crooked and some years we put three in pot and wired together to get a fuller effect as Florida trees are spindly. You brought back GOOD memories of crooked trees, hectic times, and yes that is what it was all about anyway. Relaxing can wait for new year. Favorite movie? Christmas Vacation of course. Does salad bowl like the decor or does he wait patiently for new year clean? Merry Christmas!
Karen
Mary - Salad bowl likes it but HATES the sparkles. HATES the sparkles. ~ karen
cred
smashing of dozens of your vintage ornaments makes me cry.
Where are the creepy elves? They remind me of my childhood.
Looks very festive- I love that you decorate every room.
Karen
Cred - The creepy elves are on a windowsill in the kitchen. I believe they're protecting the pepper grinder at the moment. ~ karen
Sandy
Your home looks beautiful. Merry Christmas.
marilyn
it is really beautiful karen..great job
Karen
Thanks Marilyn! ~ karen
Tres
Your house looks amazing! Santa may have to bring Mrs. Claus by for some decorating ideas. According to TMZ, the North Pole is looking a bit tired this year. Have a Merry Christmas!
Susan
Your tree is pretty but real with lights on it! Please remember to never leave the room with the lights plugged in. That tree becomes an inferno in seconds...I know from first hand knowledge! And tied up it can't even be knocked over, picked up and thrown or anything! Please be careful. By the way metal tinsel is banned because of the fire hazard. Do NOT ever use real metal tinsel. Not to belabour the fact but the burlap on your mantel is also so pretty. Be careful to only have smoldering fires with that hanging there. The heat or an exuberant flame could turn to disaster in seconds again. Sorry but it all scares me now and I know from what I say! Merry Christmas Karen to you, the fella and your family. Your blog gives all year ...just like a Christmas present!!
Laura Bee
The old ornament fairies were around when my tree crashed (twice). I got lucky. But I've lost others in past years. You inspired me to use my sheepskin under the tree. I love it & love your whole house!
Jamieson
Spectacular spectacular!
Pilar
OMG Dear Karen, absolutely everything looks so fantastic and balanced! I love your house and I love you decoration. I can assure you, that the effort was it worth. I envy you for it (in a friendly way!) because this year I can't decorate my house as I would normally do. We have a kitty with an age of 4 months and I know where would be landing all the funny shiny, rolling stuff! no, better not decorate too much this year!
Susan
Really beautiful. I especially like all of the greenery. Is it real? If so, if must smell wonderful. I like to set vases around the house full of the free cuttings from the Christmas tree lot. Sometimes I hang a few Christmas ornaments on them or candy canes. Also proudly used the time-weathered ornaments from my family that have been on the tree since I was a little girl. You've probably seen similar ones at the museum. I think they're painted dinosaur poop.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Kat
Listening to Annie Lennox "Walking on Broken Glass" while checking out your post. Puts a cool twist on to your photos! My fave is that glass reindeer on the mantle beside your white tree. But Holy Moly was it that big huge tree that fell over. Hell you didn't even get to put a tree topper on that puppy, not that you had room!...and are those your Boggs tucked away in there? Great stuff Karen! I have a 24 inch tall 1950's blue and green vinyl tinsel tree that makes me as happy as Rudolph on his first flight!
shauna
Good Work Karen!
It is beeeoootiful.
Worthy of pride for sure.
Have the merriest of Christmases and thank you for making me laugh many times over the past few months. Looking forward to more practical, or not, beautiful, or not, but always hilarious tips from you in 2013.
Karen
Thanks Shauna! ~ karen
Lori
Merry Christamas! You did a great job on decorating ! Love you tree! Even if it took three tries to get it to stay up! It look great!
Cheri
And....did you make that log side table???? Love it!!
Karen
I did Cheri. Here's my tutorial on it ... https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/stumped-how-to-make-a-tree-stump-table/ It's easy. ~ karen!
Cheri
No real tree for 3 years, breaks my heart, but stupid white carpet to blame: rental too. So jealous, tree is gorgeous! Done with taste and class.... Well done!
Wendy
Beautiful home, Karen. That glass reindeer on your buffet is my favorite thing, beautiful. Merry Christmas!
emily -- a denver home companion
oh my. you crack me up.
your home looks beautiful. i've definitely pinned a few ideas to steal for next year (esp the bell strap on door, wreath on mirror (for me it would be on our large framed art), and merry christmas on lamp.
bravo and merry christmas!
Karen
Thanks Emily! The Merry Christmas on the lamp is just some gold sparkle letters from the dollar store that I hung on ornament hooks on the shade. Total cost ... $1. ~ karen!
White
Is that all? :)
BTW, the question did occur to me regarding the sound of a tree falling. Thank you for clearing that up. But aren't falling trees a 'fella' thing? You should point a finger (any finger).
2nd BTW, I appreciate the Medalta brand. At one time, I used to correspond/collaborate with Luke Lindoe who was attempting to keep the business/name solvent, albeit not on an industrial basis. In its heyday, Medalta produced some really ghastly stuff, but also some very iconic, classic utilitarian product lines.
Bonnie Cramond
You have tinsel on your tree. It looks like real tinsel of yore. Tinsel was always my favorite part of the Christmas tree. I have been told that real tinsel--the metal kind--is not sold any more. They only sell the plastic kind. But your looks metal. Yay! It may be worth moving to Canada for real tinsel.
Beckie
vermontcountrystore.com sells metal tinsel =)
{{I like tinsel too!}}
pretty house!!
Bonnie
Thanks, Beckie,
I just found out that Amazon sells real tinsel, too. I guess you just can't buy it easily like you could in the past. I read that it is because of the lead, but I don't want to eat it.
Pam Gibson
Please know that although the metal tinsel truly is so much prettier, it is highly toxic to your pets. We all know cats that love to eat that sparkly stuff!! Use with caution.