Remember, wayyyyyy back to a week ago when I lied to you but didn't know I was lying to you because at the time I was actually telling the truth?
Well, I'd like to explain that lie.
I told you that I would be paring down my Christmas this year. I thought at the time I typed those words they were true. In fact they WERE true.
Until 2 days later when Brett, an editor from Canadian Living magazine emailed me to ask if I was going big with my Christmas decorating this year.
Um. Sort of. I guess. Not really. I suppose I could. Crap. Me no speaka di english.
7 really bad iPhone photos and a couple of emails later it was confirmed. Canadian Living was coming to shoot my house for their Christmas issue to be published next December.
And they were coming in 4 days.
So as it turns out, this wasn't the year that Christmas got pared down.
Instead, in fact, this turned out to be the year Christmas got jacked up. I decorated until I had scars.
This is not a lie ... I found sparkles in my ... well never mind. But they shouldn't have been there.
Behold Art of Doing Stuff readers, the Christmas House Tour 2013.
A military guard might seem like an unlikely Christmas ornament, but these little metal soldiers were my father's when he was a little boy. They have enormous sentimental value. Plus it's a good reminder that not everyone is sitting by the fire this holiday season.
I'll remind you all next year when the article comes out if you promise to remind me that NEXT YEAR is going to be the year of the pared down Christmas. A year of rest, solitude and where every body part, and organ will be declared a sparkle-free zone.
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Julia
My favourite bit? The box of baubles under the glass topped table... Effortless, but beautiful.
Kathy
Karen-- You are SO adorable that it pains me. I want to reach across the miles and give you a big hug. You are such a treasure, I just can't even explain. After reading the first several paragraphs of this post, I thought, "ok...nice--pretty pared down, but nice." But then came the big reveal which led to all the following emotions and exaltations--! Oh MY! Wow. .... woh!.......Wowie wow wow! Awwwww, cute.... Gasp... awwww......adorable....... Wow..... Oh my God!..... and then--being the mother of a darling daughter myself--- I could not help but think....What t.* ... is wrong with the expletive Fella???????...... This girl is a National Treasure! I don't know why I went there, but I did.
You take my breath away....make me laugh.....make me smile.....make me cry......make me want to be a better person and mother-- like your dear drunken mother....... I just don't even know. Good grief. Merry Christmas, Karen.
Linda
Kathy, I couldn't agree more. Well said! :-)
KiwiKat
Yup, agreed!
Susan
Completely agree......
I could not have said it better.
Jane
Karen,
Congratulations on your article in next year's December edition of Canadian Living Magazine! How exciting! Your home is lovely and certainly deserves the spotlight! Of course, I guess you should get some of the credit. After all your home didn't get this way without your love and dedication. As for this post, I love your white tree. It is absolutely stunning! Thank you for mentioning our service men during the holiday season. They are so deserving of our love and holiday wishes. The pictures of your kitty are adorable! I'm so glad you included them.
I hope you have a joyous holiday season and a very Merry Christmas!
Rondina
My favorite parts are the soldiers/trees and antler displays. I really like the box of ornaments under the glass table. I'll probably copy that one. The tree is beautiful. If you are anything like me, the tree took an equal amount of time as everything else.
I don't think you pulled out all the stops. This is tasteful. Like it should be on the Tone on Tone blog. I mean, look at what you have done, then compare it to one of those HGTV "celebrity" Christmas shows. OMG. Gaudy, gaudy, gaudy. To me, they pull out all the stops and it looks like someone threw up Christmas.
What I see are TWO CATS. I don't remember these cats. I don't remember you talking about these cats. No outdoor pictures. And we haven't seen the coop in quite a while. Or the chickens. The coop decorations were especially beautiful and I suspect you got the porch ready also. I'm curious as to what is going on up there.
Karen
Thanks Rondina! Yup cats. TWO cats. :) The Siamese is Cleo and the bigger one is Ernie. I found Ernie on the porch in the middle of winter several years ago. I've talked about the cats before ... a lot in fact, lol. They did take a bit of a back seat once the chickens arrived though! Outdoor shots coming up on Thursday. ~ karen!
Cathy
Well done, Karen! Congrats for being chosen and giving us a sneek peek. How ever did you get the felines to pose...a bit of catnip in the kibble perhaps?
Karen
Hah! No, they're just doing what cats do. You know ... pretty much sitting around doing nothing. ~ karen!
Becky
I love the box of ornaments. I just recently was informed that my mother in laws collection of handblown antique glass ornaments are coming home... where we have a four year old person, a cat, and a very large dog in a very small house.
Its a recipe for disaster, but if I put them in a display box, they are a little more protected than hanging on the tree.
Allison
Your home is gorgeous Karen! It is so beautifully decorated for Christmas. Congratulations on your magazine feature! I love that you have your father's little soldiers from when he was a young boy. Sentimental touches are always so nice to have during the holidays. Your kitties are so sweet!
Grammy
Stunning. All of it. But your father's toy soldiers is the most touching Christmas display I've ever seen.
Your camera work is very nice -- especially the shot of the living room with the tree reflected in the mirror. Thanks for it all.
Will the "glitter in special places" make it into the magazine? Say it ain't so.
Karen
LOL.I hadn't even thought of that! I'll see if they're interested in the money shot. ~ karen!
Sue T.
Karen, it all looks lovely as usual ...and it's nice to see pic's of your kitties again !
I'm sure in the next few weeks you'll enjoy the fruits of your labor. I've always loved in the evening having only the candles lit and the Christmas lights on, laying on the sofa listening to soft jazz/holiday music. If I can watch it snowing at the same time it's like heaven! Enjoy it.
ruth
It looks calm and soothing and lovely. Nice to see the kitties too. :-)
Jean Thomson
Fabuloso! Love all of it!
karol
Very, very nice, Karen. Your big tree is beautiful, I love the glass (I assume) icicles on it.
Sandy
Your home is stunning Karen, I actually love the military guard too. Every bit of it made me smile. Merry Christmas and thank you for all of your hard work. I can't wait until next Christmas to see your pared-down decorations.
KiwiKat
So will Brett turn up to help you take it all down again, after putting you on the spot to get it all up? Huh? Yeah, that's what I thought....maybe you need to go on holiday over Christmas. Come visit us in New Zealand. It's the middle of summer, but we always have a spare seat at our table and because it's summer and holidays, we're all laid back and relaxed. Betty could come too. And the rest of your family (although I'd have to put out a call to get extra accommodation at that point)...
:) You know you want to, right?
Karen
Pfttt. I've already bought my ticket. See you in a day. ~ karen
KiwiKat
Closer to two days to get here, but the spare bed is always made up....I live in the beautiful Bay of Islands in the far North of NZ - you can either kick back on the beach, out on the water or head to one of our amazing cafes - bother, I'm starting to sound like I should work for the local tourism organisation...I guess, given that this is where I live, it is only to be expected - http://www.bay-of-islands.co.nz/gallery.htm
Oh, and I have a new kitten that you can play with, so you don't miss your fur-buddies too much!
Bobbi
I've just changed my name to Karen and I am on my way to NZ. Holy cats, it's lovely there.
Nancy Blue Moon
WOW KiwiKat..I had no idea that New Zealand was in Paradise..thank you for sharing those incredible pictures..
Auntiepatch
What a beautiful place to live!
KiwiKat
:) I'm always open to visitors - like I say, the spare bed is always made up and so long as you can deal with my insane kitty (he's only 8 weeks old, soo....), my door is open!
Karen
Kay I'm going to look at your link now. I was too busy getting ready for the big photo shoot today. Stay tuned ... ~ karen
Karen
Holy crap. Wow! WOW! ~ karen
Noelle
Lovely!
Amie Mason
Two Christmas Trees!!! Holy crap, I can barely handle one! Nice work Kazza!
Nicole
Spectacular! (I liked the cloched lights and tree near the Picasso, too.) A wooden plane my dad made for my son make its way into much of my decorating for the same sentimental reason. Congrats on the Christmas photo spread!
Marti
Looks great. The tree is spectacular and I love-love-LOVE the burlap bunting. Congrats. Go float the excess sparkles down the tub drain.
Karen
LOL. They're everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Kay I have to nap now. The magazine peeps are gonna be here in 8 hours. ~ karen!
Susan
Ha! You can pare down the same amount I pare down....not!! Beautiful, by the way!
Karen
LOL. Thanks Sue! ~ k!
Cindy Marlow
You did an amazing job. I think you work even better under a deadline.