Tonight my house looks like a Christmas store exploded inside of it. After I packed away fall dècor, Greg helped me pull down box after box of Christmas decorations from storage. This weekend I’ll enjoy puttering around my house, creating vignettes, decorating the tree and every tabletop and shelf, while Christmas music plays in the background.
I like to mix things up every year, changing out vignettes and adding interesting pieces. Primarily I create with items that I already have on hand, mixing vintage with cute Kirkland’s finds, pairing something seasonal with an everyday piece, and plopping little artificial trees everywhere.
Tonight as I was rummaging through boxes of Christmas decorations, I decided to start by creating a couple of fresh looks in the bedroom. Inspiration popped an idea into my head. I chose to go with it and see what developed.
The small wood and rattan side table came from the Arkansas house. It will most likely get a coat of chalk paint after Christmas, however tonight it became my first decorated piece. A vintage wire basket holds cloth balls on the bottom shelf. On the top shelf rests an old phone from the Noel Telephone Company that Bob Moore converted into a lamp years ago. When the mouthpiece is picked up, the bulb lights up. A tiny amber vase holds a spray of berries and rusty stars. Candle holders complete the table.
Across the room, I let my inner artist have fun, pulling together an assortment of vintage and new pieces to create a very eclectic look. Leta Moore made the orange, green and tan tree. I think perhaps it was intended to be a fall tree. However, when I stood looking at the bare dresser top, that tree came to mind, inspiring the rest of the vignette.
The china doll has appeared in several vignettes the last couple of years. Her orange and green dress made her an ideal pairing with the fabric tree. The linen placemat came from Target. And the Joy sign and antlers candle holder were Kirkland purchases.
Inspiration then threw out a wild idea, and my eclectic decorating became electric. My daughter Adriel gave me a string of edison light bulbs. This bulb has significance for me, and plays a role in next year’s adventures. I had been saving the lights to use after Christmas. Now I could clearly see, in my mind, the bulbs strung along the dresser top, becoming a unique set of Christmas lights.
I am always happy to indulge inspiration. The lights came out of the box and I played with arranging them around the vignette.
I had a fun evening, being creative and capturing the Christmas spirit. There is much more to do this weekend. I look forward to seeing where inspiration leads me next.
Going Beyond 