it's starting to look a lot like christmas

 

and it is sort of a contemporary one...  

it is looking a lot like christmas

 

Merry Christmas to all! And it does look a lot like Christmas! We are in the midst of our traveling and cooking and all that goes with this holiday. We managed trip one between freezing drizzle and returned to town just as the second round of the same hit. Did our grocery shopping during the 8 or so inches of snow we got. Today I start a few things that can be made ahead.

As we go through the season remember those who are alone, or lonely or sick. This is a hard time for many.

And let it snow...

this year's diy christmas tree

 

This year's table top tree! All old ornaments and last year's tree.

Last year we went with a table top tree because our space is small and I hate how crowded the house feels with a full size tree. This tree had a very nice shape and was the right size. I put it on the buffet and surrounded it with gifts. We liked the small tree and having it out of the way. But while pretty it felt too traditional. So.....

The tree sat outside all year while I waited for the needles to fall off. They didn't. So I stripped most of them by hand and clipped out at least half of the branches.

I then spray painted the tree white. Next I tried to glitter the tree. I have no glittering skills. First I bought a glitter and glue all-in-one product. It was far to subtle. I then went for real spray glue and real glitter. Some silver and some gold. It still did not look very glittery. I tried to add more by putting on a line of Elmer's glue and adding more glitter. Then then I just gave up deciding that enough glitter was enough.

I got out all the old ornaments. Starting with the trunk I first used the purple and then the orange ornaments. From there I would add all the ornaments that matched so they were balanced on the tree working from the trunk out. I started with the smaller ornaments because that space was tighter.

I wired the ornaments on the tree. My hope is to just put the whole thing in a big garbage bag and store it somewhere and just pull it out for next year. I am very pleased with the results. More contemporary, a nice splash of color. I got out a rug with squares of bright color that repeat the colors in the ornaments.

The tree is done and I have a few other areas I'll do a little more decorating but that can wait until after Thanksgiving. Enjoy the start to your holiday decorating!

merry christmas

this photo always intrigued me. It is where my Dad ate Christmas dinner one year somewhere in Europe during WWII. The mismatched chairs, the odd wires on the wall... the cloth tablecloths, the Christmas tree... the table laddened with fruit and sweets and wine.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing I wish you a happy day.

it is starting to look a lot like Christmas

And this storm is maybe half over. Just got plowed out and they will be back again before the it is over. The city is pretty much shut down, no buses are running. I have chili in the crockpot.

This always amazes me. This is how the ice starts to form on the lake. It starts with chunks of floating ice.

It is a Winter Wonderland. Merry almost Christmas.

deck the halls & giveaway

 

After living here for 3 years I am trying something new for Christmas. I like the red balls on the topiary in the doorway.

And the lights on the lake windows are back. LOVE these and wished I had gotten to IKEA for more. I will hate the year that these start to burn out. I'd like to put them on a few windows upstairs too. They are a welcome addition to the dark of Winter and stay up an embarrassingly long time.

A REAL tree! Although this little Fraser fir looks so perfect it almost looks fake. It is about 4.5 feet and fits nicely on the buffet. That means no reorganizing of furniture to put up a tree. Also means no little hands can play with the ornaments. Gifts will continue to pile up around the tree. Still need to find some fabric and make a tree skirt. Next year I will double the lights on the tree.

All clear glass icicles, teardrops, some chandelier crystals and lights.

I think next year I may do all white wrapping, I like this look a lot. This year I tried out several different papers as I figure this out.

And I got an amaryllis before they were all gone. Used a little bit of leftover pine to fill the pot. I am happy with how this look is evolving. Next year it will look even better.

Hope you are all decorated and getting into the spirit.

Zinio is giving me 10 free digital magazine subscriptions. I am going to keep one and pass the rest on to you. They have lots and lots of magazines so I am sure you can find something you would like. You can take a peek here at www.zinio.com.

A change on how to enter from yesterday.

1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/outsidethelinefonts

2. Share this post.

Contest will run for nine posts. I’ll choose one winner daily and contact you through Facebook.

Each person can only win one magazine but you can up your chances by entering daily.

Enjoy and Happy Holidaze!

the colors of Christmas... and a Giveaway!

 

this postcard that I have had for many years always amuses me.

Two reasons. First I use to work for Seiferts, a collection of women's clothing stores that is no more. Always in June I started to figure out what colors Christmas would be. I still remember the year of mauve. Frankly I never did like mauve even when it was in. That was a last minute change. (Mr. Seifert said we always had to be able to change on a dime. And if I had a dime for every time he told me that...) Lots of scurrying to get mauve ribbon, boxes, paper etc.

Second, I always think through what color my Christmas will be so I can coordinate paper, ornaments etc. It was cute, one year when my parents were coming to our house Mom even called ahead asking what my paper was that year so she could coordinate too.

And I've never quite figured Christmas out here in the small condo. So my last years have been a dumbed down version of the last big house and my colors were lime & aqua & orange & purple & red and hot pink.

Tomorrow I'll share my smaller, less colorful little decorating palette. Happy decorating!

Zinio is giving me 10 free digital magazine subscriptions. I am going to keep one and pass the rest on to you. They have lots and lots of magazines so I am sure you can find something you would like. You can take a peek here at www.zinio.com.

If you would like to get in on the giveaway you need to do 2 things.

1. Click on the first Facebook button below and SHARE this post.

2. Click on the second Facebook button and LIKE this post.

Contest will run for the next nine posts. I'll choose one winner daily and contact you through Facebook.

Each person can only win one magazine but you can up your chances by entering daily.

Enjoy and Happy Holidaze!

christmas cards & tea towels

 

First batch of Christmas cards are at Hatch Art House!

Some of you have been asking about the calendar which is now for sale here. This is fabric NOT a finished product. I ordered one and will probably frame it. If you are ordering it for a dishtowel buy a heavier fabric (you choose the fabric they print it on.) I think the colors are accurate but not as intense as the picture here. That is the difference between seeing it on a monitor and it being printed on fabric.

And getting closer on the etsy store....