Fresh Christmas Arrangements

Just a few arrangements I whipped up this afternoon.  They are for a client I have been working with every Christmas for about15 years. We did the outside of their home a few weeks ago, and these will be going on the inside, as well as a beautiful fresh garland for her mantle.

I have a few more customers for next week. As well I'll be starting work at the florist every day until Christmas eve! I'll have sap hands for sure!

A Fresh Mantle for Christmas.

There is no blue on my Christmas mantle this year! First time in many years I think... although that could all change at any moment, but for now it includes:

• Fresh white Alstormaria in a vase. A great long lasting flower!
• An old altered book...each page folded and left open. I may use it to hold some Christmas cards when they start arriving.
• My "R" ....on old marquee sign letter found in an antique shop in Corning NY.
• Birch bark logs, lovely cut up by my husband. There is a well in the top of each log to hold a tea light. Fresh moss and pears to surround them.
• an old glass jar filled with vintage ornaments.
• a rustic wooden angel given to me by a friend
• a silver cone filled with branches from the yard, sprayed silver. I pulled out all my silver vintage balls to hang on the branches, along with mini disco balls from the dollar store. It is looking a little dark in the picture, but when the sun is shining or the candles are lit, there is a beautiful sparkle!

And The Stockings Were Hung...

We have needed new stockings for....YEARS!  So this is the year. There is a brand new one for each of us. All were made from recycled men's shirts. They are nice and big...room for lots of loot from Santa...probably 2 1/2ft long! Originally I intended to fold down the top, but I liked them so much long that I left them and added buttons at the top.

 

 

 

 

Before and After

I have been following Knack http://knackstudios.blogspot.com/ for quite sometime. She is actually celebrating her 2nd year anniversary of blogging....check out her blog for a chance to win some great neat things from her shop!

She has a very unique way of recycling old furniture...usually with paint. I'd love to have just one of her pieces. But this one, I think, is the most beautiful I've seen yet. Here is her before and after:

 

 

 

Nice huh?

Snowflakes

Check out the cool ornaments made from buttons from my vintage button jar. I just used a long piece of wire twisted through the large middle button the thread on a row of buttons. All eight rows are attached to the large middle button.  An extra piece of wire makes a hanger for the top.

If you don't have vintage buttons, this one was made with all red buttons from the dollar store. The heart in the centre is just a decorative "brad".

I thought these would be a great topper for Christmas presents!

 

Here is another one that I just found on another blog. Her technique is totally different (glue instead of wire) and if you'd like to see how she does it, go here: http://shanty2chic.blogspot.com/2009/11/ashleys-snowflake-ornament.html

Some Christmas Yummies...

Isn't this pretty? Simple and outdoorsy...I love it.

I've done several decorating jobs this year with birch. It's so pretty and wintery. It's great for large showy planters since the branches can be so long.

This ones just a lot of fun. I think in my household, the snowballs wouldn't stay nicely stacked there for long...real or not real! The skates look great in the background as well.

No red in this room. All shades of green and white...so fresh and clean. What a pretty mantle!

Really simple and understated...I like! Nice farmers sink too.

Christmas Runner.

I am really liking this table runner! It is made from Christmas/winter fabrics, but not in traditional colours. I like that the tree trunk is done from brown bias tape...makes it simple.

I'm not really a" table runner person", but I think this one done in the right colours and patterns would be fantastic. Another thing to add to the "To Do" pile.