Christmas Decor part 2....
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I promise this is not as long......my first draft I showed you my room and guest rooms/bath and that is just going over-board! ha! So I will finish up with the living room and sunroom then call it a night!
This buffet is new this year. I just put garland with lights and red berries. When Christmas is over I will try and find some berry fillers to spice this up next year! It is fun having the area around the tv all jazzed up!
Here is my living room mantel! Of course, my beautiful China girl painting is always a major centerpiece in my house. As most of you know, I bought her in Beijing in the Forbidden City from an Art Professor. Christmas of 06 Laura and I traveled to China to be with our dear Amy. From then on, every Christmas, I go back and relive that trip and how special it was listening to the Chinese students singing Away in a Manger in their language........oh how beautiful are the feet that bring good news!
here is another pic with lights on. photographing Christmas lights makes me CRAZY! My house looks so magical and sometimes your camera just WON"T CAPTURE IT! ha
i do lights, glitter balls, 2 types of berries and just stuff it everywhere!
My other mantel is really simple. I just leave my normal decoration up and add.....you guessed it hahahaah lights, red berries, and glitter balls! ha
Here is the tree! This year I purchased a new 9ft slim tree. Both trees I have are slim. I don't know why they attract my eye so much but I just love them. I'm an artist and all about drama and aesthetics. Because the tree is not that wide.....it doesn't take much floor space. But because it is so tall......I still get all the drama!!!! hahahah!
in a different light..........my angel looks kinda dark up there..hmmm
close-up
Story- My mom always started with red satin balls, as a base, when she decorated the tree. My very first Christmas teaching I found red satin balls and I remember feeling so grown up that I had my own just like my mom! I put a million of these inside the tree to fill it up.
decor secret.....well maybe not....I buy these cutout ornaments at Walmart that are covered with glitter. They come in a pack of MANY and are flat. REALLY CHEAP! I put them on at the very end in all the places that either need more sparkle or if there is a hole or if I need a little more contrast! They are amazing and I have had the same ones for over 6 years!
in a different light..........my angel looks kinda dark up there..hmmm
close-up
Story- My mom always started with red satin balls, as a base, when she decorated the tree. My very first Christmas teaching I found red satin balls and I remember feeling so grown up that I had my own just like my mom! I put a million of these inside the tree to fill it up.
decor secret.....well maybe not....I buy these cutout ornaments at Walmart that are covered with glitter. They come in a pack of MANY and are flat. REALLY CHEAP! I put them on at the very end in all the places that either need more sparkle or if there is a hole or if I need a little more contrast! They are amazing and I have had the same ones for over 6 years!
This tree has a lot of color on it as well as all my ornaments from other countries. This is my newest hand painted ornament from Panama that I got of the cruise!
my first year teaching we made sequin ornaments and i have found the process therapeutic ever since ha!
cruise ship.........oh you know i love vacations!
My Japanese girl I got in Tokyo on the left and my China girl mom bought Laura and I for our China Christmas trip. They are my favorites!
I received many questions about my decorations.......mostly about money and stuff. I hardly buy anything a regular price. I did pay full price for my tree but other than that I really try and get things at a better deal. I'm an artist so God has given me the ability to take nothing, sometimes, and make it something. I thank Him for that because it saves this single girl money!!
Another question was about all my paintings. They are all mine minus China girl above my fireplace. When you paint it makes for CHEAP decoration hahahahahha. I just say..."oh i need something on that wall"...and go paint it. Even if you think you can't paint...try it and see what you come up with! You will be surprised!
Someone asked about my paintings being framed.....I just frame them myself. The gold ones are from Hobby Lobby (pre-made) and because my dad gave me an AWESOME power drill, last Christmas, i can now do all the work myself. I have also made good friends with the 'frame guy" at hobby lobby. He has been there since I was in college and he helped my so much with my art exhibition senior year! He saves me frames that people don't want and sells them to me for REALLY CHEAP! PRAISE GOD!
I think that was about it! I am off to relax..........this week the kids have been crazy at school due to Christmas break being around the corner. My "wish I could be a stay-at-home-single" thought popped in my mind about the time I was writing 3 kids up and one was crying because she had to get a tardy!!!!!!!!!!!
W-O-W.
Ok, I am rambling. Good night sweet friends and hope you have a restful weekend!