Friday, December 10, 2010

Our Cozy Christmas Cottage


I love this little fluffy family of sheep with their
perky burlap ears!
 
This year I started decorating our home for Christmas the day after Halloween.  It wasn't that I was in a big hurry to get it done, I just wanted to take my time and savor the process.  I wanted it to be a relaxed, enjoyable, work-on-it when-you-feel-like-it experience.  Throughout the month of November, I put things out little by little so that by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, all we needed was a tree!  The result was that I had a chance to get more creative with my decorating!  I actually mixed things up quite a bit (as opposed to putting the same decorations out in the same locations as every other year) and had time to craft some additional decorations to complete the overall look (i.e. the sheet music mantle trim and coordinating tree ornaments. 

We are blessed with a family Christmas tree farm just up the river from us...(when I say family tree farm...I mean our family, my in laws!)  They give us the first tree off of the farm each year which is a real treat!  We all agree that this year's tree is the most beautiful we've ever had!  Now with the house all cozy and decorated for the Christmas season, I am ready to wrap some gifts, do a little (or a lot) of baking and enjoy the Holidays!  Merry Christmas to all of my dear friends out there in blogland!  I hope you enjoy these photos of our cozy Christmas cottage as much as I have enjoyed the photos of so many of your charming and beautiful homes all decked out for the Holidays!

Formal living room mantle and our pretty tree all dolled up in creams and pinks!
I swapped out the rose print that was above this mantle for this mirror that used to hang in the dining room.  I actually like it better here!  To make the sheet music mantle trim, I traced a salad plate and cut half circles to make scallops, then taped them to mantle.  It took just a few minutes, and I love the results!


I bought a set of these darling
french country looking chair ornaments
at Michael's a few years back.  Aren't
they sweet?

I had to share a night photo of the tree so that
you could get the full effect of the lights (my
proud husband's handy work!)  Is your guy all about the lights?



The cream ribbon and bows are new to the tree this year and I am loving the softness they add.  Did you know that Dollartree has satin ribbon?  How awesome is that?




My crafting cabinet is new as of this year, so this was the first time I'd had
this surface to decorate!  So fun!  I've had the creamy metal, crystal droplet tree for years but have never really had a good place to display it...now I do!

Every year I tell myself:  "This is the year I am going to take the chandeliers completely apart and wash every crystal the way I remember my mom doing once a year when I was a teenager."  Several years passed and all they ever got was a quick dusting.  Finally, this year I gave them the royal treatment!  In addition to a very careful, detailed cleaning, I added some Christmas glitz!  Now they really sparkle!  This one has crystal-like icicles and a beaded garland!
The breakfast nook chandelier has been adorned with pink glass balls and vintage cream lace.

Dining room buffet all a glitter with pink and silver sparkly stars and silver framed black and white photos of the "stars" of our family!



In the past I have used the pink bead garland on my feather tree...but this year I liked how it added more glitz to the buffet.  It's fun to change things up a bit!





This sweet little pair of vintage donkeys are very special and have a permanent home in my curio cabinet as they were my Grandma's treasures but I like to put them out with my vintage-style village at Christmastime!

I adore sparkly vintage villages and bottle brush trees!


The top of a cabinet in the family room now holds my white feather tree and this neat
chicken wire tiered basket I recently found at the Goodwill! 

Love this tiny sparkly church and mini bottle brush
trees!


I pulled this vintage crocheted trim off of an old stained, ripped table linen and taped it to the edge of the family room mantle.  I think it adds a sweet touch to the village display.

I love the idea of decorating coffee tables and end tables but at this time in my life I have to be careful about what I set down within reach of 2 yr. old hands.  Anything out on a surface at his level, is pretty much fair game.  So, I have a few seasonal "toys" that look cute and match my decor.  A fun new tradition we've started this year...impromptu "snowball fights" indoors!  I have this cute box of creamy poms out for throwing when the mood arises...of course then you have to pick them all up but it's worth the fun!  When I don't feel like cleaning up a snowball mess, I just put the box out of reach.



Sparkly white tree candles (which my son keeps asking when we'll light! um, never!) look so pretty on this vintage cake stand!

This sweet vintage style sign hangs on the pantry door every year (maybe I'll find a new place for her next year?)  She is so sweet.



Thank you so much for visiting today!  As always, I adore your comments!  Today I will be linking up with The Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday, My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday., How Sweet the Sound's Pink Saturday,  Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphasis Monday and All Things Heart and Home for All Things Merry and Brite!.   Please stop by to visit these link parties for loads of vintage decor inspiration!  So fun!

Best Wishes and God bless!
Amanda