his post started out as Boxes, Trunks, and Containers or Why I Collect so Many! I do collect a lot of things that will contain stuff. As I was starting to dismantle Christmas I decided to share with you some of my containers. Containers that are antique and beautiful, Containers that are scruffy and well used after a couple hundred years or containers that just hold stuff.
Yes I have those too. But, living in a very small house I have to make the most of the space that I have and I’m a firm believer in hiding in plain sight. If a container has a lid it can hold stuff, if it’s lovely so much the better.
When stashing Christmas stuff I try to stash it in the room where it is used. Saves my legs and back and, I always know where the bedroom stuff is, well right now that’s another story!!! The living room and kitchen get stored in boxes or containers in those rooms. I’ve also been known to leave bread crumbs. Post it notes in a box telling me to check for the X in another spot.
This year I lost the big gold bells.
Couldn’t find them anywhere. I felt like I was missing a box but it seemed like it was just the bells that were missing. After checking all the usual places and reading all the bread crumbs I still couldn’t find them. That meant I had to go to the unusual suspects! The storage rack in our unfinished bathroom in our lower level. I thought I knew everything that was on that rack because I’ve been in and out of that rack hundreds of times over the last couple of years. But, way back in the corner in a plastic tub were you guessed it the bells. Absolutely no recollection of putting them there and obviously this must have been the last thing I took down last year and needed to stash them.
Ok so back to containers. I have a couple of stacks of reproduction band boxes that I purchased back in the 80’s and 90’s. Still love them so I keep them out. Besides they add texture and color and shape no matter where I put them and they hold stuff. The large oval box holds the upstairs pinecones,
and the next size hold all the ornaments that go on the feather Christmas Tree that resides somewhere upstairs every year.
The next size down holds those infamous gold bells,
Then there is the ribbon.
You know that beautiful silk ribbon that makes those beautiful bows and feels oh so good in your hands as you twist into just that perfect shape. There I slip all the ribbons into snack bags.
Like ribbons together, that way they are organized safe and easy to slip out. So the third smallest box becomes my ribbon file.
I used to just roll all the ribbon and place it in a box but it would quickly become a tangled mess. This takes a bit longer but it is efficient and much less hassle in the long run.
Yes Figurines get lovingly placed back in their boxes and put in the closet and greens get stuffed into a tub but I am able to get most of the Christmas decorations into these 5 boxes, the French leather hatbox, and the Doulton Bread Crock, for upstairs.
A few months ago our neighbor was over with his son. Dad was so concerned about his son touching anything and I told him no worries he’s fine. We went out to sit on the deck but Joe was curiously checking out the leather hat box.
He came out to the deck and said there was treasure inside. Well yes, not valuable treasure but my treasures. The best of compliments from the 5 year old.
Oh and there is the Doulton Bread Crock. It gets shredded paper and I put all the mercury glass ornaments in it.
The usual suspects in real life.
Upstairs all buttoned up, well I’ve left the dishes for now I then moved down stairs. After pulling down all the greens I just sort them by kind. These are the things that create the magic. Lots of different varieties of picks, different textures some whispy with berries (ancient) still love what they do some more dense.
If I can bundle the smaller ones into 2 gal zip lock bags I do, creating a similar organization to the ribbon file. Garlands I roll up and label and put into the 2 gal bags. The rest get thrown into the tubs in an organized fashion. I just hate opening a tub and saying to myself I know I have another one of these but where is it! Drives me crazy. This way it is all in the same place.
Then there are the table top trees, Tom’s carved Santas, wreaths, etc they all go in the trunk.
Think about it. Immigrants carried their whole life story and set out for the new world with one of these trunks. Look at those iron strap hinges. An iron monger hacked those out of the fire with his own two hands. Amazing.
It’s old it’s scruffy and actually it really needs to be waxed this winter. Look at the escutcheon plate around the key hole. It’s beautiful. Original paint come on, what’s not to love about this cruddy old thing!
That all contained it was time to tackle the tree. I started by taking out all the filler and that’s when it hit me. This is what takes an average tree to extraordinary. Again I group like items together and if they can be bundled into 2 gallon bags I do that and all this gets thrown in a tub.
This fills in between the branches adds a different texture and color.
This was a copper garland that I cut apart years ago and I just tuck it wherever I need sparkle.
Pinecone picks greatest invention ever. This year I had them tucked in a more downward motion thru the tree.
The gold leaves add a bit of shine and texture again poked in here and there. Love these whimsical frosted branches creating the nest for the owl.
Love the blueberry bramble that frames the whole mess!
And here is the tree without all the extras. It does make a big difference. It’s just a tree with pretty ornaments. Adding all the other picks give it life, movement, and makes it exciting to look at. At least that’s my opinion. Let me know in comments what you think.
Tomorrow I will attack the rest of the tree. In the mean time I will close with a thank you for following along with me. It means so much to me and makes it so fun when I hear from you. Oh and Happy 2022! Thank God we get to turn the page. Nothing but the best for all of us.
Thanks for stopping
Shelley
