Always the first thing that gets done while decorating the family room for Christmas is the trunk. There is a good reason for this. Christmas is mostly stored in the trunk. Trees, figures etc. In fact one of the reasons I added this trunk to my home was because of the loose storage it would provide, and it continues to be one of my many favorite things. With all of the stuff emptied out, I need to work quickly. There is stuff everywhere, and it’s difficult to move let alone create a vision.
This year I started with an antique Iranian block printed table square. This trunk is so scruffy it requires the softness of a piece of fabric, even if it is only peaking out. Next I added my traveling desk. Closed up for now, it acts as an elevator and a space isolator. Next came the two trees, my dad’s carved standing goose, and then the fill. My hand carved Santa’s that were a gift each year to my parents from a family friend, greens, and of course a piece of satin ribbon.
A scruffy tree in a Transferware Soup Tureen, another in a copper ice bucket, a wreath around the gooses neck are simple editions, that didn’t require a lot of thought. Add in a couple of Santa’s some wood, leather and a mercury glass top, and I was done.
Next up were the bookcases. Keeping with the Transfeware that has been living in these cabinets for a while now, I simply added some greens to a small leather dome top trunk, and another favorite Santa, hand made by an artist who lived on Lake Minnetonka in MN. This is where we kept our boat when I was a kid. Every time I remove this Santa from the box, it takes me back to good times on the lake.
I brought down my wooden pedestal that usually lives on the kitchen table, and placed it on my crazy chest. I have to say this little vignette turned out to be one of my favorites. I love working with smalls, and making something important out of a few little things. A chalk ware Santa, shares space with some old leather books, bottle brush trees, a French postal scale, a picture of me as a kid and a couple of Transferware cups, just to reinforce the blue around the room.
One thing I added to the mix this year was this deer, that I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I never buy decorative objects there. In fact I looked at it, handled it and walked away. I just hate buying things that are mass produced. But something about this reclining deer spoke to me. I came back a couple of days later and he was the last one. Just waiting for me. I had fun working him in on the pie safe, sporting a holly wreath with a red bow!
A photograph of my grandparents in a sleigh takes center stage with another tree, 2 more hand carved Santas, a pair of brass candlesticks and of course some antique books tied up with a bow!
On my Queen Ann Lowboy I kept things super simple with some ribbon wrapped books, a gorgeous damask frog with real fur on his hat, and a Royal Doulton figurine of a man planing a piece of wood, reminds me of my dad. He is smoking a pipe! I put him on a stand and tucked some greens around him, added a couple of frosted bottle brush trees and that vignette was done. The edition of a couple of frayed velvet bows hanging from the sconces, punctuates the blue plates behind.
My Barn Vent is always a favorite to decorate. A couple of mixed sprays, mercury glass pinecones and pheasant feathers come together with a blue satin bow. A favorite ornament always dangles from the top during the holiday. Simple green velvet pillows reinforces the greens, as well as the green in the rug.
The corner cabinet just got a good dusting and some greens tucked in here and there. Super simple. A short garland swags across the top.
This post got really long so I will leave you for now. Up next the Christmas Tree.
Thanks for stopping
Shelley
