My Nature Inspired Christmas Dining Room

In 2009 I did a little different twist for my Christmas dining room.

In previous years I chose to use bright Christmas colors. 

   

2008 Christmas dining room!

Now back to my nature inspired dining room from 2009…………..

…………I got my inspiration when I attended an on-line shopping event featuring my guy, Eddie Ross over at Etsy.

It was so fun!! Eddie had an entire selection of his favorite Esty items for Christmas. I purchased the natural birch covered cylinders that Eddie suggested.

I used the birch covered glass candle holders, pine cones, branches and greenery to make my arrangement.

The arrangement sits on top of two linen runners purchased at Target on clearance. I had them monogrammed with a cream colored “P” to step it up a notch.

 

I chose to hang lanterns instead of wreaths in the window.
I used a double faced white satin ribbon to make a nice loose bow.

This was my attempt in 2009 for a more natural look for my dining room!!

I know this look was made popular by Pottery Barn a few years ago. I think  it is still a favorite look of many in blog land. I love the way so many are showing it mixed with a lot of white this year!! A winter woodland look.

How about you all, are you doing any decorating with nature inspired decorations this year?

For 2010 I have done something a little different. I promise I will have pictures of this years look soon!!! Think SPARKLE!!!!

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Using natural elements in your Christmas decor!

Kathysue

Holiday Hints

Whenever possible try mixing real and faux elements to get a more nature inspired look.

Go out into your neighborhood and find greenery, twigs, pinecones etc. to use in your arrangements. This little adventure makes for a fun family day!!

The Natural Look at Christmas!

During the Holidays there are so many ideas that come out each year depending on where you are looking. A few years ago the natural look became very popular. It has emerged again this year.

I am not sure if it is because of the economy and people are using what surrounds them or if it is part of the green movement. Either way I think it is a great look when done well.

I found a few images that had a  natural look to me…….

This is the most over the top look that I have found.

I love the treatment around the mirror. I am not sure I would have made the mantle decor quite that busy, but this appears to be a very large traditional home so the look fits.

Notice all of the pinecones, wheat, nuts, and greenery that abound.  I sure wish I had some trophy cups, they are on my list!!!

They really used a lot of pinecones here!!  I like the idea of the garland and the pinecones used in urns.

Simple!, yet it makes a great statement.

I am starting to see a theme here. (pinecones in an urn!)

No pinecones here, but still lovely nature inspired decorations.

Natural elements of a different kind. Fruit, flowers and berries are use beautifully here.

For all of you lucky Southerners, berries mixed with magnolia leaves in an outdoor urn, lovely.

Very simple!!! No cloches here! Instead they have taken lanterns and filled them with various decorations. I like this allot.

Very clever!! Birch covered cylinders with varying shades of green plant life. I actually purchased some of these last year and used them in a center piece in my dining room. I will show you that in tomorrow's post!

More birch covers and this time it is on candles. Pottery Barn came out with this look a few years back and it is still popular today.

Back to pinecones!!! Simple and festive. I love the green plaid fabric that they used here for the letters on what appears to be linen or burlap.

Remember Lincoln logs? I don’t think we can go back anymore to nature than this cute tree made out of twigs. I think this would make a great craft for children. It could start out with a walk in the woods and they can find twigs to bring home to make a tree!!!

Can you see yourself using a Back to nature theme for Christmas this year?

Come back tomorrow and I will show you how I incorporated a touch of Nature in my dining room last year.

My friend Terri at La Dolfina did an amazing job of using pinecones in her Christmas decorating this year. Terri is an avid collector of sea shells. I told her that pine cones are her winter sea shells!! If you need more inspiration be sure and visit Terri's blog.

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Going back to Nature for your Holiday inspiration!

Kathysue

Holiday Hints:

When you take your morning walks, look around you and see what you can take home to use for the holidays.

If you use pine cones you can add some cinnamon oil to them and they will make your house smell wonderful.

BTW:

Be sure to go over to What's Up Whimsy to see what I put on my Christmas Wish List!!! This is day Seven of the Twelve Days of Christmas Wish List. It is a fun series seeing what other bloggers have on their wish list. If you have time leave her a comment and tell her Kathysue sent you over!!



On another note♫♪♫♪ literally

 I just added a Christmas playlist at the bottom of my page. Let me know if you like hearing Christmas music or not???!

I always have music playing at my house and this is sort of home away from home so I thought for Christmas it might be kind of nice. Let me know if you like it or not???

For The Young At Heart!!!

Christmas is for Kid’s right? Well, then I am a BIG kid!!!

I do have three wonderful, beautiful, perfect, talented, smart, grandchildren, so I am always on the outlook for fun things to do with and for them during the Christmas season.

The ideas I am about to show you are not just for kids, but they have a fun whimsical look to them so they remind me of children.

This is one of the cuter ideas I have seen in a long time. I am going to try and make these with Grammy’s Christmas children. That is what I call my grandchildren at Christmas time.

You can go here to find out how to make these adorable little houses. I love the name of her blog, Not Martha. I am not a Martha either so we have a lot in common.

I  have a sleep over with Grammy's Christmas Children so the Moms and Dads can go Santa shopping. I love doing this for my family and especially for this Grammy!!!  You can never get enough of our Grandchildren!!!!

Simple, Easy and a gift on the outside!!

Yum Candy!!

How about writing out their name with sparkly pipe cleaners instead of a boring name tag.

 

Cupcake holders aren’t just for cupcakes anymore!!!

More candy please!!

Even their bedroom dresser can look like a pretty Christmas package.

Christmas mice! The only mice that are acceptable in our house!!

I saw this idea on Designs by Gollum last year and made them for my grandkids. They are so easy to do. A chocolate dipped cherry for the body and a kiss for the head. Tubes of icing for eyes and little red nose. Slivered almonds make perfect ears.

Over at the blog  A Thoughtful place I found this darling idea. This is a new blog to me and I must say I looooove this blog for ideas!!! Be sure and go by and see what you have been missing if you are not familiar with this wonderful blog. Tell her Kathysue sent you !!! I promise you will not be disappointed!!



There you have it! A few ideas for the young or in my case the young at heart!

“Enjoy the Process” Of

Bringing out the Kid in yourself and others!!

Kathysue

Sunburst For Christmas????

I know, I know it is the Christmas season!!! So why am I showing you sunburst mirrors?  Just follow along you will see why in a few seconds!!!

Chestnuts roasting by an open fire!!!

Oh so pretty! Star of wonder star of light star………

Star of royal, beauty bright!!

I am about to tell you why I am showing you sunburst mirrors at Christmas time!!!!!

I got an email from a website that I love called Max and Chloe and this is what caught my eye! It is definitely  something I am putting on my Christmas list(if anyone is listening out there!)

I love this necklace!! The price is unbelievable for such a pretty piece.

I can see wearing this with a winter white outfit for Christmas!!

I told you it would be worth the wait and there was a reason I was showing you Sunburst mirrors afterall!!!!

Be sure and take a visit to Max and Chloe as they have some great gifts for under $50 and under $100.

Here are a couple  more pieces that caught my eye……

This initial necklace by Diane Yang comes in different colors, but these are the two that I loved and these are under $50. What a great gift this would make for someone!! (me,me,me!)

I hope this gives you a couple of ideas for gifts and maybe a new resource for some fun and unusual designs in jewelry.

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Making your own Christmas wish list!

Remember.....

.......Keep humming

Tis’ the season to be jolly Fa-la-la-la-la  hmm, hmm, hmmm, hmm ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

KATHYSUE

Oh No! They Don’t Carry Anymore Of My Ribbon!!

What do you do when the ribbon you planned on using for your tree is no longer available? I purchased enough of the black and white striped ribbon to use in one area of my home, and then decided I needed more for my tree!!

They did not have any more of this…….

 

After thinking about it, I  decided I needed something a little bolder  than this particular stripe. I have so many ornaments on my tree this stripe would just disappear, so I put on my thinking cap!

The store did have some of this…….

Bridesmaid! What does that have to do with Christmas?!!

So I turned it over and did this……..

I just used some fusible webbing and now I have a nice sharp contrasting ribbon to make my bows for my tree. I used 3in. double faced white satin and an 1in. black grosgrain ribbon fused together to make my loosely tied bows.

If you read my last post,"To Bow or Not To Bow?!" you know I love a nice soft looking bow over a wired ribbon contrived looking bow.

Here is a little sneak peek of my tree! I promise I will show you more when it is all done. Only a few more bows to make!!

Yay!!! my plan worked perfectly. You can not defeat a die hard decorator at Christmas time!!

“Deck the Halls with hmmm, hmm, hmm ♪♫♪♫ Fa-la-la-la hmm,hmm♪♫♪♫

Merry Christmas!!

Kathysue

To Bow or Not to Bow?!!

To bow or not to bow, that is the question? Why would I ask that question? After all, it is the season of gifts, trees and decorations, so of course we have to “BOW!”

Not necessarily! This is where I have to tell you that I have  a love-hate relationship with bows. I know that sounds so silly, but I have my reasons.

In the eighties (dreaded country decor gone badly era) everyone was putting a bow on everything. When in doubt put a bow on it! Wroooong!

Over the years design has become a bit more sophisticated and now bows are thoughtfully put on certain items like presents, trees, wreaths etc.

Now comes the hate(such a harsh sounding word) part. Pleeeeeez do not put bows on everything!!!

Sometimes I think certain vignettes or accessories can stand on their own and they do not require a bow.

Since it is the Holiday season we will obviously be putting a bow on our presents, trees and wreaths. I love ribbon and at times I would call myself a ribbon fanatic. If I see a beautiful ribbon I have to stand and stare at it, feel it and imagine what gift I can put it on.

I am going to show you the good, bad and ugly uses of bows and I will let you all be the judge on whether to bow or not to bow!!!

 

I like this bow! It is simple, laying naturally and looks elegant to me. My favorite ribbon to use is a beautiful velvet or a double sided satin. I also love a cute grosgrain, especially in polka dots. I put this bow in the good category.

This is a very typical bow we all see at Christmas time. Notice how stiff the ribbon looks and it is made to look perfect.

The ribbon is perfectly made to make an un-natural wave pattern. This bow is what I would put in the bad column.

I made these types of bows for my wedding in the 70’s and for floral arrangements and wreaths in the 80’s. That was a realllllly long time ago!

Gorgeous use of ribbon! No bow needed here and yet it still gives the affect of a bow in a more sophisticated natural look.

This is double sided satin in at least 3-4in. width. The length of ribbon is long enough for it to hang naturally from the sophisticated knot that holds the pine and pine cone.

So simple and so elegant. This is double sided satin in a nice width. Notice the way the bow lays naturally on the package. The tail of the bow is long enough to drape and not stick out stiffly. This is  a perfect bow to me. This bow is definitely in the Good group!

In this image you can see a less expensive looking package tied with double sided satin ribbon. Notice how the loops are large and yet the tails of the bow were cut off to short in proportion to the bow. This would look more lovely if the bow did not look so stiff and the tails were draping over the box.

 

Here is  a fun use of ribbon that does not have any need for a bow, although I would imagine most people would have put a bow on the chandelier. This person chose to just tie a nice knot and the let the ribbon do what it does best if left alone, it just flows.

There is no bow needed here. The wreath has some nice wide ribbon holding it up and some ornaments are attached to the end. I would not mind a nice loose bow with long tails on this wreath, but this look is so much more interesting.

Lovely satin ribbon tied loosely in a knot.

After writing this post I am realizing I had better take a closer look at the bows I make also! Isn't it funny when you really think about a subject you realize certain things about yourself too. Like I say, "I am still on the learning curve too."

I must leave you with one more image of a bow!!

Now that is what I call, “ A BOW!!!”

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Making a bow and placing it with love on top of your gifts, that will be the best bow ever!!

Kathysue

Holiday Hint:

Remember to check out ribbon in the sewing notions at Walmart. You can purchase it by the bolt for around $6 for a 10yd bolt. That is much cheaper than in the Holiday wrap section.

Always check how much ribbon you are actually getting and you will be surprised at how little there actually is on the pre-package ribbons in the Christmas wrap section at any store.

  I buy mine early because it goes fast!!